Book Review: The Shack by William Paul Young

The Shack by William Paul Young was released in May of 2007 and there's been a buzz about it ever since. After hearing so many recommendations to read the novel (usually something along the lines of "it will change your life", or "it's revolutionary" or "all Christians must read this"), I broke down and purchased it on sale from Amazon for $6.

Here is a summary of The Shack, courtesy of Goodreads:
Mackenzie Allen Philips' 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.

I spent months reading this 250 page novel; not because it was long or I didn't have time, but because I made the mistake of putting it down. It's a quick read when you get into it, but I never felt compelled to pick it up again after setting it down. Young does a wonderful job of character development: Mackenzie is a father everyone can relate to. Readers feel the emotions he has as he struggles with his daughter's murder. They relate to his struggles when he meets the Trinity in The Shack. Because of this, I can see why many readers would recommend this to their friends.

For me, it was dry. I did not feel my world was shaken, revolutionized, or that I'd suddenly renewed my faith in God. It was an ok read with an interesting perspective on God, the Trinity, and faith. Nothing more.

Me in the summer of 2009, on a hike overlooking Wallowa Lake

My favorite part about the novel, of course, was the setting. The Shack is located in the "wilderness" surrounding Wallowa Lake in Northeastern Oregon. It's about an hour's drive from where I attended college, and a perfect setting to "meet God". The lake itself it beautiful, and the surrounding towns are adorable. I highly recommend it as a vacation spot for those of you interested in hiking, fishing, and relaxing :)

I recommend this novel for anyone who was already looking to read it. For those of you who weren't...well, you aren't missing out on much.

My stats:
The Shack by William Paul Young
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 250
2011 Reading Goal: 9432/12500