Every reader has their own boundaries when it comes to content in books. Some prefer to read books with no language and no violence at all. Others will tolerate a small amount of mild swearing, while others really aren’t bothered by much of anything. Isn’t it great that we have such a wide range of literature to choose from, that we can all find things we like?
For readers who prefer their content to be on the mild side, I offer the following tips on book sorting, assuming you’re at the library or bookstore and want to reduce your chances of ending up with a book you’ll dislike.
1. Open the book to ten random pages and skim them. If you don’t see offensive language, your chances are good that the language in the rest of the book is either clean or mild.
2. Turn to page 100. In the national market, most publishers like to include a bed scene around page 100. If you don’t see a scene, the aftermath of a scene, or leading up to a scene, that’s another good indication.
3. Read the back blurb. Words like “sassy” and “earthy” are cautionary signs – they don’t necessarily mean the book contains objectionable content, but chances are good that it does. (Oh, and if there’s a shirtless man on the front, clutching a nearly shirtless woman, that’s also a red flag . . . )
4. You can trust books published for the Christian and LDS markets. Tyndale, Bethany House, Steeple Hill, Zondervan, HarperCollinsReligious, and Randall House are just a few of the publishers that offer clean books for the Christian market. Deseret Book, Covenant, Cedar Fort, and Granite are just a few of the publishers that produce books for the LDS market. I tend to read quite a bit in both these markets simply because I know I won’t be scarred for life by the things I read.
5. Talk to the bookstore employees or librarians, depending on where you are. It’s their job to know the literature on their shelves. While they may not be experts on the book you’re looking at, they can steer you toward books they feel you might enjoy.
Finding clean books doesn’t have to be risky. With a little page flipping, you should be able to determine the content of a book before bringing it home. You will still be surprised from time to time—nothing is guaranteed—but these tips will help increase your chances of success.
And you can always come on over here to Media Reviews to see what we’ve recommended lately, too . . .
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How Do I Select Novels to Review for Families.com?
Guarding Your Children Against Negative Media Influences