Francine Rivers
May. 7th, 2008 05:37 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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Hi, new community. How are you doing? You look lonely.
Okay, I think I'll start with a topic I started discussing on Easter with my friend's grandmother-in-law. We got on the subject of Francine Rivers, and she was saying how she didn't want to read those books because she didn't like the idea of rewriting stories from the Bible with extra details.
I have to say that I have had my own hesitations about that. I've read a handful of Rivers' books (*loved* Redeeming Love), and though I enjoyed the Lineage Series (haven't finished, but have read most), I found myself constantly saying, "Hey.. it doesn't say that.." I mean, I guess it still could have happened, and I get that she's just trying to fill out the story so we can relate to it more, but I don't know. Also, I found myself looking at the character differently (and maybe not in a correct way), based on how she portrayed their personality or motive in their actions. So...yeah. I'm not sure where I stand with that. What do you think?
Also, has anyone read The Atonement Child? I have it on my bookshelf but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Should I hurry or is there no rush?
Okay, I think I'll start with a topic I started discussing on Easter with my friend's grandmother-in-law. We got on the subject of Francine Rivers, and she was saying how she didn't want to read those books because she didn't like the idea of rewriting stories from the Bible with extra details.
I have to say that I have had my own hesitations about that. I've read a handful of Rivers' books (*loved* Redeeming Love), and though I enjoyed the Lineage Series (haven't finished, but have read most), I found myself constantly saying, "Hey.. it doesn't say that.." I mean, I guess it still could have happened, and I get that she's just trying to fill out the story so we can relate to it more, but I don't know. Also, I found myself looking at the character differently (and maybe not in a correct way), based on how she portrayed their personality or motive in their actions. So...yeah. I'm not sure where I stand with that. What do you think?
Also, has anyone read The Atonement Child? I have it on my bookshelf but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Should I hurry or is there no rush?
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Date: 2008-05-08 01:27 am (UTC)Fictionalizing biblical stories is a hard one. I actually haven't cared much for most of the ones done by authors who identify themselves primarily as writing to a Christian market, but I really liked a more secular-market book called The gilded chamber : A novel of Queen Esther by Rebecca Kohn. I think it might be because in a fiction book I'm more interested in the culture and lifestyle than the actual spiritual content of the stories - when I'm studying them for spiritual edification, I read the Bible. :) More secular authors tend, in my experience, to be more focused on getting the historical details right rather than just making everything religious.
I feel as if I'm explaining myself very badly!
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Date: 2008-05-09 12:43 am (UTC)No you're making sense. I mean I'm not sure I agree with all of it (haven't read enough of it) but I understand. :) And now I will write down that book on my reading list.
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Date: 2008-05-08 01:45 am (UTC)Have you read her Mark of the Lion trilogy yet? I feel like I bring those up a lot, but they're my favorite Francine Rivers books. They take place not long after Jesus' death and resurrection, when Christians were being persecuted. The story is fictional, but the history is fascinating.
Another author who has rewritten stories from the Bible is Orson Scott Card. He has a trilogy called Women of Genesis. The first one is about Sarah, the second one is about Rebekah, and the third one (that I haven't read yet) is about Rachel and Leah. They're very well-written, and I liked how he fleshed the stories out. (I think he's better at it than Francine Rivers.) I think he was accurate about a lot of historical things, but I guess I don't know for sure. I mean historical things like the kind of society and stuff.
I understand your hesitations about books like this. For me, I don't like or dislike them as a whole. There are some I enjoy and some I don't. And I always just keep in mind that it's a fictional retelling.
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Date: 2008-05-09 12:46 am (UTC)No, I think I started that trilogy (does it start with the little girl whose family gets killed? I can't remember her name) a few weeks ago but it was depressing and icky. :P So I had to stop it. I'm sure it's good, I just have a weak stomach. Maybe I should give it another try.
Hm, I may have to try an Orson Scott Card book.
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Date: 2008-05-09 01:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-08 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-09 07:54 am (UTC)On a different, but similar note, I enjoy reading fanfiction to some extent...but I've never tried or been able to read fanfiction based on biographies such as the Little House books or the Bible.
Anyway, interesting thoughts.
P.S. I will hopefully post my (meager) April book list on both my journal and here. :-)
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Date: 2008-05-09 07:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-09 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-10 02:52 pm (UTC)I've not read any fanfiction. It always has a weird association for me so I haven't really thought about reading any. What sort of fanfiction do you like?
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Date: 2008-05-27 01:27 am (UTC)Haha! Yeah, you're right. What I was trying to say is that if one's story took place with Biblical events happening "on the side" that's one thing compared to being submersed in the Biblical event. Does that make sense? Probably not. I would think that for an author it would be hard to keep from adding to the Bible...even fictionally. And then I think I'd have a hard time separating the fictional story from the Biblical event when reading my Bible. But that's just me.
Fanfiction CAN be weird. Sometimes it can be inappropriate. Sometimes it's written very, very poorly. Many of them are very mediocre. Only a few are well written, clean, stay somewhat similar to the original characters' character, etc. I generally like reading the English classics--Jane Austen especially.
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Date: 2008-05-27 08:56 pm (UTC)So with the Austen fanfiction, is it just a new story but with characters from some of Austen's books?
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Date: 2008-05-28 04:48 am (UTC)So with the Austen fanfiction, is it just a new story but with characters from some of Austen's books?
There are lots of different ones: New story with some Austen characters; Austen's stories from another perspective (say, Mr. Darcy's point of view versus Lizzy's as Pride and Prejudice is written); continuations; Austen's works in "modern times"; and "What if's" (e.g. What if Lydia had NOT gone to Bath? or What if Darcy's parents were still alive? etc.)
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Date: 2008-05-10 10:05 am (UTC)I second the recommendation above for Orson Scott Card's "Women of Genesis" series! I've always been a bit wary of fiction about biblical characters but something about this series really appealed to me.
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Date: 2008-05-10 02:56 pm (UTC)I'll have to check out Card. Thanks. :)
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Date: 2008-05-10 09:27 pm (UTC)Oh, and this is probably just my snobby, mean side but it really annoys me when authors write things like, "ALL of this was GOD INSPIRED!" about their books, esp. when I end up disliking the book.:-P She didn't use those words but in the preface or something I remember her writing that the characters, plot and theme were all a gift from God and she couldn't claim any of it. And I know I'm supposed to think that is all humble and stuff but since I didn't like the book it just strikes me as a little arrogant. I think Karen Kingsbury said similar things about those books of hers I read and it just kind of irks me. Own your stuff, authors. I think it is great to use your gift of writing for God's glory and acknowledge it is from Him but don't fob your imperfect (by virtue of being human) work off as "ALL GOD!".
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Date: 2008-05-12 05:27 pm (UTC)I don't remember her saying that about it being God-inspired, but I believe you! And I also find that annoying. It's a hard line to give glory to God and yet not sound all "I'm special and God writes through me." I mean, we have a Bible for that. :P
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Date: 2008-05-13 08:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-14 08:06 am (UTC)