*** BLOG TOUR COMING NOVEMBER 2nd, 2008! ***
MY REVIEW:
When I first started reading this book, I was really curious. I’d heard so many people rave about it, and was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I’d also heard that it’d stirred up a lot of ‘controversy’ because of its contents.
It started off as a story about a man and his family. He took his kids on a camping trip, and then came home with one less child — she’d been abducted & killed.
Then the man goes on to be depressed for 3 years, until he receives an invitation to go back to the ’scene of the crime’. What he finds there really throws you for a loop!
The book asks you, the reader, to set aside a lof of ‘conventional thinking’ (especially the thinking that evangelical Christians have long held to), and to try to accept things as different. [Click HERE if you want to know what I'm talking about -- but, be warned that reading this might take away some of the 'shock factor' if you plan to read the book!]
This kind of thing really threw me off, and it damaged my enjoyment of the story. It kept pulling me out — back to reality — and basically ruined things for me. I can understand the POINT trying to be made, yes. But, I really wished the author would’ve written the book from the traditional viewpoint…
I did really like the ideas presented throughout, though I felt –in my spirit– that some of it was not as true as it should be… luckily, I’d prepared myself, going into my reading of this book, by praying for discernment. I’ve been gullible in the past, and have been mislead. Now I’m more careful when approaching something that sparks so much controversy.
The book touches on subjects like love, submission, forgiveness, trust, and God’s goodness. These were all very interesting.
I had an easier time of reading this book when I just forgot about what “should be”, and just enjoyed it as a type of “fantasy” novel. Much as I believe God is real, I had to read this book as a work of fiction, because it is, really.
And, that’s the great danger with a book like this — it is a work of FICTION, but it presents a lot of stuff that is also TRUE in ‘real life’. So, you have to read it with that spirit of discernment, or you’ll get lost trying to separate fact from fiction.
Overall, I thought the writing was very amateur and oftentimes unbelieveable/unrealistic. But, I loved that the book presented a lot of “food for thought” on spiritual topics.
In the end, I only gave it a “C” rating (average) because it wasn’t as “fantastic” as a lot of people have made it out to be, and I’ve read better. But, it didn’t deserve a lower rating, due to the really good concepts it gets you to think more deeply about.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone, but I won’t NOT recommend it, either.
This book seems to be quite controversial like you said. I had a friend tell me it was good but… and another gal that brought it back to the libary I asked if she liked it and she said No I hated it. So for this factor alone I will have to read it LOL. No but it is on my TBR pile. I liked your review.
I am glad to read your thoughts. This is my book club’s pick for November.
For anyone interested, William Paul Young, the author of “The Shack,” is doing a live, online chat on Wednesday (10/22) from 2-3 p.m EDT at http://Abunga.com/AuthorsAtAbunga. It’s a chance to ask questions and hear his thoughts. You should join in, if you can!
I haven’t read this one yet (hasn’t arrived), but looking forward to taking it for a spin.
Would you be interested in submitting one of your reviews to the new Christian Book Carnival? The first edition is tomorrow. You can check my blog for details. Thanks!
Ok…I didnt read your review because I’m not finished reading the book yet and I want to wait until I finish before I read any of the reviews. *sticking my head in the sand* So, I’ll be back when I’m done with it!
But I wanted to let you know that I tagged you for 7 random “bookish” things. I wasnt sure which of your blogs you’d want to use it (if any…and that’s fine too). Anyway, if you want to, here’s the link!