There has been much debate over The Shack by William Paul Young, some say it’s the best story ever written while others say heretical and dangerous. As usual though, it’s never one of the extremes.
The good:
The Shack is a raw and beautiful deep-dive into trauma, suffering, and God. It does not shy away from any topic and no denomination is safe from disagreeing with at least part of it. The conversations discussed in the book remind me of CS Lewis’s The Great Divorce, deep and insightful. The Shack is one of the few books I’ve annotated.
We could go into a theological discussion of every piece of the book, but that would take much more time than we have. Suffice it to say, I do not find the book to be heretical or dangerous. Do I agree with everything, no. But I believe that is a testament to Young’s willingness to go past surface level Christianity.
The bad:
Setting aside some theological disagreements aside, the biggest issue with this book is the story itself. From the pacing, to the characterization, to the overall plot, it is abundantly clear that Young is no expert storyteller. The first part of the novel contains all the backstory, setting up a modern thriller about a serial killer. The rest of the novel is a series of conversations between the main character and God.
However, people don’t read The Shack for a great story. If you’re looking for emotional and spiritual depth, this book is for you. If you’re looking for a fast-paced masterpiece in storytelling, you will be disappointed.
Main story:
10/12 points
Theme:
10/10 points
Antagonists:
2/8 points
Writing:
2/5 points
Beginning/Inciting Incident:
1/3 points
Other points:
+10 for memorability
Is The Shack Heretical or Authoritative?