(101) The Shack by Wm Paul Young

Saturday, November 1, 2008


I am likely going to Hell.
I am likely the only person on the planet who did not like The Shack.
The book started out interesting enough. The story of the Great Sadness was really & truly sad. I kept thinking back to Kelsey Smith, a local girl who made national news when she was abducted from Target & found murdered a few days later. What Mack went through, is what I imagine the Smith's went through. And I can't even begin to imagine what that kind of anguish feels like.
Sadly enough, they did not find Mack's daughter, Missy. And the next few years take a toll on his entire family. One day Mack receives a note in the mailbox. A note from "Papa" (his wife's name for God) calling him back to the Shack. It starts a series of events that will change Mack's relationship with God.
And that is where I lose interest in the book. The rest of The Shack is basically the author's interpretation of what God is to him. I mean, we all have a vision of what God would be like if we were to run into Him & having a chance to "hang out" so to speak. Well, this book is Paul Young's vision & it did nothing for me.
I can see why people like this book. People who have had a hard time putting a face to the name, so to speak. Mack spends his time with "Papa" (a big black woman) trying to make sense of his tragedy & why God would put him & his family through that.
The ending wraps everything up nice & neatly, which is just another reason for me to groan & mock. I told you I was going to Hell.
Just Tera said...

I don't think youll go to hell fo that ;) I have heard others say the same thing. I love your reviews!

FlipFlop Mom said...

I DID NOT LIKE THIS BOOK.. I heard nothing but RAVE reviews.. and all it left me was a bad taste in my mouth...
I'm with you!! I'm 100% Christian through and through and that book.. huge disappointment

Charlotte's Web of Books said...

Good to know that I am not the only one who didn't like the book. The book just flies off the shelf at work & it is a total word of mouth book. My word just happens to be "Don't Buy It"

Jerilynn said...

Thank goodness - I thought it was just me....I hated it and finally just quit reading it. Blech. Thank you so much for making me feel better about this. I was actually afraid to even tell anyone I did not like it.

Anonymous said...

I am struggling to get through this book. I too could not comprehend the popularity and now cannot bear the pain of each boring page. What are people thinking? Terrible!

Lisa Mandina said...

I was glad to hear your analysis both on here and at work. My cousin loved this book, and so I thought I'd try it, but she's not normally a reader, whereas you and I often read the same books. So I'll stick with your review since I have so many books waiting to be read!

Anonymous said...

I just finished this book last night. I thought I was missing something because it just wasn't the life changing story that I heard it was. It was very wordy and I had a hard time keeping on track. Although I understand this is a work of fiction, I will now always have a skewed view of the Holy Trinity.

On a different note, I was excited to find your blog. How did you get a picture of the book on your what I'm reading list? I have a list as well and linked it to amazon. I think a picture would be better.

http://melniel.blogspot.com/

Mimi said...

While I found it fairly readable, I found the basic theology to be a HUGE problem, so I'm sitting on the same bench as you.

Anonymous said...

I didn't just hate this book, I LOATHED it. I could only get about halfway through or wherever it was when God became a big black fat woman. WTF? Silly me did not read the description better - I mean doesn't the title "The Shack" sound scary? That's what I thought I was getting... Well in a way I guess I did;) I blew it when I paid good money for this one. Ugh. I totally agree with your review - however don't feel lonely - you are not the only person on the planet who didn't like it, me too!

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