Into the Fire

So. I've been pondering lately as to why I've been reading so many secular/general market novels. Outside of Vince Flynn's thrillers, I didn't read much outside of Christian fiction. In fact, if you go back far enough in this blog, you'll find a post about why I read Christian fiction exclusively. And the reasons I gave then still apply now except that I've read more general market novels in the last two years than I have since forever – or thereabouts. 

Anyway, here's the reason for my reading choices of late. I cannot find many thrillers in Christian fiction. I can find those novels that marketing gurus have hyped as thrillers but rarely are. The two best Christian novels I've read in the last two years are The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers and Chasing Angels by Karin Kaufman. That's not to say I haven't read some good cozy mysteries, but as good as they are, they're not really my thing. There are other Christian authors whose books I always read, but some of my favorites haven't produced a novel for a considerable amount of time.

When I begin a general market novel, if it descends rather quickly into explicit sex scenes, I'm done. Waste of time/money. I don't like the cussing/swearing which if prevalent instead of occasional, and the story hasn't grabbed me, I'm done. Same waste of time/money. And there have been those novels without a doubt. Regrettably. However, there has been no shortage of good thrillers from Mark Dawson's John Milton Series and two thoroughly intriguing mysteries from his Atticus Priest Series. J. B. Turner's Jon Reznick Series has provided excellent thrillers. Brad Thor's Scot Harvath Series is another multi-book jackpot for thriller readers, Harvath being a little harder and courser emotionally than Rapp. Yes, they all contain profanity, some stories more than others. Maybe two of all their multi-books combined veer into a somewhat explicit sexual encounter which can easily be skipped over. 

The main thing that's disappointing about general market material is the inherent outlook of the main characters. Most, if not all, have no faith in anything or anyone but themselves. In the thriller genre this is mostly because the hero has had to rely on his unique skills throughout his career, usually has a clear definition in his pysche of good v. evil and has no qualms about eliminating evil – particularly Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp which is what, in my opinion, sets him apart from most thriller heroes. He has a moral code and he's not anti-God. 

So that's what I've been pondering lately . . . 

Father, help me to do as you ask, direct, and show me to do. Nothing is as important to me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Please, help me to be all you designed me to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.