Late to the Game

[Gloria]

I read this book at the urging of a friend, but more so because Al Mohler hated it. I figured if he hated it, I would love it. Let me clear in my opinion -- it's okay. Sorry, but I can't do any better than that. I can see why the fundies would pick fault with it, and I can see why the newer thinkers would love it. I didn't like that one person in the family seemed to be completely destroyed by the tragedy, while the protagonist underwent only "The Great Sadness." Additionally, I don't think the author has a clue into the real thinking and feeling mechanisms of women. I have no problem with the representations of the Trinity or the forms in which they appear, despite Al's misgivings. The passages are long and boring, leading me to skim rather than read, and I really don't like that in a book. Also, there is no real sense of "being there" which is why I read in the first place.

[[deleted user]]

@Gloria: I completely agree with you. I actually didn't like the representation of the Trinity. It was a bit absurd to me. I too started to skim through the book so I could get through it quickly, which I HATE in a book. I almost didn't want to finish it, but was urged to give it a chance.

The first 2 or 3 chapters were good. I was definitely intrigued..but after he met "God", I completely lost interest. The story became boring and seemed to drag. The end seemed predictable to me, and I don't like stories that are too predictable.

[Bridget]

I chose not to read this book, but to listen to it as an audiobook. I found it very easy to get through, and I have actually gone through it twice now because it seemed worth another look. I liked it quite a lot, and it was helpful to me because I was having a bit of a struggle with forgiving some people who had wronged me. It gave me good perspective on forgiveness.

[D.A.]

The Shack was what I feared. All the hype left me disappointed. A well told story but one which left me pretty disinterested. Two things about The Shack. The narrative was too "lemonade and apple pie" for my taste. Too sugary. Secondly, I found the theology a little troubling. I'm not sure it was a totally biblical representation of God, and it smelled a bit of universalism and "sin is not the problem, ignorance is." type Christianity., but I won't get in to that now.
Can't recommend this book. Won't recommend it.

[1234]

I thought the shack was one of the worst books I ever read. It was silly and un realistic. No one forgives what happened to that child

[Gordon]

Agree with D.A. on the theological problems. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I know that several things are missing or not quite right.

Frankly, I refuse to subscribe to the "If it helps you, then it is good for you"-type approach. There are enough flaws in this that I can only say not to read it at all--no matter who you are.

[Linda]

I read this when it first came out, because people in my church said I just "had to " experience this great book. I am devoutly Christian and so I was interested. However, I have found no one can truly characterize GOD, or explain God or put God in ANY kind of box. So it didn't live up to my rather high expectations. However, The Shack has opened many people's hearts to the needs they have to forgive and see God in a different way. SO, I'm for reading it anyway.

[Jacqueline]

I read this book about a year ago and I still have mixed feelings about it. It made me cry, made me think about god, the relationships in my life, and of course forgiveness. I really struggled with some of the content but overall I felt it was a good book. Whether you take the story at face value or not, it definitely made me think and so I would recommend it to a friend.