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Christianity Today, February, 2009

My Top 5 Fiction Books for the Soul

James Wilhoit | posted 3/02/2009 10:52AM

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The Way of a Pilgrim
Anonymous

The protagonist discovers the Jesus Prayer on his quest across 19th-century Russia to learn to pray continually. He shows us a way of praying that saturates our lives without taking time away from our routine activities.

* * *

Hannah Coulter
Wendell Berry

This book celebrates the "old ways" of living, in which God, family, community, and "place" are central. You leave it more likely to find contentment in the ordinary and to honor the relationships you've been given.

* * *

The Pilgrim's Progress
John Bunyan

You cannot help but see yourself in the struggles and victories of Christian, the main character. Bunyan understood the lure of false gospels such as legalism, and provided a helpful mirror in which to see our own struggles.

* * *

In This House of Brede
Rumer Godden

This is a masterfully written story of a 40-something woman with a successful government career who enters an English Benedictine monastery. It sounds a call to holiness that reminds us that we all have tools for spiritual growth at our disposal.

* * *

The Chosen
Chaim Potok

This is a compelling story of friendship between two deeply devout Jewish young men—one "liberal" and one "conservative"—that helps us see what it means to have spiritual integrity and yet compassionately and respectfully engage with friends of differing faiths.

James Wilhoit is professor of Christian Education at Wheaton College.

Related Elsewhere:

Previous Top 5 lists have featured managing your money, devotionals, how character shapes belief, food, Atheism, China, Presidents, World Christianity, Ancient-Future Faith, the Civil Rights Era, Social Justice, Church History, Popular Culture, the Civil War, Apologetics, Atheism, and Sex.

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February 2009, Vol. 53, No. 2

Comments (5)

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Linda

March 03, 2009 4:38pm

What in the world is Amish fiction

Stephanie of Asphalt Eden

March 03, 2009 12:00pm

I'd add Saul Bellow's "Henderson the Rain King." It's not specifically a religious book, but it really speaks to soul-searching and our humanity. I don't want to give it away but there's this great switch in the main character's thought patterns where he learns to look outside of himself. Along those same lines, Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," takes an interesting look at a man trying to make sense of life and faith. Am really excited to hear about Kerouac's "lost novel"::: http://asphalteden.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-kerouac-novel-about- sea.html

March 02, 2009 6:09pm

I wish the list would have been longer as I've read most of these (and thoroughly agree they should be included on a best list). I agree with Pennie that Karon and L'Engel are wonderful authors and need to be included on someone's list (our own, perhaps?). I would recommend "Chasing Fireflies" and "When Crickets Cry" by Charles Martin. He has written other books and even a newer one; however, these two are his best, in my opinion.

LastDazeMan

March 02, 2009 5:58pm

Why always looking backwards? Why are all these book looking back for some lost ideal? Is it not possible that there is a future that is not a reflection of some glorified past? I would prefer fiction that shows what could be rather than what once was. So much retreating from the world rather than transforming it.

Pennie

March 02, 2009 5:23pm

I would add Jan Karon's books about Father Tim (all of them) and Madeleine L'Engel's novels including A Severed Wasp and the series about the Austin family.

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