Friday Mood Recs: 6 works of fiction that explore faith
Books that pose big questions about the nature of doubt and belief
Last week I had the opportunity to talking to Annie B. Jones, owner of an independent bookstore, The Bookshelf, and debut author of the memoir in essays, Ordinary Time, which will be released on Tuesday. You’ll get to hear all of that interview next week, but one thing Annie and I discussed in passing was our interest in fiction that explores questions of faith. I have a very different history with and relationship to faith than Annie (we touch on that in our conversation), but, like her, I very much enjoy fiction that touches on this theme.
I think the reason is simple enough: I have always sought out novels that explore big ideas and consider what it means to be human. Belief and doubt are a foundational part of the human experience, and some of my first favorite books like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Golden Compass were entry points to the kind of grappling I look for in my reading as an adult.
Today, in honor of Passover, Easter, my conversation with Annie, and my final class on Paradise Lost, I’m sharing six novels that explore belief, doubt, and faith with nuance, inquisitiveness, and great storytelling.