Latest Reading

I finished The Shack, by William Paul Young, an inspirational book designed to address the problem of pain. The book came highly recommended by several people I know. The book itself has an interesting story. Rejected by publishers, the author decided to publish and sell it on his own and it eventually became a bestseller by word of mouth. I can see why.

It’s the story of a man whose daughter was kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer. Years later he has still not recovered emotionally and he receives a cryptic note, apparently from God, to return to the shack where the killer took his daughter. Through conversations with God, the man’s questions are answered and his soul finds healing. A little twist in the end suggests it might have been a dream, and at first that upset me. But the story ends well.

I can see why the book might have been rejected by publishers. It can seem too much like a thinly veiled bio. The writing at times seems unprofessional. Both the story and theology can come across as hokey. But editors and publishers are often wrong and, on the other hand, I can see why it became a bestseller. The story is too powerful to be held down by technical imperfections. The message is too touching to be hindered by delivery. The Shack touched my heart. I’m glad I read it.