Christian fiction recommendations?

[thepenitent]

I'm going to have a little time for pleasure reading over the holidays and I was thinking about some fiction. The only reading I've had time for lately is preparing for a Bible study group on the book of Luke. I'd like to get my head out of lexicons and commentaries and enjoy something I can relax with. I tried the Ted Dekker books and got bored quick with them, too much fantasy and not enough doctrine. I tried a Peretti book someone gave me and thought it was OK. I just haven't ever read much Christian fiction but that's what I'm in the mood for. Something with a good story, deep doctrine and keeps the pages turning. Any suggestions?

[HisLeast]

This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are both pretty cool stories.

[awestruckchild]

Have you read any of Joel C. Rosenbergs fiction? I have enjoyed it.

Also, "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis was good and I think most people find something they can really relate to in it.

[CoffeeCat]

- The Christ Commission by Og Mandino

- At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

- The Breaking of Ezra Riley by John Moore

- This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti


All of those are great in their own ways. I'd recommend at least looking them up.

[TrustingFollower]

Try Francine Rivers, her work will get you thinking and she bases her stuff from the bible. I have read most everything she has written. Most of her stuff will get you thinking about what you truly believe.

[awestruckchild]

I think I remember reading something of hers...do you remember any titles - one like..."And the Shofar Blew" or something like that?

[TrustingFollower]

Here is a link to her website.

http://www.francinerivers.com/books.asp

The Mark of the Lion series is wonderful. It starts out slow, but I missed many nights sleep after they got going because I couldn't put it down to go to bed.

Redeeming Love is based on the book of Hosea in the bible.

Atonement Child will get you think about your own life and what you would do in that situation. I plan on rereading some of these again.

[Bethany67]

I'd recommend two by Walter Wangerin Jr.

'The Book of God' is a retelling of the entire Bible in novel form.

'Paul' is (unsurprisingly) a novel about Paul but it does a superb job of relating the events of Acts to the writing of his epistles, and it brings all the NT characters to life. This is easily the best Christian fiction I've read; I find a lot of it rather naff and cheesy, but this guy is writing accessible literature of such quality that I wouldn't be ashamed to lend it to non-Christians.

[Gulah Papyrus]

My favorite Perretti book was The Oath...right now I am reading Linda Hall Black Ice and I like it so far...I recently read Deadline by Randy Alcorn and enjoyed that as well.

You can't go wrong with C.S.Lewis.

Also Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is one of the great novels of all time IMHO. If you haven't read it, do.

[Bethany67]

I enjoyed Safely Home by Randy Alcorn with its insight into the Chinese churches and their persecution.

[kayte]

I definitely second Safely Home - as well as Deadline and Dominion. All excellent page turners. (Randy Alcorn.)

Wisdom Hunter by Randal Arthur is another favorite in my library.

Dale Cramer is a fabulous story teller. I'd recommend Bad Ground as the first option on his work.

My favorite Frank Peretti books are The Prophet, The Oath and Monster.

[AngelAuthor]

Bodie & Brock Thoene are good writers. They do a series about the life of Christ (fictionalized), in which characters from Scripture are given stories (like the leper that was healed, and the blind man). You come to know them well and care a lot about them, and it's interesting to read about this "Yeshua" whom everyone is talking about through their eyes, then they encounter Him and are healed.

Very good books.

[Bob Carabbio]

I found "The Shack" to be extremely good - thought provoking.

The Chronicles of Narnia are ALWAYS good. The "Visitation" was my favorite Peretti - never cared for Dekker - don't see anything "Christian" about his stuff.

And of course "Pilgrim's Progress" is timeless and goes DEEPER every time you read it.

[A820djd]

Real life stories would be much more interesting don't you think? Also how will you be able to tell fact from fiction?

[TrustingFollower]

Real life stories would be much more interesting don't you think? Also how will you be able to tell fact from fiction?

Dude, we already know the difference that is why this thread is asking to suggestions on Christian fiction books.