I Read a Christian Romance.
Posted by Vanity of Vanities! on November 5, 2009
Alright, I’ll level with you. I have read romance novels before. I’ve even read some racy ones in my younger years. Did I like them? Yes. A romance novel grabs at your heartstrings until you see yourself as the heroine, desperately loving the hero. You’re so invested in seeing the two live happily ever after, that you can’t put the book down. It’s ludicrous, because the romance probably should have never come about in the first place, they’re sinning all along the way, and you know they will end up together at the end. But, it reels you in.
I gave up on romance novels as quickly as I started reading them. I concluded that they were a waste of time, they were completely not God-honoring, and they stirred in me desires that an unmarried teenager shouldn’t be messing with. And I also concluded that they were very poor “literature.”
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I have also read Christian fiction before. I will not name what or who, but it was ridiculous. As un-literary as romance novels were, my experience with Christian fiction just took the cake. Everything was so contrived! In an effort to make sure the reader knew that the theme of the book was Jesus, every other line talked about Jesus and the Spirit in a completely unnatural way. They couldn’t even properly develop the plot because this manufactured religion got in the way. It was ridiculous.
So, I swore off Christian fiction.
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This past weekend, a friend lent me a copy of Francine Rivers’ novel, Redeeming Love. I had heard the author’s name before, and I laughed off any claims at real literary talent due to her association with Christian fiction. My friend was enthusiastic, however, so I accepted the book.
I knew before I opened to the first page what the point was. A woman would fall in love, but she would realize that the only true, redeeming love was that of her Savior. Expecting pages of awkward preaching forced into contrived conversations between ridiculous characters, I sat down to get the whole thing over with.
I was surprised. I was floored. I was devastated. I was blessed. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Christian woman, read this book. You’ll fall to pieces, and you’ll fall in love with Jesus all over again.
Amanda said
On my list of favorite novels EVER. It’s a fantastic book, isn’t it?
I’m telling you, though, Francine Rivers’ “The Mark of the Lion” trilogy is BETTER. SO MUCH BETTER. I reread the Lion books annually and I am fundamentally changed by them every single time I read them.
I’ve read (and own) almost all of her books (only a couple of her novellas are not on my shelf). The best are:
The Mark of the Lion
Redeeming Love
Atonement Child
And the Shofar Blew
The Last Sin Eater
Any of the aforementioned books will kick your butt while you read them. I mean, kick your freakin’ butt to the moon.
Francine Rivers is one of the only Christian fiction writers I am willing to read.
Amanda said
Oh, and my little book had better not be on your list of crappy Christian novels you’ve read.
Vanity of Vanities! said
Haha I thought of you as I wrote this. Your book is not on my list. In fact, I’m bothered that you haven’t finished your series, because I want to read it. And it better not be Lydia who dies in childbirth, or I’ll punch you. Electronically.
Karrie said
Ok, I’m going to have to say “ditto” to your friend Amanda! This was the first book of Francine Rivers’ that I ever read. Randomly picked it up at Borders and LOVED it! Then when we were headed to Cape Cod last year, I looked to see what else she had written to take one of her books along on our trip. I picked up the first book of the Mark of the Lion series and finished it THAT WEEK. This doesn’t sound like much until you remember my (then) two year old who requires a great deal of my time:-) When we got home, I immediately ordered the entire series b/c I knew that I would be reading the other two.
Needless to say, I HIGHLY recommend that series. Enjoyable due to the good writing, but absolutely gripping and convicting on a spiritual level. Impressive stuff.