The Shack.

My best friend Dan (not entirely sure if he even reads the blog anymore so this might be a pointless shout out to him) is a big believer that books should be written well. I can't blame him. He has a degree in English, specializes in creative writing, has written some great short stories himself, and has a lot of pet peeves when it comes to prose and grammar. Somewhat off topic but nevertheless, we have debated several books that I enjoy that he feels are written like crap. Though we have not discussed The Shack in great detail nor has he read the book, I imagine he would find himself struggling immensely with the first few pages.

The point is, The Shack is not written well. It won't win the Pulitzer or any other literary prize and the author attempts to sound like a grown-up while writing very child-like at times. Writing style aside, I found myself drawn to the book. I originally purchased the book to give to my mother for her birthday (luckily, I didn't and found out she had read it and hated it.) After finding a more suitable gift, I decided to just keep the book for myself since it's been on the best seller list FOREVER and has a lot of people talking.

I will admit I originally thought it was a true story and after reading the first section, was heartbroken, devastated, and sleep deprived thinking about Missy. After discovering that the book was indeed a work of fiction, I was able to sleep more easily yet was still drawn to the story.
Without giving away anything, the story in a nutshell is about a man named Mackenzie who suffers a tragedy and loses his way. God invites Mack to spend a weekend with Him at the site where the tragedy occurred. What transpires is a weekend centered around a spiritual transformation. While the book was hokey at times, the message about faith and spirituality and our relationship with God really got me thinking. And for that I am grateful. This book provided a better sermon than I've heard at church in ages and helped me truly think about my relationship with God and my faith in a whole new way.

So if you're looking for a Pulitzer prize read, pick up Cormac McCarthy's The Road. But if you are looking for something to help refuel your spiritual tank, consider spending some time with The Shack. It just may be what you are looking for.

Cheers.