Let me be clear about one thing: I loved getting my English degree. I loved my professors and how they helped me to sharpen my skills as a writer and a critical reader. I loved getting to have discussions with and learn from people who thought differently from me. Most of all, I loved being in a community of people who care as much as I do about the stories we tell. That being said, I always felt as if literary academics and I were not quite on the same page (no pun intended). As the years have gone on, so has my struggle to put into words the exact…
-
-
Judging Books by Their Covers, Part 2: Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book Every Time
In spite of the age-old adage, we all have to find what we like to read somehow, and covers give you the first taste of a book. From the more obvious elements like the title and cover art to more subtle aspects like the shape, size, and even texture, the title is your handshake and the cover is your interview. And as any marketer will tell you, you don’t have more than a few seconds to either wow readers or kiss them goodbye. There are lots of books in this world, after all, and they don’t have time to give too many second chances. I’ve already written about my top…
-
The Silence of the Lambs: My Review 32 Years Later
In case you live under a rock, MAJOR CONTENT WARNING. Also just a very long article.
-
“Christian Fiction” vs. Faith in Fiction (and Why I Prefer the Latter)
Christian fiction sounds pretty straightforward. You would think that the quickest way to recognize whether a book fits in that genre would be to ask the question, “If you ran into God in the middle of this novel, how surprised would you be to see him?” If you’re not surprised at all, you’re probably reading Christian fiction. If he took you considerably by surprise, you’re probably in a different section. Right? But that’s not the case. Even if you don’t regularly read Christian fiction, let’s walk down that aisle. What would you expect to see? You’ve got your Amish romance section (a weirdly specific niche, but it’s a thing), your…