The Shack by William P. Young


My rating: 5 of 5 stars






I am always sceptical about books that lean toward spiritual guidance and especially those where people have claimed that the book has changed their lives. I still am, for that matter. The Shack has not changed my life, however, I do appreciate this different view of someone's (figurative) come-to-Jesus moment. I don't think that the purpose was to tell people how to believe or to change the way they worship, but rather to take a different view of your personal relationship with Gd.


I rated this book 5 stars, not due to its superb writing style but for the simplest of the story. Most people can relate to losing Faith and not knowing how to approach Gd to get it back. There is a gospel song called Running Back to You by Commissioned that speaks of all the things we do to prove that we can navigate this life without Him and that He's kit waiting for you to stop and allow yourself to be helped. That's what this book is about. I think that as avid readers (and sceptics) we have a certain snobbish expectation for books that millions of people love; and we approach them in a manner that restricts enjoyment. Even if I was a non-believer and could not recognize the significance of the message of this book, I would still have appreciated the sentimentality of the story.


No, it's not Dickens (I hate Dickens) or whoever else is lauded as a literary master but it's still really good imaginative literature. Think Like Water for Chocolate and Beloved...not at all real to you unless you understand the culture of the author. Same here. Just read and enjoy.




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