Into the Fire

Okay. I’ve given you two novel reviews in the past two weeks which spelled out why the books didn’t work for me. And I meant really didn’t work for me. However, as is predictable according to my own renditions of the “average” reader, there were those who loved the books. In spite of this, my prediction for these particular novels is that they will not produce large sales. Not that I wish this for these authors: not at all.

Writers are the harshest critics—especially within the genres they write. It’s because they’ve learned to spot all the weaknesses, often forgetting the “average” reader doesn’t even notice what writers see as obvious flaws. The whole publishing world passed on The Shack—and, yes, I know I keep bringing up this little novel. All of them decided it wasn’t written well enough to attach their publisher’s name to it (and they couldn’t endorse some of the God-concepts portrayed in the story). The Shack was a masterpiece compared to the last novel I read. What the publishers as a whole failed to recognize was The Shack offered unique ideas to describe characteristics of God which created buzz, controversy, and a new openness as to how God might be perceived. For a spiritually hungry world and for some starving, legalistic Christians, the novel gave them some profound ideas to consider for amplification of their tight little less-than-supernatural God-world while creating an opportunity to go deeper into the Word to determine what they truly believed.

Yet, while professionals pound the websites and hammer the wannabes at conferences telling them how they must perfect their craft and hone their skills—which is excellent advice—they go and publish novels which do not demonstrate this instruction. And then when a not so well written novel which they all passed on tops the bestseller lists, it blows their theories or images or whatever it is they’re trying to achieve all to well . . . who knows? To add to that “they” produce books which are equal to the claims of “poorly written” and promote them as if they rank right up there with the best of the lot.

Hmmm.

God, you don’t change. You are perfect. You don’t lie or manipulate. You are holy and righteous. I’m so glad, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.