#showusyourlist (Good, Clean Fiction to Nourish Your Soul)

Erin McCole Cupp, a Catholic blogger and the author of a wonderful novel called Don't You Forget About Me, has come up with a Mardi Gras hashtag media blitz idea: she has invited a slew of fellow writers and bloggers to share lists of fictional works they've enjoyed (books, of course, but movies as well)--works that remind readers that there are choices out there that are a whole lot more wholesome and inspiring than the trashy and surprisingly popular garbage that passes as "literature" in our modern world.  Works that are polluting minds and damaging souls.  (You know, like 50 Shades of Grey, to name one such offering.)  The plan is to saturate the Twitterverse, the blogosphere, and the land of Facebook with these encouraging lists of entertainment choices that are "good, beautiful & true," and to tag them #showusyourlist.

Here's Erin's post, if you'd like to check it out and see what titles she's put on her list.

I've never read 50 Shades, a shameful trilogy of books that glamorizes kinky, misogynistic, and abusive sexual practices.  But I've heard enough to know I never will.  And I don't think you have to be a mental giant to realize that what's being peddled here isn't harmless escapist entertainment for women; it's pornography.

This meme would be sort of funny if it wasn't for the expression on Belle's face.  She's looking at Gaston (a macho doofus who might be my boys' favorite Disney animated character of all time) with a patronizing expression, as if to say, "What do you expect from a meathead like him?  His biceps might look like watermelons, but his brain is the size of a pea."  But in this case, even a man of little brain like Gaston is right on the money.  Ladies, if you think these books have any redeeming qualities, you're fooling yourself.  If you think they're morally neutral escapist fantasy, you're fooling yourself.

You wouldn't be happy if you caught your husband looking at pornographic materials, would you?  So how do you think he'll feel if he finds you reading this sort of smut?

Anyhoo--

I decided to join Erin and make a list of way-better-for-your-soul books that I've enjoyed, works of contemporary fiction that you can read in public without one iota of shame.  I posted my list earlier today at String of Pearls, if you'd like to check it out.

I urge you to support authors who are writing uplifting, clean, inspiring literature.  Buy their books.  Leave reviews on Amazon, if you're so inclined (even just a few words can help).  It's not enough to say "Don't read 50 Shades!" and leave it at that.  Find books that you think people should read, and promote those among your friends and loved ones.