As a book reviewer who is also a Christian, I know my readers may include other Christ-followers. My blog will not be for everyone. My opinions often reflect a moral compass others do not respect or follow. Mostly, I shy away from books that delve into compromising content. I'm convinced some readers are clamoring for wholesome book recommendations and I will do all I can to assist those readers.
However, I am also a writer-in-training. I seek books that teach while I'm entertained. Not every skillful writer shares my personal convictions, and not every book I read is crystal clean. I desire to follow Philippians 4:8, which says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true... honest... just... pure... lovely... of good report, if there be any virtue... any praise, think on these things." (KJV) Yet, sometimes I will skim through compromising content if I discern something of value from the topic it covers or the premise it explores.
At the moment, I am reading a few books that fit this description. So, while I try to avoid venturing into troublesome territory, I still hope to give a heads-up to readers who might take offense to such content in one of my book recommendations or reviews. Thus, I'm adding a new tag to help readers make their reading decisions. I will use a system similar to traffic symbols. Since most of what I read IS clean, I won't bother to supply a content caution with a green book, and will probably never review a red book. Still, I hope to give guidance on books I consider yellow territory. I will label these with a yellow book and designate the cautionary content: drugs, language, sex, or violence:
Content Caution: 📒 - drugs, language, sex and violence
I am reading just such a book right now. Despite all of those cautions, the subject is worth exploring, and the writing is outstanding.
I apologize, in advance, if I ever encourage you to read a book you end up regretting because the content was not as clean as you had hoped (from a blogger dedicated to seeking clean reads). What I value (examples of skilled writing) may not be something you value enough to wade into dishonorable details. Still, there are writers I applaud despite their decision to muddy the waters with unwholesome text. Plus, there are often books I would love to run through a washing machine to salvage the brilliant colors minus the filth. Maybe one day publishers will grasp this reality and offer sanitized versions of popular polluted books. Wouldn't that be fabulous!
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