The Shack by William P. Young Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Shack
Book Review: Life Changing
Summary: 5 Stars
Meet God in a new and very personal way. This book changed my life for the better!Book Review: Lifechanging
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is powerful. Not only is it incredibly well-written, but it is realistic as well. It will blow all your preconceived notions about God, yourself, and Truth right out of the water. It is a powerful read with some great insight. I know that this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
As I was reading this book, I felt like someone had either gotten into my head or my journal! I have struggled with so many of the same issues and questions as Mack does. In fact, I think that is one of the greatest strengths of this book. It doesn't shy away from the hard questions, honest emotion, and struggle. Best of all, this book avoids the simplistic answers that so many Christian books spout. This book does delve deeply into the issue of trusting God. But it's not in a "Trust God and have faith and all your problems will disappear just like that!"
I think every Christian should read this book. There is so much here to chew on and think about. I definitely intend to re-read this book. And I will most definitely recommend it to others.
If you are struggling with questions, doubt, anger with God, intense emotional pain or just frustration with life in general, do yourself a favor and read this book. You will be so glad you did.
Book Review: Lovely
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a fantastic read - I read the entire book in one night.
One note of caution - please remember that the book is fiction - it can be hard to remember this because it is presented as a realism fiction of which the underlying story is one that unfortunately happens all too often.
Book Review: Mary
Summary: 5 Stars
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 on several levels. I don't think it is all that far off the mark of what the Bible really teaches. that God has a heart to love each and every one of His children completely, specially and wholly, warts and all. God knows people sin. He has been quite aware of that since He created Man.
For the un-believers in the world: This is a book about the type of relationship most Christians wish they could grasp from their faith. A truely unconditinal love relationship - with anyone let alone God. It also tells a story about how God can meet the needs of the believer where they are. One reviewer called it Aunt Jamima - he/she missed the symbolism. It wasn't about what is, it's about what the main character EXPECTED God to be, so God made sure He wasn't, just so that they could build a relationship, a real one, not a preconceived one.
I think we all have a need to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Call it by whatever brand name you want. There are more than enough "man-made" attempts out there to satisfy most any need for a "higher authority". This book was written by a Christian. I don't know (or care) if he wrote it for the masses, or just for himself. But I am darned glad that he shared his story.
And so are the 5 other family members who have read the book - cried - wiped their tears and said, is that all there is? I wish there were more!
Book Review: Nonsense!
Summary: 1 Stars
I was very disappointed with this book for one primary reason: the author tries to make us believe that this is a true story. In the forward he says:
"Who wouldn't be skeptical when a man claims to have spent an entire weekend with God, in a shack no less? And this was the shack. I have known Mack for a bit more than twenty years, since the day we both showed up at a neighbor's house to help him bale a field of hay to put up for his couple of cows. Since then he and I have been, as the kids say these days, hangin' out, sharing a coffee or for me a chai tea, extra hot with soy. Our conversations bring a deep sort of pleasure, always sprinkled with lots of laughs and once in a while a tear or two. Frankly, the older we get, the more we hang out, if you know what I mean. His full name is Mackenzie Allen Phillips, although most people call him Allen."
If the author is honestly trying to make us believe that this is a true story, then he is insulting us, the readers!
The plot in brief is as follows: Mackenzie's young daughter is kidnapped and then murdered by a serial killer. Mackenzie receives a letter from God telling him to meet Him at the shack. First disbelieving that this letter could be from God, he nevertheless goes to the shack. There he finds God in the form of a black female woman. He also meets Jesus. The book is about the lessons he will learn from God.
I find the plot unbelievable. First, if God has a message to humanity, He will direct this message to humanity, not to an individual. Wouldn't we all believe in God if he appeared to all of us? Second, God writing a letter to someone is farfetched and unbelievable. Third, the conversations between Mackenzie and God are unbelievable and theologically false. The author puts words in God's mouth. If you really want to know what God said, read the Bible! You may also read the Torah or Quran. You cannot honestly take God's words in `The Shack' as God's true and final words. Those words are just a figment of the author's imagination. Any writer can write a book about a conversation between a person and God. The important question is, will we believe those words to be the true words of God?
Books such as `The Shack' will confuse the true words of God as cited in the Bible. You may read this book as an entertaining work of fiction, and nothing more! Don't let this book change the way you view God. For example, one reviewer says:
"In my opinion the scriptures have been twisted in this story to bring about a point that is of complete abandonment of Gods Words and His holy ways of living.
God says, `If you love me you will keep my commandments.' The book says, `if you try to keep commandments you are rejecting me.'
God says, `you will be blessed if you walk in His ways.' The book says, `you are declaring your independence from God if you try to follow any rules.'
God says, `repent of your evil ways.' The book claims that there are no rules...therefore my question would be, why would we need to repent?"
The author is trying to re-create the Christian religion in his own image. True, you will feel good after reading this book, but you will be misinformed about the true nature of God. As I have already mentioned, if you want to know God, just read His books (i.e. the Bible, Torah, Quran...).