Inspirational and Religious Fiction and Gentle Reads
The term Christian fiction applies to those novels being published by evangelical Protestant
Christian publishers like Bethany House, Word, Thomas Nelson, Crossway,
and Tyndale. While many of these novels have an overtly Christian message,
others are merely well-told stories that lack profanity and references to
sex and violence. Christian fiction covers a wide territory ranging from
these gentle reads to stories of biblical characters to apocalyptic tales
of cosmic good struggling with cosmic evil. [adapted from Westerville Public Library in Ohio].
Note: Click here for Da Vinci Code readalikes and similar.
- Adult Inspirational Fiction Series and Sequels (Mid-Continent Public Library, Independence, MO)
- Organised by author's last name, or if many authors write the series titles,
by the name of the series. Lists books in order within series. Attractive site. This is
the source for Christian fiction series lists. (This link leads to a 139K PDF file.)
- Inspirational Fiction (Irving Public Library, TX)
- Well-organised, attractive list of over 300 authors. "The books listed here cover a wide variety of genres and
types, from traditional inspirational fiction authors ... to thrillers ... and fantasy and science fiction titles.
In addition, many titles address issues of faith from unconventional viewpoints."
Titles are listed in alpha order by author's last name, series are noted. Includes
anthologies. Large list, which continues on another page for Authors I-N
and Authors O-Z.
- What Should I Read Now? Christian Fiction (Tulsa City-County Library, OK)
- Provides titles, series notation, and webcat links for Christian
historical and contemporary fiction and short story collections/anthologies.
The historical fiction is further subdivided into time period/genre: Biblical,
Early Church History, Medieval Times/Middle Ages, Colonial America/Revolutionary War,
Western Frontier Pioneers, European, Victorian Era (Civil War - World War I),
Great Depression, World War II, Mystery, and Other. The contemporary
fiction is subdivided into type: gentle reads, including romance;
and darker Reads, including mystery/suspense, spiritual warfare/apocalyptic,
and science-fiction/fantasy. Hundreds of books listed.
- The Spirit Within: Inspirational Fiction (Duluth Public Library, MN)
- Author and title only for novels/series published by Christian and mainstream
publishers with Christian or inspirational themes. Works by almost 200 authors
listed, from Ginny Aiken (Bellamy's Blossoms series) to Vinita Wright
(Grace at Bender Springs; Velma Still Cooks in Leeway).
- Biblical Characters in Adult Fiction (Lincoln City Libraries, NE)
- Listed by Biblical character (Jesus is omitted), provides author, title, and webcat link for most.
Lists about 45 characters, some of which appear in 10 or more books. Compiled April 2004, updated March 2005.
- Inspirational Fiction in Series (Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Jefferson City, MO)
- Excellent mini-bibliography, lists 27 authors, with series name and titles
in each series and description of series. These wholesome books tell a good story
without sex, violence, or strong language, and reflect strong moral values
and courage in overcoming obstacles. Updated Aug. 2002.
- Inspirational Fiction Series (Dorr Township Library, Dorr, MI)
- Listed by author, series name and titles in order. Over 85 series listed.
- Bread Upon the Waters: Novels of Faith (Lynne M. Kennedy, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY)
- Authors, publication info, and summaries for more than 110 books, from
Lloyd Douglas's Magnificent Obsession (1929) to Hannah Alexander's Silent Pledge (2001, third in a series). Updated April 2002.
- Jesus and Early Christianity in Fiction (Johnson County Library, KS)
- Author, title, webcat link, and summary for about 45 novels based on Bible stories,
from Sholem Asch's The Nazarene to Leonard Wibberley's The Centurion.
- Faith-Based Fiction by African-American Authors (Enoch Pratt Free Library - Baltimore)
- Compiled 2005. About 15 books, published from 2003-2005, with author, title, webcat link, and summary, from
Maxine Billings' A Measure of Faith to Carl Weber's Preacher's Son.
- Inspirational Fiction (San Antonio Public Library, TX)
- Author, title/series name, summary, and publication year for each of 16 books
or series, from June Masters Bacher's Love's Soft Whisper series to Lance Wubbels' Gentle
Hills series.
- Inspirational Fiction: Gentle Reads and Best Christian Recent Fiction (Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, MA)
- "These novels tell heart-warming stories of the lives of good,
faithful people trying to live morally in their worlds. They are simply
told without scenes depicting graphic sex or violence and without using profane
language." Provides author, title, publication data, summaries, and links to catalog information
on each of over 25 titles and series. Also, a list of Top
Ten Christian Fiction Novels of 2000 and of 1999,
all with summaries.
- If you liked Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven ... (Springfield City Library, MA)
- List of 6 fiction and 4 non-fiction books similar to Mitch Albom's books. Only author and title listed. Updated Oct. 2004.
- Contemporary Christian Fiction (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA)
- Author, title, publication info, summary, webcat link for about 15 books, from Delirious Summer by
Ray Blackston to Songbird by Lisa Samson.
- Inspirational Fiction (Fairfax County Public Library, VA)
- Author, title, summary, and webcat link for a dozen books, by authors Meta Jackson, Leisha
Kelly, Randy Alcorn, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Brock and Bodie Thoene, Francine Rivers,
Brad Whittington, Ray Blackston, Dee Henderson, and John B. Olson. Updated Sept. 2004.
- Inspirational Fiction Authors A-C (Jasper County Public Library, IN)
- Authors and titles only. Lists titles/series for about 35 authors whose last names begin with A-C,
followed by pages for D-G,
H-K,
L-M,
N-R,
S-V,
and W-Z.
- Christian Fiction List (Marla Wilckens, Great Falls Public Library - Fiction-L List)
- Author, title, and genre (fantasy, historical, romance, western, etc.) provided for over 80 books or series. Compiled 1996.
- Inspirational Fiction (Shannon R. Salter, Durham County Library, NC)
- Author and title(s), listed by genre: Mystery, Apocalyptic Thriller, Medical Thriller,
Fantasy/Science Fiction, Western, Romance, and Biblical Fiction. April 1998.
Also a separate page, with paragraph-length summaries of 24 novels of
Inspirational Romance (by Shannon Salter, September 2000).
- Notable Christian Novelists (Paula Gray-Overtoom, Monroe County Public Library, IN)
- Lists author and titles(s). Over 40 authors listed, most with multiple titles.
From Randy Alcorn (Lord Foulgrin's Letters, Dominion) to Lori Wick (Sean Donovan, As Time Goes By).
Updated June 2003.
- Fiction That Inspires (Kitchener Public Library, Ontario, Canada)
- Authors and title(s) only for about 65 inspirational novels.
- Women of Faith (Shannon Salter, Durham County Library, NC)
- Provides author, title, summary of each of 15 novels. From The Blue Bottle Club by Penelope
Stokes to Whispers from Yesterday by Robin Lee Hatcher. Compiled Jan. 2000.
- Christian Genre Fiction (Addison Public Library, IL)
- Title, author, and webcatalog link for 2 contemporary romance titles, 6 historical romance series,
5 horror novels, 11 suspense novels, 2 mysteries and a mystery series, 1 science-fiction book,
1 fantasy series, 2 apocalyptic fiction series, all written from
a Christian perspective. Compiled Oct. 2000.
- Historical Christian Fiction (Addison Public Library, IL)
- Author and title for about 50 books by more than 20 writers of Christian historical fiction series (and some single titles). Authors include
Stephen Bly, T. Davis Bunn, Joseph Girzone, Angela Elwell Hunt, Steve Lawhead, Gilbert Morris,
Judith Pella, Francine Rivers, Bodie and Brock Thoene, Sharon Ewell Foster, Jan Karon,
Penelope Stokes, Denise Williamson, and others. Compiled Oct. 2000.
- Fiction with Episcopal Church Background (Jasper County Public Library, IN)
- Authors and titles (with a few annotations) for about 15 novels. Compiled May 2001.
- Catholic Fiction (Jasper County Public Library, IN)
- Authors and titles only (no summaries) for about 20 novels involving the Catholic faith. Compiled May 2002.
- Contemporary Novels with Religious Themes (Jasper County Public Library, IN)
- Authors and titles only (few summaries) for about 25 novels, "written by authors who are not
known for writing about religious subjects." Most have Christian theme, two books have
a "bit of a Buddhist bent." From Patricia Anthony's God's Fires to
Lee Smith's Saving Grace. Compiled Jan. 2000.
- Characters who Learn to be True to Themselves... (Jasper County Public Library, IN)
- Authors and titles only for a dozen books in which characters claim their truth,
from Open House by Elizabeth Berg to A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe. Compiled 2002.
- Christian Fiction: Gentle Reads (Reader's Advice)
- 'Christian books with little or no sex, no violence.' Author, title, and Amazon link for about 65
books (many in series), or just author's name. Fiction titles
from June Master Bacher's Diary of a Loving Heart
to Lori Wick's Californians series.
- Recent Christian Fiction (Vancouver Public Library)
- Author, title, publication year, summary, and webcat link for about a dozen books published from 2001-2003, from
James BeauSeigneur's In his image to Walter Wangerin's Saint Julian. Compiled Nov. 2003.
- Christian Mystery (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA)
- Author, title, publication info, summary, webcat link for about 15 books, from Hideaway by
Hannah Alexander to Unveiling by Suzanne M. Wolfe.
- Christian Westerns (Reader's Advice)
- Author, title, and Amazon link for about 60 books (many in series),
from Ruth Glover's Wildrose series to Marian Wells' Treasure Quest series.
Several Janette Oke series listed. Updated Jan. 2004.
- Christian Romance (Reader's Advice)
- 'Romance novels written from the Christian viewpoint.'
Author, title, and Amazon link for about 200 titles, from
Ginny Aiken's Dellamy's Blossoms series to Lenora Worth's After the Storm. Updated Feb. 2006.
- Authors of Inspirational Fiction aka Gentle Reads (Wheaton Public Library, IL)
- Lists authors, with links to webcatalog, in these categories:
Historical, Contemporary, Scripturally Based, Romance, and Fantasy.
About 25 authors in all.
- Magdalene.org Booklist
- Author, title, publication info, ISBN, comments, summaries, reviews and Amazon links
for about 90 non-fiction and fiction titles focusing on Mary Magdalene.
- If You Like Biblical Characters (Hennepin County Library, MN)
- Author, title, and webcat link for about 15 novels featuring Bible characters.
- Oke, Wick, and Snelling Readalikes (Denise Jeffrey, Fiction-L)
- Lists over 30 authors similar to these authors of Christian fiction/gentle reads,
with some series and titles noted. Compiled Feb. 2000.
- Millennial/Apocalyptic Fiction (Reader's Advice)
- 'Christian fiction featuring the second coming, the end of the world, the rapture, and/or the aftermath.'
Author, title, and Amazon link for about 105 titles (many in series),
from Ken Abraham and Daniel Hart's The Prodigal Project series to Barbara Wood's The Prophetess. "Left Behind"
series and spinoffs are listed separately within list. Updated Nov. 2005.
- What Should I Read Now? Tales of the Apocalypse: End of the World
Fiction (Tulsa City-County Library, OK)
- Provides authors, titles, short summaries, publication years and webcat
links for more than 15 books and series, from Irving Bening's The Messiah Stones
to Maria Doria Russell's The Sparrow and Children of God.
- If You Like Tim LaHaye (Kansas City Public Library)
- Lists author, title, and webcat link for about 15 similar books, from
Hal Lindsey's Blood Moon to Frank Peretti's Visitation.
- If You Like Anita Diamant's The Red Tent (Leane Ellis - Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, MA)
- Books listed by aspect of the novel that might have appealed: Sisterhood (9 books),
Worshipping the Goddess (4 books), and Biblical Overtones and Characters (19 books). Authors,
titles, publication dates, and summaries of each book. Updated July 2001.
- Books of Faith (AART, Rolling Meadows Library, IL)
- Author, title, publication year, page count, and summary for more than 35 novels
involving faith, from Pearl Abraham's The Romance Reader to
Ted Wojtasik's No Strange Fire. Compiled 1998.
- Contemporary Authors Who Write Novels with Religious Themes (Thirza Krohn, Fiction-L)
- Lists over 20 novels with a religious theme, though not necessarily Christian fiction. Includes
Gospel by William Barnhardt, Andrei Codrescu's Messi@h,
Norman Mailer's The Gospel According to the Son, and others. Compiled Nov. 1999.
- Fiction for the Faithful (Des Plaines Public Library, IL)
- Author, title, summary for 15 novels, most involving Christian and Jewish faith,
from The Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham to The Outsider by Penelope Williamson. Compiled Dec. 2002.
- Adult Fiction on Biblical Themes (Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends)
- List from the Quakers of many unusual works that draw from Biblical themes and
stories, including Robert A. Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice (science-fiction satire),
Daniel Berrigan's A Book of Parables, Old Testament stories retold from the
perspective of America of the 1970s, and Elizabeth Hollister Frost's Mary and
the Spinners, which views the birth of Christ obliquely through the
eyes of Mary's childhood friends. Author, title, publication information, and short summary.
- Religion and Beliefs (Auburn Hills Public Library, MI)
- "Fictional stories dealing with religion and beliefs." Author and title only
for about 125 novels, from A. Manette Ansay's Vinegar Hill to
James Wood's The Book Against God. Updated April 2006.
- Quaker Fiction: Anecdotes and Folk Tales (Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends)
- List from the Quakers of about 90 novels featuring Quaker characters or
the Quaker faith, from Marjorie Hill Allee's Judith Lankester
to Kathryn Worth's They Loved to Laugh. Author, title, publication info, page count, and
short summary.
- Mainstream Science Fiction and Fantasy with Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Characters and References (Adherents)
- Extensive and detailed list. Author, title of story or novel, publication year, presentation of
Mormons (positive, negative, mixed), time period in which set, and summary/excerpt. Scroll down for A-C,
then click on continuing pages: D-L,
M-Z, and page 4, which
contains science fiction references to Utah, Key to Latter-day Saint Themes in Orson Scott Card's
Fiction, Classic Latter-day Saint Novels, and a Sampling of Major Science Fiction/Fantasy
Movies Filmed in Utah.
- Mormon Mysteries: Mainstream Mystery Novels Featuring Mormons (Adherents.com Religion in Literature Database)
- "The novels on this list feature Mormons as the protagonist (the detective), as the
antagonist (or possible suspects), or as both." Lists authors of Mormon
mystery and detective novels, and lists fictional detectives in Mormon mystery novels,
as well as summaries and details for some series.
- Mormons In Popular Literature Bibliography: 1979-2000 (Michael Austin)
- Author, title, publication info for over 100 novels in categories of Westerns, Historical Romances,
Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror, True Crime Novels, and Mystery Novels.
- Pagan-Friendly Fiction (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans)
- Lists favourite authors, with info about their books and links to Amazon.
Includes books by Marian Zimmer Bradley, Dion Fortune, Katherine Kurtz,
Mercedes Lackey, Ursula LeGuin, Terry Pratchett, Elizabeth Ann
Scarborough, Starhawk, Sheri S. Tepper, Rosemary Edghill, Elizabeth Goudge.
- Pagan Fiction (Beth's Pagan Stuff)
- Author, title, and summary for more than 75 books in these categories: Pagan-Themed and Mythological Fiction;
Society and Community; Arthurian Fiction; and Faery Fiction. Some YA books mixed in.
Also: Pagan Non-Fiction.
- Great Jewish Fiction (National Yiddish Book Center)
- Author, title, and publication year for the '100 best' Jewish books, from
Tales of Mendele the Book Peddler (1869) by S.Y. Abramovitch to
Selected Poetry by Natan Zakh. Includes books from the 1990s and
this century as well (such as The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by
Michael Chabon).
- Jewish Interest (Northbrook Public Library, IL)
- Author, title, summary for over 80 fiction titles and a dozen mysteries, including books by
Benjamin Zucker, S.Y. Agnon, Joseph Ehrlich, Hortense Calisher, Joshua Henkin, Noah Gordon,
Binnie Kirshenbaum, Bernard Malamud, Amoz Oz, Frederick Reiken, W.G. Sebald, Aryeh Lev Stollman,
Batya Gur, and David Liss.
- Jewish Fiction List (Jo Davies, Salt Lake County Library System)
- Four-page PDF file. Compiled February 2003. "These works of fiction for adults are
written for the most part by Jewish authors and may contain references
to Jewish religion, culture and traditions." Author, title, summary for about 50 books, from Herzog by Saul Bellow
to Louisa by Simone Zelitch.
- Jewish Fiction 1990-2003 (Bloomington Library, IL)
- Author, title, and publication date only for about 105 books, from Dannie Abse's Strange Case of Dr. Simmonds and Dr. Glas
to Burt Zollo's Prisoners.
- Jewish Fiction, not Holocaust Related, for Book Clubs (Amy Cervene, Fiction-L)
- Author/title for about a dozen non-fiction titles and almost 60 fiction titles. Compiled April 2002.
Generally cheerful with no explicit sex or violence,
these books usually endorse traditional values and are often cozy
and domestic in feel.
For more domestic reads, see the Domestic Fiction section.
- Old Fashioned Reads: Books Your Parents and Grandparents (and Maybe You!) Loved (Katherine Hoylo, Moorhead Public Library, Moorhead, MN - Fiction-L List)
- About 100 series listed in order by authors' last names, from Louisa May Alcott to Henry Winterfeld's series, Detectives in Togas.
Also lists 10 more single books.
- Crumpets & Tea: A Celebration of Brit-Literature (Lynne M. Kennedy, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY)
- Author, titles, publication info, and summary for more than 160 books, many in series. These
are "gentle reads," genteel, generally peaceful, with a cozy feel.
From Anthony Trollope's Palliser novels (1865-1880) and Elizabeth von Arnim's Elizabeth and Her German Garden (1898)
to Joan Aiken Hodge's A Death in Two Parts (2000).
- Gentle Reads (State Library of Tasmania)
- Author and title (some with summaries) for books in these subcategories: General fiction (40 books/series/authors),
Family sagas (about 40 authors), Crime (50 series/books), Romance (about 20 authors),
and Non-fiction (7 authors). Updated May 2006.
- Gentle Reads (Sharon Weinberg, Skokie Public Library, IL)
- Author, title, publication year, webcat link for about 35 books without "scenes of graphic violence,
explicit sex, and dysfunctional families" and with "wholesome characters, some
humor, a little romance." From EF Benson's Mapp and Lucia to Effie Leland Wilder's Out
to Pasture: But Not Over the Hill.
- Gentle Fiction (Reader's Advice)
- 'Good stories with no sex and no violence.' Author, title, and Amazon link for about
90 books (many in series), from Bess Streeter Adrich's A Bess Streeter Aldrich Treasury
to Effie Wilder's Fairacres series.
- Humorous Gentle Reads - Fiction with eccentric characters and happy endings (Des Plaines Public Library, IL)
- Author, title, summary for almost 20 novels, from Hens Dancing by
Raffaella Barker to One More Time (...Just for the Fun of It) by Effie Leland Wilder.
Compiled Nov. 2002.
- Village Cozies: Books Set in and about Village Life (Addison Public Library, IL)
- Title, author, summary, and webcatalog link for 13 series, of which 8 are mysteries. Compiled Oct. 2000.
- Gentle Reads V (Wilmette Public Library, IL)
- Author, title, publication year, webcat link, and summary for 11 books, from Elizabeth Buchan's Revenge of the
Middle Aged Woman to Marcia Willett's A Week in Winter.
Also: Gentle Reads VI,
with another 12 books listed. Both lists last revised Aug. 2006.
- Comfort Reading (Suzanne Booker, Monroe County Public Library, IN)
- Author, title(s), webcat links listed for books by about 45 authors, including Jane Austen,
Barbara Pym, Olive Ann Burns, Jan Karon, Rosamunde Pilcher, Angela Thirkell, Michelle Magorian,
Dodie Smith, Miss Read, Bailey White, PG Wodehouse, E.F. Benson, more.
- Country Life (Halton Hills Public Library -- Georgetown, Ontario, CAN)
- Listed by author, titles of novels about life in the country and on the
farm, with links to webcatalog. About 40 books, from Gail
Anderson-Dargatz's The Cure for Death by Lightning to
John Updike's Of the Farm.
- Pastoral Fiction (Reader's Advice)
- 'Peaceful village life, punctuated with heartwarming and
funny episodes.' Explicitly Christian books are labelled. Author, title, and
Amazon link for about 225 titles (many series),
from Elizabeth Adler's Summer in Tuscany to Sheila Williams' The Shade of My Own Tree.
Updated Feb. 2006.
- Heartwarming Novels (Nancy Alexander, Fiction-L)
- Compiled Sept. 2001, many of these are gentle reads. Lists title and author for over 60 novels (no summaries).
- Sweeties: Nice Books for Nice People (Stonnington Library, Victoria, Australia)
- Lists over 50 authors of gentle reads, with webcat links,
from Elizabeth Adler to Kathleen Woodwiss.
- If You Like Jan Karon's Mitford series... (Multnomah County Library, OR)
- Author, title, publication year, summary for more than 25 single titles and series similar to
the Mitford books, from Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series (mysteries) to
Jane Roberts Wood's Lucinda Richards trilogy. Updated Feb. 2006.
- IF YOU LIKE JAN KARON, then you might like ... (San Antonio Public Library, TX)
- Author, title, publication year, summary for over 25 books similar to Karon's, from F. Benson's Make Way for Lucia
to Effie Wilder's Out to Pasture (but not over the hill). These
are more gentle reads than Christian fiction. Sept. 2004.
- Neighbors of Mitford (Central Rappahannock Public Library, VA)
- Author, title, summary, webcat link for 24 books with quirky characters living through
miracles and misery in small towns, from A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry to
The Cape Ann by Faith Sullivan.
- What Should I Read Now? If you like Jan Karon... (Tulsa City-County Library, OK)
- Provides titles, short summaries, and webcat links for books by over 20 authors
similar to Karon, including Walter Wangerin, Faith Sullivan, Mary Sheepshanks,
Effie Leland Wilder, Ann Purser, Nancy Mitford, Jon Hassler, Clare Harkness,
Sandra Dallas, etc.
- If You Like Jan Karon's Mitford Books ... (Duluth Public Library, MN)
- Author and title only for about 50 novels/series similar to the Mitford series
books, from Bess Aldrich's Mother Mason to
Vinita Hampton Wright's Velma Still Cooks in Leeway.
- There's No Place Like Jan Karon's Mitford... (St. Charles Public Library, IL)
- ...but some of these come close. List of about two dozen books (series noted) with ambiance
similar to the Mitford series, from Make Way for Lucia by E. F. Benson
to Out to Pasture by Effie Wilder. Compiled May 1999.
- If You Like Jan Karon ... (Glen Ellyn Public Library, IL)
- Author and title listed for 11 books similar to Karon's Mitford series,
from Clyde Edgerton's Walking Across Egypt to Beverly Lewis's The Crossroad.
- What Should I Read Now? If you like Rosamunde Pilcher... (Tulsa City-County Library, OK)
- Provides titles, short summaries, and webcat links for books by over 25 authors
similar to Pilcher's The Shell Seekers, including
Annabel Davis-Goff, Sarah Woodhouse, Mary Wesley, Eugenia Price,
Patricia Veryan, Grace Livingston Hill, Hazel Hucker,
Elizabeth Cadell, Katie Fforde, and others.
