So, any suggestions? I will admit to finding myself a VERY PICKY book reader. Is it me, or are they suddenly all terrible? I'm talking Christian (or, in some cases as I've found "christian" ) authors. Most seem to not have a clue as to what they are writing about. For example I read a book set in the early years of our state. In this book, you could ride on horseback (or run if you were being chased) from one corner of the state to the other- a trip that takes nearly all day by car- in a matter of hours. Victorian homes were being built along the rivers long before Victorian style homes were around, and my personal favorite, our state was so advanced, we were sending telegrams like most people text, 30+ years BEFORE telegraphs had even been invented. The sense of pride I am feeling for our state right now is overwhelming. Cough.
I know books by a husband /wife team whose last name starts with L. are pretty popular, but They all have the exact same plot and characters: A doctor, a lawyer, an uncommonly pretty in a strange way, very tall, headstrong female character, who is generally the daughter of lots of money, and has everyone in love with her.
Unless they have been written by Amish/former Amish, authors of Amish books always struck me as getting most of their information by reading tourist pamphlets, something just never seemed quite right. After discovering this blog, I found I wasn't to far off the mark thinking that.
And I was all excited to read a book (the name of which I can't remember now) set in Regency times (roughly). It started out great, but then as I went, I kept noticing lines from all the Jane Austen movies. It seemed like whenever the author got stuck, she'd stick one in, and if it had been used already, she would just slightly re-word it. Really, there are only so many ways and times you can say someones hem/ petticoat was "6 inches deep in mud at least!".
So, now that you know what a snob I am, any thoughts? Or maybe I'll just stick with craft books.
9 comments:
I just finished, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom and it was excellent. Along those lines, God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew is also good. Of course, they are older books.
I know JUST what you're saying. I've grown very weary of the Amish books myself. Have you read Love Comes Softly? SO much better than the movie!
If you're looking for fiction, and aren't upset with non-"happy happy books", Mary DeMuth is a very good author. Her books are very real, and deal with pain rather than making everything look glossy. (She IS a Christian.)
A non-Christian author, but a book I enjoyed none-the- less, is Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. He's a very good writer, and the story is good.
Francine Rivers is great Bonnie...very deep and her stories have such a good meaning in them.
There was a good of mystery type books that I thought were interesting for a change...The Tea Shop Mystery's Series??? These had a lot of fun baking/tea involved...they are not Christian though so you run into a few secular themes...not anything TOO shocking though.
How about rereading Anne of Green Gables Series or Little Women or something or reading Jane Austen's novels. Northanger Abbey is VERY different from her other stuff! :)
For Christian authors, I find Colleen Coble has some interesting stuff.
I do understand about the same ole same ole and I have read enough "Amish" novels for a LIFETIME! :P
I'll keep thinking...
You sound like a fiction gal but I will put my suggestion in too~ Homemaking by J.R. Miller. I could find an exceptional quote from that book from every.single.page.
As for the children~have they read The Oxcart man? One of our all-time favorites. Also Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Berstov(or something).
Hmmm...I always KNEW our home state was very advanced - haha! I haven't read anything along a story line in a l-o-n-g time. Sad. I'm currently reading 'Knowledge of The Holy' by A.W. Tozer - again. But I can't imagine reading it during ANY stage of labor. Oh, also reading a BASIC booklet on how to crochet (lots of pictures and illustrations). I'm determined to learn how to at least make a hat... What about a good movie or 2? Are the rooms at the hospital nice? Do they have a dvd player attached to the tv? That, or I would probably default to a crafty type book.
I love Bess Streeter Aldrich. She's not a christian author but she wrote in the 40's and 50's so they are clean. If you like stories about pioneer life these are good.
If you like end times fiction try reading The Last Jihad by Joel Rosenberg...much deeper than most of this type.
Have you read the Dick and Jane novels? They are excellent, the plot line is easy to follow, but I sometimes stumble over the larger words. Hmm...Thr3e by Ted Dekker is good if you like thrillers. You may borrow it if you like. How about the Hardy Boys? Cheaper By The Dozen? Or you could get you Bible off the shelf, dust it off and read that. I love Off World by Robin Parrish. It's amazing. Or you could bring your PSPs, Nintendo DSs and GameBoys for some enjoyable, mind mushing(Isn't that nice alliteration?) fun. Well hurry up and have your baby. Lord willing he will look like his soon to be favorite uncle.
Ciao!
Your Favorite Brother With The Handsome In A Strange Way Face,
Joel
I agree with so many of these commenters!
Today at the library, I checked out Little Women for me; I can't wait to read that again.
Safely Home by Randy Alcorn was very good, I thought.
For non-fiction that is helpful and hilarious (and not "heavy" at all), I like to read books by Lorilee Craker. She always makes me laugh.
Happy reading!! :)
No book suggestions, but I just wanted to let you know that I will be praying for you during the day tomorrow.
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