The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Book Summary: 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?"

Review: This book reads like a novel but has themes of a sermon. It’s a very interesting book to read and brings up some very deep spiritual issues. I’m not sure if it actually is a true account as claimed or if it is true fiction. In any case, the story itself is pretty out there. You’ll need to keep an open mind going into it and focus more on the theological issues and not so much the physical representation of God.

I thought the book brought up some really great points and, as a Christian, felt that I was able to take something away from it. However, I do not generally consider myself an evangelical Christian and am not as comfortable with some of the views represented in the book as some others might be. I think that if you both consider yourself a Christian and are willing to look at our basic beliefs in a different light OR you if you have base knowledge of Christianity and are interested in learning about some more radical Christian ideals then this book is a good read.

I would not suggest this book to people who are new Christians or people looking to learn more about Christianity as a whole. I personally feel that, while this book brings up some great points and can be very inspiration for some people, it’s not for everyone. I feel that it tackles some big issues and handles grief pretty well.. but I’m not sure I agree with everything in this book.

5 out of 10 stars

Read this book if you liked: No recommendations at this time