No Novels??
Our Sunday School class is just finishing up a study of Pilgrim's Progress -- we will probably finish it next week -- and so we filled out a survey listing some other books that were options for the next to study. The winner was The Screwtape Letters, which makes me happy because it's a fantastic book and it's been a long time since I read through it. Unfortunately, though, it seems as though the choice is going to divide our Sunday School.
I mean that literally: two of older women have said that they won't be returning to the class to study Screwtape. One of them said it was because she didn't like the subject material -- the other agreed that it was partially because of the subject material (she's leery about "messing with the devil") and it was partially because she doesn't like novels. "There are so many good things to read!" she said, implying that novels are not "good things."
This made me extremely sad.
Now, they weren't mean about it. They weren't accusing us of consorting with devils or anything -- they certainly weren't condemning us for wanting to read it. And I suspect, when we're done with Screwtape, if we do a nonfiction book (some Yancy was second on the list, I think) that they'll come back. And I suppose I can understand not really being into Screwtape. I guess. It is kind of different, and I can see maybe being worried about the subject matter. I guess if you didn't know Lewis well enough to know that he is extremely careful about how things are presented, or if all you did was Google the book (which they did) and find out that it's letters between devils, sure, maybe that would make you wary.
I guess.
But not liking novels?? That is something that I will never ever understand. My dad is like that, to some extent -- he's read a few novels, but he mostly prefers nonfiction, including guide books of all sorts.
Now, I'm not anti-nonfiction. I've read my share. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson was particularly interesting and clipped along for me, and I've read my fair share of "world mysteries/supernatural/mysterious historical objects and lost places" kind of books. Those are pretty interesting.
But fiction! That is where the good stuff is. I just can't conceive of not wanting to pick up a story where fantastic things happen in fantastic places to fantastic (or not-so-fantastic) people. No Narnia! No Middle-Earth! No Prydain! No Discworld! No Battle School! No the Land! No Enchanted Forest! No Hogwarts! No London Below! No Harry Dresden Chicago!
Yeah, no. That's not for me. Give me my genre escapist fantastical literature any day. :)
EDIT: Speaking of escapist fantastical literature, I just reviewed some books over here.
I mean that literally: two of older women have said that they won't be returning to the class to study Screwtape. One of them said it was because she didn't like the subject material -- the other agreed that it was partially because of the subject material (she's leery about "messing with the devil") and it was partially because she doesn't like novels. "There are so many good things to read!" she said, implying that novels are not "good things."
This made me extremely sad.
Now, they weren't mean about it. They weren't accusing us of consorting with devils or anything -- they certainly weren't condemning us for wanting to read it. And I suspect, when we're done with Screwtape, if we do a nonfiction book (some Yancy was second on the list, I think) that they'll come back. And I suppose I can understand not really being into Screwtape. I guess. It is kind of different, and I can see maybe being worried about the subject matter. I guess if you didn't know Lewis well enough to know that he is extremely careful about how things are presented, or if all you did was Google the book (which they did) and find out that it's letters between devils, sure, maybe that would make you wary.
I guess.
But not liking novels?? That is something that I will never ever understand. My dad is like that, to some extent -- he's read a few novels, but he mostly prefers nonfiction, including guide books of all sorts.
Now, I'm not anti-nonfiction. I've read my share. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson was particularly interesting and clipped along for me, and I've read my fair share of "world mysteries/supernatural/mysterious historical objects and lost places" kind of books. Those are pretty interesting.
But fiction! That is where the good stuff is. I just can't conceive of not wanting to pick up a story where fantastic things happen in fantastic places to fantastic (or not-so-fantastic) people. No Narnia! No Middle-Earth! No Prydain! No Discworld! No Battle School! No the Land! No Enchanted Forest! No Hogwarts! No London Below! No Harry Dresden Chicago!
Yeah, no. That's not for me. Give me my genre escapist fantastical literature any day. :)
EDIT: Speaking of escapist fantastical literature, I just reviewed some books over here.