Yesterday, Rachelle Gardner wrote a blog post titled Should We Label Christian Fiction? in which she addresses a growing controversy over free e-book downloads by readers who aren’t aware that the books they are downloading are “Christian” in nature and are offended by the evangelical tone of the stories. Some readers felt they were being mislead because the books were not labeled as “Christian” and insisted that the books should be clearly labeled as such.

From Rachelle’s response, I don’t think she is advocating that Christian novels should be required to be labeled as “Christian,” though she does not address the subject specifically. She does, however, point out that she is not surprised by readers’ reactions and turns the table suggesting a Muslim novel falling unsuspecting into the hands of a Christian would be equally upsetting.

But wait, there's more: It’s all about being honest

I caught up with my friend Tom Plaster last summer and asked him what he was reading. Tom has a rather eclectic taste in literature and a passion for reading. He told of a couple books he was reading, one was fiction told from the point of view of a dog. The other explored ancient history inspired by a recent trip to Rome.

Listen to You Can’t Judge a Book: Racing in the Rain

First an update

See photos and video on Out of My Mind

What a week! Last Sunday we got our first few inches of snow in Olympia for 2012. (For photos see January 15 - 18 posts on Out of My Mind.) It was refreshing seeing the white stuff falling and sticking to the ground—I don’t think we’ve had a decent snowfall for a few years. Monday rolled around and we had close to a foot of snow, so I worked from home. Through the week the snow kept building. For example, on Tuesday night we cleared a foot of snow off our back deck. The next morning it looked just as it had the day before… and it was still snowing. School was closed, I was able to work in peace without my normal 60 mile commute, and we even got to go sledding out on the golf course. Then Thursday morning rolled around. I had a business call and fifteen minutes into it, the power went out. Thank God for our generator. It kicked in immediately and was running fine. Then the unthinkable happened; our cable went out. Then the generator sputtered out.

But wait, there's more: Recommended Reading: On Stranger Tides

Last summer I got bored with the books I had on my bed stand, and I started asking people what they were reading hoping to find some inspiration. Being a long-time fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I quickly discovered what a sheltered life I have led. I decided to start documenting the variety of literature that people were attracted to. You Can’t Judge a Book is an experimental interview that’s as much about the people as it is about the books they are reading. In this case, the title is both a metaphor and literal.

My first attempt at an interview was with my mother. She’s an 84-year-old widow with seven children, 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild due any day now. I often borrow books from her, so her choice in literature is no surprise to me. You might find this Kansas farm girl’s taste in literature unexpected.

Listen to You Can’t Judge a Book: Prairies to Dunes

The DeHart household is a little somber today. My wife just realized that ten years ago today we bid our final farewell to Big Red. Lois was very fond of Big Red, and I don’t think she’s ever truly allowed herself to go through the grieving process. Sometimes she’ll see or hear something that reminds her of Big Red, and her eyes will get all misty. Just between you and me, I didn’t really care that much about Big Red. Oh sure, it was fun taking her for a ride, and I remember how Lois and I used to wash her out in front of the house. We’d get her all soaped up and the two of us would end up just as wet as Big Red. Yes, we had some good memories with Big Red, but she took up a lot of space and needed a lot of attention. It seemed like there was always something wrong with her. It soon became more expensive to take care of her than she was worth. I know, I know. That sounds cold hearted. Like I keep telling Lois, Big Red is in a better place now. In the end I think it was all for the better that she left us when she did. We were only prolonging the inevitable. Sooner or later you just have to accept the fact that they won’t be there forever. Now matter how much love and money to put into them, eventually your favorite car is going to give up the ghost.

But wait, there's more: Big Red