Many fiction readers have a grid for deciding which novels to read (or avoid). Here are seven benchmarks I’ve found helpful. 1. I read whatever a family member recommends. Most recently that included a novel by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature. It featured 238 pages of contemplation, solitary activity, minimal dialogue, and […]
Category: Fiction
What would Jesus say if He sat down next to me?*
“I’m nothing like Jesus,” Larry asserted. “I’m not even close to being like Him.” “You’re closer than you think, Larry. I can see Jesus in your life! You think about Him, you act on your convictions, you talk about Him to your friends and neighbors, and you demonstrated Him to me when I was just […]
Seven reasons to stop reading a novel
Randall Payleitner reads more than I do, and the books he recommends are always worth reading. Here are his thoughts on what’s not worth reading. (1) It has sustained periods of boringness. Plenty of good books have slow spots, but if you’re fighting sleep or reading pages at a time without retention — maybe it’s […]
How to stop reading a novel
A novel may be a friend, companion, and traveling partner — but it’s not a person. If it isn’t working out, let it go! No one will be hurt, and you’ll have more time for the next one. Here are two ways to walk away from a novel — and tomorrow we’ll explore seven reasons […]
What to do with racism in novels
The Last of the Mohicans. A tale of adventure, resolve . . . and scathing invective heaped upon the Hurons! Racial derogation isn’t easy to read. When some character in a novel slurs a people group, it makes you wince. That doesn’t mean the story isn’t worth reading. It means we need to know how […]
