The Shack

[redhotmama]

I would love to hear all your thoughts on this book.

If you feel it is pertinent, could you mention your religious and/or spiritual thoughts too?

As a Christian, I loved the story. It contained no new information for me, just affirmed and reinforced the basics of Jesus-following for me.

As a consumer of literature, I HATED the tone, writing style, punctuation, editing, and more.

As a person who grew up in Joseph, OR, let me just tell you that there are no traffic lights in the entire county. I wish the author would have known his facts about the area before drawing attention to this beautiful haven where you could visit and think about murder. OK. I'm officially a grump.

[domesticzookeeper]

In the middle of it right now. I think it's really interesting, and often beautiful, though I do have some reservations about the theological implications (I'm Eastern Orthodox )

And yeah, the writing is a bit difficult to take at times.

[Jenifer76]

Have it but not read it. I have heard some rumblings about hte theological implications as well. Lots of friends are reading it now.

Forgot to add: I am a Christian.

[dancindoula]

I read it and really appreciated it. Nothing in it was earthshatteringly new but it was a moving and, for me, very timely story. I don't know if you've read anything about the author's background yet, but he only wrote the story for his adult children at his wife's urging as a way to sum up the various conversations he has had with God in the deepest moments of his own life. He gave them each a spiral bound copy (no intention of printing it) and they kept lending it out to friends and those friends kept asking for copies. In the end so many friends and family were asking for a copy that he decided to try to have a limited printing done just to appease those around him. Then that mushroomed and suddenly it has grown to be a best-seller. Knowing the background gave me a lot more grace for the unpolished style of editing - he never in a million years dreamed it would go this far.

[koru]

I need reassurance to get through the beginning! I've heard such wonderful things about this book & finally started reading it a couple weeks ago. I just can.not.get.passed the idea of his daughter being kidnapped & murdered! Other's I've talked with say it's not the major point of the book but I'm a good 1/4 of the way in & he's not even at the shack yet. I had to put it down more than once because the premise was making me physically nauseous & disturbed. So PLEASE....reassure me that it's worth continuing the read.

Also, I'm nervous that I'll be disappointed because of all the hype. Everyone I know raved about Tuesdays With Morrie & I thought it was so incredibly cliche with nothing new to say. This isn't The Shack, is it?

[dancindoula]

You have to get past about page 70 - that's when things get easier to read. I don't usually like books/movies that "everyone" tells me I must read. But this one was I was glad I stuck with - it was good and affirming and hit a particular spot in my heart that needed some attention. It helped me too, to know that the story was born out of real heart conversations the author had experienced with God in his life.

[LinzMommy2Be]

I'm so glad people are talking about The Shack. I'm on page 100 right now. I had two different people tell me I should read it so I went to the book store, read the first few pages and then didn't buy it because I just couldn't get into it. Then about a week later a woman I work with (we often lend eachother books) gave me The Shack and said I had to read it.

I struggled thru the first 50-60 pages before I could really get into it. I'm glad so many people told me to read it and my friend literally gave it to me or else I never would have given it a chance.

So far it's really great (after you get past the first part). I'm at the part where he just got to the shack and it's really different from what I thought it would be like. I'm so glad it's almost the weekend- I'm definitly going to finish it soon- I can't wait to get back to it and see what happens!

[EmmaJean]

I'm a Christian. My sistter gave it to me this summer, and I didn't read it until last weekend. I could only get through half of it and had to skim the rest. There just wasn't any action happening! I just finished the Twilight Saga, so I'm like "this is just one long conversation, I can't take it!" But anyway, I talked to my mom today about it, and she said there was some cool parts coming up that I should keep reading...... so maybe I will tomorrow.

I am easily disturbed, and thought the premise would really turn me off. But it really wasn't as bad as I thought--no gory details really, just sadness and questions. Knowing the end will help me try to read the rest. We'll see!!!

[journeymom]

My sister gave me the book for Christmas.

Originally Posted by dancindoula

I read it and really appreciated it. Nothing in it was earthshatteringly new but it was a moving and, for me, very timely story. I don't know if you've read anything about the author's background yet, but he only wrote the story for his adult children at his wife's urging as a way to sum up the various conversations he has had with God in the deepest moments of his own life. He gave them each a spiral bound copy (no intention of printing it) and they kept lending it out to friends and those friends kept asking for copies. In the end so many friends and family were asking for a copy that he decided to try to have a limited printing done just to appease those around him. Then that mushroomed and suddenly it has grown to be a best-seller. Knowing the background gave me a lot more grace for the unpolished style of editing - he never in a million years dreamed it would go this far.

This is really good to know! It explains a lot!

I'm with Koru, I'm just not thrilled with the idea of reading about the aftermath of a little girl's death.

I'm still thinking on it.