Book
Review – The Shack
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Author — William
P. Young
Published by windblown Media
Available online here
Review by Tom Gilbert — © September, 2008
 The
Shack is a bestselling novel, but the author, William
P. Young, wrote it specifically for his family and
children. His original intention wasn’t to write
a work for publication, but spurred on by his friends
and family he did write a powerful story about grief,
redemption and an intriguing look at God, the Trinity.
And he did it with an imaginative approach.
A friend recommended this book to me and he didn’t tell
me much about it. Rather, he coyly told me it had an interesting
look at how to view God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and
their important relationship with each other. And ultimately
that is what Young does for us with this story. He shows us
a God in three persons that is outside the box many Christians
try to place God in. He gives us a look at a totally loving
God in three persons and the love is best demonstrated by how
they relate to each other in a constant circle, or dance, of
unconditional love and support.
Some of the reviews I’ve read for this book express concern
about the book not being theologically correct or Biblically
sound. Personally, I think they are missing the point. The
book is meant to give you a fresh look into a loving God and
our relationship with the admittedly difficult concept of the
Trinity. The view does not contradict what Christianity is,
even if it does at times take organized religion to task. Frankly,
we sometimes need to criticize religion when it misses the
point of Jesus’ real message of loving all people. Everyone
is a child of God, even when they don’t know it.
The story of The Shack is the story of Mackenzie Allen Phillips,
the main character in the book. He’s known as Mack to
his family and friends and one of his best friends, Willie,
relates the story to the reader. Mack lost a daughter to a
kidnapping and brutal murder in the woods of the Pacific Northwest.
Missy was an innocent young child and the anger and grief that
Mack carries like a huge boulder makes it very hard for him
to find meaning or purpose in his life. “The Great Sadness” hangs
on him like a thick and wet blanket. The day that he finds
a mysterious note in his mailbox inviting him to return to
the shack where his daughter was killed is the catalyst for
the beginning of the difficult, sad, tough, but ultimately
redeeming journey Mack must take to reclaim a life worth living.
The note is signed “Papa”, a familiar name for
God used by Mack’s wife, Nan. Is it a prank or a cruel
joke? He must find out so he travels to the shack and there
he has a weekend of spiritual enlightenment and fellowship
with Papa (appearing to him as a jovial and caring large African
American woman), Jesus (a carpenter in jeans and plaid shirt
with Middle Eastern features) and the mystical Sarayu (the
Holy Spirit as a waif-ish Asian woman). All three spend time
with him and take him on journeys of discovery about himself,
life, heaven, forgiveness, love and most importantly, loving
relationships.
Fiction can often take us to
a place of acceptance in a
way that doctrine and dogma
and preaching can’t.
It’s important to have
faith and beliefs. But opening
your mind and your heart to
a picture of God that is bigger
and greater than you have ever
considered is a great thing.
We all need to grow in love,
forgiveness and hope. The Shack
helps take you there.
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| Tom Gilbert writes
articles and reviews about the Christian life and maintains
the e-ministry, Living the Solution (www.livingthesolution.com) |
Go here for
more reviews on Christian books, movies, music and
other products!
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Scripture taken from
the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission
of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark
for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA.
All rights reserved.
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