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Book Review of The Shack

The Shack
overpricedshirt avatar reviewed on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


I really liked The Lovely Bones, so I'm not immune to the power of a spiritually moving story. But The Shack... was just SO UNINSPIRING.

The story actually starts off pretty interesting, but then drags through the second half (with too much boring dialogue) until the whole shebang fizzles into a lame ending. I was left with too many questions for the author: So, we don't need to bother mourning the loss of our loved ones? There's no punishment for bad people? You're telling me God loves Hitler as much as Mother Theresa? Did you never watch 70s sitcoms (the main character is named Mackenzie Allen Philips)? What's so unique about Mack's loss that warrants God schlepping the entire Trinity down to Earth just for him? And what was with this: Every! joyful proclamation! of God's love! ended! in an exclamation point! More power to you for finding a source of strength and joy and all, but please just leave the recruitment pamphlets on the table and I'll take a look at them when I get the chance, thank you.

To sum up the longest review of my career here at P-Swap (I'm trying to give this place some street cred) this book did not offer the warm fuzzy I was expecting. It makes no great argument/case for faith (which is a shame, because there are many) and actually comes across as rather juvenile. I kept laughing, picturing some middle-aged dude trying to be cool at the Teenagers For Christ retreat, handing out copies of The Shack while telling them, "Check it out! Jesus is the shizzle!"