The Shack by William P. Young – A Review

37 Replies


The Shack by William P. Young
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Windblown Media; 1st edition (July 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0964729237
ISBN-13: 978-0964729230
From Amazon.com:
Product Description
Mackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack’s world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant “The Shack” wrestles with the timeless question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You’ll want everyone you know to read this book!
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WARNING: SPOILER

It’s hard for me to talk about this book without giving a spoiler. I had mixed feelings about this novel for several reasons. First off, it just seemed weird for the author to make God, the Father, an African American woman. William P. Young (the author) also portrayed the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman and Jesus as a Middle Eastern man. A few people commented on this blog post that they either didn’t want to read the book because of what they’d heard about it, or didn’t want to finish reading the book.

I felt strangest when reading the scenes with Mack and Papa (the African-American woman). I guess because when I think of God personified, I automatically think of Jesus. I just can’t imagine being in the kitchen with God, The Father, as an African-American woman, asking questions about suffering while she bakes a pie!

Reading about the Asian Holy Spirit felt a little bit “off” too. It’s hard to explain why, but it just felt a little strange. My being in the garden with the female Asian Holy Spirit, while helping to plant flowers while I ask her questions about mankind and suffering is just a little bit hard to imagine.

I believe that’s where some of the controversy arises with this novel. By having the African-American woman and the female Asian Holy Spirit, the author MAY be trying to explain the trinity in an understandable way to Mack and to the reader as well?

The scenes that felt more “normal” were the ones where Mack was interacting with Jesus. I guess it’s because we have somewhat of a mental image of Jesus since we know He was here on earth, personified. I’m not sure why the scenes felt more normal when reading about Jesus, but I’m assuming this is why. Also, Jesus was a carpenter on earth, and the author shows Jesus working with tools, making a coffin for Mack’s deceased daughter.

When Mackenzie’s (Mack’s) daughter is abducted and killed, he can’t seem to shake the Great Sadness that has descended upon him. He receives a letter from Papa, asking for a meeting at the shack (where his daughter was taken before she was killed). The letter and the visit from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together, are God’s way of reaching out to Mack, helping him to heal from the grief and bitterness he’s been harboring for the last four years.

He has thought-provoking conversations with all three of his “hosts” for the weekend, demanding answers as to why his innocent daughter was brutally murdered. Papa answers Mack’s question, and in the end, Mack is able to bury his pain, both emotionally and physically. He knows his daughter still lives and is now happy. Jesus allows Mack to get a glimpse of his deceased child, now happily enjoying her afterlife.

Although this book was strange, I do think it MAY help to minister to those who have lost a child. I have a 3 year old, and if something similar were to happen to him, I know I’d suffer from Great Sadness. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit explain why evil things happen to innocent people on this earth.

I also wanted to point out that if I were to write this book, or if I were an acquiring editor, I’d suggest that the author redo the story without the African-American woman Papa and the Asian Holy Spirit in the story. I’d just have Jesus to visit Mack, and have the two of them chat about what had happened with Missy (Mack’s murdered daughter). Of course, several scenes would have to be redone in a different way, but if the book were written the way I’ve suggested, I think it may have been more effective and less controversial.

The concept used in The Shack of Jesus, coming to us directly as a person today, reminded me of a book I read a long time ago called Eli. In Eli, Davis Conrad has an accident, and when he wakes up, it appears he’s in another time and he rushes to escape from the police who are trying to catch him. A man named Eli is born, and Davis is confused because Eli claims to be the Son of God. Also, when Davis looks at the Bible, the New Testament doesn’t exist. But then he flashes back to an alternate time and sees himself hooked up to machines in a hospital (resulting from his accident). This book has science fiction qualities as it tells of a parallel universe. However, it reminded me of The Shack since it uses this scenario: what would happen if Jesus were to come today instead of two thousand years ago?

This same concept was used in Dinner With A Perfect Stranger. In Dinner With A Perfect Stranger, the main character receives an invitation from Jesus, kind of like Mack did in The Shack. This workaholic character with a troubled marriage accepts the invite and dines with Jesus at an Italian restaurant. During this dinner, he asks God about why there is so much pain and suffering in the world, demanding answers, kind of like how Mack confronted God, The Father, and Jesus, and The Holy Spirit in The Shack. However, I felt the way it was done in Dinner With A Perfect Stranger was more realistic than The Shack.

These are the ONLY THINGS in The Shack that reminded me of these two other novels! I’m in no way saying that Eli and Dinner With A Perfect Stranger are as controversial and “strange” as The Shack.

I’d be interested in hearing readers’ thoughts about this book. Leave a comment along with your EMAIL ADDRESS in this post if you’d be interested in winning this novel! If you comment and you are NOT interested in winning, then just say that you DON’T want to be entered into the drawing. I’ve heard so many positive and negative things about this novel for a long time, so I had to read it myself to see what all the fuss was about!


~Cecelia Dowdy~

37 thoughts on “The Shack by William P. Young – A Review”

  1. Anonymous

    I’ve been wanting to read this book for a long time! now would be a good chance, please enter me 🙂
    vkc922 at cox dot net

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  2. Lena Nelson Dooley

    I really liked Papa as a woman, because of what it meant in the book. Mack wouldn’t have been able to connect with Papa as a man, because of his history with his own father. And after Mack dealt with his unforgiveness to his own father, then Papa appeared to him as a man. This showed that God meets us where we are, in a way that we can accept, and then becomes what He wants to be to us when we’re able to relate.

    I’d love to win the book.

    SAFE {HYPHEN} LDWRITES {AT} FLASH {DOT} COM

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  3. Janna

    Hmm, it’s too bad that I don’t think you grasped what the author was trying to do when he wrote “The Shack”. First off, it wasn’t written for worldwide publication. His wife encouraged him to write a story to give his grown children for Christmas. The first printing – 6 copies. There was no acquiring editor. Yet, strangely, it is one of the best selling books – ever. If he had portrayed God as a man, Mack wouldn’t have accepted Him because of the father issues he had. The point being that God is everything, and will be who we need no matter what. Much of the book is about looking at the Trinity differently, if he hadn’t included God and the Holy Spirit he could have just written the book “Joshua” by Joseph Girzone. Here is the review I did of The Shack…

    (http://cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com/2008/11/shack-book-review-and-giveaway.html)

    I would love to be entered since I
    love giving this book to others!

    ryanx6 at msn dot com

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  4. wordlily

    I would like to win and read this book — a friend read it and wants me to read it so we can discuss it. And I think she gave her copy away already. Good to read your review!

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  5. Tammy Doherty

    Great review, Cecelia! I wasn’t sure I wanted read this book, and I’m still not sure. But your summary helps me better understand what it’s about. I don’t generally read books about dealing with grief (my personal denial system!), but I’m interested in the way the Trinity is portrayed.

    Having not read the book, I’m going to take up the other side of your argument. You and I believe in God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus. I’m making assumptions about your faith based on your blog, BTW. Anyway, we understand the Trinity. But what if you have a vague grasp on Christianity? You wouldn’t understand why there’s God AND the Holy Spirit AND Jesus. I mean, if God is God, why does he need those other beings? You and I, and people with relatively strong faith, understand the reasoning. A large percentage of people don’t.

    People in general, particularly Americans, can’t relate to the concept of believing in something that can’t be seen. It’s the one thing about ‘Polar Express’ that I don’t like – the line “Seeing is believing.” That’s backwards, as I hope other Christians will agree. Believing in seeing – only by believing can you “see” or understand the unseen Holy Father and the Trinity.

    Perhaps that’s part of why He sent Jesus in the first place. We obviously weren’t listening to God! Like children who ignore their parents when the parents aren’t in the room. Jesus came to be amongst the people as a person because people would listen to a man they could see. (there were other reasons for his coming, too!)

    So, The Shack represents the Holy Spirit and God in the body of real people. Having them be something unexpected makes them stand out in the mind of the reader. Plus, we call Him, God the Father, but isn’t a mother more comforting? A maternal-acting African-American woman would “feel” more approachable, especially by a guy who wants to confront God. Confronting The ALL MIGHTY is a scary thought. Asking questions of a lady baking in the kitchen seems almost natural and certainly less chance of getting struck down by lightning 🙂

    I think probably The Shack was written for people who kind of believe in God but have too many questions to truly grasp faith. It’s for people OF the world, who need to be treated almost like preschool children but without letting on that that’s how they’re being reached.

    Sorry this is so long! Now that I wrote all that, I’m more inclined to read the book. But I’ll wait to get it from the library, because I’m sure there will be someone more interested that deserves to win a copy.

    Thanks again for the review and the opportunity to better understand what this book is about.

    Tammy Doherty

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  6. Anonymous

    Boy, I have been on the fence about reading this book as the God is a woman, and the Asian Holy Spirit. If I win it, I am meant to read it, and if I don’t I will stay away from it. I have been debating since this book came out.

    Thanks;
    Gayla Collins
    gayla.c@bresnan.net

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  9. Cecelia Dowdy

    Hi, Janna, thanks for commenting.

    I understand The Shack wasn’t written for worldwide publication. I’m familiar with the background of the Shack. It started out as I self-pubbed book the author wrote for his family.

    I was merely using the editorial/writer scenario as a discussion point on my blog, saying how I think the book MAY have been more effective if it was portrayed as I’d said.

    Yes, you, as well as others, make a good point about how Mack had a bad relationship with his father, and God appeared as a woman because Mack would more likely accept Him in this form.

    I don’t think it’s “too bad” as you stated in your comment about my not grasping what the author was trying to do.

    I BELIEVE the points I was making is what sparked the controversey about this book.

    Also, I realize this is a best-selling book. I’ve been hearing arguments, pros and cons, about this book for several months, now. Usually, people either love the book or they hate it, from what I’ve heard. I’m on several writers and readers loops, and usually, when The Shack is mentioned, a heated discussion always ensues, with people on both sides of the fence.

    I guess it’s just hard for me to picture God as the African-American woman, and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman because that’s not how God is portrayed in the Bible. I didn’t mention this in my post, but thought I’d mention in in this comment.

    Thanks again for commenting though! Maybe you’ll win! 🙂

    ~Cecelia Dowdy~

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  12. BarbC

    I enjoyed reading your review. I am almost done reading The Shack. I know several folks, including my dd who loved it… my son on the other hand never finished it. There are things I like… in fact, I have several things marked with post-it notes to put in my quote journal. The way the Trinity is presented is unusual and I struggled a bit at first, but I was comfortable with the author’s explaination concerning Papa. The Holy Spirit is a bit too New Age for me. The thing I have disliked concerning them is the casualness. While I appreciate the intimacy we are given as Believers, there is a lack of reverence and holiness in The Shack… a lack I see in the church and the world today. I agree with you that if it had been just Jesus, it would have been a better fit to me. I just don’t see God and the Holy Spirit as earthly beings ever… except in the body of Christ.

    Tamara — I can see your point of how this book and the way the Trinity is portrayed might appeal to one that doesn’t know a lot about Christianity. Funny thing, I thought about sending this to someone and decided not to because they are so weak in their faith and know so little of the truth of the Word. I am not sure this is a good place for a baby Christian or a non-Christian to go…. I think this book is best read by someone grounded in the Word and Truth.

    I do not think it is heresy or some evil book that blasphemes God… it definitely challenges how we view God and it does have lessons in it for all of us on judgment… good and evil… control.

    I will be reviewing it soon on my blog and will include a link to yours, Cecelia. Don’t enter me in the drawing as I have the book.

    Barb C.

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  13. Martha A.

    I read the book, i was not going to, but then I can hardly discuss a book I have not read. I took it as it was, a fiction story to make a point.
    God likes to do odd things to make a point to us….I personally do not think God or the holy spirit are female in nature, they are God and that bothered me.

    I did take some good from the book, but it was not one I would get too excited over!
    (note…you do not need to enter me to win a copy!)

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  20. Tammy Doherty

    Reading all the comments, it finally hit me why many strong believers feelthe way God is portrayed is wrong.

    God cannot look upon sin. That’s another reason why Jesus was sent here. We know from the Bible that God would not appear in person, He would send an angel, or His Son. As the Lord cannot abide sin, and we have all sinned, even believers, He uses a “middle man” to communicate.

    So a book that has God appearing in person triggers the “that’s wrong” alarms in our brains. We don’t realize it, though, so we think the problem is that God is depicted as a woman. But maybe it’s really that God is in human form at all.

    I don’t know how to explain the Holy Spirit issues, though 🙂

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  21. Tammy Doherty

    BarbC – I agree with you about the irreverence in the church today. I’m protestant and my husband is (formerly) catholic. He thinks my church is too “laid back” about sin and forgiveness. I could get up on a soap box about what’s wrong in my church. But Jesus said let the man who hasn’t sinned throw the first stone. That’s not me!

    I just wish people would be more sincere in their repentance. It must make God sad when someone asks to be forgiven for something and within hours or days they commit the same sin again, with no qualms whatsoever. I’m guilty of repeating my sins, but I feel horrible and do make a real effort at getting better.

    That’s off topic though.

    Blessings,
    Tammy

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  22. Jessica

    Cool. I’m so glad you gave a spoiler. I had no clue this book was controversial but now I guess I can see why.
    So, does it remind anyone of the Matrix? I remember when that movie first came out, there was a whole lot of talk about who each character represented, etc.
    This book sounds a little like the Matrix.
    Anyways, the woman thing is interesting. Actually, this makes the book more interesting to me than it was simply as a talk with God.
    I’m not that interested in reading it though, so you don’t have to enter me. 🙂

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  23. Rebecca LuElla Miller

    I think The Shack brings up the question, How much speculation about the supernatural is OK? Apparently some Christians are fine with the imaginative elements, seeing a purpose behind them.

    My problem with this (as one who has not yet read The Shack) is the conclusion so many seem to reach: The point being that God is everything, and will be who we need no matter what. (From one of the comments above).

    I don’t believe God will be who we need no matter what. He is God and we need to see Him as He is. That’s why Jesus came–to show us the Father.

    To put it mildly, I have “issues” with the premise of this book (an understanding of which I have gleaned from others who have written and discussed it), but do think I should read it myself in order to be more completely informed.

    Cecelia, thanks for your thought-provoking review. Please enter me in your drawing: rluellam at yahoo dot com.

    Becky

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  24. Patricia W.

    Cecelia, I know what you mean because as I read The Shack, I initially had a similar reaction. But I kept reading and realized that it was me, not the author’s choices.

    Because the point was to get Mack outside of any preconceived notions about what God is or isn’t so that he could receive God’s true essence. Same with the Holy Spirit. When Mack allowed himself to experience them vs. see them, he then began to know them.

    My preconceived notions were what caused me to feel like something was awry. No, I don’t expect to ever see God or the Holy Spirit in physical form but by the end, I thought it was pretty cool to allow them to be anything but what people would automatically expect in order to force us to think about their true essence.

    Even more jarring would have been to use something other than a human being.

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  25. Pamela J

    I’ve been interested in seeing what all the fuss was, about this book too so I definitely want to be entered in your contest. Beyond that, I can’t say until I’ve read it for myself.
    Thanks.
    Pam W
    cepjwms at yahoo dot com

    Reply ↓
  26. Cecelia Dowdy

    Patricia W. wrote: Even more jarring would have been to use something other than a human being.

    >>>Oh, man, that thought gives me the willies! This book is so controversial now, I can’t imagine what would have happened if he made the Holy Spirit and God in the form of a sheep or goat or some other animal!

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  28. buddyt

    I had not heard about this book and reading your comments, I am not sure if i would like it or not.

    However I lost my daughter at age 24 three years ago. It was murder but her body was only discovered after 1o days so there has never been a resolution on this.

    That is why I would like a chance to see what the author has God say about this type of thing.

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  29. Barbara

    I’ve heard lots of comments about this book being good. Would love to see for myself. Please enter me into the giveaway. Thanks!
    barbcsanders (at)bellsouth(dot)net

    Reply ↓
  30. Sandee61

    I haven’t read this book yet, but its on my wish list. Please enter me in your drawing. Thank you!
    I’m enjoying your blog very much and review of books you read.

    Holiday Blessings,
    Sandy

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

    Reply ↓
  37. tracysbooknook.com

    I have to say that “The Shack” by William P. Young was a very thought provoking read.

    After reading the book, I was left pondering several things about it – which is a true testament to the book’s worth. I had several questions on the validity of some of the descriptions of God but I had to humbly admit that there may be no answers this side of heaven for how God presents Himself to each individual.

    I posted a more in-depth review of this book on my own blog http://www.tracysbooknook.com.

    -Tracy

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