I’ve never read a book that challenges my thoughts and beliefs like this story. First try, I couldn’t get passed the first few chapters that left me grieving and angry for what happened to one of the characters. When I picked it up again, I couldn’t put it down. It provides a new way of looking at God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that truly makes you think. But greater than that it’s the way the writer delves into the deep, dark thoughts about justice and grace, mercy and love. One of those books you never forget. And there’s a film too.

Such a moving book

"Oh no", I thought at a strategic moment in the novel "The Shack", not another 'and he woke up and found it was all a dream' ending. Of course it wasn't the finish and it wasn't all a dream. Mackenzie Allen Phillips, or 'Mack' as he is known, blames himself for youngest daughter Missy's abduction, and a "great sadness" envelops him, causing him, at one point, to understandably feel suicidal. In short, as he later admits, he's a mess. He begins receiving letters in his postbox inviting him to visit "papa", his wife Nan's name for God. Eventually he decides to take up the offer and to centre a search for Missy, or her body, at The Shack. When he arrives there it is a run-down, delapidated building with blood stains on the floor. He leaves the building and when he returns it has been transformed into a warm and cheery home, where the Holy Trinity await to serve him a meal and offer him a room for a while. "Papa", or rather should it be "Mama", Elousia is a large African-American woman and represents God the father. Jesus (God the son) is a younger casually dressed man, while other-worldly Sarayu is, of course, the Holy Spirit. They are all divine and yet human. Gradually they, along with Sophia "the judge", begin to teach him about self-forgiveness, forgiveness of others and that living the Christian life doesn't mean adopting a liestyle that is restricted by lots of legalistic, unnecessary and dogmatic rules, in fact just as Jesus tells us in the New Testament. In short, "Mack" is transformed by his experience, as the novel's ending shows, even though the shack isn't. This has to be one of the most heartwarming and cheering books I've ever read, in the way it demonstrates that God is with us to help us through it and shares our distress and pain when tragedy or disaster strike. Enjoy.

I was a bit sceptical that the story sounded upsetting, however I read on and am very glad I did. My first read was from a relative's neighbour, who kindly lent it. It moved me to tears several times. It's wonderful to be able to read about other people's journeys in faith and affirm how God is always with us. This copy was bought to share.

I was a bit sceptical that the story sounded upsetting, however I read on and am very glad I did. My first read was from a relative's neighbour, who kindly lent it. It moved me to tears several times. It's wonderful to be able to read about other people's journeys in faith and affirm how God is always with us. This copy was bought to share.

A miserable book which rejects the Scriptural God of the Bible... can't believe how many folks on here have given it above 1 star. Just shows the state of 'christianity' nowadays. Itching ears, anyone?

I loved this book, I have read it 3 times so far and it is a book I will keep forever to re read time and again.

Having read the book twice, I found the book full of error and the way William Young treats the trinity is unBiblical, unfortunately he mis-represents God's truth. Alot of people are reading this but unfortunately they are not getting the true God of the Bible. The Shack undermines the atonement of Jesus, Christ died for our sins because we deserve punishment for our sins - William Young leaves out that God punishes sin and therefore distorts the word of God.

This book touched me in a way that I never expected. It opened my eyes to 'see' God in a way that I needed Him to be, when I could not relate to Him as a father-figure.God in His wisdom knows exactly what we need & He adapts so that He can reach us on a deeper level. There is so much to take in, that I think you will need to read this book several times to fully appreciate it.

Is this a book you read for entertainment? if so, I found the first quarter compelling, I loved the way it is written.. but after that it starts to get weird and less interesting. If however it is to be taken seriously as a view of God at work in people's lives, I am uncomfortable about the casual way in which the author treats the subject, seeming to make up his own view of God rather than basing it on what we know from the bible. And I'm not just referring to the issue of God's gender.