You, You, You ( #AtoZChallenge )

 

      You might be the main subject of the book collection you own.  I think my home library is a very good reflection of who I have been and who I am now.  It's a pretty worthy book collection I think.   When you look at the books you own, do you see an accurate picture of who you are, what you enjoy, and what you believe?

You Books (Self-help books}

         Since I already brought up self-help books in my 'S' post, I won't list many more here.  However, one of the Joel Osteen titles is a great one for the letter 'Y' so here I give you Your Best Life Now.  Who doesn't want that?  This book, like other Osteen books, is positive thinking and great encouragement for times when you are feeling down. 

Yearbooks

       On one of my shelves are the only school yearbooks I ever owned.  When I was in school, the only grades where we were offered yearbooks was in high school.  In my first year of high school I opted not to spend money on a yearbook.  I guess I didn't feel like school was much of an important part of my life.  Then, in my junior and senior years at Everett HS in Maryville TN, I guess I was a little bit more invested in my high school.  Not so much to be very participatory in anything of great consequence, but I did want the memories that the year books afforded me.  I've looked in these books quite frequently over the years--especially in more recent years as former classmates have died.  I like to look in the book to see who they were because I really didn't know many of my fellow students very well.  The books are nice memories and memory joggers.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

       This was a purchase from my neighborhood Border's Books when they were having their going out of business sale.  Atwood is an excellent writer, but I don't much agree with many of her views.  But for $1.25 I felt the book was worth a shot and I did read it.  

The Shack by William P Young

       This book was so hyped after it came out and it became a huge bestseller.  I was not drawn to this book until some of my family members started raving about it to the extent that I felt compelled to read it.  It was pretty much of a letdown for me, but I wasn't really expecting all that much from it. I wrote about it on my blog here.  I bought this book through the book club I was ordering books from at the time.  Now I'd rather have my money back, but it helps round out my book collection.

      Do you still own and enjoy your school yearbooks?   What do you think about Margaret Atwood?  Did you read The Shack?  

That IS a Dangerous Book! (So says this book)

        Last Tuesday I posed the question "Is this book dangerous?" in regard to the bestseller The Shack by William P. Young.   This book has generated quite a bit of controversy with many decrying that it is indeed dangerous.  Opinions are sharply divided as some claim that the book has resulted in spiritual revelation while others fear that it may lead many to eternal damnation.  Burning Down the Shack by James B. De Young is a book that expounds the latter belief.                                                                                                                                                                                                    James B. De Young's (I will henceforth refer to him as JB)  book is the kind that some may say gives Christians a bad name.   Detractors of JB's book may argue that it is exemplary of the divisive nature of Christianity and that it is wrongly judgmental of other members of the faith.   The book will primarily be appreciated by a very specific audience.   Those who loved The Shack and are not interested in Biblical evidence that disclaims the book as a spiritual guide will most likely thumb their noses at JB's proof.   Anyone who has not read The Shack would be unlikely to have any interest in reading this book.   Burning Down the Shack is essentially a study guide for those who are looking for Biblical refutation of William P. Young's (henceforth referred to as Paul) best selling work of fiction.

            JB's approach is methodical and lucid.  The book is written in a style that is easy to read.  It is laden with Bible verses and citations to verses which may be a drawback to many readers.  However this is the purpose of JB's book--to disavow any relationship between The Shack and traditional Christian doctrine.

            The author claims to have been a past associate and friend of Paul and provides his personal insight of what he understands about Paul's Universalist Christian beliefs and personal agenda.  The evidence JB provides does seem to indicate that his observations about Paul may be correct.   JB feels that the agenda of The Shack and it's author are dangerous to the spiritual well-being of those who are taken in by the doctrine behind the story.

            Burning Down the Shack is longer than the book that is being analyzed.  In all honesty I did not finish reading the entire book, but read only halfway and skimmed to the end.   There is a repetitiveness to the book that becomes tedious for a casual reader.  The book is well researched and might be fine for one who wants an in depth study.   But fun reading this is not.  

            One thing I do like about the book is that it takes each chapter of The Shack and carefully breaks it down.  JB is to be commended in that he begins with what is good about each chapter.  He then provides logical evidence to show what is wrong.  For the most part I didn't really need this book to know this, but it is interesting to see the many Biblical citations to which he refers.

             This book is essential for any real serious apologist who wants to arm themself for debate against a "Shack" fanatic, but what is the likelihood of this happening?  It might also be of interest to a serious student of the Bible.  However, there are many other Bible study books that are superior to this one.

             The question that came to my mind is how does Paul feel about JB's book?   Even though it is highly critical of The Shack it seems that Paul would welcome JB's book.  To read one book you would need to read the other--more book sales for Paul.   If I were cynical I would say they were in collusion with one another.  After all, more sales for one book could mean more sales for the other.  Maybe I'm being too much of a conspiracist.           

        

Is This Book Dangerous?

          Prior to my Christmas trip I listed the books that I would be taking with me.  You can see the list here.   I have not finished all of these, but my intent is to review the ones I have already read or as I finish reading them in the near future.  In this post I will be reviewing The Shack by William P. Young.

           William P. Young's The Shack is a novel that has sold millions of copies, spent weeks on numerous bestseller lists, and been translated into many languages.  It is a phenomenon that has achieved immense popularity in the United States and throughout the world.  The book has generated much controversy as having been hailed as a highly spiritual reading experience as well as a dangerous book that has mislead millions with a deceptive interpretation of Christian belief.

           The novel tells the story of a tragic loss when a young girl is kidnapped during a family camping trip.  Evidence that she has been brutally murdered is found in a secluded mountain shack, but the body cannot be found.  The story opens four years later with the family still grieving over their loss.  The father receives a mysterious note from what may be God asking him to come back to the shack.  What follows is a life changing encounter with the three persons of the Holy Trinity.

         The story is mostly a dialogue between the very depressed father and God.  It is a book of philosophies, or more accurately, theological doctrine.  The ideas lovingly expressed here sound truly wonderful and I can understand why the book would be so appealing to many people.  However I couldn't help but feel a bit of uneasiness about this presentation.  It is not Christianity as I believe it.

         The Shack offers much for discussion and debate.   In that sense the book can be stimulating.  The storytelling is decent and the dialogue is entertaining.  The characters are well-drawn and in fact inspired by Young's own family.  I was let down by the trickery of the bad literary device used at the end.   It is not great literature, but it's better than average pop literature.  I wouldn't encourage anyone to buy the book, but if you have a chance you might enjoy reading it.

         Is it a dangerous book as some have said?  I guess the answer to that depends on your personal beliefs and the nature of the person reading it.  Yes, it is a potentially dangerous book in the sense that any book could be dangerous if used in the wrong way. 

         Have you read The Shack?  Do you think it is a dangerous book?  What are some other books that some have called dangerous?



***

Holiday Reading List: 2010

            Christmas holidays are indeed a busy time for most of us, but if you are like me you probably have some extra down time that you can set aside for reading.  Since I'm driving this year and not flying like I usually do, I won't have much free travel time to read.  However I'll probably have some relaxation time in the motels at night as I trek across country.

             During my visits with family I know I'll be busy having a good time with them, but since I tend to rise early I'll undoubtedly have time for quiet reading since I won't have a computer to distract me.  And it's probably not going to be constant hustle and bustle.  I'm  sure I'll have those moments during the day when I can read a page or two or even more.

Here are the books I'm taking with me on my Christmas Vacation:

          Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor by Brad Gooch -- I started on this one in September and I want to finish this up first.  It's a biography of one of my favorite authors.  If you've never read any of O'Connor's work, you really should treat yourself to it.  She is most noted for her short stories.  They are dark, funny, and bizarre.

The Shack by William P. Young --- I had never really intended to read this somewhat controversial book, but some family members read it and really liked it and said that I should read it as well.  I have a negative opinion from what I've heard about it, but I want to read it so I can discuss it with those who have read it.                                                      

        Burning Down the Shack (How the 'Christian' Bestseller is Deceiving Millions) by James B. De Young--  The Shack inspired so much controversy that books were written about the book.   I want to read another side of the argument.

Finding God in the Shack by Roger E. Olson  -- This book was sent as a companion study to The Shack.  Maybe I'll read this if I'm not "shacked out" by the time I get to it.   I'll see how interested I am in the topic after reading the other two books.

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen -- This is a book that sounded like it had an interesting premise.  It looks like a quick easy read that will be a time-passer during lulls in the festive events of the season.

Owen Fiddler by Marvin D. Wilson -- We know this author as The Old Silly.  I won this signed copy from Marvin after the Beware the Devil's Hug book tour.  I want to read this on the way home so I can do a fresh review on Tossing It Out after vacation.

                                      

  Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner-- I promised that I would eventually  review this one when I hosted a stop on Tamara's book tour.  I'm hoping to have this review up in early to mid-January. 

     This might sound ambitious, especially for a slow reader like me.  But I figure I might as well set my sights high.  And who knows when that extra reading time may come along and I need books to read.  And if I somehow finish these, I still have a lot of books left at my mother's house that I never got around to reading when I was in high school and college.      

     Have you read any of these books?  If so what did you think of them?   Are any on your 'to read someday' list?     Do you have any special books that you are planning to read during the holidays?

---