reviewsbyerin

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If you've followed my blog for a while, you know my favorite genre is historical. Just take a look at my left sidebar, where it shows I've used the historical tag 343 times—far more than any other! I do like contemporary stories, but I really need them to have some substance. What I mean by that is I rarely read contemporary books that are all fluff and romance. I love some complicated situations and layers of emotion. Here's why:

1. Real life is complicated. Mine is often way more complicated than I like. I'm a 'no drama llama,' but life just gets messy with relationships and responsibilities sometimes.

2. We can relate to the struggles of the characters. Not only emotional and cultural issues, but everyday inconveniences like cell phones dying or text messages going to the wrong person.

3. Stories help us know we are not alone. None of us have it all together, and we all desperately need encouragement from others—maybe even from fictional characters.

4. Stories can assist in processing current culture. Modern day issues bring up a whole host of things that we need to be thinking and talking about, and fiction can start the discussion.

5. We can marvel over modern joys. Contemporary characters can receive e-mails and texts and use FaceTime. These and other conveniences allow for new dimensions of storytelling.

6. They show God's faithfulness through today's lens. Sometimes we can fall into thinking that God doesn't move or direct or provide the way He did in the past. This isn't true! He is just as present and all-sufficient as ever. Stories that point to Him through gritty hardships can give hope and encouragement and remind us to keep our eyes on Him.

Here are some authors I've enjoyed who have brought complicated stories to life in a way that blessed me. Click on the covers or their names below to explore their Amazon pages.