Summer is nearly upon us! And who doesn’t love to crack open a good book on a warm, summer day? One of the things I love about faith formation is that there are so many influences that can help shape and grow our faith, including the arts and literature.
As Anglicans, our theology is deeply incarnational, seeing God at work within the world instead of apart from it. Reading fiction is a wonderful way to help us grow in seeing God’s grace and redemption in unexpected places, even in the face of moral complexity and questions. Studies have shown that reading literary fiction also increases our capacity for empathy, as we engage in the perspective of people who are different from us. Finally, reading fiction can be a wonderful way to enter deep, sacred spaces where doubt, faith, failure, and beauty dwell together within faith.
In anticipation of the lazy days of summer, I have been collecting recommendations for fiction books that people from across the diocese self-report to have helped form their faith. These suggestions come from friends and colleagues, as well as from folks who responded openly or via email to my query on the diocesan Facebook page.
Before you dive into one of these books, I propose that you find out a bit more about it to determine if it is something you’d enjoy. Please note that I have not read all of these books (only a few, to be honest!), nor is this list exhaustive of what was recommended to me. It is simply a broad sampling of suggestions, which I hope will spark your imagination and encourage you to choose some summer reading this year that is not only engaging but also helps deepen your faith.
————————
Christian Fiction and Allegory
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Son of Laughter by Frederick Buechner
Classical Fiction
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
Mystery and Suspense
Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
Conclave by Robert Harris
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Literary Fiction
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven
Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Dark Fantasy
Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
The Stand by Stephen King
Contemplation in Chaos