SCC: Three Reasons Why I Review Christian Fiction

Saturday Christian Fiction Carnival
Question for October 18, 2008

Why do you read and review Christian fiction? Do you exclusively read Christian fiction or do you also read general market books?

The first Christian fiction title I read was France Ellen Harper's Iola Leroy written in 1892. The story was about a black woman whose father was a plantation owner and her mother was one of his slaves. It was about Abolitionism and Social Justice and Black Spiritualism and the rise of fall of Christianity in Black Revolutionist Thought, The women's Club movement. I loved this book. I still own it. I've written essays about it. I fell in love with this idea of stories that not just glorified God, but showed real people dealing with a faith that challenge them during important times in their lives. How do former slaves believe in a God that not only enslaved them, but ripped their souls apart? Even today the best titles are the ones where the characters are sharing an honest conflict where their faith was involved. So of course, I read Christian fiction, because I love reading stories about characters who not only share my faith, but can solve their challenges because of their faith.

I review Christian Fiction for three reasons:

1. I was asked. Eight years ago my pastor launched a gospel radio station and newspaper. I was asked to be the features editor. I admit I was skeptical. My background is in literary fiction and I didn't care for commercial fiction. But I had been introduced to Jacquelin Thomas work with BET's New Spirit imprint and I found a new home in my reader's soul.
   
2. There aren't enough reviewers. There are friend who friends books, but not enough Christian fiction reviewers who can pull the book apart and identify not only the missing parts, but what makes it inspirational.
3. African American Commercial Christian Fiction authors came on the scene a decade ago, but still receives very little opportunities for exposure. It has been goal to share those writers with Christian Fiction readers who otherwise wouldn't have. And I am honored that my non African American reader friends, trust me enough to subscribe to CFB and also come to me about book picks and their concerns. I am thankful for the dialogue.
   

I review all types of fiction, not just Christian fiction. I am a reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine. Most titles I review are contemporary romance. I also from time to time write literary criticisms for Mosaic Literary Journal. However, all of those titles have strong Christian themes.

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