I’ve recently come to realize that a lot of the fiction books I’ve read have a lot of morally objectionable content. This Lent I’m making a very concerted effort to clean up the “grey” areas of my life and especially to only read things that are truly Christian. So, I’ve gotten rid of all my questionable books.
Now, I’m kind of at a loss as to where to find good, Christian literature. I know there are a lot of Christian authors out there, but are there Catholic ones as well? Some of the so-called Christian authors still write about divorcees remarrying and other such things Protestants allow as if it’s a good thing. I simply don’t want to read that kind of stuff anymore.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
You can read my novels! See the website in my signature. Two of the main characters in the novels are devout, practicing Catholics.
My novels are about a synchronized skating team (figure skating), and the target audience is older children, teens, and young adults, as well as the parents of figure skaters. But people who know nothing about figure skating like my novels because of the plots, the characters, and the romance!
The second novel in the series (
The Capitol Ghost) is a Rosary story.
I recently read a wonderful and inspiring missionary story by LeAnne Hardy called
The Wooden Ox. It’s written by a Protestant, but I see nothing in the book that Catholics would find objectionable, and much that they would appreciate. I especially like the way the book imparts such dignity to the African characters, and I also love the way the book affirms the worth of every person, including the “bad guys.” The book is based on the author’s missionary experiences in Africa. Here’s a link to her website:
leannehardy.net/
Note: I’ve read several of Ms. Hardy’s books, too, and like them. Not Catholic, but very faith-filled and nothing anti-Catholic. All pro-Jesus and pro-family.
Have you ever read
The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill? This book is such a modern classic. Yes, again, it’s about Protestants, but there is nothing in the book that would offend Catholics. Indeed, it’s one of the first Protesant books that I read as a teenager where I saw an affirmation of Catholicism; when Corrie is released from the concentration camp, she gives the Bible to a Catholic woman who she knows will continue to lead the Bible readings and prayer times in the barracks.
Yes, I realize that these recommendations are not the “classic” Catholic novels, like the stuff by Flannery O’Connor, or the works of the saints. That kind of stuff is “literary” and very good to read. The books I’ve suggested are much lighter reading, meant to enjoy and be inspired by, not to “improve your mind!” (Although my books are actually written at an 8th grade reading level, compared to Harry Potter books which are written at a 6th grade reading level.)
