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The Shack by William P. Young
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The Shack

by William P. Young

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3,078187749 (3.54)117

Member recommendations

  1. Desmorph recommends Thrones for the Innocent by C. W. Kesting, "Thrones for the Innocent is a stunning compliment to The Shack. It addresses the metaphysical mysteries of ontology and theology without preaching. Where (see more) The Shack speaks directly to and about God and the Christian Trinity; Thrones is both subliminal and aggressive. Thrones helped me deal with the frustration I felt in my own heart about the paradox of the existence of evil and and all-loving all-powerful Creator. Thrones is very spiritual and yet avoids struggling with the convolution of structured religion. it should raise some eyebrows as well as quiet some tortured hearts."
  2. PghDragonMan recommends Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, "Another story of searching for meaning after personal tragedy and questioning why bad things happen."
  3. soflbooks recommends Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory, "David Gregory's short story about a man who accepts a dinner invitation with Jesus is better written than The Shack and sticks to evangelical theology."
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Showing 1-5 of 185 (next | show all)
A popular work of fiction. Note; this book is located in the 'Fiction' section
DLUC | Jul 9, 2009 |  
This book is really overrated. There were a few interesting ideas, but it mostly didn't appeal to me. The versions of god presented as the parts of the trinity were meant to be unusual and challenge people's ideas, but I thought they were caricatures which were overused exemplars. I also thought the main character didn't question the assertions of the versions of "god" enough and simply believed without much persuasion. In the circumstances for which he had this meeting, I think there would have been more questions to ask and deeper feelings to be discussed. ( )
ccavalli | Jul 4, 2009 |  
A man's daughter is kidnapped. While trying to cope with this he receives a letter from God to visit the shack where it is believed his daughter was murdered. He goes and experiences 3 days with God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. He is taught about love, and relationships and then God shows him where his daughter is buried. It is not great prose but few are reading it as a novel. Patrons at my library have loved it, and hated it. All depends on the experiences in one's own life that let's them relate or not to the book's ideas.
pak6th | Jun 23, 2009 |  
This book is not a theological masterpiece and shouldn't be taken as such. However, it is a beautiful devotional on the nature of grace and relationship with Christ. It is a much needed 'grounding' of some rather high theological principles that might not come to people too easily. It is a wonderful way to meditate upon what is or is not true about relationship with Christ. Taken as just that, it is marvelous. It is not terribly writing, nor is it a sound exegetical and theological study. Take it for what it is, don't ask for more and it is well worth the time and has many rewards to offer. ( )
tkraft | Jun 20, 2009 |  
The negatives: The plot is simple. The dialog occasionally feels forced and the descriptions of the God figures are bothersome.

The positives: Organized religion just barely finds a seat in the back of the bus bound for heaven. The concept of why bad things happen to good people is vetted in an interesting setting. A better life in the hereafter and even in this existence is within the reach of common folk. ( )
Grandeplease | Jun 16, 2009 |  
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Epigraph
Dedication
This story was written for my children:

Chad-the Gentle Deep,
Nicholas-the Tender Explorer,
Andrew-the Kindhearted Affection,
Amy-the Joyful Knower,
Alexandra (Lexi)-the Shining Power,
Matthew-the Becoming Wonder

And dedicated first, to:

Kim, my Beloved, thank you for saving my life.
And second, to:

"...All us stumblers who believe Love rules. Stand up and let it shine."
First words
Foreword:

Who wouldn't be skeptical when a man claims to have spent an entire weekend with God, in a shack no less?
March unleashed a torrent of rainfall after an abnormally dry winter.
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The first third of the book sets the stage but the subsequent performance will blow your socks off. Mac attempts to be unaffected, even distant from his encounters with the Trinity but he can't quite do it. Alas, there is an unnecessary attempt near the end to make it seem it was a dream -- bad idea because the content of the encounter is such that it does not matter if it is a dream. This book has the best description of the Trinity I've ever read. In fact, I preached at three Masses about it and only one complaint was lodged whereas the positive response was the best ever.

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0964729237, Paperback)

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:55 -0400)

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