What are some good Christian fiction books?

Question

I'm serious about this and please don't say the Bible, because the Bible is fact. I want fiction.

young adult/adult(16+)

Answer 1

Here are some sites with recommendations/authors

http://www.acfw.com/index.shtml
http://www.christianfictionreview.com/
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flbklists/Christian.html

Answer 2

C.S. Lewis is good. I think The Chronicles of Narnia can be enjoyed by kids, teens, and adults. His space trilogy is good too if you like science fiction. The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce are good if you like allegorical fiction.

Janette Oke is probably one of my few favorites in the category of Christian fiction. She writes historical fiction/romance. Basically pioneer stories with a few exceptions. I love the Canadian West series. Hallmark has made three movies from her books: Love Comes Softly, Love's Enduring Promise, Love's Long Journey. The fourth in the series, Love's Abiding Joy, is coming to 'select' theatres in the upcoming weeks.

Frank Peretti is another big name in the field of Christian fiction. I love most of his work, but not all of it. This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, The Prophet, The Oath, The Visitation, etc.

Other writers may be good as well...I'm not saying these are the only three good ones...but they are the ones I'm most familiar with.

As far as individual titles go...

I think every christian should read and reread Pilgrim's Progress. I enjoy it each and every time, and often learn or notice something new.

Hinds feet for high places by Hannah Hurnard is another allegorical fiction book you might enjoy reading. I have read it twice.

Answer 3

Some of the most beautiful and moving Christian fiction books have been by Francine Rivers.
Particularly her 'Mark of the Lion' Trilogy- A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn. I have never been more moved as a reader-they just made me want to be a better person.
Another great book of hers is called "The Sin Eater" and it is a story that revolves around Appalachian and European spiritual beliefs and how Christ can change people.
My sister actually is a great fan of all her books too. She read "Redeeming Love"- a take on the story of Hosea- borrowed it and NEVER gave it back! =)
She does particularly well when she writes about some of the lesser known(or sometimes well known) people in the Bible. She has a wonderful way of giving life to all of them, (Johnathan, Amos, Caleb, Aaron, Haggai,-In the Sons of Encouragement Series and Ruth, Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba and Mary in the Lineage of Grace Series) beyond what we have read or even thought about- and manages to be faithful to the Bible and not take thing to far out there.

I *really* *really* recommend her- not just to you, but to anyone else who might be interested in reading some good Christian fiction-she is one of the best writer's out there-PERIOD.
I know you will love them!

Answer 4

C.S. Lewis is your man. the Space Trilogy, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Screwtape Letters, take your pick. and you know Tolkien was a Christian, right? he and Lewis were friends. and he's got some underlying Christian themes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Madeleine L'Engle's got some good stuff, Many Waters is my favorite. and if you're looking for more direct stuff, Hind's Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard.

hope that helps. :)

Answer 5

Others have mentioned the inimitable C S Lewis, and Tolkien!

You don't say what type of fiction you're interested in, but I would recommend Elizabeth Goudge. She's not read that much these days, as her style is gentle and descriptive, but her "Little White Horse", a children's book which won the Carnegie Medal, is one of the most beautiful books I've read - and not only for children. Here's what some readers and critics have to say about her:

"She is always on the side of honor, of family, of decency, of her religious beliefs. Yes, her characters struggle sometimes with such issues as male/female relationships but she never allows them to become tawdry. She lifts up the human spirit always. She builds, does not tear down."

"I wish she was still alive, she reminds me very much of my great aunties, they were wonderful, wise , mischievious women.
How did other people discover her, as her books are 'old' for my age (20's)."

"Several of you ask what the various books are about. They are about good and evil, faith, compassion, forgiveness, love and the exploration into the depths of the soul."
http://www.gnooks.com/discussion/elizabeth+goudge.html

"Linnets and Valerians", another children's book, is also wonderful. Elizabeth Goudge writes about mystery and magic in a religious way, about the mystery and magic in life. Here's a site with some more information on her books:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/elizabeth-goudge/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Goudge

Answer 6

"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson.

I'm not religious but I recently read this book which I consider to be fairly religious and also very enjoyable. The book is written from the perspective of an old preacher who wants to impart to his very young son the story of his life, his family and the wisdom he has gained over the years. It is pretty sad too because the preacher knows that he is dying and does not have any legacy for his young son, aside from this story.
The pace of the book is pretty slow and I suspect that it might be more interesting to older people who can identify with the preacher's situation.

Answer 7

Taylor Caldwell's

"The Listener"

"No One Hears But Him"

"Your Sins and Mine"

"Dialogues With the Devil"

I read these initally when in my teens and they're still great stories. The first two are short-story compilations.

Answer 8

C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Answer 9

What age group are you looking for? I really enjoyed the Elizabeth Gail series when I was younger. and everyone is right, C.S. Lewis is amazing.

This website looks helpful. http://christian-fiction-online.blogspot.com/

Answer 10

1. The pilgrim's progress
2. Murder in the cathedral
3. The devil and his disciple
4. Just like Jesus
5. The Screwtape letters

Answer 11

The Da Vinci Code... hahaha jk jk!

"The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis is very very good...