The Shack-WM Paul Young

I have read many books in my life but none quite like The Shack, which not only shook the core beliefs or ideals of the main character Mackenzie Allen Phillips also known as "Mack", but quite honestly my own. The Shack starts pre-tragedy where Mack takes his three children on a camping trip, on this camping trip certain events lead to the abduction of his youngest daughter Missy by the "Little LadyKiller". Four years later Mack has sunken into what he describes as "The Great Sadness", in this time he finds a letter in his post box from "Papa", a name that his wife uses to refer to God, inviting him to come to the Shack. The Shack is of great significance as this is where they found his daughters bloodied clothing. He immediately assumes that this letter must come from the Little LadyKiller, however at the same time cannot understand how the serial killer would know to sign it with the words "Papa". Without giving away too many details of the book, I will conclude with the following details: Mack decides to go to The Shack, to see what or whom he shall find, and to his surprise he does not find the serial killer he finds God. The only surprising thing is. . . God is a Woman!. I must be honest it was at this point that I had the same reaction as the main character, every possible idea that I had been socialized into believing came crashing down around me. The funnier thing is, I started introspecting, dissecting every possible memory from Sunday school trying to pin point where I may have heard the words that God was in actual fact a man therefore, why could I not fathom the possibilities of him? being a woman? That dear readers is the power of socialization, and I have to reiterate that I did not have a problem with God being portrayed as a woman, rather I found it quite profound how hard it was to rearrange all these pieces in my brain to fully connect with the story, to personify God and to challenge my ideals. I am glad that I read this and that I challenged my beliefs because The Shack is a powerful book, so powerful and so necessary. The author writes beautifully so much so that I have started reading 'Lies we believe about GOD'. I am only a few chapters in but hooked on every word.

Comments

The Five People You Meet in Heaven-Mitch Albom♡

Happy New Year!!! Good day Bibliophiles I promised you this review so here it is. . . I have a new favorite book of all time. This book is more than just a fictional title, this book made me stop and think of all of the interactions I have had with people that I have come into contact with. The Five People You Meet in Heaven follows the story of an elderly mans life and death. This man goes by the name " Eddie ", often called Eddie Maintenance because of his name tag. Eddie dies while trying to save a little girl at his place of work, and thus starts a journey through Heaven. In his heaven, he meets five people, some strangers, some people he knows very well. These five people teach him lessons and help him understand the impact he may have had in their lives, and the impact they had on his. What did we love about it? Mitch Albom is a great writer! I got through this book in three days and this is because I really needed to know who Eddie was go...

When Breath Becomes Air- Paul Kalanithi

Hey Bibliophiles! I haven't read a good biography in the longest time, and I can honestly say it has been long overdue. "At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's training as a neurosurgeon ,Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a medical student in search of what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity-the brain- and finally into a patient and a new father." When I started reading When Breath Becomes Air three days ago, a sad song happened to be playing in the background and when I came to the last pages of this book, a sad song happened to be playing from my playlist. I would like to blame the music on my heightened emotions or instant connection to this book; however it is the author. Paul Kal...

Lisa Heathfield-Paper Butterflies

" June's life at home with her stepmother and stepsister is a dark one-and a secret one. Not even her dad knows the truth. Shes trapped like a butterfly in a jar, Then June meets Blister, a boy in the woods. In him, she finds a glimmer of hope that perhaps she can find a way to fly far, far away. But freedom comes at a price. . ." Hey Bibliophiles, I've read many of tragedies in my life, but this takes the cup❤! June is living a Cinderella-esque type of life with her stepmother and her step sister, but on a much greater scale. Her stepmother over feeds her, plates her dinner on the floor, chokes her. . .among other brutal abusive acts. June is crying out for help and quietly hoping that her teachers, school nurses or doctors will ask her if everything is okay at home, so that they can set her free; unfortunately no one really notices. Thankfully fellow Bibliophiles things look up when she meets Blister. As always I don't want to give too much away. ...

Noli's Book Journey

Search This Blog