Cross Roads

Reading The Shack was like finding an adult version of The Chronicles of Narnia and delving into a whole new and yet very familiar world. "Always winter and never Christmas" was a line that even as a child I understood was a description of the power of evil and the hopelessness it nourished. I also felt the hair on the back of my spiritual neck stand straight up when the Christlike Aslan was described to the young, Pevensie children, "Of course He's good. But He's not safe. He's not a tame lion!" It is amazing how the landscapes of fiction (and parables) can do a better job of detailing what is real and true than theological treatises. The Shack did this for many readers; people who wouldn't delve into a book of systematic theology would pick up this little paperback because it transported them into a real world of pain, forgiveness and identity. For some the journey to real was too hard to experience and they wrote the book off as a fairy tale or theologically defunct. And some of us rejoiced at this description knowing that God enthusiastically enjoys revealing some truths to children while at the same time keeping them from the religiously experienced fuddy-duddies. Speculating about Paul Young's next story the past few years excited me. Of course I hoped that it didn't fizzle, like many sophomore books do (Even Prince Caspian didn't capture the magic of Lewis' first chronicle for me, though it was certainly back again in Dawntreader). Young didn't slump, his writing has more elements of creativity, humor and humanity than even his first book. He is continuing to develop as a writer and storyteller. Cross Roads examines the last few hours of Anthony (Tony) Spencer's alert life. He suffers a major brain hemorrhage and his body is being kept alive in a Portland, Oregon hospital. What happens when he is in the coma though is his own Narnia. Tony finds himself in a world that is desolate and mysterious, yet strangely one that he is intimately familiar with. He meets with people in this world that help him understand his life as it has been. His Irish friend Jack explains the following to him: "There has to be a tearing down for the real and right and good and true to be built. There has to be a judgment and a dismantling. It is not only important, it is essential. However, the kindness of God will not do the tearing down without your participation. Much of the time, God has to do very little. We are masters at building up facades, only to tear them down ourselves. In our independence we are very destructive creatures, first creating houses of cards and then knocking them down with our own hands. Addiction of every imagined sort, the will to power, the security of lies, the need for notoriety, the grasping of reputation, the trading in human souls... all houses of cards that we try and keep together by holding our breath. But, thanks to the grace of God, we must someday breathe, and when we do, the breath of God joins ours and everything collapses." And as a book or Narnia would fail without Aslan, so would a Paul Young book without the presence of the Trinity in characters that you might not recognize at first. While Jesus is still in his incarnate form, both The Father and The Holy Spirit get a new, imaginative outfits that help Tony connect with them. But Tony isn't stuck in this other world; instead he is given the gift to see and experience life through other people's eyes. The fun starts when Tony realizes that he gets to interact with these real-world hosts as his spirit inhabits their own. Tony's cross roads takes place in both worlds as his heart-choices take him where his brokenness never could have. Will he wake up? Will you? Sharing anymore of the story would rob the reader of the experience of reading it through their adult eyes and interpreting it with child-like hearts. Cross Roads is one of those books that is worth reading over and over as the story and discussions are redemptive. Enjoy it several times!

I saw an ad on CNN the day the book was released. Of course, having been thoroughly inspired by "The Shack" I was intrigued and immediately went to Amazon to read some reviews. A couple of reviews said it was "better than 'The Shack.'" I thought, "not possible." So is it better than "The Shack?" Well, that's like saying the Gospel of John is better than the Gospel of Matthew when the truth is that I can't imagine one without the other. (Of course I'm just making a point and not suggesting that Young's books are on a par with Scripture.) The book starts out a little slow but it's a proper pace as it develops the plot and the characters, especially Tony, the main character. After the first 2 or 3 chapters you become intrigued with the unfolding drama. As the intensity increased I thought, "Oh man, I feel like I need to brace myself for the emotional climax that will surely come." Prepare yourself, you will not be disappointed. Now some might say that all this emotion stuff is "sappy." That's just a natural human response, a defense mechanism to avoid strong emotion, to try to maintain control, adult composure. I would recommend the opposite. Be the innocent child, let yourself go. Let the author lead you through the story, become vulnerable, "dive into" the main character, (and other characters), become that character vicariously, see things through his eyes as it were. You'll understand the significance of this when you read the book. For me, one of the most significant chapters was "The War Within," by far the longest chapter. Pay special attention here. Several large theological issues are debated with the cast of characters allied against Tony. I love the way academic stuff is brought to life in a drama such as this. I particularly liked the verbal battles with the Sosho and Ego characters. It's absolutely brilliant! After finishing the book I opened up the Bible and some theology type books and saw that it's all there. Who would have thought that dry theology stuff could be so, so entertaining?! Regardless of one's philosophical bent, you should take your time and meditate on the deeper implications behind the story. Like "The Shack," this is a book worthy of multiple readings and considerable contemplation. The scope of this book is larger than what appears on the surface, it's more than just another story. Enjoy!!

I found this to be a difficult read. The Shack is my favourite book of all time, and I’ve probably read it a dozen times. While reading this, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was written by someone else, perhaps a ghostwriter, or maybe Mr Young was simply trying a different approach. Either way, it didn’t feel as fluid or captivating as The Shack. There were a lot of big, unnecessary words that felt like they required a dictionary in your back pocket, and they kept pulling me out of the story rather than drawing me in. The readability suffered because of it. I do plan to read it again. The plot is strong, and I want very much to love it. When all is said and done, I remain an avid fan of Mr Young, both in his writing and in his life story. His personal journey played a significant role in leading me to God, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Although this book is fiction, it helped me to picture a deeper and more intimate relationship with my Papa God, my Jesus and Holy Spirit. I've read The Shack too many times to count, as it is among my favorite books, and now I add Cross Roads to the small list. It was very moving, compassionate, thought-provoking, and real. I think every person on earth should read both books! It's the difference between life and extraordinarily beautiful life! God bless!

THIS IS A MUST READ. BUT FIRST MAY I SUGGEST YOU READ "THE SHACK" ALSO WRITTEN BY HIM. A FRIEND PURCHASED IT ON AMAZON AND READ IT IN ONE DAY. SHE RUSHED RIGHT OVER TO ME WITH IT AND INSISTED I DROP EVERYTHING AND READ IT RIGHT AWAY. SINCE SHE READS ALOT AND KNOWS I DO TOO I DID JUST WHAT SHE ASKED. IT IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS YOU JUST CAN'T PUT DOWN. I KNOW I'M REVEIWING "CROSSROADS" BUT I JUST HAD TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT I FEEL IT IS TO READ " THE SHACK" FIRST. "CROSSROADS" IS JUST AS SPELLBINDING. IT TOOK ME TWO DAYS TO FINISH IT BECAUSE OF WORK. I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HOME TO PICK IT UP AGAIN. IT IS SO INCITEFUL AND SOMETIMES REALLY HILLARIOUS. MR. YOUNG HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND MAKES ME ACTUALLY LAUGH OUT LOUD. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING IT'S JUST ANOTHER BOOK ON RELIGION BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. YOU ARE LEFT WITH THE CHOICE OF BELIEVING IN A HIGHER BEING OR TAKING A DIFFERENT ROAD. MR. YOUNG MAKES THAT CLEAR IN HIS WRITING. OF COURSE SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT GOD AND A MAN'S ENCOUNTER AND DISCUSSION WITH JESUS, WRITING IT AS FICTION IS ALMOST BLASPHEMYBUT I BELIEVE JUST THE OPPOSITE. IT TELLS OF THE JOURNEY OF A NOT SO KIND MAN FROM A COMA INTO THE "INBETWEEN" AND HOW HE IS ABLE TO CORRECT MISTAKES HE HAS MADE AND RIGHT MANY WRONGS. HIS ABILITY TO SEE THINGS THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE AND USE THEM TO HELP, AND WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS THERE, MAKES FOR SOME VERY STARTILY REVELATIONS TO HIM AND BRINGS HUMOR INTO THE STORY. YES, IT IS A WORK OF FICTION BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IT WILL HELP THOSE LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE AND MEANING IN THEIR LIVES WILL FIND IT WORTH THE READING. ENJOY!!

This was one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. It really makes you stop and think about this life and what is to come. It also makes you feel like you are right there with the cast of characters. A must read in my eyes.

I had a hard time getting into this book, but I also had a hard time getting into The Shack. In typical Paul Young fashion, you can get bogged down by his long-winded, descriptive manner, and find yourself wading through the words to get to the meat of the story. But as always, he challenges your mind to think outside of the spiritual box. His characters are endearing and relatable in their flaws and we all can find bits of ourselves in them. As with The Shack, the message of love and redemption, for anyone who seeks it, inadvertently or consciously, comes shining through. Who can't use this kind of hope in their lives? I loved the storyline. It's a great book for book club discussion, and I found myself even meditating on though provoking ideas presented in the book. As with The Shack, Crossroads is the kind of spiritual book that needs to be read with an open mind, rather than looking for flaws in personal doctrine and beliefs.

A few friends and I started a book club and this was the first book chosen. I did not read the reviews, synopsis, sample or otherwise before purchasing the book. I was not familiar with the author and had not read The Shack. I had absolutely no expectations going in. I began reading and by the end of the first chapter I was bored. I was frustrated with the seemingly lack of purpose, I couldn't get into the character, and thought this was going to be a complete bust. My chapter five my entire outlook changed. I couldn't read it fast enough. I absolutely loved this book. The fresh perspective on the Trinity was amazing, eye opening, and so inspiring. My husband is an artist and we have always had a difficult time talking about our spirituality because his descriptions of spiritual things is so different than my very legalistic upbringing. This book bridged that gap. I now understand how he can envision things so differently, but yet we are on the same wavelength in our belief system. Follow the story of a shrewd business man, Anthony Spencer, as he discovers much about himself, his role in the world, the parts of his personality that both protected him and hindered him, and watch him struggle with a once in a lifetime decision. Get a chance to meet some fascinating characters and get inside the hearts and minds of every day folks as you experience their struggles and victories. Cross Roads is a must read! I am reading it a second time already and our book club meeting hasn't even taken place yet. I also ran out and grabbed The Shack. I am ready for more by Wm. Paul Young!

Once again I loved the weaving of relationships found throughout this story. It makes me excited for Heaven again and reminds me that though this is a masterful piece of fiction we have a lot of surprises in store awaiting us and some may resemble the works of art portrayed in this story. Thank you Mr Young for reminding us how important all relationships are.

William Paul Young hatte mit Die Hütte einen Weltbestseller, der nicht nur in christlichen Kreisen seine Leser und Fans fand. Das neue Buch "Der Weg" und im Original "Cross Roads" liest sich spannend, ist eine nachvollziehbarere Geschichte und geht echt unter die Haut. Hier werden bei mir die Spiegelneuronen ganz heftig angetriggert und mehrfach sind mir beim Lesen auch die Tränen gekullert. Dieses spannende Buch hat etwas krimihaftes. Insgesamt ist es ein wirklich lesenswertes Plädoyer für Mitmenschlichkeit, Ehrlichkeit und Nächstenliebe für mich und da es noch nicht in so viele Sprache übersetzt wurde, habe ich es in Englisch weiter verschenkt nach Südeuropa!

A masterpiece which took me on the journey of spiritual life. Helping the process of changing this hard stoney unfeeling heart into a softened heart of flesh

Very cool idea! I enjoyed reading every page! Congrats to Wm Paul Young for once again pulling out a story that will stop you in your tracks and gets you thinking about your life, your priorities, your relationships as well as about death, eternity and God - all that so naturally within a fascinating story line (or several of them to be exact). The concept is even little bit weirder than the Shack but I loved the idea! Thank you for this book, Mr Young!

Después de haber leído la cabaña sientes dos necesidades: recomendar a todo el mundo que conoces que lea ese libro y leer algo más de Paul Young. Y ese "algo más" es su segundo libro, Cross Roads. Si no has leído La Cabaña el libro está muy bien, es muy original y su lectura engancha pero, lamentablemente, Young dejó el listón demasiado alto con su primer libro y éste no está a la altura. Aún así es una lectura muy recomendable.