I read a lot. I love books, always have. Very rarely do I come across a book that I feel so strongly about I think everyone should read it-- and to confess, I think people "should" do a lot of things I think. But this book does something so profound, I'd hate anyone to miss it.
I did not want to read this book. I heard about people reading it, I knew it had to do with kidnapping and a grisly crime. Well, as a mother of two young children, I felt that I just didn't need to read a book that dealt with such "dark stuff." It would just feed my already paranoid, overprotective craziness, right?! Wrong.
If anything, this book helped me overcome some of that paranoia. And believe me, I am QUEEN of paranoia, I was raised on it as if it was something good for you to eat. Maybe I shouldn't say paranoia since the definition of that is "unfounded or exaggerated distrust of others, sometimes reaching delusional proportions. Paranoid individuals constantly suspect the motives of those around them, and believe that certain individuals, or people in general, are "out to get them."
Well, my distrust has always been "founded" so maybe I am not really paranoid. But like any good mom, I am wary, careful, and protective.
So, this books first few chapters were enough to send me screaming, keep my heart pounding, and yes, I did check on my children a few times while they were asleep and I was reading.
But then this book opened up into a beautiful calm. I don't want to ruin it for you, but I will tell you that if you push through those first few chapters, you will be rewarded with so much. This book ambitiously tries to capture the nature of God--from the trinity, what he wants from us, how he approaches us, what we can do, what he will do. It achieves this ambition. For Christians, this book will draw them closer in relationship to Him. For people with little relationship with God or Christ, this will draw them to Him.
This book also deals with the age old question "Why?" Why does God let bad things happen. This book so effectively deals with this question. I have never been so satifised before as I have been with how this book deals with that question. And I am sure everyone has asked that question!
Not only do you care about the people in this book and what happens to them, you fall in love with a loving, forgiving, and merciful God.
Now--go read it!
