Marjorie Holmes (1910–2002)

Out of the blue, high school senior and young-man-about-town Danny Keller begins showing quite an interest in Carly Williams, a high school junior hoping to finally have a beau in Saturday Night by Marjorie Holmes.

Gee. It wasn't until a couple of days ago that I knew this author of the biblical fiction classic Two from Galilee also wrote young adult novels back in the day. Turns out this one from 1959 was her first.

Now, even with the old-fashioned and wonderful "happy teen date night" cover show more art on various editions of this book, it isn't a light and carefree teen romance. In fact, the theme represented by the jaunty title doesn't stretch very far into the book.

Sure, the novel has its fun moments. How could you not have some fun with an upbeat and magnetic guy like Danny around? But Carly has got some learning to do about relationships.

And she, like a lot of people, will do some learning the hard way.

Honestly, I got pretty frustrated and even rather appalled by her during part of her "hard way." Yet, I can't say her feelings and actions aren't realistic or believable, especially for a girl going through certain experiences for the first time. The basic reality of it, the illustration of human flaws, gives this read its substance. Not meant to be a fairy tale but an honest tale.

Here and there, it reminded me of a few of Beverly Cleary's young adult novels, as well as Gift of Gold by Beverly Butler. Here's hoping I can get my hands on another vintage YA read by Holmes sometime. show less

I am with child... the child of Jahveh, himself. Even he of Joseph's lifelong covenant. God the victor. God—he saw it now—the rival.

Countless people are familiar with the biblical story of Mary and Joseph. The novel Two from Galilee by author Marjorie Holmes is one story I've encountered that illustrates what the couple's early experiences together might have been like.

Yes, it's a love story, with an old-fashioned flair that's much like dramatic poetry. There's depth and an almost show more painful beauty to it, and distinct characters with backstories, personalities, and different motives that come into play. Mary and Joseph's feelings for each other are unashamedly romantic, and yet their tale isn't all sunbursts and butterflies. It's set against a religious and political backdrop of uncertainty and violence. It's a tale about how flawed human beings might react when what they "claim to believe" may no longer just be an ideal concept that's a nice, safe distance away from reality.

It was a grave thing to become involved with God.

I'll admit, though, that while I appreciate the novel's poetic style, the many comma splices got to me sometimes. Also, while the story's depth is a plus, there were moments when I became a bit bogged down with all of the contemplation and such. I would've been fine with the story getting some ideas across more concisely and then moving on.

Even so, this is the second (or third?) time I've read this novel, and I see why so many other people have enjoyed it over the years. show less

"There comes a time when silence isn't golden. It's just plain chicken."

My favorite quote from this vintage young adult novel. My favorite quote for reasons other than the novel itself. But that's another story.

I found this read to be delightfully old-fashioned and pretty humorous during the first half or so, as the characters strive to earn their way to Washington. The second half, during the actual trip, still gave me nostalgic feels even while the story felt a little scattered to show more me—likely because the characters, including Fran, are so scattered. By the time I got to the rather abrupt ending, I realized I didn't quite see a driving point to the story.

Also, while I understand why this novel must have been marketed as a romance in its day, it isn't. As far as the romantic thread goes, for most of the book, Fran just moons around dreaming of what eventually happens in rushed, cursory fashion in a few pages toward the end...all at the expense of her hometown boyfriend, who's watching her moon around about another guy.

I could take the kids' fight to get to Washington seriously, but I couldn't take them seriously much once they got there. Still, perhaps the redeeming quality here is that Fran seems aware of that, even as she narrates the story. Like she's pretty much saying, "Yeah. We were a bunch of mixed-up kids back then. Didn't know what we wanted yet, and we'd have to muddle through and figure it out sometime after our senior trip."

So. Maybe that's the point?

Anyhow, for the nostalgic factor alone, I still enjoyed the whole read about this youthful adventure. And I certainly got a kick out of the old-fashioned cover art I tracked down. show less

This book was originally published with the title Love Is a Hopscotch Thing in the '60s, and my nostalgic side wishes I could at least see what the book cover looked like back then. Was it a great vintage illustration? Yet, seeing as this is the sequel to a previous novel I read, Saturday Night, I think the title Sunday Morning is more appropriate for the overall theme.

I also think it's better if you read the first book first. But, maybe not? I find that in some sequels, the main characters show more sometimes lose the progress they made in the previous book and wind up having to learn what's essentially the same lesson all over again.

While I wouldn't say that Carly forgets or disregards everything she learned in the first book, I feel like she does lose progress here, going around some of the same circles she already circled the summer before with Danny.

Not that it's unrealistic—humans often do have to relearn lessons or learn them better with another go 'round. Besides, Carly is still a teenager. It just isn't my favorite thing when it seems like a novel and its sequel have much of the same basic plot, more or less, but it's only packaged a little differently from one book to the next.

Even so, I was still entertained through the read, and given the pull on my nostalgic side, I enjoyed much of the novel's old-fashioned feel. Although it took getting to the end of the book before I finally stopped shaking my head at Carly, I liked her eventual decision.

If I can get my hands on some copies, there are two more vintage YA novels I'd like to read by this author, who I believe is most known for her biblical fiction novel Two from Galilee. show less