The Shack

by William P. Young

Author info: William P. Young

This book is currently on the best seller's list for popular fiction, but is not published by a Christian publishing house. However, it qualifies as a Christian book and is receiving a lot of interest in the secular as well as Christian markets.

The back cover description:

Mackenzie Allen Philip's 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 filled with unspeakable pain? The answer 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! (c)2007, William P. Young, book cover

Academic heavy weight Eugene Peterson comments "this book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!" (front cover, The Shack)

I can't say that I am a fan of Pilgrim's Progress or that I even made it through that whole book, but I do know that Eugene Peterson is a biblical scholar and is orthodox so I trust his judgment. Upon reading the book, I am left pondering several things about the book - which is a true testament to the worth of a book. I do have several questions on the validity of some of the descriptions of God but I must also humbly admit that there may be no answers this side of heaven for how God presents Himself to each individual.

The Shack begins with the family life of Mack and quickly arrives at the abduction of little Missy. Beware - this is emotional territory and quite horrible. It is not watered down for the gentle Christian but presents images that are deeply upsetting and horrifying. You will find yourself fully engaged in the "Great Sadness" along with Mack.

The mystery surrounding the note in the mailbox is captivating and is the beginning of the suspension of disbelief. Has God really sent a note to Mack? Why couldn't God do this if He wanted? Prepare yourself for some more adjustments to your traditional view of God, forgiveness, and relationships.

Without giving anything else away which may impact your surprise, delight and disbelief, I will only say - take a chance and read this book. It wasn't life changing for me but it was certainly interesting and has made me think and feel a certain hope about relationship with God and what He is prepared to do to woo me personally.