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Good Religious Fiction


Basilisa Marie

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Basilisa Marie

Does anyone know of any good religious fiction books or authors? Yes, we all know about Tolkien and Lewis and O'Connor, but I'm talking about contemporary ones.  Do they exist?  I'm having a hard time finding Catholic authors who write good fiction (fiction that doesn't necessarily have to be religious in theme), and can't really find any fiction with a religious theme that doesn't completely suck.  

 

So any ideas? 

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brandelynmarie

I'm actually fond of Michael D. O'Brien, especially Sophia House & Father Elijah. Fiorella De Maria has also written Poor Banished Children. Apparently, I like novels that explore Redemption. ;)

Edited by brandelynmarie
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Not The Philosopher

Gene Wolfe is a great author, though the Catholicism in his work is generally more implicit than explicit.

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For the teen demographic there is G.P. Taylor. I have heard about a couple publishing companies intending to exclusively publish Catholic fiction of a Waugh variety, by which they mean the Catholic perspective, rather than straight up books about religion. Cannot recall which companies those are at the moment.

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I agree with Michael O'Brien! He is an amazing writer, but his books are pretty long and deep depending on how old you are and how much of a reader you are. (I read one of his books first when I was much too young for it and it was still great, but I don't think I got as much out of it!) Also, if you would be interested in fairy-tales retold and set in modern times etc, with super Catholic themes and content, you should read some books by Regina Doman. They do go in order, and the first two are my favorites, although the others are not far behind! The first is called The Shadow of the Bear. Here is a link where you can read the first chapter or so if you are interested! Here

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ChristinaTherese

I've heard of, but not actually read, a trilogy by Brian J. Gail with the books called Motherless, Childless, and Fatherless. I assume he's written other Catholic fiction too.

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I like a lot of Madeleine L'Engle.... especially The Wind in the Door.

 

Rumer Godden (In this House of Brede; Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy)

 

A little dated now, but The Cardinal by Robinson is wonderful.... and will help you know a lot more about the early 20th Century papacy.....and life of a priest/bishop/cardinal.....

 

Summit Dominican nuns have some good novels on their website -- loved Brother Petroc's Return.....

 

Teri Rios The Sixteenth Pelican....

 

The Father Dowling mysteries were wonderful.....

 

 

 

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I like a lot of Madeleine L'Engle.... especially The Wind in the Door.

 

Rumer Godden (In this House of Brede; Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy)

 

A little dated now, but The Cardinal by Robinson is wonderful.... and will help you know a lot more about the early 20th Century papacy.....and life of a priest/bishop/cardinal.....

 

Summit Dominican nuns have some good novels on their website -- loved Brother Petroc's Return.....

 

Teri Rios The Sixteenth Pelican....

 

The Father Dowling mysteries were wonderful.....

 

I freaking LOVE L'Engle's stuff!

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Religious fiction?

 

Luther comes to mind...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bazinga.jpg

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Arms of Love and Surrender by Carmen Marcoux. The first one is the most romantic, clean, faith filled book I have ever read! The second one is more geared towards discernment but still romantic. All of my friends who have read them LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!!

And I second Shadow of the Bear. :)

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Not really what you are asking for since it is not contemporary at all, but Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter is great, and beautifully translated into English. The cycle follows the life of Kristin Lavransdatter, a fictitious Norwegian woman living in the 14th century. Kristin grows up in Sil in Gudbrandsdalen, the daughter of a well-respected and affluent farmer. She experiences a number of conflicts in her relationships with her parents, and her husband Erlend, in medieval Norway. She finds comfort and conciliation in her Catholic faith.

 

Undset, a Catholic convert, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928.

Edited by Odilia
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