Thank you for the review Gregory. Now I can't decide if I want to read it or listen to it. LOL

My copy is on its way. Looking forward to reading it!

I bought mine yesterday. So I will probably start sometime this weekend.

I am reading The Shack right now and am at the part where Mack meets the threesome at the shack and Elousia (God in the form of a black woman) is explaining things to Mack. As long as I remind myself, "This is an allegory something like Pilgrim's Progress," I am doing fine with the story and appreciating the insights.

For instance, Elousia explains that is not really a black woman but can appear in any form; she has chosen this one for Mack because his own father had ruined the possibility of a real fatherly love for him. The book has other insights on that topic that I had not thought about before.

Mack realizes that everything he is learning might be a bit different than he had always thought, and Mack feels "a cramp forming in his brain."

I feel one, too, trying to get a handle on what is being said. I think I'll get the CD, too, although the ability to reread is essential for me at this point, so I am glad for the book.

Anyone else feel like they want to underline or highlight things in this book? Especially when any of THE THREE speak. When you keep it at the allegory (I think that is the right word???) level, then I am like "Yeah, that makes perfect sense."

Also when you start to apply things in this book to your own life, does anyone else want to cry? Or is that just me?

One more thing, and I am just half way through the book, so maybe it will change; but does the mom (Nan) not seem believable? Maybe it's because this was written from the dad's point of view? But that mom just doesn't cut it for me.

Highlighting - yes. Apply to my own life and cry - yes!

When Jesus expresses his love for Papa, Mack's response is, "To be in the presence of such love expressed seemed to dislodge an inner emotional logjam ... Something simple, warm, intimate, genuine..."

Do any of us realize how purely God loves us? We tend to think it's so conditional. How many of us have experienced such love? How about on a human level? Do you express your love for your loved ones? Have you had such pure love expressed to you by anyone other than a child?

I think this type of love is missing in most of our lives. We want to protect ourselves or we see a mote in the other's eye, so we don't express it; we don't feel worthy of such love, and we can't accept it.

Another part that struck me was where Mack commented to Jesus about how surprised he was that Jesus wasn't more handsome. It is so true that "Being always transcends appearance--that which seems to be. Once you begin to know the being behind the very pretty or very ugly face, as determined by your bias, the surface appearances fade away until they simply no longer matter."

Well, I just finished it, and I am so ready to talk about it with other people. So when are we going to discuss????

I am going to lend my copy to my mom when she heads south for the winter, and I am thinking about buying a copy for all of my siblings for Christmas--especially the one I don't talk to.

Liz, it looks like there has been some discussion going on already!

I just got mine so I'll be starting it soon

I just didn't want to spoil something for anyone, if they hadn't got to that part yet. So, I guess I will wait a couple more days, then explode with the stuff that had particular meaning for me.

Liz - maybe we should start with discussing the beginning and middle parts before we start discussing the ending!

What was it about the mom that made her seem so unreal? Was it because her character wasn't very well fleshed out, or that she seemed so perfect, in addition to lacking curiosity?

One thing that has affected me about the book is in applying the thoughts and perspectives to my own relationships. Wow.

Cruising the internet on The Shack reveals that people either love it or hate it. Those who seem to hate it seem to have an anti-christian bent to start with, though I haven't gone so far as to read all the reviews.