The Book Blurb

[Alabaster]

I may be opening myself up for attack, but I ran across something the other day that made me pause. While browsing online recently, I discovered a "Christian" time travel story on Amazon where the Kindle version was a free download. Although it does list a publisher name, it is sold through Amazon Digital, which is the self-publishing arm and not a commercial publishing house. I have been self-publishing my own work for the past decade, so I know that the editing, promotion and everything else is on the author to take care of and set up. This is the first book of a series and it seems to have a great number of good reviews (including being the winner of a Christian book award), but there's one thing that bothered me. In the description of the book, which is written by the author, a rather non-Christian phrase is used to describe what the protagonist becomes in the process of the story.

I had been tempted to download and read the book based upon the reviews, but that one small point in the description stopped me by making me wonder if this sort of "terminology" is also used within the story itself - if the author would use such a descriptive in a blurb that's supposed to draw in potential readers.

Now, I'm over 50 and I'm no prude - neither do I claim to be a perfect Christian - but when a book or story claims to be a Christian tale and uses decidedly non-Christian verbiage to promote it, am I wrong to be hesitant to read it or should I just let it slide as "acceptable"?

I am withholding the specific name of the book and the author. I am not criticizing the author or the book, but I got mixed signals when I read that description.

[Bethany J.]

What was the phrase, exactly? Is it talking about what the protagonist ultimately becomes, what they originally want to be, or what they are during the book but might change to later? Is it presented as a good thing? What is non-Christian about it? The morality? The theology?

Unfortunately I think that sometimes Christian authors feel that using a more worldly way of speaking might hook non-Christian readers into reading their book too.

[Alabaster]

...a time-travel suspense novel that mixes science, history, religion, romance, and suspense. It’s about learning to stand up for yourself, when you just want to be let alone. It’s about making hard decisions. It’s about asking whether life has meaning and whether God exists — and becoming a badass fighter for justice, even if you don’t have the answers.

Boldface is mine. This just seems to be to be so out of place for what is promoted as a Christian novel.

[Kristen]

I don't have a problem with that expression, though I could see where others might. I wouldn't label an entire book unchristian just because it may contain an earthy expression or two. Christianity is anout our theology more than our vocabulary.

This remark would put the author outside the bounds of the CBA, which may be why they self-published. Putting that term in the description seems to me an efficient way of showing that although the author's worldview is Christian, the book isn't meant for those offended by strong language. Makes it easier to say "that one's not for me." Meanwhile, there are some readers who might enjoy such a story. Sometimes I think we whitewash too much.