I read this book initially because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wanted to understand the controversy and I've learned that if you really want to understand where people are coming from, in terms of literature anyway, it's best to dive in for yourself and witness the controversy first hand. That's how my interest in The Shack began. I found very quickly that the controversy (regarding God and gender) explains itself away pretty quickly. And once you get past that, the story and all that it portrays about God is beautiful (and pretty sound when compared to Scripture and traditional Christian beliefs about God). It exposed and challenged a lot of the assumptions I've had about God over the years and I'm incredibly grateful for that. At the very least it is a source of worthwhile discussion. Though I'd bet most readers will find it is more than that.