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?

[Betty]

I agree with Anysia. I'm not Christian, and while I don't mind reading Christian fiction if I *knew* it was Christian fiction, I would be very shocked to find myself being preached to suddenly in the middle of a book I was enjoying. I haven't read many Christian fiction, so I don't know if they all 'preach', but the few that I read (because there was so much publicity about it, I got curious, the Left Behind series), preached so excessively that I felt so turned off. Although the premise of the books are really interesting, the preaching was just *too* much. I couldn't finish the books.

On the other hand, books that talked *about* Christianity or had something to do with Christianity, but don't preach, I'm ok with. Like The Red Tent, or some books with characters who are extremely motivated by religion, I can't really think of any specific examples right now, but I've read a lot of books that have Christian themes without being preachy.

Perhaps some books are falsely labelled, which is a shame, but I think having Christian fiction as a genre in itself is important.

[Anysia]

Heh, I read something like the Left Behind series as a kid in the '80s and boy was I mad when I realized what it was (and yes, I realize that there is a continuum of Christian fiction and that the Left Behind series and its ilk are at one end of that continuum).

[Amy]

Ugh. The Left Behind books are why christian fiction has a bad name. ;)
I"m a Christian and I don't like to be preached to in my books either, btw.

[Anysia]

I realize that. I just get enough preaching, subtle and otherwise, in RL that I have a low tolerance for it in fiction, especially when I paid for the book.

[Lilly]

My main concern was just that christian fiction in major bookstores is often neglected or placed in the 'darkest corner', bacause 'God forbid' someone should stumble upon it. Everybody's comments did help me understand clearly, as I knew that must have been the case just didn't really realize that, that christian fiction should be labeled but like Amy said it should be placed next to other types of fiction. It really can be misleading to readers, and it is not only tha case for christian fiction. My store, not only this particular branch, but at least statewide puts Paulo Coehlo's all novels under Art&Religion, General Metaphysical section. Really, if any of you read his work you'll probably laugh but the sad thing is I start to wonder who comes up witht the layout and if they even read books at all.

[Anysia]

Huh. My bookstore puts Paulo Coehlo's novels in with the general fiction.

[Amy]

Good grief. It might also help to have it labeled b/c I was in the store a few months ago and someone was looking for Joel Rosenberg's books. His books were actually shelved in general fiction (I haven't read them but publisher is Tyndale...obviously Christian) and so the store clerk couldn't find it in the Christian section. I was surprised they didn't have his books (I think they sell significantly) and happened upon them in general fiction a little while later.

Okay I don't know if that example illustrates a need for labels or not. ;)

[ForstRose]

After reading through this discussion and from my experiences in bookstores perhaps the problem isn't so much labels or the lack thereof as it is consistency in the labeling process or the "placement" of a specific author, publisher, type of book in the retail world. Just a thought but perhaps that is truly where the confusion lies and somehow I suspect that consistency is something that will be very difficult to manage in this realm as much as we might like to see it happen because I think the "labeling" process is often left up to opinion or demand for the product within that store's area or the chain itself.

[Carrie Runnals Words To Mouth]

Does anyone know where to find Christian genre descriptive guidelines? I've never looked into it and am just interested to know the requirements ~ A link?

[Amy]

I have seen general CBA requirements before...you may feel shocked. :) I"ll try to find it again.