This book started out a little confusing but once I got the gist of it man it was remarkable. I really enjoyed reading this book. This story is truly about being lost and then being found. Yes the little girl was taken and never to return but the lost one was Mack. After losing the most precious person in his life he lost himself in a ditch of sorrow, guilt, anger, and sadness. For years he did not return to himself until one day he was found. He found happiness again and was delivered from his guilt and anger. A story about true forgiveness and what it's like to see things through God's eye. This story made me cry and smile all in the same chapter. ( )

I can’t recommend this book enough. Not the mystery I was expecting, but a study on God’s mercy. After his daughter is murdered, Mac Philips’ and his family’s is tested. It is at a visit to the sight of Missy’s murder that he comes face-to-face with God. Great story, great characters, much to think about (whether you agree with this point of view or not). [If you like this book, you should check out The Hawk and the Dove” series by Penelope Wilcox. ( )

while I appreciate the desire to answer age old questions-the need to understand how an all powerful and loving God can allow evil to exist in the world- I found the quality of the story and writing to interfere with the message ( )

Christian

Oh my Papa! I'm giving it two stars! I did not totally hate it! Even though it's full of cliches, 90% dialogue, and has a chapter called "Here Come Da Judge," I still found things to like about The Shack. For example, I completely see why my own sweet mother loved it. It takes all the things that are unsettling about religion and sweeps them under the rug. It's all about love, love, love, and happy endings to terrible tragedies and ways to cope with a sad, chaotic world. Not a bad way to become a self-published bestseller. (By the way, for an antidote to this, try [b:36 Arguments for the Existence of God|6734417|36 Arguments for the Existence of God A Work of Fiction|Rebecca Newberger Goldstein|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275693456s/6734417.jpg|6930684].)

I actually took notes while I was reading this, so I'm just going to transcribe them here:

-Hilarious/genius simile: comparing a bump on the head to a humpback whale "breaching the wilds of his thinning hair."

-Little Ladykiller? Really? Is it a terrifying homicidal pedophile or a very handsome midget?

-Does the Bible have gilt edges or GUILT edges?! Oooooh. Deep.

-The Holy Trinity is "two women, a man, and none of them white?" HOW CAN THIS BE?!

-God listens to funk music? Again, HOW CAN THIS BE?! My preconceived notions are in TATTERS.

-GOD CARES IF YOU GET THE TROTS.

-Is this book anti-church? Anti-rules? Yes, sir. It's also anti-ritual and it says there's no Hell. If Jesus were not a main character, it would come awfully close to being hippie dippy Unitarian Universalism non-theology. Who knew a popular Christian book could be so liberal?

-Direct quote from Jesus: "I'm not too big on religion." WHAT?!

-"All evil flows from independence." Meaning you should not try to be independent from God. Interesting.

-There is a lot of hugging and kissing in this book. Why does he need to tell us it's ON THE LIPS?

-Direct quote from Holy Spirit: "I am a being verb."

-Bottom line: God is responsible for everything good and nothing bad. All you need is love. Try not to get the trots.

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