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Have you read any good Christian fiction lately? Whether your answer is "Yes! Let me tell you about the great book I just finished reading!" or "HA! Isn't that an oxymoron?" I have a challenge for you!The Christy Awards are given annually, "recognizing excellence in Christian fiction written by contemporary authors and highlighting the breadth and diversity of Christian fiction." I have previously used the list of nominations and winners to find thought-provoking novels with well-developed characters for my reading list and to find new or new-to-me Christian authors to challenge and inspire my faith. So now I'm inviting you to join me!
The Christy Challenge is simple: Visit the The Christy Award site and take a look at the award nominations for 2007 or prior years. Pick one of the nominated books (or more if you want) from any of the genres and read it in the next month, then report back on your blog or in the comments here to let everyone know what you thought. I especially encourage those of you who are skeptical that you could possibly find any Christian novels worth reading to have a go! You might just find (as I did!) that your assumptions about Christian fiction are based on misconceptions and unfair generalizations. And if you're already a regular reader of Christian fiction, you might discover a new favorite author or two.
The challenge has started and will be open until July 31. Check back here for updates on the challenge, as I'm going to try and get a few interviews with some of this year's nominees. I'm also going to give away one of the nominated books! Anyone who reads a book nominated for a Christy Award in any year during the challenge and provides a brief review will be eligible for the drawing (please don't just review one you've read previously). During the last week of the challenge, I'll make a final post where you can leave a comment and link to your review.
Let me know in the comments here or by email if you're interested in participating, and please help spread the word! You can use the button above if you'd like to promote The Christy Challenge on your blog.
Update #1
Lisa Samson interview
Watching the Tree Limbs review
Mary E. DeMuth interview
Dwelling Places review
Where Mercy Flows review
Robin Jones Gunn interview
William Henry Is a Fine Name review
Go here to enter the drawing and link to your review.
28 comments:
I'm game! After all, I just never seem to find anything I want to read...NOT! ;)
Elysa
P.s. This is a great idea!
Shauna---May I post your challenge at my blog? Not just the button, but what you wrote out...crediting it to you of course. I'm thinking that it will get people's attention more than if I just do the button. I won't if you don't want me to. I would of course link it to your blog.
Just let me know,
Elysa
Its me...AGAIN! Which of the Christy nominees have YOU read? I have read about half of them. Some of the "first" novels sound very interesting. I'm especially intrigued by the title, WILLIAM HENRY IS A FINE NAME.
Ooops, not half, about a fourth. I've read about half in the genres I like and then just a sprinkling in the ones I'm not so into right now. I used to devour Romance and Historical fiction but for some reason I'm just not into those styles at present.
Okay, I'm shutting my trap now, or in this case stiling my digits, and leaving you alone! :)
"May I post your challenge at my blog?"
Of course, Elysa!
I plan to post about the books I've read or link to the ones I've reviewed previously.
Thanks for the invitation to participate. This is a great idea. I'm in, and I will post about it in the next couple of days. Thanks!
I'm in too. I just returned from vacation and so I would love to join :)
~Heather
I'm in! I just ordered Levi's Will, River Rising, and Winter Birds...all from the 2006 list.
Jill S (I am definitely one of those who often thought great Christian fiction was an oxymoron!)
I'm in! I'll post a link on my blog and pick my book(s) by the end of this week...
Jill---WINTER BIRDS is one of my all time favorite books so I hope you enjoy it. Let me warn you, its VERY slow in the beginning. Its supposed to be that way. Its about a woman who is basically dead except for her body. She's gone to relatives house to have her bare basics provided for til she just passes on. But she has NO idea what's in store for her. I got to the end and thought "what a beautiful story".
Thanks for the tip, Elysa. I actually gave up on Winter Birds when I started reading it last year, but maybe I'll have another go at it!
I'm up at
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/2007/06/christy-challenge.html
This should be fun...
It ends on July 31st, right??
It was going to be July 7, but I think I will keep it open until the end of July since I am going to be reading several instead of one myself and probably won't finish them all by then. So yes, July 31 it is!
love the idea of this challenge as i'm a new-convert to christian fiction! :)
i linked to your challenge at my blog:
www.smithical.com
found your blog through Rocks in my Dryer...
~liz
I would enjoy reading some Christian fiction that may (hopefully) be good. I does seem a little "romance-y" for my taste.
I'll post soon and let you know....
How fun! I'll put a link up on my blog in a day or two! Great idea. :)
I found your site through bloghopping. I'd LOVE to join. I've read some past Christy winners, and I was impressed. Can I include past reads, too? ;)
I love Christian fiction. I just ordered my book choice online. I'll post about the challenge in the next day or two. Great idea!
just wanted to say...I'm in...thanks for hosting!
blessings, mamabright :-)
You ROCK for doing this! I'm thankful you're making this challenge. I've read several of the books (and wrote one of them). The ones I've read are tremendous. So, enjoy!
The Liz Curtis Higgs Scottish Highland books are absolutely the best. I loved them!! I would recommend them to all! It has a great story and you get to travel Scotland and see and hear all the sounds!!
Hi! I found your blog through Lisa Samson's blog. I think this is a challenge I can take. I ALWAYS need a good excuse to read.
Carrie
This sounds like great fun. I'd love to participate!!!
I'm in! I have Straight up on hold at the library already, so I'll start with that one, but I'd like to get two in so I'll post on my blog once I decide (probably in the next day or two!)
I ALWAYS add to my reading list from the Christy award-winners. Unfortunately, I'm just working WAY too much right now! Erggggh...anyway, it's such a great idea, and perhaps I can join in later.
As part of your challenge, I've now started THIS HEAVY SILENCE by Nicole Mazzarella. She was an award winner for 2006. I'm only a chapter or two into it but so far its very good. I'll update when I finish it.
Shauna---DEFINITELY give WINTER BIRDS another try. It does start slow and dry, that's because the protagonist's life is SLOW AND DRY. But as her life changes, so does the story. This book didn't win a Christy for nuttin', I can guarantee you that!:)
Shauna, I found out just today that you hosted this challenge! It looks great. If you decide to do another challenge like this (or any other for that matter) make sure you visit my blog A Novel Challenge and let me know so I can support your challenge!
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