This is one portion of the Faith ‘n’ Fiction Roundtable discussion of the book Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney, where we discuss the theology of the book.

Ronnica: But my real problem with Wounded is theological.  While I’m sure we don’t all have the same theological beliefs, a sound biblically-based theology is important to me.  For example, putting words like “I had no problem with whatever she used to draw closer to God…” (p. 158, large print edition) in the mouth of a pastor without judgment is theological irresponsible (and sadly, common in “Christian” writing, fiction and non-fiction).  Sure, this is fiction, but fiction still presents a worldview, for better or for worse.

Carrie: Ronnica mentioned theological questions and I will admit this is one of the areas that I struggled with while reading this. I found that I can/will accept questionable subject matter and/or doctrine in secular books, but when I’m reading a book that is advertised to be Christian, I hold it to a higher standard. The quote that Ronnica mentioned bugged me, too.

Ronnica: Carrie, I like how you said that.  I DO hold books labeled Christian to a much higher standard.  I’ve most certainly read books that I’ve theologically disagreed with more, but they arealmost always not labeled Christian.  I also felt uncomfortable with the idea of Jesus as lover and the idea of stigmata in general.  While I don’t doubt God’s ability to perform miracles, I don’t see the “why” of stigmata in this case specifically, as we always see miracles in the Bible either validating God’s Word or His messengers.

Hannah:  I can certainly agree that fiction written by Christians — let alone published by Christian publishing houses — should be held to a higher theological standard than books not written by and published by Christians.

Going back to what Ronnica mentioned about the book’s theology, which centered around Pastor Mike saying, “I had no problem with whatever she used to draw closer to God…” Sure, it’s troubling for a pastor to spout problematic theology. However, pastors are still human, fallen, imperfect, sinful. And in this case in particular, Pastor Mike isn’t presented as seeing this situation perfectly — or clearly, even. So while that idea/quote certainly is not good theology, I wouldn’t say the book presents his position as infallible or inaccurate. I don’t think the book’s worldview is embodied in Pastor Mike.

Amy: Now here’s where I’m going to get in trouble with you all!  I’m not sure I agree with the concept of a Christian book being held to a higher standard theologically.  It is easy for me to say yes, I agree with this, but the word Christian covers so many people with such vast and different beliefs.  I actually think that I’d love to see more theological diversity in Christian fiction because I think it would more accurately reflect the body of Christ, would challenge us to think about what we believe through the medium of fiction, and would probably invite more people to consider reading Christian fiction.  Furthermore, I’m not sure I agree with the statement the Bible is sufficient, I think Jesus is sufficient, and I think the Bible is some of the revelation we have left.  I regard it with tremendous respect and hope to always learn from it, don’t get me wrong!

I agree with Hannah that just because a character voices one viewpoint that doesn’t mean it’s the viewpoint of the author, though I sometimes struggle with this distinction myself.  I think maybe the reason we feel uncomfortable with Mike saying these things is because he’s the pastor and we expect our pastors to be the ultimate authority.

Hannah: I actually struggled with writing that, because I really struggle with major theological problems in any books I read. On the other hand, I know intellectually that we mustn’t hold people accountable for what they don’t know. Theological diversity, though (within certain parameters), is acceptable within what I’m talking about.

Ronnica: Going back to theological issues, I do think that there is certainly room for a wider theological perspective than say mine or my church’s.  However, I do believe that while there are many issues that there can be diversified opinions on within the Christian community (end times, continuation of miracles, etc.) there are some viewpoints that are necessary to be considered “Christian” (the deity of Christ, the sinfulness of man, etc.).

While I don’t necessarily think that Burney crossed the line on these issues, I do think the “whatever works for you” attitude presented in theological dangerous and spiritually unhealthy.  In the Old Testament, we see very strict penalties (death) for worshiping God in ways He did not prescribe.  While we have greater freedom and grace through Jesus Christ, God is and always will be a God that demands worship on His own terms, not ours.

Carrie: Amy, I liked the points you made about diverse theology in Christian fiction – but I guess we would disagree on the sufficiency of the Bible. I believe the Bible is complete and infallible, and all Christian belief and experience should be weighed against that authority. When I see what I consider extra-Biblical doctrine in a Christian novel, I can’t help but worry about readers being convinced of things about God that aren’t what the Bible teaches. (I hope that doesn’t offend – I hope you know I love you, Amy, and you’re my sister in Christ – even if we disagree on this point.)

I also get what Hannah was saying about the Pastor’s viewpoint just being one character’s – and a flawed, human character. I guess my high expectations for clergy were coming out in my expectations for the character! And I probably need to look at that – I can’t expect my pastor to be perfect, can I? He’s not God.

Other parts of the discussion can be found at the other participant’s blogs.

Besides those included above, other discussion participants include:

Deborah
Sheila
Julie
Thomas
Debbie
Heather

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I received a review copy of Faithful Heart from Multnomah.  I thought it sounded like an interesting book, set in the western US in the 1870s.  There’s basically two storylines following two sisters: one who is making a trek west via wagon train and the other who is struggling being married to a man dealing with violent mental issues related to his Civil War service.

Al Lacy’s not a bad writer necessarily, but this book is a great example of Christian fiction gone bad.   While Lacy does try to tackle a real-life issue (mental illness) and I commend him for that, he goes about it all wrong.

First, the answer given for the mental problem is seeking professional help (as pointed out by each and every character).  Laying aside how strange this seems in the 1870s setting and the horrors that were mental health asylums in that day, this is just poor theology.  Perhaps you, my reader, wouldn’t agree with that, but I believe that the Bible is all sufficient for our needs.  Though a psychiatrist may offer valuable help, that’s not the first place to go.

Secondly, this book is chock full with church-y language.  The conversations between characters come off as untrue to real life, like a play written by an amateur (me, for instance). Like most Christians who’ve been around the church a lot I’m guilty of this as well, but it does make me cringe.  There is a way to write a story from a biblical worldview without making it sound like it was written in a Sunday School.  The God of the Bible is so much more than that.

My last major issue with this book is that everything is tied up in a neat bow.  While that might be the way we would like things, real life doesn’t work that way and we fool ourselves when we place hope that it will.  Mental illness is messy.  Even more so, our sin nature is (which we rarely see in this book aside from the “bad” guys).

To be fair, this was originally published 25 years ago.  Perhaps Lacy wouldn’t have written the book this way if he wrote it today.  I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on this matter.

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You knew this was coming right?  Though I read The Happiness Project after sharing my thoughts on our happiness idol, it contains some of the same thinking that’s so common to our culture but counter to a biblical worldview.

Though The Happiness Project follows a similar patern to The Year of Living Biblically (which I enjoyed) and Eat, Pray, Love (which I didn’t), it’s different, too.  Author Gretchen Rubin’s goal is happiness, but I felt like that goal was mis-stated or at least two-fold.  Most of her monthly goals dealt with self-improvement, not necessarily happiness (though obviously they can be related).

Interestingly enough, what I found least intersting about this book is the comments she included from her blog.  While I like to read blog comments (of course on my own blog *hint hint* but also on interesting subjects on other blogs), I don’t necessarily want to read them listed out in a book.  Perhaps they added to what she was saying, but I found whole blocks of comments without discussion from Rubin to be distracting and disruptive to the flow of the  book.

While Rubin’s endeavor for greater happiness was an understandable one, she was looking for happiness (or better yet, joy) in all the wrong places.  Nor can we truly change who we are on our own.  True, lasting joy and true, lasting change can only be found when we are in right relation to our Creator.

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“I ask myself at night, ‘Did you do everything today that you could to be the best?’ It’s very hard to answer ‘yes.’ ” – Apolo Ohno

“Give me a used Bible and I will, I think, be able to tell you about a man by the places that are edged with the dirt of seeking fingers.” – East of Eden by John Steinbeck, p. 350

“Anyone who thinks he’s too small to make a difference has never been bit by a mosquito.” – Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, p. 246

” ‘I should have thought that a pack of British boys… would have been able to put up a better show than that.’ ” – Lord of the Flies by William Golding

“On the other hand, women who didn’t marry became old maids, spinsters who slept in the attic, sat in a corner peeling potatoes all day, and were a burden on their families, like our neighbor Old Man Pucket’s sister, Louella.” – Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, p. 39

“When people kill themselves, they think they’re ending the pain but all they’re doing is passing it on to those they leave behind.” – Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, p. 113

“I’d donate a kidney to Jamie without a moment’s hesitation, but I was intensely annoyed if he asked me to make a special stop at the drugstore to pick up shaving cream.” – The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, p. 41

“Some people exude their futures, good or bad.” – East of Eden by John Steinbeck, p. 277

“Money brings its own problems, of course – but money also brings options.  Money can buy childare, a separate bathroom, a vacation, the freedom from arguments over bills – all sorts of things that help stabilize a marriage.” – Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert, p. 148-149

“I had no problem with whatever she used to draw her closer to God…” – Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney, p. 158

“The number of households in America without children reached an all-time high in 2008.” – Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert, p. 149

“A man’s mind can’t stay in time the way his body does.” – East of Eden by John Steinbeck

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“I realized that when everything is stripped away from you and you have nothing, you find out what you really are down deep inside.” – In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham, p. 162

“I can’t believe she ran out of answers before I did.” – Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, p. 14

“…you must also own Religion in his rags, as well as when in his silver slippers; and stand by him, too, when bound in irons, as well as when he walketh the streets with applause.” – Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, p. 92

“Human nature seems to find ways to justify its wrong doing, to move ahead with what serves its self-interest, and then to figure out an explanation so it doesn’t sound so bad.” – In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham, p. 192

“The Cross is God’s answer to the question ‘Why don’t you do something about evil?’ ” – If God is Good by Randy Alcorn, p. 206

“It’s hard to believe the old saying that ‘things happen for a reason’ when the things happening to you are god-awful and you just want them to be over with.” – The Year We Disappeared by Cylin Busby and John Busby, p. 142

“…to my fellow Christians I feel compelled to say [about Islam]: We need to find ways to defuse the raging resentment and hatred that fuels ‘holy war’ and introduce a God who does more than demand rituals–he truly loves us.” – In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham, p. 304

“And I’ve discovered that most people I’m afraid of are actually very friendly.” – When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, p. 26

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“I remembered thinking how hard it was to contemplate death from a comfortable chair.” - The Host by Stephenie Meyer, p. 127

“As will be the case throughout your life, no matter how long or brief [the urge], the choice is, in the end, yours.  Simply bear in mind that most every choice will have consequences, and in this instance those consequences would likely be quite grave.” – Everything Matters! by Ron Currie, Jr., p. 4

“Whether we agree or not, the process of engaging my children in critical examination of the books they read, the television they watch, the films they see, and the video games they play is essential.” – “Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum, p. 48

“We will all become the men and women we strive (or don’t strive) to be.” - Do Hard Things byAlex and Brent Harris, p. 56

“…here in East Carmine curiosity only ends one way.”

“Death?”
“Worse–enlightenment.” – Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, p. 110

“In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer–proof again of the contradictory human being.  So much good, so much evil.  Just add water.” – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, p. 164

“Perhaps we were none of us as rare as we thought.” – The Host by Stephenie Meyer, p. 619

“Forgive me if I have tried to add anything to the one foundation,
if I have unconsciously relied upon my knowledge, experience, deeds and not seen them as filthy rags,
if I have attempted to complete what is perfect in Christ;
May my cry be always, only Jesus! only Jesus!” – “The Life Look” in The Valley of Vision, p. 54

“For a combat soldier, the difference between success and failure is your ability to adapt to your enemy.” – Jack Bauer in 24, season 7, 8:00 AM

“…a human being is a shell made of skin keeping the cells, blood, and chemical components in place.  Very few end up in history books.  Most people succomb and disappear without a trace.” – Character Martin Vanger in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, p. 453

“We’re not like them, Kate.  That’s the entire point of trying to stop them.” – Milligan in The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilious Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart, p. 255

“There is a great gulf between the Christianity that wrestles with whether to worship at the cost of imprisonment and death, and the Christianity that wrestles with whether the kids should play soccer on Sunday morning.” - The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper, p. 164

“I find myself thinking: ‘I didn’t mean to be White, I realy didn’t mean it.’ ” – quote in “Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum, p. 102

“The four of you really think you can stop this.” – Renee Walker

“We have to. It’s as simple as that.” – Jack Bauer, 24, 2:00 PM

“Whom you take out a mortgage with is mostly an accident of geography and economics, and has nothing to do with destiny.” – Everything Matters! by Ron Currie, Jr., p. 62

“Plus, maybe we all felt a bit guilty about leaving him on his own in Hell, even though that’s what he’d wanted.” – Killing Frost by John Marsden, p. 75

“Why do Black youths, in particular, think about themselves in terms of race?  Because that is how the rest of the world thinks of them.” -“Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum, p. 53

“Most of the White people I talk to either have not thought about their race and so don’t feel anything, or have thought about it and felt guilt and shame.  These feelings of guilt and shame are part of the hidden costs of racism.” - “Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum, p. 94

“Yes, Ellie the Fearless was embarrassed to be seen with bad table manners. I think that’s when I knew for sure I wasn’t a natural born terrorist.” – Killing Frost by John Marsden, p. 219

“I knew that I had a choice.  I could give in to my resentment and allow it to dig me into a deeper and deeper hole both psychologically and emotionally, or I could choose to believe what God’s Word says to be true whether I felt it was or not.” – In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham, p. 142

“I stood looking at it thinking how they’d both make good engineers when they were older, then went into a big downer reminding myself that they were unlikely to survive long enough to have the luxury of becoming engineers or anything else.  Becoming a corpse wasn’t much of a future.” – The Night is for Hunting by John Marsden, p. 184

“If man created problems, man can solve them.” – Mitchell Joakim in a Honda commercial

“I am concerned that our reading and our writing is gravitating to the lowest common denominator so completely that the great themes of majesty and nobility and felicity are made to seem trite, puny, pedestrain….In this day and age having nothing at all to say does not disqualify a person from writing a book.  The sad truth is that many authors simply have never learned to reflect substantively on anything.” – Richard Foster in The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper, p. 153

“I woke up each day with nothing to accomplish–nothing at all, except to stay alive.” – In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham, p, 70

“…belief in odd things isn’t against the Rules, as long as it’s done on your own time and you don’t try to convince anyone else.” – Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, p. 40

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I obviously love to learn, which is why I read so much.  Even still, there are times when I enjoy learning more than others.  And this is one of them.

Of the five books I’m reading now (I read across 5 categories: current (since 1950) fiction, classic fiction, biography, spiritual growth, and other nonfiction), all 5 are hard to put down.  I’m enjoying them, and learning, and pondering about many different things, posts to come.  The thought of continuing my formal studies is appealing, until I realize that higher degrees get more specific, not more broad.  There’s not one thing that I want to learn everything about, but there are plenty of things I want to learn a little about.  I want to be well-rounded, not an expert (except maybe in learning).

If I had to choose ONE area to study, I’m not sure what I’d choose.  Nineteenth-century literature, perhaps?  What about you?

Photo by victoriapeckham

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These are the favorite books I’ve read this year (so far I’ve read 94, so there were a lot to choose from!).  For fairness, I only included books that I read for the first time this year.

10. Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

This is the only classic to make it on the list (though there is one other that might be considered a classic).  This was my first Collins book, and I really wasn’t sure what to expect.  Compared to a lot of books written in that time (published in 1860), it’s really easy to read with modern eyes.  It’s part mystery, part romance.  An all-around good read.

9. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

This is the first of 2 children’s books on my list.  Unlike the other title, I don’t really feel like this is a children’s book.  Of course, it’s companion novel, The Giver, is also considered not-suitable for children so that shouldn’t come as a surprise.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book is so much more than a children’s story…and I don’t think children will get the deeper themes without being guided.  If you liked The Giver you would like this one, too, though it isn’t a sequel.  Also reminds me of The Hunger Games.

8. Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley

This is the only non-fiction book on my list.  By far the best non-fiction book I read this year, and probably the best title for Christian women that I’ve ever read.  Easy to read and brings up some great topics.  I was incredibly impressed by this book…you should pick it up!

7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Okay, okay, I know this title is so last year.  Or the year before (or the year before that?).  I had put off reading it because I thought it sounded stupid.  A book about a boy stuck on a boat with a tiger?  Sure that’s a brief synopsis, but it’s SO much more than that.  Just trust me.

6. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

One of 4 Young Adult books on my list.  It’s a story about a 17yo who wakes up from being in a coma for a year with many questions and no one who will answer them.  It’s here because I loved discovering with Jenna the truth of her past and her current situation.  Don’t want to say more and give it away, but it’s highly recommended.

5. In the Name of God by Paula Jolin

Though this is a YA book, I read it at the recommendation of a friend before I was on my YA kick.  It’s the story of a typical teenager in Syria…who plans on being a suicide bomber.  Well researched and presented, revealing that teenagers are teenagers no matter what their situation and have similar struggles.

4. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

So, I guess this is sorta a classic, though it’s still rather young.  Sure, I don’t agree with a lot of Rand’s philosophies (any system based on greed will fail), I love how she presents them here.  She really was a gifted writer.  Though this is a long book, I enjoyed every page (except the 75 page monologue near the end…that got a bit much).  Not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a big reader, I think this is a worthy book to tackle.  If it wasn’t so long, I’d want to re-read it.  In fact, I might just do that, anyway.

3. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This book should be under the tree for every uninitiated middle-grade child…it’s just that good.  Full of adventure and brain puzzles, it’s the story of 4 gifted children (gifted in different ways) who must work together to save the world.  I love how it’s an adventure book, but teaches children that there are adults they can learn from and that they can accomplish more working together.  Really, it’s a treat for all ages, too.

2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Okay, this is no surprise.  I’ve gushed about it before.  The short of it is that Katniss (hate the main character’s name, though) is among 24 teenagers put in an arena and forced to fight to the death.  Won’t say more, but I can tell you I was surprised many times.  Plus, I think it has some pretty interesting, thought-provoking themes in it.  Read it!

1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

This is the book that I read when I was made fun of for reading for the first time.  I suppose it’s the title…it DOES sound like a scientific book, but really.  Calamity physics?  Does that really sound like something real?

When I first reviewed this, I only gave it 4 stars because I just wasn’t sure about it.  I’ve thought about it now for another 6 months, and I do believe it’s earned this spot as the top book this year.  I mean, how many books can make me think about it for MONTHS?  I related to Blue, the main character, and what she was struggling with as she dealt with the death of a beloved teacher and so much more.  The style can be a bit wearing for 500+ pages (written in the over-wrought style of a well-read high schooler) which is why I only gave it 4 stars, but the story itself is well-worth it.  I’ll be re-reading this very soon!

So that’s it for 2009, but I’m looking forward to the good books that lie ahead!

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“Large numbers of books always depressed her, as did people who liked to read large numbers of books.” – Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, p. 159

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” – Abraham Lincoln, quoted in Amen, Amen, Amen by Abby Sher

“And know this: people who seek only happiness never find it.” – Blue in Snow by Orhan Pamuk, p. 350

“I was like a lost moon–my planet destroyed in some cataclysmic, disaster-movie scenario of desolation–that continued, nevertheless, to circle in a tight little orbit around the empty space left behind, ignoring the laws of gravity.” - New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, p. 201

“As people like Stubbs and MAx Carter have taught me, education and piety are not mutually exclusive, and the sooner this school’s higher-ups take this to heart, the sooner Liberty students can go about the business of loving God with their minds.” - The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose, p. 249

“It was so unfair.  I didn’t ask to be white.  I didn’t think I was being braver just because I was white.” – Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, 160

“How did you know about Steampunk?”
“Uh, you mentioned it online somewhere.”
“You’ve been reading my blog. A lot.” – “Random on Purpose,” NCIS: LA (probably how my first conversation with a date would go, minus the Steampunk)

“Suddenly Kira knew that although her door was unlocked, she was not really free.” - Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, p. 153

“I could remember every stupid thing I’d ever said or done, recall them with picture-perfect clarity.  Any time I was feeling low, I’d naturally start to remember other times I felt that way, a hit parade of humiliations coming one after another to my mind.” – Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, 294

“The dictionary says my identity should be all about being separate or distinct, and yet it feels like it is so wrapped up in others.”  - The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

“Hope the French fleas eat you both alive.
And your room smells
And the toilet doesn’t flush
And locals treat you mean
And the service takes too long.” – “Mon Amour” sung by Shakira (I have nothing to be bitter about, but I thought this was funny)

“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” – Psalm 20:7, NASU

“Why, Scarlett!  You must have been reading a newspaper!  I’m surprised at you.  Don’t do it again.  It addles women’s brains.” – Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, p. 331

“I gave you my heart and a sweet love letter
but you gave them right back and said you like her better” – “Average Girl” sung by Emily Osment

“Because it made her happy to think so, she believed he would.” – Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

“But there’s not a coward in the world who doesn’t dream of the day when he might find himself capable of great courage.” – Snow by Orhan Pamuk, p. 350

” ‘What is it about writing for teenagers that leads to so much censorship?’ ….It’s because grown-ups don’t remember what it was like when they were teenagers.  Not really.  They remember something out of a Disney movie and that’s where they want to keep us.” – Liar by Justine Larbalestier, p. 137

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A good book, to me, has some/all of these characteristics:

1.  Great vocabulary. I’m a strong believer in the idea that there is only ONE word that is just right.  Sure, the English language has synonyms, but they have various shades of meaning.  An author who labors to get it right is much appreciated.

2.  Well-crafted sentences. Writing is hard–the little I’ve done has confirmed this–but when it’s done well, it shouldn’t be noticed.  It should seem like the book was birthed whole.

3.  Makes me think. Neither confirms my current thinking nor tells me everything I’ve ever thought was stupid.  Challenges me and brings to light ideas I’ve never thought to question.

4.  Continues to make me think long after I’ve closed the cover for the last time. Most books I’ve almost completely forgotten within a month…I know it’s good if I haven’t.

5.  A well-developed protagonist, one that’s true-to-life.  That means they should have more than one flaw (*ahem* Stephenie Meyer), and can be inconsistent.  Hey, we all are!  It’d also be great if other characters were well-developed, but this one is essential.

6.  Just something special. There should be something about the book that sets it out from the other hundred I’ve read this year.  Not an easy task!

7.  Not too much description. I’m growing in this area, but I still struggle when there are pages of description.  I don’t realize how much I skim these descriptions until I’m listening to a book on tape and space out for minutes at a time (Gone with the Wind, I’m talking about you).

8.  Symbolism. I’m sure there is so much I’m missing in the books I read, but I want to see it.  Not overly obvious (that’s worse!), but it should be there if I have my eyes open.

What makes a good book for you?

Photo by Zitona

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