tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post4146967898891948049..comments2023-09-09T10:29:29.789-05:00Comments on The Green Room: Book Review: The ShackAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-33189157853034603842008-09-21T17:38:00.000-05:002008-09-21T17:38:00.000-05:00Jeanie, The key word is "pretends." I feel that T...Jeanie, The key word is "pretends." I feel that The Shack pretends to be something that it isn't. It sets out to be a Story, when it is really a Message. <BR/><BR/>I don't have a problem with Messages. I read them all the time--they're called Non-fiction. You read them expecting to read a Message about something--whether it's How to Become a Millionaire, or Systematic Theology.<BR/><BR/>But when I pick up a work of fiction, the primary focus should be (I think) on creating believable, complex characters in a story with a real plot, real tension, a real climax. If there's a Message that comes with it, all the better--but it should be a natural outcome of the story.<BR/><BR/>I felt cheated by The Shack because it seemed that the story was secondary to the message.<BR/><BR/>I think many readers do not care about excellent literary qualities. They DO care more about the message than about style. Our mutual friend Bob the Builder feels this way, and I totally respect that. She doesn't pretend that it's well-written; she just knows how deeply it affected her.<BR/><BR/>But what really leaves me flummoxed are the people who find this book to be well-written. In the promo section in the back it claims that "there is a literary quality to it that distinguishes it as a special gift." I guess that's vague enough to not really mean anything--but I doubt there are very many people with expertise in "literary quality" who would agree with it. (I don't claim to be one of those people.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-61480918982688280112008-09-21T12:29:00.000-05:002008-09-21T12:29:00.000-05:00You said, " But I feel gypped by a book that prete...You said, " But I feel gypped by a book that pretends to be a story, when in reality, it is primarily a Message About God." E. Peevie, isn't that what the Bible is? A story that is a message about God? Isn't that what all our stories are? See I Cor. 3:3<BR/><BR/>Other than that one line I have to agree with you about The Shack. However, you gotta wonder what chord it hits, even with Christians, to propel it to the top of the NYT bestseller list?jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14788035766865224029noreply@blogger.com