Into the Fire

Interesting comments from Dayle and Kay yesterday concerning their personal evaluations of who they are as readers. Dayle prefers the shorter novels, likes the satisfaction of quick progress page-wise. Kay likes a good hook to lock her into the story quickly. They both were able to easily define what they don’t like. And isn’t that the simpler task sometimes?

I find it much easier to say I don’t like Historicals, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Speculative, and Lits. Granted, that covers a lot of books, but those are the novels I don’t want to read. However, the one historical I finally read, after a zillion (at least) people told me of its greatness, was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. And to my surprise, it was one of the best books I have ever read. Few writers can equal the accomplishment of this story. I can rarely say this about novels, but I will say two things: This book is anointed by the Spirit of God, and it is a modern day classic. If you can set aside all prejudices as I did to read this novel, you will be blessed. My husband even read this book—you guys out there—there is no way he would read a typical romance. Give him Robert Liparulo or Frank Peretti. He is not ashamed to say he read Redeeming Love or to tell people what a great novel it is. Powerful story.

There are those novels which we absolutely love—sometimes inexplicably. Something about a particular story just resonates with us, and we are lost in the story for days after reading it. Over at “A Christian Worldview of Fiction”, Becky Miller reviewed Lawhead’s Scarlet for the CSFF Blog Tour. She gave it a good review—and she’s always very specific in her analysis of a book. However, she concluded with questioning herself as to why she didn’t LOVE the book. We might be able to figure it out with some and articulate it with others, but sometimes it’s that intangible something which either makes it a personal classic or leaves it wanting . . . whatever it is that we needed and it didn’t quite provide. We liked the book, but we didn’t love the book.

When you read as many as I often do, that will be the case more often than not. And some we will decide we don’t like, and most of the time we’ll know why. But not always. Intangibles work both ways.

It’s a given that one of your favorites will be on someone else’s “worst” list. When Stephen King referred to William Faulkner as a genius, I almost forgot every good thing he’d previously said about the craft in his autobiographical/manual On Writing. I have never liked Faulkner—one of the hardest authors I’ve ever had to read. And Kay mentioned Dickens. Fortunately, my literature classes didn’t offer his work because when I finally picked up a book of his to check it out, I doubt I could have plowed through it.

When we’re writing, the intangibles are a factor as well. They’re there in our hearts, but will they come out on the page? We finish a scene with a smile, knowing that the intangibles showed up. We’re pleased and satisfied that our hearts have spoken. It’s like scoring for an athlete or finishing a stirring composition for a musician. That certain something is accomplished, and it feels just right.

And those intangibles vary from person to person. What grabs one reader will bore another and vice versa. Oh well. We know them when we see them even if we can’t quite articulate what they are. And we miss them when they’re not in evidence even when we’re not sure what they are.

Father, you have something for everyone. Every need can be provided for in you. So sad when people refuse to look at what you freely offer. Jesus, you are the answer to the human conundrum. We desperately need you. Holy Spirit, continue to lead us closer to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

* How Is Kristy? [11/27/07]
She had her best day yesterday and her best night last night. She has not had a “breakout pain” in over 35 hours. Praise God!!! She is not recovering enough to blog yet, but we are still believing for that to happen soon.
She has an oncologist consultation on Friday. Radiation will follow soon. Doctors say we must wait a brief time after surgery for the brain to heal to best receive the radiation and chemotherapy.

Keep praying for Kristy…. for us.*