Chrisitan Fiction - unjust label?

[Lilly]

I was just wondering why christian ficiton is labeled this way and if it is right to do that. I do read an awful lot. It is my addiciton of sorts. I also try not to limit myself to just one genre because I would be missing a whole variety of good writing if I did. Among the genres that I do enjoy is christian fiction. Sadly, had not worked in a major bookstore, I never would have known that such books even existed. Why? Because they are placed at the very corner of the store, together with all other religious and metaphysical books, including bibles, Jewish writings, buddhism, hinduism, Western philosophy, etc.
Let me tell you, a lot of books under christian fiction are great thrillers, amazing historical novels and good mysteries. I think that they should be placed accordingly. I mean when you go shopping for thrillers you will notice that there are many genres in there: mysteries, suspense, detective, action thrillers, medical thrillers, psychological thrillers, all in one. The same with literary fiction; historical, chick lit, classics, contemporary, etc. Why shouldn't christian fiction be among them?

[Antonette]

I work in a bookstore as well, and our Christin fiction titles are housed within fiction, mystery and thriller, etc. That's something that you should ask store management. Often times it's the decision for the corporate office, not within the store itself.

I agree, it should be within the genre, not in a separate section. I believe that the reason for the Christin label is so that people who specifically read that genre, rather than "secular" fiction, etc can identify it, especially if they may not be aware of a specific author's tendency to write non-secular fiction. And, on the opposite end, there are people who would prefer NOT to read fiction with Christin themes in it. Not sure if I am right, just taking a guess here.

[Bookish Ruth]

I think a big part of it is what Antonette pointed out. While I'm content to browse a bookstore for hours on end, my mother is not. She wants to get in and get out, and will go straight to the section she's interested in. So if she was there to pick up a Christian fiction book and had to look for it outside that section, she might go home empty-handed.

I do think that Christian fiction should be more prominently featured. Several of the bookstores near me are pretty good about this, and I appreciate that. I've also noticed that some of the bigger retail stores like Target do have Christian fiction mixed in with secular fiction. I saw Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake mixed in with the other historical novels not too long ago -- there were other Christian books there as well, but that's the only title I can recall. I don't know whether that's intentional on their part or if it's just that they don't specialize in books and thus don't realize that they have Christian fiction mixed with secular.

[Lilly]

Maybe it is just this particular chainstore that I worked at. I am glad however that you guys do agree with me that there definitely are some gems within the genre. I think thet christian shouldn't be off-putting because a lot of those books are really about the kindness of human heart, struggles we all go through, etc. The only thing common to them all and different from other genres is that there is no profanity.

[Amy]

I love Christian fiction! Actually, I was just reading another blog post about the same problem with Christian music. It would be nice if it could be mixed in. Of course, when I asked blog readers if they wanted me to label books as Christian or not, they pretty much all did. So I guess people want the labels.

[Lori]

I totally agree with you on this. I also wish that Christian books were displayed in other stores besides the big book stores. When I go to shop for groceries - I always check out the books - but Christian fiction is never among them. That's not fair!

[Deborah]

Brandilyn Collins wrote on her blog today about how some publishing houses are doing just that, blending Christian Fiction with mainstream, there's a link to Publisher's Weekly article about it

http://forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/2008/11/mainstream-houses-and...

[Amy]

Thanks for the link Deborah and I'm glad Nicole Seitz's book is one that will be marketed to a general market. I loved Trouble the Water and thought it could have reached a broader audience.

[Lilly]

Nice article Deborah. I agree. besides, I'm not saying that the label should not be there but at least that it should be dispalyed where fiction is not like in a very very major bookstore under Art & Religion in the dark corner of the store no one ever visits.

[Anysia]

This likely isn't going to be popular, but here goes:

Christian fiction is a genre in and of itself and it should be labelled that way. If you approach the world from a Christian world view, then it may not stand out as sufficiently different from other genres to merit separation but as someone who does not approach the world that way I don't want to buy one by accident. I would be very annoyed to have spent money on one where it isn't apparent from the imprint, the description, or the first few pages. Depending on the mix on the shelves, I would also be annoyed if I kept pulling books down off the thriller shelves only to find out it was Christian fiction when I was not in the Christian section.

I'm not saying that it must be a separate section, but it must be clearly marked and it should not overwhelm the genre that it is shelved with if it is mixed in.

[Amy]

I see what you're saying, but if the book is not at all didactic or even discussing God much--if at all (Trouble the Water or Shape of Mercy come to mind) then it would be nice if they were mixed in....which is where PW is coming from, I think.

[Lilly]

Don't worry about your response not being popular Anysia. I appreciate your opinion. I think it does have valid points. That's what I think is great about the reading world. Everyone is entitled to have an opinion and evrybody's opinions count.
Besides it always adds spice to the discussion.
Thanks.

[Anysia]

I think that the labelling has to be done very, very carefully. I would agree that some Christian fiction has been falsely labelled as such by the publisher, much as some black authors in the US are forced into the niche of 'black fiction' (or whatever it is called, I forget the exact genre name) when it really is not. But the Christian label is often there for a reason.