William P. Young, The Shack

I was set not to like the book, The Shack but after reading it, I thought it was really good and thought provoking. All the time I read it, I kept thinking it needs a study to go along with it. I finally decided God was urging me to write a study which I did.

When a friend told me had a book I needed to read, and then proceeded to try to convince me to approach the book with an "open mind", I began to wonder what it was all about.

When he handed the book over to me - again reminding me that it may initially challenge some of my beliefs & feelings - I began to grow sceptical. I promised him that I'd do my best, and took the novel home. I'm glad I did!

As a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, some of the book's prose caused me to be sorely tempted to stop reading "The Shack". But I felt immensely compelled to continue reading.

The book is written from the heart and experieces of a broken father. It speaks volumes upon volumes about the healing that many fathers in today's world sorely need.

I recommend this book to all those who purport to follow Jesus Christ.

I recommend this book to all those who say that there is no God.

I recomend this book to all those who fall outside the 2 categories mentioned above.

I love this book. It's a lovely story, It starts out rather depressing but it has a wonderful ending.

I just pray that this book gets into as many hands as possible. We need everyone to see and experience the holiness and love of God in such a real way as this book portrays him. He is not some etherial figure up there and this book really brings that out. Well done

William P. Young's The Shack is must for everyone to read, life changing and thought provoking, you will want to give the book to all your friends and family. Can't praise it enough. Very easy to understand as well.

This book gives a clear understanding of what real love is. If you thought you knew how to deal with loss or sorrow of great magnitude, you may want to read this anyway. It explains so brilliantly what God is all about. Whether you believe in Him or not, read this book with an open mind, you may surprise yourself by what you discover within. Someone who doesn't believe in God may be put off by the genre. And what a shame, because everyone should read this book! Honestly, the most inspiring piece of work i have laid my hands on in a very very long time!

The Shack

William P. Young

Windblown Media, Jul 2008, $24.95

ISBN: 9780964729247

Mackenzie Allen Philips married up when Nanette Samuelson said yes over three decades ago in Oregon. They had three boys and two girls. The two older boys have left the nest while Josh remains at home along with the older daughter Kat. The youngest child Missy was abducted four years ago during a family vacation; evidence found in an isolated shack led to the conclusion she was brutally murdered.

Since her death, Mack has lived in a fog state, The Great Sadness as he accuses that Great Interferer God for letting an innocent die. Now during a nasty ice storm while his wife and the two at home kids visit relatives in Washington State, Mack receives a strange letter in the family mail box not delivered by the post office. ' Papa ' asks him to meet him at THE SHACK. Although his entire essence says to ignore the missive, he heads towards the aptly named Hells Canyon National Recreation Area to confront this Papa and hopefully gain closure; Mack will learn more than he bargained for from Papa who vows to always wipe away the tears as more will occur over the years.

This is an interesting contemporary inspirational tale in which a still grieving father learns the truth about his late daughter and why bad things happen to the innocent. Mack confronts Papa asking him why while Papa responds without the philosophical babble of free will by saying his dead child will be in his heart for eternity. A fabulous twist enhances the plot as Mack learns he used the Great Sadness to repel his family when they need him most. Fans will appreciate this strong character driven tragedy as William Young provides a deep angst laden story line in which Mack and the audience understand God is there for us at our gravest moments when we feel most abandoned to help us through the dark into the light.

Harriet Klausner