Especially fond...

...these two words have touched a cord deep in me. You probably recognize them if you've read The Shack.

(photo courtesy of Brandon Schuh)

I'm kind of funny about things like this... if something is super popular like this book has been, then I'm pretty skeptical and cynical about it. I'm sorry to say that I was not very sweet to people who said they read and loved this book. I finally decided to buy it for my Kindle and read it on my travels and see what all the fuss was about. I was so moved by the story and was marking so many passages that I decided I needed to own a paper copy of the book and be able to mark it and hold it in my hands without clicking through the pages. I also had to stop reading it on airplanes because I was embarrassing myself with my crying as I read it. I'm not kidding...I was weeping as I read!
Yes, I've known that God is love, but this truth of God's love: how He is especially fond of ME (and you and you...) now has new meaning to me.
Rather than dissect the doctrine of the book ( and there are some things that I don't exactly agree with,) I just read it as a story and was extremely moved by it. It spoke to me about issues I've had but not really dared to express about God and His love and His goodness. I bring a lifetime of teaching, perceptions, and experiences with God to my view of this book, so I'm not sure how it will speak to others, but I just know that it deeply touched my heart and my spirit.
Have you read it?

Comments

[tena]

I read it last year, and have re-read it since. definitely a moving book.

[Geralyn Gray]

I need a good summer book---Thanks for you review.

[Janet Ang]

Debby,

I love the different images of God and the Holy Trinity depicted in the book! No matter what religious beliefs one has, this book is definitely well written and well thought out, especially from a theological point of view.
Totally love it!
Janet Ang from NorCal

[kelly]

I really enjoyed it also... I had a few issues with doctirnal things but if I let those go and just enjoyed the story it was a fantastic read. :)

[tiesha]

Debby, I read a lot, but I usually avoid any super popular books, books that are recommended by Oprah or others like her, remember the "The Secret", that is the kind of book I try to avoid. Friends had been trying to get me to read "The Shack" for a long time, multiple friends. One even sent me a copy and another sent my husband a copy! I was completely resistant to this book because of all the hype.

We were out at our lake house, and I had already read everything in the bookshelf so I picked it up, and I didn't put it down until I was finished. I also have issues with some of the ideas in the book, but I ended up loving it too. It really made me think about forgiveness in particular.

[Cricket]

I have read it and I loved it! I am going to read it again to soak in the nuances that I didn't get the first time around...

It truly is a wonderful book isn't it? So glad you decided to read it Debby!!

smiles,

[lois]

I would really like to know what God (Father,Son and Holy Spirit) thinks of it!!!

[Linette]

I've not read it but I may have to after reading all of these positive comments.

[Regina]

Hi Debby. I read it a few months ago after my friend from Idaho told me about it and then I opened up a blog and there it was again. All I can is WOW....I do believe in God but now I will start to see him in a different light. Very moving, very spiritual, make you stop and think book.

Regina

[Marti]

Hi Debby
I read it, and our Saturday friends Bible study explored several of the themes in it. It truly makes you feel special, raises some questions about preconceived "religious" ideas, and challenges you to think out of the box.
Marti

[Judy in Huntsville[al]]

I also read the book, maybe a year ago, and let's just say it hasn't been embraced by the evangelicals here in the south - but, you know what? I really did enjoy it - can't you just 'see' Queen Latifa [sp?] as the main character?! As with you, there ARE some things that I certainly don't agree with [I wonder if it's the same things or different for each of us?]i read a borrowed copy but now I'm thinking I need to go pick up my own copy and read it again before CKU - wanna have a book club night?

[Kim L]

just finished reading it about 2 weeks ago... I too, am skeptic about a few of it's statements but was moved by it just the same!

[Gail D]

Debbie,

I too was skeptical. I work in a bookstore and always have customers telling me what books to read. When this book arrived on our shelf it sat for a week or so before anyone picked it up. While browsing through the store I picked up the book but saw the creepy house on the front and thought, thats not for me. Placed it down and didn't think about it again.

The next week customers were coming into the store buying two and three copies. Didn't think too much of it until the following week arrived and more customers were buying 4 and 5 copies. Found out the author was interviewed on NPR and the rest was history. I had to see what the fuss was about.

To make a lonnnnggg story shorter, I sold over 30 copies and purchase 15 copies and sent them to some friends and family. Just writing this reminds me of Mac, the tears are flowing. I too had hi-lighted sentences as well as paragraphs, dogged-earred and underlined parts. I even wrote things in the margins. I can go on...and on about the book, it is very close to my heart.

I'd like to know???? What part in the story touched you the most. I, myself have two places which stop me in my tracks. (1) When Mac was in the garden with Sarayu and (2) When Mac and Jesus took a walk on the water. Now I also have to add I'm still a work in process....LOL. The part in the book when Mac went to the cave to see Sophia...I didn't pick the book up for two days after reading. Anyway...let me end beause I can go on forever...This is an excellent read.

Gail D.

[lois]

Hi again...I'm going to read it again!!! I have a notebook with a section for writing down quotes and last night when I was going to write a quote from a book I'm reading right now, I noticed the last quotes written were from The Shack!!! It's my bad memory that made me forget what I did like from it. (I think my biggest concern was making God too small..I just can't think of him confined to a human body, etc.,etc.) Your Mom

[Jana]

I SO agree with you on this book, Debby. Every time the phrase "especially fond" was used in the book I cried! It really touched a cord with me too.

[alisa]

I have not read it yet. But I have heard the hub-bub from both sides. The other night at Bunco a couple of girls were having a somewhat heated discussion about it. Our hostess said she had a video interview with the author and we all sit down to watch it. I highly reccomend watching the interview. It gives so much insight to why he wrote what he did based on his testimony. Wow! It was all I could say after watching the video. God is good... always.

[Jackie Bailey]

After seeing the book mentioned on this blog, I saw it in the grocery store and bought it. I read it and loved it. My favorite passage was when Jesus walked among His people. That's when I cried. I think it is kind of funny when reading some of the comments that people had some problems with "doctrinal issues" - I think that is exactly what the he was talking about when he said it was those religious things that keep us from loving relationships with each other - the "nouns" versus the "verbs". As long as Jesus is King, I don't have a problem with it - and Jesus is definitely King in this book. Thanks, Debby, for sharing this book on your blog.