Non-religious Reads

I had an interesting realization yesterday while on Facebook. A friend of mine had posted a request for non-religious book recommendations. I think it was 'cause she was tired of the non-fiction, self-help sort of things that we frequent, but got me started on an interesting {and relatively unrelated} train of thought as I asked myself what books I could recommend.

I couldn't think of any.

It's not because I don't read secular books. I do. {See Goodreads.} I read a ton of so-called secular novels.

But to me, they're all religious in one way or another. I don't know if they mean to be. But almost every secular novel--except the really bad ones--are something like a religious experience for me. They inspire me with thoughts of God, of my relationship with the King of the Universe. Like this line from Beth Revis' A Million Suns {which was stellar, by the way}:

"This is what I'm king of: a whirling mass of humans who either hate me or ignore me."

The context has nothing to do with Jesus, or even an allegorical perfect leader. I have no idea if Revis wrote it because it fit {it did} or because she knew that her words tapped briefly into the heart of my God. And then there's Megan Whalen Turner, who penned the following in The King of Attolia {which is one of the best books ever written}:

"That is the question...Am I king? Don't tell me that I have been anointed by priest and priestess or that this baron or that one has whispered sacred oaths at my ankles. Tell me, am I king?"

Is there any better way to describe the question that Jesus asks of us?

I read books to connect with God, and I usually do. We sit together, and He points things about about His heart, His character, the way He feels about me and my neighbor.

I can't help it. And so when I'm asked to recommend a non-religious book, I stumble. I don't read non-religious books. It has nothing to do with the books...and everything to do with me.

How do you read? If you're a spiritual person, what secular books have inspired your spirituality? If you're not, how do you feel when religion enters a secular read? It's okay to be honest here. :)