Friday, February 8, 2008

Five For Friday: Spiritual Fiction

Last week I listed five books that have most influenced my theology in some way. This week I thought I'd list five works of fiction that have somehow impressed or impacted me spiritually.

In no particular order . . .

1. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

2. Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
(I could have actually filled each slot with a Lewis book.)

3. The Father Brown Stories of G.K. Chesterton

4. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
(I realize The Brothers Karamazov is a more obvious choice.)

5. Desperation by Stephen King
(Yes, seriously.)

What works of fiction have you found edifying or spiritually powerful? Let me know in the comments.

4 comments:

lindaruth said...

The Lord of the Rings
Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger
Gilead, by Marilynn Robinson
A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving

dle said...

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder - Best work of Christian fiction I've ever read and, sadly, one so few other Christians have. Won the Pulitzer Prize, too.

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis - Forever changed how I view the afterlife. I recommend this to everyone.

The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde - Before his life went off the rails, Wilde penned these amazing stories. If you are not moved by "The Happy Prince," you may already be dead.

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams - "What is real ?" It's a question we all need to answer in a world that puts appearance and glitz before all else.

"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut - A highly cautionary tale about gifts and the people who attempt to subvert them.

Anonymous said...

I think I've mentioned them in a similar context to you, but the 2 books by Fred Faller (A Sword for the Immerland King & Lonama's Map) are deep and thought provoking.

Anonymous said...

.harrison bergeron - required reading in high school and loved it!

.screwtape letters - another c.s. lewis
.atlas shrugged - the killing of initiative and effort
.zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance - not christian, but you asked for it. discussion of quality still sticks with me