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Jay's Reviews > The Shack
The Shack
by Wm. Paul Young
by Wm. Paul Young
I know, I know. Everyone loves this book. No fewer than forty-three people asked me "Have you read The Shack yet?"
Invariably, they responded to my negative response with something along the lines of "You have to! It changed my life! I was full of questions, and life stunk, and then I read the book, and God made sense to me, I understood quantum physics effortlessly, and all of a sudden I could spin flax into gold!"
So, what I'm about to say is going to make a lot of people pretty angry.
The Shack appears to me to be an ex-hippie's best attempt at amalgamating God, Dr. Phil, and Oprah. The writing is bad, the story is cheesy, the format is formulaic and cliche, and the theology is spotty and poorly explained at best, and downright heretical at worst.
I was not impressed. If it makes a lot of people think hard thoughts about God that they'd rather avoid, then I suppose that's fine. I'm just not sure hard thinking should be done at the expense of clear thinking. And I'm certain bad writing is no way to advance good theology (even if this were).
Invariably, they responded to my negative response with something along the lines of "You have to! It changed my life! I was full of questions, and life stunk, and then I read the book, and God made sense to me, I understood quantum physics effortlessly, and all of a sudden I could spin flax into gold!"
So, what I'm about to say is going to make a lot of people pretty angry.
The Shack appears to me to be an ex-hippie's best attempt at amalgamating God, Dr. Phil, and Oprah. The writing is bad, the story is cheesy, the format is formulaic and cliche, and the theology is spotty and poorly explained at best, and downright heretical at worst.
I was not impressed. If it makes a lot of people think hard thoughts about God that they'd rather avoid, then I suppose that's fine. I'm just not sure hard thinking should be done at the expense of clear thinking. And I'm certain bad writing is no way to advance good theology (even if this were).
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Comments (showing 1-50 of 88) (88 new)
Right there with ya, Jay. I had a similar reaction to the book... C.S. Lewis he ain't! (Some of my friends didn't like my review either.) Nancy
I agree with you Nancy. I received the book as a Christmas gift and before I had even started it, a co-worker was telling me how I would love it.I very soon realized that I did not and almost felt like a bad Christian because everyone else was so intrigued by it!
I haven't read it, but I noticed from my friends who did that the ones who had a clearer theological understanding didn't like it. However, if it would enable to me to understand quantum physics maybe I should give it a shot.
Jay, you made me laugh so hard that I started to cry. This book was not my favorite. All my friends thought it was great... too bad I didn't see what they saw. I am a pretty quick reader and this little book took me a month to read. I am one of those people that have to finish the book, even if I don't like it.
Thank you, Jay, for saying what we were all thinking .. This book was killing me .. I actually had to put it down prior to finishing it (which I almost never do). After those 43 people approached me talking about it, I thought it was a must-read. False!
I didn't like it either..so you are certainly not alone!
"amalgamating God, Dr. Phil, and Oprah". Very good!
Jay-Good observations!
I didn't like it either!
Joan
I don't see what you're talking about. I'm only halfway through and I love it. It makes me think about the way I view God.
This is one of those books that people love or hate. It's fine..to each his own. I thought it was creepy and I agreed with Jay. If you like it..that's fine too.
Great review, Jay. Put it better than I ever could have.
I felt physically uncomfortable by "God's" down-home, woodsy and grammatically questionable rhetoric. I really tried to finish but I couldn't.
Last night, I commented on Facebook that this would be somewhere near the top of my "Unfavorite Book List" (If I had one). I hope some of my friends are still speaking to me! I hate to use the word "cheesy" but that so describes how I felt about the book.
Hi Jay,I couldn't agree more!!
What a dumb book. And I waited 4 months to get it from the library. VERY poorly written and totally cheesy.
Sue, At least you didn't buy it! It's sitting on my Kindle Reader..uggg...delete!
My thoughts exactly, Jay. I read this book because a dear friend thrust it upon me, convinced that I would find it deeply moving and important. I hate to disappoint her when she asks me for my thoughts, but the writing is so bad it made me wince at times, and while I appreciate the author's ambitious intent, it just felt strained and corny and overwrought. I wish I could tell my friend it helped enlighten me, strengthen my faith, or better understand God's love, but alas, "cheesy and creepy" -- that about sums it up.
I must say I agree. I wouldn't call it life changing. But, 4 years ago we lost both my niece and my nephew 8 weeks apart. I guess that is why it touched me so much, but touched is all I can say. When I finish reading it, I will know more.
I agree that the writing is bad, the story is cheesy, and the format is formulaic & cliche. The theology is very questionable, but I was touched by his explantions. It did make things more clear to me, however I'm not sure it's right. A good discussion book, if you can get through the poor writing.
hmm I thought the writing was pretty good myself, some parts were a little thick for my taste
I agree with everyone who thought this book was horrible. It's just bad. There's no other way to put it really. I wasn't moved. Dialogue, bad. Settings, bad. Characters, bad. Exposition, bad. And it's rehash of who God is, and if you didn't already know this information then that's your problem right there. Not to mention I don't need simple dumb stuff explained to me in a dumb, bumbling way. I got to page 116 and just said forget it. Just bad. Anybody who liked it, I want you to think hard about how this book would have turned out if a quality writer with good ideas wrote it. Every loses by this book being published.
EXACTLY! good review Jay
I read this book about three years ago for a book club sponsored by our church. I was the only one who thought it poorly written and terrible theologically. I think there is a great deal of the author's poor perspective of God in the book. The author is from around here and a couple of the book club members went to see him; they practically SWOONED over him! I KNOW it is fiction but like "The DaVinci Code," it is theologically dangerous.
Agree! It was so difficult to read this book. Not because of any sort of complicated writing or anything, but because it was so boring and I felt like the author thought I was too stupid to read "big people's" words. Lol.
I'd like to introduce you to Alcatraz, a deeply troubled, teenage, tattoo artist on a spiritual quest to find God. www.lovegodandtattoos.com
Who loves this book? I don't know this person. Awful book actually. Did you read a crossing or the drop's history by Anatoliy Obraztsov? I think you'll get more fun
I'm so glad that I'm not the only one. This was just too way over the top for me.
I'm a Christian so yeaaa
Michelle wrote: "I'm a Christian so yeaaa"Michelle,
How did it help you as a Christian? Are you a new believer? Did it increase your understanding of God who has saved you by the work of Jesus Cchrist? Are you a "seasoned"believer?
What is your relationship with the Bible, the Word of God?
I'm not in any way trying to criticize you;rather, I'm curious as to what "kind" of Christian (which, by the way, I believe you are!) regards this novel so enthusiastically.
ik ur not trying 2 criticize me. im am a christian. i am a believer. i believe in saints and god nd jesus
i always believed in god
But tell me how this book helped. Your understanding of God and Jesus. I would like to know so I can talk to those around me who have also considered reading it.Also, do you read the Bible regularly?
well, look im a kid. umm dis book didnt help me since i was always a believer in god nd jesus. if i could say it also helped me in some way. for example, it has showed me how god can be helpful nd how he can care about people. it also showed dat god will be by ur side in heaven and in earth. dis is all from ma point of view. i havent read it but my mom recomended it 4 me. im abuy da book. i dont read da bible but i do go to catholic class.
Booboo wrote: "Agree! It was so difficult to read this book. Not because of any sort of complicated writing or anything, but because it was so boring and I felt like the author thought I was too stupid to read "b..." >
so ur not a grown up or...?
U.L. wrote: "I agree with everyone who thought this book was horrible. It's just bad. There's no other way to put it really. I wasn't moved. Dialogue, bad. Settings, bad. Characters, bad. Exposition, bad. And i..."i like da book. so i think ur not a believer in god.
Michelle-If you're a kid, you better get some help proofreading your messages. Your writing is really bad. If you're not a kid, quit fooling around. If you are a Christian, get real.
? hey whoever u r. im making my words shorter. if u dont know dats wat kids do. atleast tennagers do like me. on btw whoever u r ik how to write cuz im smart not stupid. ik grammar. how do i have to get real if im a christian.?
I am so happy , I thought that i was the only one, that thought the book was awful. I'm the type of person that when I enjoy a book , I will finish it ,in two to three days, it took me forever to finish it. I spent most of the time reading pages because, I thought I may have read them wrong. This book is not a recommend read for me.
Seriously bad writing. Can't believe so many ppl like it. Childish and painful to go on.
Totally agree! When it started contradicting itself, I had to quit, and I NEVER "quit" books.
2 years later and I still haven't finished the book...just saying
Same here! I put it on my "didn't like and didn't finish" shelf!
All of these comments reinforced my dislike for this book! I loved the Dr. Phill, Oprah analogy! THANK YOU!!!
You were generous with two starts, IMO.
I really liked this book. Read it for the first time back in '06, and have been digging into it again with the Wifey this past year. We both have been very touched by it, and I think it's actually beautifully written... Not sure where all this dislike is coming from. Heresy?? Come on. Remember what you're reading. Loosen the reins a bit (yes, my theology is sound, lol) and give it a fair [less cynical] shot. :)
I haven't read it but I wanted to chime in and say I learned a long time ago if you feel that "yuck in your spirit", trust God and put it down.
but the book and the way it is received by so many people, including Christians, is dangerous.
There were so many things that concerned me that I gave up on listing them. As a librarian, I would give this book the call number "D" over "Trash". (Deception) filed in the (Trash).
Linda Armstrong