Reader's Fave

I recently interviewed Tammy Peterson for our 37th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Tammy is employed as the Wahkiakum County Treasurer.

Tammy shared "The Shack" by author William P. Young. The book was originally published in 2007. "I probably first read it not too long after 2007," she said. As the book's theme touches on young people dying for no reason, Tammy was asked why the book seemed so good to her. "I grew up going to church," she said. "Later, my brother died of cancer. My son and nephew also died. It seemed so many good people were taken. My question was 'Why does God take good people?'"

For Tammy, Young addresses this in his book. "How would you choose as a parent?" she said. "It's like Sophie's Choice; it's the same sort of situation. We are all God's children. All of us have good qualities, and he loves us all. What really resonated with me - what was eye opening from the book - was that it is just what it is. God's love is what it is. I questioned, 'How could you take my brother? He's so good.' It is just what it is."

Speaking a little more about the book, Tammy said, "I understood the father's emotions in the story of his daughter being taken. I felt everything he felt; the frustration, the rage, when they're so good - so innocent - and, yet, taken away. I dove right in [to the book]. It didn't take long to read. I like life after death type books - psychic types - because I have this yearning to know where, or what, happens on the other side and, yet, it's something that can't be written and science hasn't proven."

Tammy also reflected back about her grandmother who served as a school teacher. "She instilled in my mom the importance of education and reading," Tammy said. "I always did well in school. I was the first in my family to go on to further education. I always read to my kids when they were young. There's always been a love of books in my family."

Discussing the challenges of today, Tammy said, "I'm not an avid reader like I used to be, due to the internet, but books are important to us as a family. I enjoy reading from a physical book. I have not done an ebook or [an] audio book. I think it's important to teach your young children the love of books. How you can get immersed in a book and how you can lose yourself in one."

May you wonderful Wahkiakum readers find a book you love; one where you get immersed, lose yourself, and maybe even find an answer to one of your own questions.