One of my Yr 11 students keeps nagging me to read a book called "The Shack"

[twinsetandpearls]

I teach him RE and he says I will find it fascinating.

What is it about? Is it any good?

MIL bought it for me for Christmas, haven't read it yet so will watch this with interest.

This student has been nagging me to read it from November, i will get a copy this weekend so I can show it him and he can stop nagging me.

I am assuming it is a fiction.

One of my students used to nag me to read "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". I still haven't.

It is quite nice though when they have read something they are passionate about and want to share it with you.

It's lovely! He was/ is such a nice boy too.

OMG it is the worse book I have ever tried to read. Our book club at work chose it and there was so many complaints, almost half didn't bother to finish it.

Whoops just seen you teach RE, you may enjoy it then

tartanlass, what is it about?

In brief, a man's little daughter is abducted and he begins to loose his faith. A few years later he receives a letter from God inviting him to the shack where years earlier the police had found evidence of her death, for a weekend.

Then it just gets yeugh! However if you google the book it appears to have transformed some people's lives (mainly American) but I feel comparing it to the Bible is a bit OTT.

I absolutely loathe this book, can you tell?

Yes have googled it and found lots of hyperbole. Will have a look in town tomorrow and if I cant get it there I will order if from amazon.

Oh good will be interested in your opinion, you being a RE teacher!

it's been in my local charity shop for weeks! one to avoid I think

I will check out our charity shops then

He has asked me very nicely to read it and wants my opinion so I will.

I haven't read this myself, but have seen some very scathing reviews of it (by regular human beings, I mean, not papers or anything), criticising its dodgy theology and poor writing.

Seems to be massive in America.

This boy is not uber religious, comes from a very moderate c of E family, more the tory party at prayer than religious fanatics.

I will give it a read, as a theology graduate I am sure I will find it entertaining.

I've got this, but not started it yet - I think it sounds really interesting. x

I am off into town in a second with the girls to see if I can get a copy.

I read it for a similar reason. A colleague (who as far as I can tell never reads) recommended it to me.

I didn't like it at all: very American Religion (not in a good way). I didn't like the style, thought it was badly written, and I didn't like the initial almost gratuitous setting of the little girl being abducted: sort of a "the worst thing you could imagine happening" scenario.

Roisin do you think a section of it would be good for my A/S philosophy of religion group who are looking at the problem of evil. They are on the whole not that bright as I have the lower set so with two exceptions targetted at a C grade. I was planning to use something from Knowledge of Angels.

I think it was poorly written and very neatly sidesteped any actual challenging of right-wing Christianity in America.

However, it is a lovely simple book and has some nice things to say about God. IMO it is a very appropriate, simple book for 11 plus and it's gentle version of Christianity is 'nice' and may keep some teenagers from becoming fundamentalist.

So, to sum up, it has a good heart but is very poorly written if you're an adult.

Well, I wouldn't personally Twinset, but you might find something in there that you could use if you really wanted to.

What about something from Philip Yancey: What's so Amazing about grace? - an infinitely superior book in every way.

thanks roisin.

i might buy the student who recomended the shack a copy of the Yancey book

Have bought the book.