Most of the book is good, but some parts of it are just too… well, wrong. “God, my servant”? Are you kidding me? And “all things are lawful”? I’m not buying it. Oh, but that’s right, I’d forgotten, sorry – “it wasn’t written primarily for me.” Uh huh.

That said, I can see why people like this book, because if you’re unsure of your faith, it can make you think and God’s overwhelming love is the main theme of the book. The quotes at the beginning of the chapters were special highlights. But there was just so much of it I couldn’t swallow, and sometimes it got so wordy that I had to push myself to focus, so if we’re talking in stars… I says 3 out of 5. Not something I’ll read again, but still glad that I saw what all the fuss was about.

Life changing and deep. God’s love is beyond even what this author can fathom and that’s amazing. One of my most highly recommended books ever.

I was in the airport two weeks ago (big surprise). Was looking for plane reading. Saw The Shack along side the usual mystery and thriller best sellers. Picked it up thinking it was regular old escapist fiction. It is written as such, but is actually very meaty in philosophy. Some heavy subjects are handled in a very available, accessible way. Like, “If there is a God, how can he (or she) let murder happen?” As a Catholic, much of the proposed “theology” is more “modern church” than I am used to, the basics are pretty sound. I especially like how the guy figures out the essential mystery of the Catholic church, the Trinity. How can God have three beings and all be the same and different at the same time? That is the key actually and the hardest part for most people to get. I rate 5 of 5 stars. A must read for anyone on a faith journey of any kind. I am going to send a copy to Bill Maher.

The Shack is a novel about a father who, devastated by the death of his daughter, spends a weekend with God (literally) and re-learns about God’s love. The theology is nothing radical, but the presentation really shakes things up and gets you thinking.