Skip to main content

Preferences and Style

rose placed on book with book pages curled in to form a heart

Since we all have things we tend to gravitate toward, I thought I would compile some of my observations about my library and tastes from over the years.

For Christian fiction, I have noticed that:

  • I have a penchant toward getting series, especially for historical fiction. And due to being a completionist, I try to get as many backlist titles as I can.
  • I am growing a small collection of suspense books to offset the amount of romance that I read, but at the end of the day, I still like the warm and fuzzies (although some romances are definitely set against grittier themes).
  • I have some auto-buy authors, but I am realizing that I am quickly running out of space on my bookshelves. I appreciate the new releases; however, I am likely still trying to catch up!
  • I am starting to read more from independent authors, especially due to Kindle Unlimited. It has definitely been a way to find more Christian authors, and I appreciate that I don't have to worry about availability through the library.
  • I am finding that more and more contemporary titles seem to incorporate things that I would not necessarily have envisioned within Christian books. I understand that some authors are becoming cross-over authors for broader appeal, but there are still some things that are surprising to see from time-to-time, given the Christian worldview. As a result, I am more often second-guessing my contemporary fiction purchases whereas for historical fiction, I don't have to scrutinize my decisions as much.

For Christian non-fiction, I have noticed that:

  • I deeply enjoy reading books on apologetics. This stems from being introduced to The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel at a young age, and appreciating books more centered on logic and facts than on emotions.
  • I have a lot of books on cross-cultural relations due to my passion for this topic. There has definitely been more books on racial relations now than existed a few decades ago when I was writing my theses about the subject.
  • I am starting to add more books about contemporary issues, like the aforementioned. Since a lot of the Christian non-fiction books I have are from my time in Bible college and seminary, finding updated books has kept me a little more current with the social issues we're facing.
  • I have a sizeable amount of Christian books related to work, leadership, productivity, organization, and so forth due to professional development funds and gifts from over the years. I have not read all of them, but I am grateful that I get to have a Christian perspective on these topics.
  • I also have more biographies than I realized! I used to think this was a small section based on a few gifted books from authors, but it has been steadily growing. I think this may be attributed to the inspiration behind the book, 50 People Every Christian Should Know by Warren Wiersbe.

There you have it; a brief glimpse of my evolving library. My tastes will likely continue to change, but it's nice to be able to see my preferences as a snapshot in time.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Theological Backgrounds

Have you ever wondered about the theological background of authors? I am sometimes curious, especially if there are things that pop up in their books that make me pay attention (either positively or negatively). What I've found is that it's not always easy to find out. Some authors will openly share what church or denomination they belong to, whereas others don't seem to mention it—which for privacy concerns, I completely understand. In terms of how important this information may be for readers, or not at all for some, it does make me think about the role that this could play when deciding which books to read and buy. On the one hand, I think not specifically knowing which theological stream an author comes from but still being aware that they fall within the broader evangelical umbrella is fine with me. There's so much to learn as believers and I wouldn't want to be limited to only simply what I know. On the other hand, not knowing much beyond "Christian"...
2 comments
Read more

Review: Rebuilding His Trust

This is the third book that I chose for the  HQN Shameless Romantics   Library Reading Challenge  this month and this time, I get to read a new-to-me author. Rebuilding His Trust by Jenna Mindel intrigued me as I am largely unfamiliar with equine therapy; however, after reading about it, it sounds like a fascinating field to work in. I love that we get to meet little Tommy and see how Pete and Bella—the horses—play just as important a role in this book. Many thanks to  Harlequin Books  and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Their surprising connection  could be the key to a second chance. Jace Moore has been afraid to love since losing his parents as a teen. But when he meets equine therapist Meredith Lewis and her horse Bella, something shifts inside him. Soon, constructing her indoor riding arena turns into volunteering with her therapy program j...
Post a Comment
Read more

Diverse Stories

One of the things I've been challenging myself to do this year has been to read more Christian books written by authors from other countries. I love that the body of Christ spans the four corners of the world and that we get to benefit from hearing so many different perspectives. I've also appreciated getting to know some amazing authors and readers online from other nations and continents as it's enriched my understanding of how Christians experience life. It helps me realize that the views I take for granted may only be limited to where I am situated, geographically and culturally. I haven't read all of the authors below yet, but here are a few Christian fiction authors who write from outside of North America if you're interested in reading more: Africa Ann J. David Ivy Emerson Enewerome Anna Jensen Tope Omotosho Vida Li Sik Asia Joanna Alonzo Joy Crain Australasia Narelle Atkins Liz Chapman Amanda Deed Jenny Glazebrook Iola Goulton Jessica Kate Bessie Le Couteur ...
2 comments
Read more