Week 3, August 5-11, The whole book!!

[Francesca]

Bec said The Wednesday Letters could be read in a matter of hours, so I just dedicated one week to reading it.
Can you believe it's August?? By the time if this reading, School will already be back in session. Kinda depressing to think about. The summer went by WAY too fast!!

[Francesca]

I just got this book today. When Bec mentioned it to me as a good read that took her "maybe two hours" to read, I expected this thin, little paperback book to arrive. Hhpmh, I was surprised to pull in out of the pkg. This may take me into next week to finish. Esp. since I've been on a reading spree and have been plowing through books, resulting in massive headaches!! I need a little break, but plan to pick up this book over the weekend. I'll still post my thoughts, it just may take me into next week. No big deal, right??!!

[pjreads]

I wish we could all get together with a big pot of tea and a plate of scones (I know Kellie would come and share this book. I was impressed in so many ways. I thought it was a beautiful and in many ways remarkable work of fiction; at times I found myself almost hoping that it's all really like that....in some ways I think it will be!

The forward was written so well, I had to remind myself that what was to come was fiction!

From beginning to end, I was hooked and found this book hard to put down. There were such delightful little surprises around so many corners! I intend to read it again someday. Actually, I've asked Paul to read it...this is such a popular book, I imagine a lot of pastors will be fielding quite a few comments....so I may just use it as one of our "nightly reads. "

The interactions of the triune God were lovely. At first I rankled a bit at God being presented as a female (did our author get his personifications from Touched by an angel? I could almost hear Della Reese soothing Mack! but I soon got past that. The interweavings of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Sarayu) made the "three in one" an easily understood concept.

I so applauded the themes of relationship, reconciliation and forgiveness and felt a strong call to allow that light that shines abroad in our hearts to illuminate any areas of darkness and to rout out any stony places in my own heart in regard to these three areas.

I so appreciate a fictional work that sends the reader to Abba!

I do hope Hollywood doesn't get its hands on this book. What a mess it could make of it ! I can only believe that this work was written from a heart who has somehow experienced the depth of pain that Mack did in Missy's abduction and murder. I believe our author has been to the mercy seat and found first hand that amazing grace that heals the most bitter bruises. We may not agree with everything he presents, but I think The Shack is a very sincere and graced book.

Susan, thanks for all of your comments. I'm sorry I've been so lax and promise to be more faithful to post (ummm...where have you heard this before?) re /The Wednesday Letters. anybody out there have more to say re/ The Shack??? Let's hear it

Love to all

[praisegirl]

Ha!Ha! That's a pretty aggressive schedule there, 'Cesca. So enjoy reading, I'll post when I'm done.

On the matter of "The Shack". To be honest, I could barely get past the Foreword. I really just wanted to toss the book in the trash after the last two paragraphs, I was so annoyed. From what I gather this is to be a book about a supernatural encounter with God and the author spends the end of his Foreword pretty much apologizing for what some may find hard to believe. That is a good bit of the trouble with the American church today. We can't take God out of the theological boxes we have constructed long enough to allow Him to be the supernatural Being that He is. Supernatural means that it exceeds the boundaries of nature, it can be difficult for our finite minds to comprehend, which is why God's word teaches us about faith. We are not supposed to try to bring God down to our level, we are supposed to rise to His.

The end of the foreword instantly brought to mind the Scripture in II Tim 3 (I think that is where it is) that says, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" and it just made me mad. I've managed to make it to chapter 3, but I'm going to put it down and try "The Wednesday Letters" - it seems Mom enjoyed that Foreword.

[Francesca]

Praisegirl, I'm not sure if you'd appreciate the fact that I'm laughing at your post. But laugh I am. The very problem you had, the church putting God in a box, is dealt with almost right off the bat in this book. (At least once Mack goes to the Shack and meets Papa!) I actually think you'd really enjoy the meat of the book... you might want to pick it up and try it again. Just based on your post, it sounds like it could be right up your alley!!!

Regarding the intro, I think it was aimed for people who have lived a much more conservative Christian life. I think the author was gently saying to give this book a chance. Don't throw it down when God ends up being a black woman. (I could honestly see some of the retired folks in my church being equally disgusted with this book, yet for very different reasons!)

This is why this book is perfect for the book club and I'm sad we didn't get as much discussion. (Mostly my fault, soory for being slack) It can hit you wrong a million different ways if you let it, or it can bless your socks right off. It has something for both the conservative and the charismatic Christian.

[Francesca]

I actually finished The Wednesday Letters on Sunday. I found this book next to impossible to sit down once I got into it. I'm still not sure I could have mowed it down in the 2-hour pace of Bec, you speed reader, but I did flip the pages pretty fast!!

The concept of writing a letter to your partner every week is thrilling. Quite romantic. It reminded me of the notebook David and I passed between each other when we were dating. I have actually toyed around with the idea of restarting it. This book has gone along way to inspire me!!

My favorite letter was the one written when Jack was dying and he wrote,

"I am sorry to each of them that I worked more than I had to. I am sorry that I ever read one more newspaper story than I needed to, or slept one minute longer than I needed to on the morning of our fishing trips. I am sorry that they ever heard me raise my voice. I am so ashamed that I ever raised my voice at any of them. At anyone... May He forgive me for my weaknesses, may they forgive each other."

Thank-you for this suggestion, Bec. You picked a great book. I'd love to hear others' thoughts!!