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niccinite's review
5.0
After having recently lost my mom “The Shack” was recommended to me by a friend. This book is about a man that faces an incredible tragedy and his life is taken over by what he calls ‘The Great Sadness’. It is described as an “invisible but almost tangibly heavy quilt.” I understand this anger and pain all too well. It is a dark and lonely place to live. As the book jacket describes it, “The Shack wrestles with the timeless question: Where is God in a world filled with unspeakable pain?” This book follows Mackenzie Phillips (AKA Mack) as he tries to find the answers to tough questions, questions only God can truly know the answers to. This story is, although presented as a true story, is a work of fiction, but the characterization of God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are very true to what I believe them to be. It’s hard for me to put in to words, so I’m just gonna use some quotes from the book.
This is basically a piece from a conversation Mack is having with God regarding the pain that he feels. God tells him “..pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to flu. And if it’s left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place.”
People are always saying things like “put God first in all you do” and other things that echo that sentiment. God tells Mack, “I don’t want to be first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than the top of a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life—your friends, family , occupation, thought, activities—is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and out and back and forth, in and incredible dance of being.” …Whoa!! Right?? Take a second and read that again… How many of us can actually do that? I know plenty of people that put God first (to the best of their ability), but the list of people that place God at the center of EVERYTHING shrinks a bit. I would like to be able to do this, but I’m gonna need to work very hard at it!
I know this brief write up does absolutely NO justice to this beautifully written book. If you question your spirituality, your belief, or even your favor with God, I definitely recommend this book. If you’ve
This is basically a piece from a conversation Mack is having with God regarding the pain that he feels. God tells him “..pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to flu. And if it’s left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place.”
People are always saying things like “put God first in all you do” and other things that echo that sentiment. God tells Mack, “I don’t want to be first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than the top of a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life—your friends, family , occupation, thought, activities—is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and out and back and forth, in and incredible dance of being.” …Whoa!! Right?? Take a second and read that again… How many of us can actually do that? I know plenty of people that put God first (to the best of their ability), but the list of people that place God at the center of EVERYTHING shrinks a bit. I would like to be able to do this, but I’m gonna need to work very hard at it!
I know this brief write up does absolutely NO justice to this beautifully written book. If you question your spirituality, your belief, or even your favor with God, I definitely recommend this book. If you’ve
classical_learner's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
**I will very strongly consider raising this rating to 5 stars as I meditate on it further.**
This book uniquely straddles the world of secular exploratory literature and Christian fiction. It is an immensely powerful story (the chapter with Lady Wisdom…❤️🩹😢) that I think is accessible to both the skeptical unbeliever and the lifelong Christian. However, I think if someone has a hardened heart, they would be unlikely to overcome their cynicism to finish or enjoy the story.
My main point of critique is I’m not 100% sold on some of the theology. I would need to reread and consider some things. For example, the dialogue below about 65% of the way through the book gives a sample of how the author was sometimes weirdly averse to labels like “Christian” or “the church” as an “institution” out of sometimes seemingly mere pedanticism when I thought those terms could simply do with being expounded upon, not shunned. This was not inherently wrong, it just sometimes struck me as odd.
Jesus: “I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation…into my beloved.”
MC: “Does that mean that all roads will lead to you?”
Jesus: “Not at all. Most roads don’t lead anywhere. What it does mean is I will travel any road to get to you.”
Nonetheless, I recommend listening to some of the interviews with this author. I think it makes it plain how much God led this story’s growth and confirms that the author does indeed have solid theology, again, I’m just unsure how some of his depictions come across in the book. It’s incredible how God used a whole life of personal pain, faith, and questioning to make this one creative book happen. I think the testament to God’s hand on this book is how they spent only $300 on marketing and yet they sold 1.2 million copies and brought together so many Christians to make it happen. I myself was recommended this book via word of mouth from my Christian PT!
Curious to watch the film next. :)
Also, 10/10 chapter titles! My faves:
A Long Time Ago In A Garden Far, Far Away
Here Comes Da Judge
In The Belly Of The Beasts
Outbound Ripples
…and many others. Honestly, those should persuade you to read this on their own.
This book uniquely straddles the world of secular exploratory literature and Christian fiction. It is an immensely powerful story (the chapter with Lady Wisdom…❤️🩹😢) that I think is accessible to both the skeptical unbeliever and the lifelong Christian. However, I think if someone has a hardened heart, they would be unlikely to overcome their cynicism to finish or enjoy the story.
My main point of critique is I’m not 100% sold on some of the theology. I would need to reread and consider some things. For example, the dialogue below about 65% of the way through the book gives a sample of how the author was sometimes weirdly averse to labels like “Christian” or “the church” as an “institution” out of sometimes seemingly mere pedanticism when I thought those terms could simply do with being expounded upon, not shunned. This was not inherently wrong, it just sometimes struck me as odd.
Jesus: “I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation…into my beloved.”
MC: “Does that mean that all roads will lead to you?”
Jesus: “Not at all. Most roads don’t lead anywhere. What it does mean is I will travel any road to get to you.”
Nonetheless, I recommend listening to some of the interviews with this author. I think it makes it plain how much God led this story’s growth and confirms that the author does indeed have solid theology, again, I’m just unsure how some of his depictions come across in the book. It’s incredible how God used a whole life of personal pain, faith, and questioning to make this one creative book happen. I think the testament to God’s hand on this book is how they spent only $300 on marketing and yet they sold 1.2 million copies and brought together so many Christians to make it happen. I myself was recommended this book via word of mouth from my Christian PT!
Curious to watch the film next. :)
Also, 10/10 chapter titles! My faves:
A Long Time Ago In A Garden Far, Far Away
Here Comes Da Judge
In The Belly Of The Beasts
Outbound Ripples
…and many others. Honestly, those should persuade you to read this on their own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child death, and Domestic abuse
adrian_1987's review against another edition
3.0
Leí este libro porque un amigo me lo recomendó y por la forma en que hablaba de él puedo decir que le encantó. No fue lo mismo para mí.
No voy a mencionar nada de los aspectos básicos porque pueden leerlos más arriba.
Mi experiencia con el libro fue un poco extraña ya que hubo partes en las que sí estuve de acuerdo con lo que se estaba mencionando y en otras fue un rotundo no. Obviamente me refiero a las que tienen que ver con creencias religiosas, lo cual me causa cierto conflicto ya que aunque la naturaleza del libro es hablar de la divinidad, el autor dice en el epílogo que se tuvieron que eliminar ciertas escenas en las que se hablaba de muchos términos teológicos. Careciendo esto de sentido porque hablar de la Trinidad exige que se hable de teología. No puedes evitar el uno para hablar de lo otro, simplemente no se puede.
Puedo imaginar al autor escribiendo la escena del accidente de manera desesperada por terminar el libro. Piénsalo un segundo; después de haber pasado "un fin de semana" con la divinidad, sufre un accidente en el cual de manera muy conveniente estuvo inconsciente durante no sé cuántos días, está bajo el efecto de medicamentos muy fuertes y al despertar decide relatar la historia de lo que pasó en "La Cabaña". Una enorme conveniencia del guión en la que OBVIAMENTE no le iban a creer. Para mí el final adecuado habría sido que después de despertar sintiera la paz que Dios le había otorgado después de adquirir todas las lecciones aprendidas.
Tiene sus cosas buenas y sus cosas MALAS. El último ejemplo que daré es con respecto al "Matachiquitas". En esta parte también siento que al autor le faltó echarle cerebro. No es posible que un wey que hizo de Missy su 5ta víctima haya sido tan estúpido como para dejar algo que lo incriminara en la escena del crimen y que después de 3 años esta haya sido encontrada y servido para localizarlo a él y los cuerpos de las 4 otras niñas. ¿En serio? No puede ser que haya actuado con más cautela cuando estaba a la vista de muchas personas que cuando ya no había nadie viéndolo. ¿EN QUÉ DEMONIOS ESTABAS PENSANDO WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG? Y para acabarla, el libro es ficción. Estoy decepcionado de mí mismo por creer que algo de este libro era real.
En fin, si lo quieres leer, date. Pero la neta no lo volvería a leer.
No voy a mencionar nada de los aspectos básicos porque pueden leerlos más arriba.
Mi experiencia con el libro fue un poco extraña ya que hubo partes en las que sí estuve de acuerdo con lo que se estaba mencionando y en otras fue un rotundo no. Obviamente me refiero a las que tienen que ver con creencias religiosas, lo cual me causa cierto conflicto ya que aunque la naturaleza del libro es hablar de la divinidad, el autor dice en el epílogo que se tuvieron que eliminar ciertas escenas en las que se hablaba de muchos términos teológicos. Careciendo esto de sentido porque hablar de la Trinidad exige que se hable de teología. No puedes evitar el uno para hablar de lo otro, simplemente no se puede.
Puedo imaginar al autor escribiendo la escena del accidente de manera desesperada por terminar el libro. Piénsalo un segundo; después de haber pasado "un fin de semana" con la divinidad, sufre un accidente en el cual de manera muy conveniente estuvo inconsciente durante no sé cuántos días, está bajo el efecto de medicamentos muy fuertes y al despertar decide relatar la historia de lo que pasó en "La Cabaña". Una enorme conveniencia del guión en la que OBVIAMENTE no le iban a creer. Para mí el final adecuado habría sido que después de despertar sintiera la paz que Dios le había otorgado después de adquirir todas las lecciones aprendidas.
Tiene sus cosas buenas y sus cosas MALAS. El último ejemplo que daré es con respecto al "Matachiquitas". En esta parte también siento que al autor le faltó echarle cerebro. No es posible que un wey que hizo de Missy su 5ta víctima haya sido tan estúpido como para dejar algo que lo incriminara en la escena del crimen y que después de 3 años esta haya sido encontrada y servido para localizarlo a él y los cuerpos de las 4 otras niñas. ¿En serio? No puede ser que haya actuado con más cautela cuando estaba a la vista de muchas personas que cuando ya no había nadie viéndolo. ¿EN QUÉ DEMONIOS ESTABAS PENSANDO WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG? Y para acabarla, el libro es ficción. Estoy decepcionado de mí mismo por creer que algo de este libro era real.
En fin, si lo quieres leer, date. Pero la neta no lo volvería a leer.
aj59bizg's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sereia8's review
3.0
This book was worth reading because of some of the aha's, even though I had to wade through some strange stuff. I wanted to give it more stars, but couldn't bring myself to do it. Hopefully, others will help me understand what they found so moving and profound.
kbrantmeier24's review
3.0
This was an interesting point of view about God told mainly through dialogue.
floatwiththesticks's review
5.0
This book receives a five star but not because of its work as a novel. The writing is not ground-breaking, the main character is not particularly well fleshed out. I think I would struggle to write even an analytical paragraph on it-
And yet; this is why it is so powerful. ‘The Shack’ depicts a God accessible and *real* in a world of religious institutions, replacing pre-conceptions with love and hope and promise. I cried my way through reading, absolutely astounded by what was felt through the words. This is a book I will be recommending to anyone searching for answers (and to those thinking they’ve found them).
And yet; this is why it is so powerful. ‘The Shack’ depicts a God accessible and *real* in a world of religious institutions, replacing pre-conceptions with love and hope and promise. I cried my way through reading, absolutely astounded by what was felt through the words. This is a book I will be recommending to anyone searching for answers (and to those thinking they’ve found them).
sydmarie30's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mco123's review
5.0
Well written fiction book. Even as a work of fiction, it takes the things that I have “understood” or thought I understood and turns them around for another look. Good read!