The Shack

This was the best, and most moving book I've ever read! I balled like a baby! Being an empath, I have the ability to actually feel the emotions of everyone around me, including those of the people on TV or in things I read! Not only do I feel emotions, but I feel them 10x stronger than the average person. So good emotions such as attraction, kindness, empathy, compassion, admiration, bravery, happiness, and love, etc etc. Too me, are truly amazing. Almost to die for! But, like they say, you have to take the good with the bad. Which means I also feel bad emotions 10x stronger than the average person s well, bad emotions such as disappointment, rejection, anger, depression, fear, loneliness, hate, etc etc. So feeling the emotive that does through this book straight from the pages into my fingertips, created something in me that I can't even find words to describe. I felt it all so strong. I can't even explain the feeling in words!

While there are some aspects of the story that I would consider irreverent, there are also gems that I found inspiring. It is heart warming to think about God looking at each and every one of his children and saying, "I am particularly fond of that one."

If it were up to me, I would make this required reading for every teenager & college student around the world. That is to say, I believe this book has so much TRUTH in it, that it can and will benefit anyone, of any religion, to come face-to-face with the big questions that many are too uncomfortable talking about: → What happens when we die? → Is there purpose in this life? → Why do bad things happen to good people? → Does God exist? If so, what part does He (or She) play in my life & those I love? → How can I find peace? → Who is Jesus? → What does it mean to have a "relationship" with God? Mr. Young has a wonderful gift of creating the most beautiful scenes for one's imagination, and the way in which he so easily crafts the relatable characters (God as a woman; the Holy Spirit as a being likened to a mist; people and places and events, it feels as though this story came from yesterday's nightly news...) — it is almost impossible NOT to fall head over heels for this amazing story. IMO, this man could very well be the next C.S. Lewis ("the Chronicles of Narnia"), or Madeleine L'Engle ("A Wrinkle in Time"). Even if you've seen the movie, I encourage you to read the book — there are so many things you will gain by reading this wonderful story, than the movie was able to encapsulate. Also, as a note to first-timers, the first few chapters are tough. They're very emotional, and the crisis that emerges hits close to home with at least every parent I know who has read it. But once you get past those chapters, you will be thrilled with the ride your imagination and soul are in for within the remainder of the book. Push through. This is a book for the ages.