I’m reading a book that was recommended to me by several people and that sounded as if it would be a good story. The setting is interesting to me, the writing is adequate, but the plot and the characters seem flat, sort of unrealistic. The best descriptor I could find was “contrived.”
I’m not going to name the book because I don’t like criticizing authors who are living and not rich and might google their name and see my less-than-encouraging and less-than-authorative opinion. However, I will tell you that the book was published by a major Christian publisher. And that puts the book itself in the class of so-called “Christian fiction.” I’ve read some excellent stuff published by Christian publishers in the past couple of years. River Rising by Athol Dickson and Winter Birds by Jamie Langston Turner were as good as any book I read last year and better than most. But often when I read “Christian fiction,” the books, no matter where they’re set or what they’re about, have the same tone and feel to them. It’s something I find difficult to put my finger on exactly, but the plot and the dialog feel contrived, manipulated to make a point about the author’s spiritual beliefs. It feels wrong and annoys me as a Christian; I can only imagine what non-Christians who pick up one of these books think.
I’d like to give specific examples, but again I don’t really want to give the title away. Maybe it won’t be too much to say that the characters in the novel are not only Christians, but they also have specific ideas about how the Christian life should be lived out. And they talk about those ideas —a lot. And I feel as if I’m being taught a Bible study rather than told a story. The plot is basic romance: boy meets girl, complications, resolution, boy gets girl. There are complicating characters and misunderstandings thrown in to lengthen the novel and make a story, and that’s exactly how it feels —as if the minor characters are there to serve and strengthen the action and make the story go. They’re not real. The setting is the best thing the novel has going for it; it’s set in one of those places that I long to visit but probably never will, and I imagine I kept reading partly to get to the descriptions of the place and its rather peculiar customs.
There is probably lots mainstream fiction that is published with these same problems: a contrived plot, flat characters, preachiness. However, I don’t read chick-lit or romance novels, so I guess I don’t read the stuff that would make me have the same complaints about regular bookstore fiction. I still maintain that Christian authors shoul be better, not worse, than their secular counterparts. And even romance can be written with flair and intelligence.
What are your favorite romantic novels, and what is it that distinguishes them from the run-of-mill Harlequin or chick-lit or Christian sermonette novel?
Any of Jane Austen’s books, and most of Trollope’s books. Georgette Heyer’s books (similar in characters and events to Austen). Nevil Shute’s WWII fiction. In all of these there are romantic relationships – eventually. In the meantime there are manners, and daily life, and interactions among people as in real life. I don’t read Harlequins, or Christian sermonettes, but I have read a couple of chick-lits and only enjoyed one of them. Can’t remember the title, though. I like D.E. Stevenson’s books and they could probably be considered romances.
I wish you would give a few more hints…it might be a series I was thinking of getting. Does the plot center around well-known British authors? Maybe you could email me with the title?
I’m reading a historical fiction book about John and Jessie Fremont which is not the greatest writing, but is a fascinating account of their life and marriage, and I may have selfish reasons for finding it interesting, but I think they are deserving of far more fame than they seem to enjoy today, and they had a very romantic life as married people, imagine!
Oh I am with you on the Christian romance books – what is it? I don’t know but I do not like them – I’m bored and wearied by them.
I liked Christie. I will try River Rising by Athol Dickson and Winter Birds by Jamie Langston Turner because you recommend them.
Somehow I think Christian writers should be better. Maybe the problem is with Christian publishers.
Let the Hurricane Roar by Rose Wilder Lane. It’s very short and feels very real. Or, at least, it did when I read it a VERY long time ago! It’s the story of a young couple and the hardships they faced while living life on the prarie.
Oh my! I’ve been lamenting the same thing to my husband! There are so many completely contrived novels out right now. How about this plot line? Boy meets girl-One is a Believer, the other is not-Believer doesn’t want to be unequally yoked, but still develops relationship-Anguish, but still continues relationship for several chapters-Crisis-Crisis resolved-Last chapter the Unbeliever believes-Proposal-Acceptance-Book Ends.
I often find the female writers take this approach more than the male writers, I don’t know why. Maybe that’s why so many of my favorite writers are male. Their characters don’t seem to anguish over drivel and there’s a lot more action. Check out Randy Alcorn, T. Davis Bunn, or Ted Dekker for some wonderful Christian fiction that definitely doesn’t follow a set pattern.
I recommend Elswyth Thane’s WILLIAMSBURG NOVELS, 7 books written in the ’30s and ’40s. They are historical/romantic fiction beginning with the Revolutionary War. They are all about the same family and feel very “real” (I like to reread them just to “visit” the family) and are also very romantic.
Thane’s TRYST is another great one although one of the romantic leads is a ghost, so if that’s problematic for anyone they should skip it.
MRS. MIKE by Benedict and Nancy Freedman — a lot of tragedy (I haven’t read it since I had children) but also very romantic. The characters leap off the pages.
I believe Gladys Hasty Carroll’s AS THE EARTH TURNS was nominated for a Pulitzer in the ’30s. It’s chiefly about a farm family, but there is also a romance for the lead character.
I also second the recommendation of LET THE HURRICANE ROAR by Rose Wilder Lane. A longer story of the same time by Lane is FREE LAND. Another wonderful very romantic story about a Pioneer couple is Loula Grace Erdman’s THE EDGE OF TIME published in 1950.
I think you keyed in on something important in your review when you wrote “They’re not real.” Being able to embrace characters and suspend disbelief, forgetting your reading something someone *wrote*, is so important. Effectively portraying the setting is also a key element.
There is a Harlequin author in particular that I also love, the late Betty Neels. She followed a formula (young English girl falls in love with rich British or Dutch doctor) but she conveys such a wonderful sense of “place” with her British slang, etc. (Neels fans were horrified when some of the titles were reprinted a few years ago with the British terms translated to “American-ese.”) Her books are my “comfort reading.”
Best wishes, Laura