The Shack
William P. Young
2007

Young is a capable storyteller. He uses his imagination to make the books main character (Mackenzie) become realistic. After reading about the book, I thought this story was a true story. Young is able to draw in the reader and capture thier interest. His ablility to do this allows him to answer those questions that always come up but his purpose is not easily revealed. Young shapes this book as a story so the purpose and all of those important questions are answered in a story type of way.
Mackezie, the main character, struggles with "God" who spends a weekend with him at a shack. God apparently was only Mackenzies imagingation. Mackenzie creates "God" using multiple personalities that he visualizes in his head. However, the author makes uses this to implictly state the authors purpose. Mackenzie's created God discusses with Mackenzie about all of these questions and this to Mackenzie proves that God exists to him. My take on this book is that the book was written to answer these questions about God and overall prove that God exists. The purpose was not effective. I was not influenced by this book in any way. If Young had been able to build his point upon a to a stronger basis I might have thought about what his point represents. But, he put his belief system on the shoulders of a deranged man and this just turned me away.