The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by Wm. Paul Young (Windblown Media; 2007, ISBN 978-0-9647292-3-0)
Whew! My wife handed me The Shack two days ago. I stuck up my nose at it because I knew the book by its reputation: it’s a cultural phenomenon and I , as a contrarian, rarely stoop to the level of reading anything remotely successful as a pop cultural phenomenon. Well, I started reading the thing and, like a voyeur drawn to the slight parting of a curtain in an attractive co-ed’s dorm, I couldn’t stop leering; couldn’t let go of Mackenzie’s pain, his loss, his search for truth, and, in the end, his quest for his own soul. There is much to be admired about the terse, compact writing prevalent in this novel. There is more still to be admired in the courage displayed by author Young as he enters the personal hell of his protagonist, and in so doing, drags the reader beneath turbulent water like a loving, but mischievous big brother pulling his sibling into the deepest reaches of a desolate, forbidding, mountain lake.
There are a few flat philosophical bobs and weaves to the story. A bit of over reliance by Young upon mystique and mystery; the sort of literary slight of hand that I’m not normally fond of (being the concrete, black and white writer that I am). But the Trinity composed of a Queen Latifah look alike; a flighty Asian spiritress; and a benevolent Jerry Seinfeld turned carpenter; is experienced, more than read. These three characters, by themselves, without the added attraction of great pacing, snappy dialogue, and emotive writing, are worth your tithe of time.
The easiest way to describe the brand of Christianity announced by Queen Latifah-as–God in The Shack is to consider the point made near the end of the book (no spoiler alert here!): Whereas, we too often live our lives as human beings dependent upon fulfilling expectations (ours and those of others); we should devote our lives to looking forward with expectancy.
This book is not ratable because my self-created system only goes up to five stars: A must read for anyone of faith; anyone of little faith; anyone searching for faith; anyone of no faith; just anyone.
