#ReadingChallange: The Shack

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

I waited for months for 'The Shack' by WM Paul Young to get around my family before I could get the chance to read it.

I'll admit that I wanted to read it more so I could get into the excitement and to be able to actively join in on the conversations...I guess you could consider my reading it as somewhat 'peer pressure.'

Honestly, the first chapter or so was a bore to read. I think I may have expected the excitement of it all to start from page one; or at least that there would have been some captivating storyline. Young explained that the book was written based on conversations with the main character of the book - Mackenzie Phillips - who is said to have had the experience with the shack in question.


My first puzzled look came after the big tragedy (I won't go into much detail since you may actually want some kind of surprise should you decide to read it). Some of the events surrounding it seemed too 'coincidental' to be true, and while anything could have happened and all that jazz, it was [for lack of a better term] 'too perfect a tragedy.'

As I continued going through the book there were ups and downs. At times Young was amazingly descriptive and I almost felt that I was there; then at another point it was almost as though he was lost in thought and rambled for a few paragraphs.

I've read other Christian books in the past, and while they may not have been solely focused on the bible, there was mention or reference to it at least once. Bearing in mind that The Shack is of a Christian context, I know I was expecting the pop up of a bible verse or two....if not literally, then at least in a strong figurative sense that was simply enough for even a new believer to grasp.


My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Shack:

In a nutshell....the author's conversations with Phillips must have been pretty boring conversation at times. Maybe I expected too much from the text, but I was honestly a bit disappointed with the storyline. On the other hand, it does have strong and moving spiritual aspects, but I'm still a bit puzzled that it had nothing specifically tied back to the bible. I hoped for an awesome eye-opener, but got an ok read instead.


If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

#ReadingChallenge: Untold Story

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

Princess Diana could easily be called the world's sweetheart, and though she died when I was really young, when I saw Untold Story by Monica Ali I couldn't resist picking it up.

The book is a bit controversial I'm sure because it's written from the angle that Princess Diana's fatal accident was staged and that it was her way of getting out of the monarchy to enjoy life otherwise. One could easily wonder 'what would Princess Diana be like if she were still alive' and the book somewhat gives you the chance to go down that line of thinking.

I'll admit that Ali gives the story a bit of a twist by making some changes to facts (probably for legal reasons), but then giving somewhat of an inside peek into the life of Diana that only those close to her would have known (using some factual information of course). She writes from the view of different characters and sometimes things got confusing because the different characters would sometimes give the results of an issue long before explaining the problem....of even addressing it. 

Though I was intrigued to keep reading, the language used at times made it a bit of a challenge to follow. With the Princess being British there was mention of colloquial British terms that folks of the western world may not easily pick up on.

My #ReadingChallenge rating for Untold Story:

I really did want a bit more from the book than I got. It was a good story with some twists and mystery included, and although the last few chapters had me a bit shocked, I was hoping for something more 'unexpected' to happen. It was a good bit of creative writing though, and Ali did a fair job of making it feel realistic.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!