7 Must Read Christian Fiction Classics
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What makes a book a classic? Wikipedia defines a classic book as one that is “exemplary or noteworthy.” Merriam-Webster says, “serving as a standard of excellence.” I’ve compiled a list of nine Christian fiction books that are serving as models for all Christian authors today. How many have you read?
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Perhaps one of the best known Christian fiction books of our time. Set in the 1950’s gold rush in California, this historical romance is loosely based on the story of Hosea in the Bible. It’s sold over 3 million copies and has been translated into 30 different languages since its release in 1991. In 2020 a film adaptation was announced, which I’m super excited about. I really enjoyed this book and think it will work well on the big screen.
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
If you think all the classics should be old, how about a Christian allegory from 1678? The Pilgrim’s Progress is about Christian, a man on a journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, and is symbolic of a man’s journey through life. John Bunyan was a minister and preacher imprisoned for his beliefs and it was said he began the story during his incarceration. There have been many versions published over the years that update the old English style writing. When shopping for a copy watch for negative reviews on the format and version of the book rather than the actual story. Many versions have illustrations.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
This is a seven book Christian fantasy series published in the 1950’s. An epic tale of good versus evil that’s not just for young readers. Even non-Christians adore this series, though the symbolism may be lost on them. It was also made into a movie series but there’s much more story available in the books.
The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
This novel has been called “beautiful” and “inspirational,” but more importantly, “everything a Christian book should be.” When the main character, a woman named Tandi, is charged with cleaning out a Victorian cottage she finds the prayer boxes of the house’s former owner. What secrets lie in those scraps of paper? I’m seriously tempted to find out as I haven’t read this one yet, but it was on so many of the Christian classics lists I had to include it.
The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
Here’s a quote from the back cover, “The ghosts of his past hold him captive. Her missteps bring her to his door.” I love how Francine Rivers takes broken and imperfect characters and makes beautiful stories with them. This is a redemptive love story about a successful LA artist and his assistant, both with a traumatic past.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
If you’ve never read this one it will surely sound strange to read the description. Screwtape is the devil and he writes a series of letters to his demonic nephew, Wormwood, to help him convert a human. A favorite book of many Christians, this work has been called everything from insightful and thought provoking to deeply humorous.
Christy by Catherine Marshall
For those of you who don’t know, The Christy Awards, which honor excellence in Christian fiction, were named after this historical novel. Catherine Marshall wrote a realistic tale about a young school teacher who travels to a rural community in Tennessee in 1912. It was first published in 1967 and the 50th anniversary edition released in 2017.
I was ecstatic to see this book on Amazon after it had been out of print for years with no ebook version. I’m lucky to have a used hardback version in good shape with a map of Cutter Gap on the inside covers. This book inspired me when I was just beginning to write Christian fiction.
It’s based on the author’s mother’s experiences teaching impoverished children in the Appalachian region. They made it into a television miniseries but it ended on a cliffhanger so I had to track down the book to see what happened in the end.
How do you define a classic book and which books would your list contain? Let us know in the comments below.
