Review The Shack by Wm Paul Young

First things first, I didnt finish the book in a week (as you can tell). During the time between the last post and this one I have been trying to sit down and read this book but it took me this long just to get through the first half of the book since I found it so monotonous and slow. I did give up on the book so I am sorry about that but I do read for pleasure. But I can review what I have read so far and what I have quickly browsed of the following pages.

The Story: This books starts off with Mackenzie who is in his house talking about 'The Great Sadness', which in this case is when his daughter is murdered by a serial killer. He gets a letter from 'Papa' (this is the name that  his wife gives God), which explains that he will meet him at the shack where his daughter was murdered. So he goes to the shack and meets God, talks to him and asks questions about life, why he would let his daughter  be murdered and lifes big questions.

I do enjoy a philisophical debate, such as does God exist, whats in the afterlife, Is there an afterlife etc. I did think this was going to be philisophical but it ended up being a religious studies lesson and the topic for the lesson was christianity. Fair enough I am bias and not belive in Christianity but it felt like this book was trying to convert me.

I can sum up the plot in one word, SLOW. You need patients for this book and if you don't have it then do yourself a favour and don't buy the book. I always think a good book has to have a gripping beginning otherwise the reader loses interest and reads something different. The book was good at the beginning as it set up what I believed an interesting plot. You wonder what the 'Great Sadness' was and you feel for the character as he tries to find his daughter. Then when he  reaches the Shack to find nothing then it  changes into a refurbished cabin. And are introduced to the 'Holy Trinity'. After that, it goes down hill and its more of a conversation between them. This is the point of the book but personally I found it boring.

I  cant really write much more about it since I only read half the book (and its fairly short book) and I didn't get that far into the different conversations Mackenzie had. If I knew what I was getting myself in for, I would have chosen something else to read. But if you enjoy Christian books, then give this a go. However if your looking for something more fast paced and gripping, try a thriller or crime book. 5/10