PBS has named a few Christian fiction titles among “America’s 100 Favorite Novels,” including This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, The Shack by William P. Young, as well as C.S. Lewis‘ Chronicles of Narnia series and J.R.R. Tolkien‘s Lord of the Rings saga.
The list was released as part of the PBS series The Great American Read. The two-hour debut episode in May introduced viewers to the full list of America’s 100 favorite novels selected through a demographically representative national survey conducted by YouGov. The chosen books span five centuries, with authors from 15 different countries represented. The titles range from children’s classics to modern best-sellers.
Over the summer, viewers can vote at pbs.org/greatamericanread and through hashtag voting via Facebook and Twitter using #GreatReadPBS. In the fall, viewers will also be able to cast their vote toll-free by phone and through SMS texting.
This fall, the series will resume as celebrities, authors, superfans and everyday Americans discuss the way particular books have influenced them and their significance in American popular culture. The season finale in October 2018 will share the results of a national vote for “America’s Best-Loved Novel.”
“There is perhaps no greater experience than discovering a novel that takes hold of you, works itself into your heart and your mind, changes the way you think or takes you into another world,” said Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “With The Great American Read, we will leverage our combined broadcast and digital presence, along with the strong local connections of PBS member stations, to inspire a national conversation about beloved books and the power of reading.”
Amplifying the on-air and online series content will be a fully illustrated companion book with information about the 100 novels, author profiles, rare images of original manuscripts and more. The book will be published in August 2018.
Watch the launch special here: