books, Part 1

I've done a LOT of fun reading over the last few weeks.

I tend to be rather obsessive when it comes to reading. My family would tell you that is an extreme understatement.

Starting in junior high, every Christmas I would get my gift from my parents early - the last day of finals. It would be a new hardcover book (quite a few years the newest Stephen King book), and I would start on it right away. There were easily days when all I would do was read and (if I remembered) eat and sleep a little. During the school year, I had to limit myself to short stories only so that I would have time to do my schoolwork. Ah, what happy memories I have of my own reading days. When I graduated high school, I had read all Michael Crichten's and Stephen King's books. (S.K. quickly fell out of my favor, but I kept up with M.C.)

When we went to Dallas three weeks ago, I got to pick up a couple of books. I read The Last Sin Eater and The Shack. (Thanks Staci and Shelley for recommending and lending them to me!)


The Last Sin Eater was good - I especially liked the concept for the book. I felt like the protagonist's emotions and reactions were realistic. My only criticisms... It's definitely a Christian fiction novel, and gets preachy briefly. I'm not sure it needed to tell as many stories from the Bible as it did, but those were only a small portion of the book. The author seemed to have trouble keeping a consistent point of view.

The Shack was great - I'd highly recommend it. There were sections I don't think I agree with for sure, but overall it was thought-provoking while still and enjoyable read. My biggest criticism... It is presented like a true story someone is recording for a friend. I can only think of two other "Christian Fiction" books I've read who have done this: C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet, Rick Joyner's The Final Quest. This has got to be one of the literary tools that frustrates me most!!! Before I rattle on, I'll say I think TFQ could be from visions / dreams of Rick Joyner's. Especially the first part of the book. If anyone had doubts as to whether OotSP was true or not, they'd only have to read the third book in the series to be quite confident that none of it happened. The author of The Shack, William Young, states clearly on the book's site that the story is fiction. He seems to throw off the question of why it's written as a true story by saying he originally did not intend for it to be widely read or published. Why do they do this?!? It drives me mad. If I ever write a book and do this, friends - please stop me!