I did a booksigning at Borders in Lithonia, GA a couple of weekends ago.  One of the folks who stopped to visit with me had purchased a copy of Victoria Christopher Murray’s Joy.  When I saw the book, I immediately thought of the ending, which I thought was flat-out wonderful.  I get emotional thinking about it. It was the perfect ending for a very good book.  If you’ve read it, you know what I mean.  If you haven’t read it, I can’t tell you the ending.  All I’ll say is that it relates to the title.

What books have you read that have endings that were memorable for you?  Let’s make this memorable, as in warm and emotional, as well as memorable, as in shocking or surprising, and memorable, as in disappointing.  Just so you know many of the Oprah books had disappointing endings for me.  I’m thinking of one right now but I can’t remember the title.  Note that just because a book has a disappointing ending doesn’t mean that it’s a bad book.

So what say ye?  What books have you read with memorable endings?

Today is Open Mic Day for Readers.  You’re welcome (and encouraged) to post Comments about anything that’s on your mind related to books and reading.  You can Comment on books you like, don’t like, the last book you read, the book you’re reading next, great web sites for readers, anything about reading.  You can even ask questions about my books, past and future.  The only restriction is that the questions should be from a reader’s perspective (and shouldn’t give away any major plot points of books!).

Have at it!  I look forward to reading your comments when I get back from the Soul Expressions Author Tour.

I’ve gotten on the audiobook bandwagon so I’ve been listening to quite a few books during my daily commute and other driving trips.  Through this process, I’ve gotten to know and fall in love with a new author: Jan Karon.  Now I know she’s not new to lots of peope, and though I’d heard of her Mitford series, I’d never read one.  Well, I’m on my second book now and I’m absolutely in love.

To be honest, I’ve had to sit back and wonder why I’m in love.  You know why?  Because she has the best characters in the world and the guy who does the reading for her audiobooks does each one of them justice.  I can’t explain how taken I am with Mitord and its people.  I also stand in awe of Karon’s grasp of scripture.  If you haven’t read any of these books, I strongly suggest you give them a chance.

They’re not drama-filled in way of many of our books today but they provide a glimpse into the big heart of a elderly priest (rector) and his bumbling but endearing congregation.  I want to write that kind of book.   Father Tim is a wonderful character who embodies the love of Christ in a very “real” way.  There is a lot of discussion today about writing Christian fiction that is “real.”  Well, nobody gets more real than Karon, but she pulls it off in such a clever and sympatheic way.

I’ve been wondering if I’ve read anyone who does what Karon does and it occurred to me that Pat “Sister Betty” G’Orge Walker does.  Pat’s stories are endearing because of the quirky characters in much the same way Karon’s Mitford series is.  Both authors use the frailities and contradictions and hypocrisies in the lives of Christians to show what “true religion” is. Pat’s books are funny, almost satirical, tales of church people.  You laugh a lot in Karon’s books but they’re not satire.

Don’t get my wrong; the authors are telling different stories but I believe they have the same heart.  The kind of heart that can look lovingly on a flawed people and show the wonderous power of God.  You can tell both authors love and embrace their flawed characters, too, which makes their stories even more compelling.

If you haven’t read both authors, you must.  While you can start with any book in the Mitford series (I started around book six but went back to one), I recommend starting with book 1, Home at Mitford.  With Pat, I think you can start anywhere.  Her 2007 book, Crusin’ on Desperation, was a definite keeper, and according to Publishers Weekly so is the new one, Somewhat Saved.  I’ve already put it on order at Amazon.

What can I say?  I want to do what they do.  They make me proud to write Christian fiction.

Enjoy your week!

Angela

P.S. You’ll notice that I didn’t make an excuse for the long delay in posting.  Well, I’m apologizing for it now, not making an excuse.  Thanks for continuing to drop by.

I don’t normally endorse books on this blog. One of the reasons is that I have a lot of writer friends and I’d feel badly if I endorsed one person’s book and didn’t endorse another’s. I’m going to break my rule today and talk about a new book by Jacquelin Thomas, Simply Divine, her first young adult Christian fiction title. Simply Divine is an important book because there aren’t a lot of books targetted at this group of youngsters. I’ve already purchased a copy for myself and my niece. Why don’t you pick up a copy or purchase one for a young lady you know? I hope to discuss the book with my niece when we finish so that should be good.

Note that Simply Divine is the first in a series of YA books that Jacquelin is doing. The next one is titled, Divine Confidential, and will be out in February.

I had planned to keep you all updated with my fiction reading, but guess what? I’m not reading much fiction these days. I’m a pretty avid reader so this is strange for me. I think it has something to do with the 90 Bible reading plan. By the way, I’ll have the 90 Day post up on Wednesday.

Anyway, I just find that I don’t have as much time, or as much interest, in reading fiction as I did before. Now that’s a bit problematic since I’m a firm believer that good writers read a lot. So I’m going to try to get it at least a couple of books a month. My next two are going to be Defining Moments by Jacquelin Thomas and Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney. Claudia’s a new author to watch. Look for her book in July. I’m special so I have an early copy in galley form. 🙂

Speaking of new authors, one of my fellow Walk Worthy Press authors, Tiffany L. Warren (What a Sistah Should Do) is a finalist in Cush City’s New Author Contest. You can see the full list of nominees and vote HERE.

My web counter tells me that this web site gets over 200 visitors (1600 hits) per day and I want to hear from a lot of you. I’m going to devote a blog entry a week for you to make yourself known, so help me out here. I want to find out if that counter is really working, or if those counts are way, way off. So just click on Comments and tell me what you’re reading, or have read, lately. I really do want to know.

Question for the week: What are you reading?

Okay, I need some help as I ponder the question, What makes an Angela Benson book? So I’m looking to help from the experts–you. Why do you read my books? What is it about them that makes you want to read them? If you’ve read more than one, what makes you keep coming back for more?

I’m sorting through all these questions myself as I try to understand my own writing and I wondered if you, as a reader, see things the way I do. Please share your thoughts with me. There’s no prize for this, but you’ll have my heart-felt appreciation. That and five dollars might get you a latte. 🙂 Thanks.

NOTE: You don’t have to register for the site to enter your comment. Just select the Comment link and write away!

I love to read! I admit it. And I love talking to people about books. I don’t get to do it much, because as an author, I feel uneasy giving public commentary on the work of others. And I won’t do it here on this blog. What I will do follow in the steps of LaShaunda Hoffman and tell you what I’m reading, every now and then. I’ll just list the books with no commentary. Of course, you’re free to comment.

Because I read so widely, I’m going to restrict my list to Christian fiction titles by authors who describe their work as Christian fiction. My first reads for 2006 are/were:

All Things Hidden, Judy Candis
Shades of Gray, Jacqueline Thomas
Made of Honor, Marilynn Griffith
Sammy on Vacation, Robin Hardy