Having a hard time finishing it

[Maygin]

I am having a hard time finishing this book. I started over 6 months ago. Once I read it I will read a few chapters then I stop and put it away for a month and pick it up again. I like the story. I like the different way of looking at God. I just can not seem to finish it. It emotionally drains me when I read it. Did anyone else or is anyone else having this problem? I REALLY want to finish it. I want to know how it ends.

[PATRICIA]

Yes, I had the same experience with the book.

[Lisa]

I listened to the audiobook. Not only did it make the characters clear, but since I was trapped in my car, I finished it pretty quick. :) Actually, I love this story - I have already listened to it 3 times.

[Darren]

I didn't finish it and have no desire to. It felt so gimmicky when the topic is well, the ultimate topic of all.

[Will]

Grief is the ultimate topic of all?

[Darren]

no, the trinity, ultimate reality, whatever you want to call it.

[Will]

Well, that wasn't the topic at all.

[Kristin]

I couldn't finish it either, but it was because I didn't want o finish it. I didn't want to get out of that idyllic sense that God was always with us in a personal way.

[Stew]

I finished it but wish I wouldn't have. It doesn't get any better so I'd move on if I were you Maygin.

[Mauro]

I'm not a very religious person, and so I was finding it hard, in the beggining, to read this book. However, when he finally meets God in the Shack, I honeslty liked what I read. It's actually very touching sometimes, so I think people should find the will to read it to the end.

Regards

[Kristin]

Mauro, I felt very similar to you. I'm not very religious, and in the beginning it was extremely uncomfortable for me to read. However, when it got to the shack part, it was incredible. But I didn't want that part to end, which was why I didn't want to finish it.

[Maygin]

Origionally I started reading this book as part of a book club. None of us ever finished it. I hate leaving a book unread. I left off where he is at the shack and has spent some time there.
Hopefully, I will pick it up again and finish it off this summer.

[Kathryn]

Kris wrote: "...I didn't want to finish it."

I felt the same way! In fact, I found the ending a bit anti-climatic after what he experienced in the shack.

Lisa, I think the audiobook would definitely enhance the experience...I will have to try it!

Maygin: I would definitely give the book a chance...if you didn't like it, you can yell at me all you want! :)

[Maygin]

ha ha ha...I promise not to yell at you but I will finish the book.

Kathryn wrote: "Kris wrote: "...I didn't want to finish it."

I felt the same way! In fact, I found the ending a bit anti-climatic after what he experienced in the shack.

Lisa, I think the audiobook would definit..."

[Lesley]

Did not finish this book - I felt as if I was wading through mud - a lot of mud!!

[Noemi]

Glad i'm not the only one that feels like this. I will finish it eventually but I think it's hard to finish because too much is said and hard to process when some of the informations doesn't really make sense. no wonder Mack doesn't understand

[Blsd_BkWm]

Took me a year to actually read it and then it was only because my book club picked it. I kept getting stuck but once he gets to the shack it picks up and I made it through. It is an EMOTIONAL drain so keep your tissues near. It really touches on areas of your own life and you come away wishing you had handled things a little differently. But overall it is a good read but you have to get to the shack first.

[Nicki]

I finished it but I can't really remember much about it except that it was emotionally draining. It was recommended to me by a rather religious friend of mine, and I actually listened to it on audio while working (I use a computer all day) so it was easy to finish, but I don't think I could have actually sat down and read it all. Not a bad book, just not my cup of tea.

[Elesa]

Maygin wrote: "I am having a hard time finishing this book. I started over 6 months ago. Once I read it I will read a few chapters then I stop and put it away for a month and pick it up again. I like the story. I..."

I had the same issue so I get where you are coming from. I did finish though and I did it by just pushing through. I set aside the others books I was reading to finish it because I felt it was important to finish what I started. The ending is very rewarding.

[Pat]

I, also had a hard time reading it. My Sunday School Class read it together. But I had been hearing about it for a long time before that. I think everyone should go at their own pace because it seems to be a spiritual ...quest. Not everyone can absorb the same thing at the same time. I found it very interesting maybe even compulsive to finish, and almost ridiculous at times, but when it was finished it did make sense.
All in all, I guess the basic thing is that no one can make a book likeable unless it strikes something that you can relate to.
I'd actually suggest that you put it down for a while and then pick it up later. There is no right time unless it is right for you.

[Stephanie]

It is a very emotionally charged book, but just barrell through. I ended up saving it for a long weekend where I knew that I could spend the time reading it. I love the way they portray the Trinity, it reminds me that the Love of God is what you make it, not what someone tells you it is.

[Patricia]

I finished it without much of a problem, can't say it was the best. The book I absolutely couldn't finish was "Wicked." Go figure.

[Kindle]

I've been down this road, and this book was forced on me whenever it happened. Its too emotionally draining to read. I'm totally with you, at best, barrelling through is the only way, and Stephanie is right, its just a simple message, the love of god is what you make it. Let me know if you finish it! I like my books to be a good, interesting escape from life, this one is hard to read...

[Breana]

Yes but because i was so busy. FINISH IT!! NOW IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!!

[[deleted user]]

Well, I could not get beyond the first twenty pages, as it is just not my thing and if I would have known it was about religion and the subtext that assumes the existence of a god in the Christian version I would have never bought the book, so my own fault I guess to go with what others said about its success.
Johanna van Zanten

[Amanda]

I am actually the opposite. I started reading it and could barely put it down! I loved the book and the new understanding it brought with it! It was refreshing.

[Pat]

I felt like Mandi did, in that we try to box God into what we were taught that "He" is like. This book gave alternatives to our boxy thinking. With all three characters that were representing the Trinity.
I saw it on CD at the library and I think I would enjoy that version too. I am going to listen to that one.
:)

[Stephanie]

Johanna wrote: "Well, I could not get beyond the first twenty pages, as it is just not my thing and if I would have known it was about religion and the subtext that assumes the existence of a god in the Christian ..."

Hi Johanna, when we read, or watch movies like Avatar, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc..., we believe(using our imagination)that the characters are real, we feel for them, we love them, we hate them. For people who don't believe in God, great, see this book as a "Lord of the Rings" type of book. You don't have to believe in God to enjoy a book about God. Just read it like you would any other book and get the enjoyment out of it. Whether you are a spiritual (which is different than Christian) person or not, anyone can read this book and see why this guy, at this point in his life, needs something bigger than he is to get through a really crappy time. Try it again, only, don't read it as a Christian story, just a story.

[Crissy]

Weird! Yes, I had the same experience. I can't put my finger in it, I liked the book but I had a hard time reading it too. I never did finish it.... I ended at the part where he and God are at the shack together, just starting their conversation.

[Aida]

I actually agree with Paul’s point of view but I really didn’t enjoy his style of writing. I had heard so many great things about it but I had to force myself to finish it thinking it would get better but it never did as far as I was concerned. Although some of my friends were greatly encouraged by it and recommend it highly, I was disappointed. Later, however, I was introduced to Darin Hufford’s book “The God’s Honest Truth” which was later re-written as “The Misunderstood God” and that book was phenomenal.

Apparently, “The Shack” just wasn’t for me but Darin’s book has been life changing for me in a way that books rarely are. My opinion is, why waste time reading a book that you’re struggling to get through when there’s probably another book out there that’s meant just for you and it won’t be a struggle to finish.

[Gordon]

I think Paul goes too far in trying to make God accessible. There is a lot that sounds good, but in the end does not square with scripture. He spends way too much time looking at himself and not enough time at the God revealed in scripture.
I think this is the kind of God that we want to see, and not necessarily the God who IS.
I really struggled when I read this in a "God in Fiction" Sunday School class at my church. It was paired with George McDonald's "The Wise Woman" and CS Lewis's "The Horse and His Boy" (from the Chronicles of Narnia). Both the other books were far better in revealing God.

[Aida]

Hi Gordon. Not to turn this into a theological discussion but Paul Young is correct when he depicts God as very accessible. That’s not clear in the Old Testament writings so that’s why Jesus came as a man. His purpose was to reveal God as a Father who is very accessible to his people. God doesn’t force anything on us so we can have whatever type of relationship with him that we’re open to.

[Lisa]

My husband read it first and told me either I was going to like it or not. He read it in one day. It took me a while to finish it. I did the same thing read some and became overwhelmed and put it down for a while. A friend of mine kept telling me to finish it because she read it and wanted to know what I thought about it. When I finally finished, I cried! Was not expecting that ending. It took me by surprise! Over all I did like the book.

[Adria]

I had to put the book down for a while once. But then I finished it after months of it sitting in my shelf.

[Wen]

It's a really hard book to finish without crying

[Tammy]

I really loved the book. It is definately worth finishing!!! The book moved me and touched me completely!!! I would consider reading with tissues. I found it impossible not to cry while reading it.

[Kathy]

Had to put the book down a few times myself. Couldn'nt wait too long to finish it though. It is hard getting through the first couple of chapters, don't base the whole book on that, go ahead and keep reading. Laughed, Cried and thought alot during this one. Would like a sequal if there is any way...

[Bernice]

I only had a hard time getting into it. Then I could NOY PUT IT DOWN!