* Review of The Shack

Young, William P. The Shack. Los Angeles: Windblown Media. 2007

** Plot summary

During a family camping trip, Mackenzie "Mack" Philips's six-year-old
daughter is kidnapped and murdered, the killer escaping without a
trace. Mack spends the next four years in depression. One day Mack
receives a mysterious note he believes is from God inviting him back
to the remote mountain shack where his daughter was killed. 

Mack goes and has an encounter with the three Persons of the Holy
Trinity in human form. Through a series of conversations with each of
the Persons, Mack's relationship with God is renewed and he is able
to come to terms with his daughter's murder. He returns to his family
to help his wife and surviving children deal with the loss.

** Comments

(The Father appears as a jovial black woman constantly cooking
through most of the story, the Son as a Jewish carpenter, and the
Spirit as a semi-transparent oriental woman gardener.)

*** liked

**** characterization of Trinity
**** conversations with God
**** theological vision of God

*** didn't

**** plot underdeveloped
**** undercharacterization of Mack
**** blanket condemnation of human institutions and responsibility