The note is signed by Papa, and Mack fairly quickly determines that this is an invitation from God. He receives a note inviting him to the shack where Missy was murdered, deep in the Oregon wilderness. The story picks up about four years after this event, frequently referred to in the book as the Great Sadness.Īs the story opens, Mack, weighed down by sorrow and guilt over the death of his daughter, is angry and distant from God. At the crime scenes - the shack - detectives found Missy's blood-soaked, torn dress, but they were unable to find her body.

It is the story of Mackenzie Philips, whose youngest daughter, Missy, was abducted and murdered by a serial killer during a family vacation.

The Story ⤒ 🔗Īs anyone who has an interest in this book knows by now, the novel deals with the themes of suffering, forgiveness, and the age-old question of where God is in a world filled with pain. Mohler says, 'This book includes undiluted heresy.' Is the shack of Young's story a repository of biblical truth, shining the light of Scripture on doctrines that are difficult to grasp, or is it a shelter of deception, heretically misleading its readers and portraying something other than the reality of God's Word? It must be one or the other it cannot be both. The novel has been praised by Christian notables such as Eugene Peterson, whose endorsement is quoted on the book cover, claiming the book 'has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his.' But it has been condemned by evangelical leaders such as Albert Mohler and Chuck Colson. Young's story evokes impassioned responses from both those who love it and those who see it as heresy indifference is a rare reaction. Recently, Hachette Book Group has partnered with Windblown Media to handle sales, marketing, distribution, licensing, and manufacturing of the book, bringing a global readership and a lot of money to the author and original publishers of this title, which to date has sold over a million copies. The book has defied all the rules and sits comfortably at the top of the bestseller lists, and has for some time. By all rights, no one should have heard of this low-budget, selfpublished novel by firsttime Oregon author William (Paul) Young. It has become the subject of magazine and newspaper articles, panel discussions, and watercooler debates. customer review on AmazonĪ fascinating publishing industry phenomenon, the best-selling novel The Shack has captured the attention of millions of readers around the world.

I also gained a greater understanding of what 'God is love' really means. 'The Shack' gave me a greater understanding of how God can be the Trinity at the same time. People know about the Trinity, but they only have a vague understanding of the relationship between The Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus.

Paul young author of the shack