I am now reading this book to the jr high class at church, although it is really slow going when I only have 45 minutes every other Sunday.Apparently my first blog didn't go where it was supposed to, so I will try to remember what I said.

The first few chapters were hard for me to get into.  I apparently like more action than description ( although I know that description is supposed to be a sign of good writing). I thought the author didn't spend much time describing the two older kids (Kate and her brother whose name escapes me right now.) But I plowed through it and I do think that it was important in establishing the connection he had to his kids and to his wife. 
I expected it to go the way most "Christian" writing does, by finding his daughter alive and then dealing with the aftermath for her.  But it was more true to life in that bad things do end badly.
I never did get far past the idea of God being a black woman. If He was showing himself to a black person it would have made more sense, but Mack isn't black.  I know what the explanation for it was, but it still didn't make much sense to me.

More after I do some rereading.

So far

I'm about half way into the book, and thus far I've really enjoyed it. I like how authentic it is and how it is so easy to relate to. At first when God was presented as a big black women I was not feeling it. I just didn't really get why, and then when they talked about not feeding into the stereo-type or religious ideals I really liked it. It allowed me to no longer be distracted by that aspect, although sometimes I do find myself getting caught up in a big black woman being called papa but referred to as she. I just got to the part where they are talking about the trinity and how the relationships function within it. I had to stop there and plan to go back and reread it because I felt like there was some much in those pages. That's one of the reasons it is taken so long to read, because I can't just sit down and read through several or more chapters because there is so much to digest and then read again. Although now that I've been feeling better I hope to be reading it a little faster- especially since I stole Logan's copy- Although I've enjoyed seeing what he had underlined :) -Allyssa -Allyssa

And they're off...

It seems as though the pages are beginning to turn, which excites me.
I am quite curious as to thoughts or perspectives so far, from those of you
who have made it into the first few chapters.

The first 4 chapters are definitely a bit of a roller-coaster, important
character and plot development, however. To be honest, I had a hard time
getting into it at first, I skipped to chapter 5 after a quick briefing from
my friend Bobby.

Anyone have any thoughts?

The Time to start is now!

Ok Family,

If you haven't already made your trip out (or your visit to amazon.com), now
is the time! I just heard through the grapevine that The Shack by William P.
Young will be hitting the New York Time's Best Seller list next week as it
just reached over a million copies sold.

It may quickly sell out at the bookstore once it receives the public
notoriety. I recommend you pick up a copy by the end of this week. If we can
all do that, then I think it is very feasible to have read the introduction
and at least the first 2 chapters by the end of next week (June 13th).

Is everyone still on board with this bookclub? I am super excited to hear
y'alls thoughts on the book.

Remember, if you want to post to the blog send an email to
nilesemerick.bookclub@blogger.com. That will also email each person in our
family an update with a link to go and view the log.

Let's have everyone practice sending a post to the blog right now. That way
your computer should remember the email address and auto-fill the address
next time. Let us all know your thoughts! Also visit, www.theshackbook.com.

Love you guys!

Check Out Our Family Book Club Blog!

Blog here by sending an email to: nilesemerick.bookclub@blogger.com

Welcome to the Emerick Family Bookclub

I am very excited to connect with our family by reading a book together and blogging about our thoughts and reflections. I think that it will be a neat way for us to stay connected and make our world seem a little smaller, despite our distance.

I expect that we will begin reading our first book the week of May 19th. Does that work for everyone?

I am hoping to start us off by reading a book called "The Shack" which personifies the Trinity in three persons with God (Papa) as a large African American woman from the south, the Holy Spirit (Sarayu) as a petite Asian woman, and Jesus as a carpenter.

It is a very moving story about a man's journey through a "deep sadness" in his life and his process of redemption with his own heart and his relationships with his family.

I would encourage each of you to avoid reading any reviews on the book until after we have read it. It is a book that is of similar genre to Blue Like Jazz, but written as a fictional story as opposed to a journal of life experiences.

Post to this blog by sending your post in an email to: nilesemerick.bookclub@blogger.com