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You know.....I love a scathing review!

Great review. I could not have said it better myself! I wasn't able to get past the halfway mark in this book because the GAG factor was just too overwhelming.

I just started trying to read this book today, and I simply can't bear it. I find it a little frightening that so many people think it's so amazing. I came here mostly to see if I can find out what it's about without strugglign through all that drivel and excessively flowery description, but also to find the few other people who went, "wha?" at all the hoopla, ack!

Perfect review! I'm stuck at the midway point and can't seem to force myself to return to finish it.

I totally agree, couldn't get past page 40, absolutely horrible little book.
I think it's geared for a certain audience base.

I have suffered several great sorrows in my life and this book really helped me face those awful times and deal with them, and face God again. I give it 5 stars just for that.

Eric wrote: "I have suffered several great sorrows in my life and this book really helped me face those awful times and deal with them, and face God again. I give it 5 stars just for that."

Hi Eric, I'm glad to hear this book helped you. I couldn't relate to the book at all. However, I can appreciate the author's efforts more after recently seeing him on Good Morning America. I think this book was his catharsis and the intention behind it was to help others come to grips with the difficult periods in their lives. I'm happy to hear you are at peace now and wish you the best in life.

Indeed

Excuse me Renee. The word is "DRIVEL"

Peter wrote: "Excuse me Renee. The word is "DRIVEL" "
Thanks Peter; I appreciate the edit. Happy New Year to you!

Renee wrote: "Peter wrote: "Excuse me Renee. The word is "DRIVEL" "
Thanks Peter; I appreciate the edit. Happy New Year to you!
"

And to you and yours! I am a forgiving editor :-)

Great review! And superb analysis!

I could not have said it better myself!!

I think this book is amazing because it really gives an eye opener to the possibilites on how we would feel if something like this would happen. We would doubt God, who wouldnt. I had a hard time getting through it as well but i hate not to finish a book. I agree with Paula, i got a lot out of it as well. it makes you think. Especailly if you have children.

Well put! The whole premise angered me, and the description of the persons of the Holy Trinity was condescending and insulting to my intelligence. However, my sister told me that this book changed her life. Go figure.

This is horrible writing. My girlfriend was crying because of how much it effected her and people in the office I work in said this book was simply fantastic. I'm just saying that the first 30 or so pages is friggin horrible. Some of the description reads like a text book and at this point most of the scenes are one demensional. Boring, seriously.

If your a true Christan you should not be reading and judging books and no not all people have to go to church to love god or whoever you have faith in.

Because you know what that is?
Idol Warship at it's core and also a small fee -_-.

Savion wrote: "If your a true Christan you should not be reading and judging books and no not all people have to go to church to love god or whoever you have faith in.

Because you know what that is?
Idol Warshi..."
Thanks for taking the time to write Savion; my review is just my opinion, nothing more, nothing less! Have a good day. Renee

I'm going to say it one more time. The authorship in this book is bad in the first 30 pages. Maybe it's better after that, but it simply doesn't read well and therefore it's hard to follow. Nothing more than that.

I totally agree

I diaagree:-(. I feel Mr. Young was trying to steer us away from our own philosophies about God. Simply put in the shack we get a picture of God in three persons. Jesus, holy spirit, God(love). Remember God is not a flesh human being but a spirit

I agree -- The Shack is a boring and insulting book.

It has its ups and downs

Thanks Aleshia! I'm going to add them to my "to read" list & check em out!!

I read the book mad I thought it was a page turner! I couldn't put it down. I think that God appeared as a woman because the father of the little girl who got murdered wouldn't talk to God. So by showing his self as a person in the flesh He was able to gain his trust and God was able to minister to him. It wasn't until the man's heart started changing that he was to see it was God. Then had a change of heart and was sorry he had slipped away from God in the first place. God lead him to the place his child was murdered so he could have some peace with in himself instead of hate.

I am usually not too critical of books that are fiction especially if it has a good message. But this one... I have to agree with your review was a recipe gone bad. :/

JD wrote: "If your a true Christan you should not be reading and judging books and no not all people have to go to church to love god or whoever you have faith in.

Because you know what that is?
Idol Warshi..."

Did you mean Idle Worship?!

"pure drivel" is the perfect way to describe this book!

? Lies Not a good way to describe a book 2 a Christian like me

I thought I was the only one who did NOT like this book. I had high hopes, but I too feel it read like a Betty Crocker recipe gone bad, good analogy.

wat????????? i like da book. but i have no problem with u not liking it

I have no words for this book.I was unaware that it was going to be SO 'yay God'.....ugh

This book attempts to explain why bad things happen to good people and why Jesus death was a necessary, helpful thing. It failed on all levels in my opinion as the explanations were weak and often insulting. My comment on the book can be summed up with this quote from the book itself: "Mack wasn't at all sure about what he was supposed to understand by her [Holy Spirit] cryptic remark and said the only thing that came to mind. "Huh?" "

I'm sorry Renee but have you ever gone through an extremely tragic event. Have you ever had someone die in front of you like I have? Watched as your loved on slowly dies in front of you like I have? My dad watched his mom die of cancer without chemo. I watched my aunt get taken off of life support. I needed something to help me with my suffering. This was that thing for me. So how about you go through something terrible before you talk trash about things that helped save people from commiting suicide. Thanks.

I'm sorry for your loss Ruby, I too have gone though a very similar experience with a family member as you mentioned above, and it is indeed tragic. I just didn't like the book,that is all, it is no way a reflection on the terrible things we all endure (at one point) in our lives. Wishing you the best.

I think most people who read this book continue reading it because we have endured tragedy. I think tragedy is part of the human condition and nobody goes through life unscathed. I also believe the author is likely a good man who wanted to help people who were suffering. But something that helps one person will not necessarily help another. I suffer from several chronic health conditions & recently a friend described a medication (that helps me tremendously) as being "next to useless". At first I felt offended because she was criticizing something that has been life-saving for me. But then I realized she is describing her own experience in her own body and how could I expect her to have an experience just like mine when each person is so different? And why should I take it personally? I could argue with her and try to convince her that the medication really helps and she should give it more time, etc, etc. In reality, what helps one will not help all. In the case of this book I actually felt worse as I was reading it and I wanted to throw it across the room several times but I pushed through, hoping to find the peace & comfort that others found. Sadly, like my friend said about the medicine that helped me so much, the medicine in this book was "next to useless" for me. And reading Renee's critical review made me feel better because I did not feel so alone anymore. So thank you Renee for your honesty.

Thank you Amy, and I hope you have a nice and healthy holiday.

Best to you and your family too Renee :)

I laughed so hard at your comment. I couldn't agree more. Cheesy ordinary catechism for infants translated into weird characters. Bingo, a bestseller.

Amy wrote: "I think most people who read this book continue reading it because we have endured tragedy. I think tragedy is part of the human condition and nobody goes through life unscathed. I also believe the..."
Great commentary Amy, I could not agree with you more and I wish you well with all you are going through.

Renee, do you have any clue what it's like to lose a child? And face God everyday? I seriously doubt it. To have these emotions. The author is dead on right. And to go through them, not once, but twice! Is heart wrenching. This book is nothing but truth. You have no clue.

Dear Jody, I am truly sorry for your loss. My sister lost her child and I see what she suffers though on the daily, although this is not to say that I understand in the least what you have suffered (so please don't assume that I am saying that I do), this is my opinion on the book and the author's writing style. That is it. Nothing more. We should all be very grateful that we live in a country where we are able to express our opinions freely and we can respect different opinions. Isn't this the entire purpose of goodreads? To see what other people think of the book? I have read many, many books on loss that have helped me and have moved me, this was just not one of them. I wish you the best.

It's distressing to see people defend poor theology simply because the book made them "feel" a certain way. Thank you Renee for your review, and for being so kind to those who have disagreed with you. As a pastor, I have offered counsel to those in times of suffering, and cannot in good conscience recommend a book or other resource that paints a faulty picture of God, His promises, or His character. There are far too many good resources to choose from that do not preach universalism.

Thanks for taking the time to post this message Mark; I appreciate it. I very much agree with your comments. If you could recommend a book for me that deals with loss, that would be great. My sister lost her son a eight years ago (suddenly at 24) and I'd very much like to buy her a book that could help her in the (still) grieving process.

Picking out a good book can be tricky, because each person's pain is so personal. The ministry of presence is vital to healing. That said, I have created a list on ŷ������ titled, "When if Hurts" which included a little over 20 books. I haven't read them all, but I think they represent a good starting point for ministry to those who suffer grief and loss. As with the Shack, discernment is important. I hope that helps!

This is great, thank you!

I can respect those who have unfavorable reviews about the book. I believe the OP has done a great job with her replies.
However, it is important to approach reviews with love and not name calling. Perhaps a better way to approach the topic of Christianity, and this book, is providing useful resources instead of questioning their faith.
If someone read the book, and I disagreed, I would discuss the book from the author's perspective. Having lost a son before this book was published, I understand the message.
The most important thing to keep in mind is approaching disagreements with discernment, respect,empathy, and love. If you are upset or angry about this book, please be careful... pray, and think about the commission. Love never fails. ��

Excellent review. Most of us lose someone. I certainly have, but I'm not going to write a ridiculous book and make money from it. I'm glad some people enjoyed this...I just don't understand why.

Some people benefit from the way the author explained God's presence in times of tragedy and some people did not. Everybody has there own opinion and faith and we should respect every bodies own experiences.

I am currently reading this as part of a book club that meets once a month. I know that I will be chastised for not liking it....so not going. It has been tough to find a book club that doesn't glorify Christian faith. I live in the 'Bible belt' so it can be isolating. I have NOT liked what I have read, and if you know the true history of the author, you see the entire book was written by him for his own mental recovery. That's his belief, and I don't discount it. I just have no desire to 'sing the praises' of a poorly written and in my opinion inaccurate book.