I’m a reader. I read anything and everything. I’m always on the lookout for new authors, and while I enjoy non-fiction, my first love is good fiction. I went to the bookstore tonight and browsed the Christian fiction section and didn’t see anything that jumped out at me. So I browsed the Literature/Fiction section and perused a number of books that had New York Times recommendations and other awards, but I put them down because, so often, I find these books are well written but ultimately devoid of any hope or meaning.

I’ve read at least half a dozen books this year that I had hopes for that about halfway through just got slogged down in despair and meaninglessness, where the denouement consisted of the main character essentially shrugging their shoulders and just accepting the meaninglessness of an accidental life on a rock hurtling aimlessly through space. Blech!

So I’m truly asking for your recommendations for well-written modern fiction that has a bit of hope and faith. And I’m not talking just about “beat you over the head” Christian fiction where you overlook the awful writing in exchange for a good message.

Whether it’s good literature like the beautifully written “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson or in a different way Dean Koontz novels because he has a hope-filled view of life in his stories as well as suspenseful story telling.

So I’m asking for your help in finding decent hope filled fiction with good writing and good stories. Please give your recommendations in the combox because I’m sure I’m not the only one looking for something good and worthwhile to read.