The Handmaid and the Carpenter

This was an interesting take on the Nativity story from the Gospel of Luke. While the characters were fresh and the right ages, Mary's character went hot and cold with me, one moment a dutiful 1st century Jewish girl, the next moment a 21st century teenager. The story may offend some traditionalists, but it is worth your time to read it. I would have offered four stars, but the author used the current calendar and have Jesus' birth take place in December, and as I mentioned, Mary's character was uneven.

In her The Handmaid and the Carpenter, Elizabeth Berg offers a different perspective into the betrothal and marriage of Joseph and Mary. I often pictured this Biblical couple as accepting of their situation, embracing the miracle that was bestowed upon them. In this book, Berg presents a slightly different view: one that shows the struggles they endured with an unexpected (and unprecedented) pregnancy in a traditional Jewish culture. These struggles strained their marriage at times, but overall, their love for each other helped to carry them through the rough spots.

For example, Joseph in this book was prepared to divorce Mary once he discovered her pregnancy. Even after an angel reassured him that it was “safe” to stay with Mary, show more his doubts about this situation – and the brevity of being involved in such a religious phenomenon – plagued him. His faith in God and Mary helped to guide him, but his personality was altered (and not always in a positive way) by these events. Mary had her own set of challenges. She always felt destined for greatness, and when she learned that she was giving birth to the Son of God, she felt fulfilled by her duty. Joseph’s struggles with his wife bearing the Son of God and Mary’s willingness to do so caused a gap in their marriage that Berg depicts as never being reconciled. Despite this, they stayed true and loyal to each other.

I read The Handmaid and the Carpenter to remind myself of the story of Jesus – just in time for the upcoming Christmas holiday. I was given an extra treat by reading an alternative view on a marriage of a very “human” couple facing a very extraordinary situation. While none of us could put ourselves exactly in their shoes, I am sure many readers will appreciate the lessons about love, marriage and faith that Berg so exquisitely portrays in this novel. show less

I was looking for some Christmas-y reading - doesn't get much more so than this. But it is always tricky to fictionalize the Bible or round out characters we don't know much about. That is what Berg tries to do here and while it isn't a total failure, it still feels contrived and leading and false. Was Mary really that spunky? Was Joseph really that young? It is a beautifully imagined relationship between the 2, but I guess I prefer the mystery and more one-dimensional Christmas creche characters. I was hoping for some reflection and Truth, but ended up with more questions and doubts than anything.

Using the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke for its basis, Berg's "The Handmaid and the Carpenter" brings a traditional, yet different story of Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph are teenagers from the same village of Nazareth and have a physical attraction to one another and are as different as night and day. Joseph is portrayed as a devout young man adhering to the laws, while Mary is a contemplative, intelligent girl who questions authority and has a respect for creation. The only authority she does not question is the Lord's. How this startling news for Mary is handled, I believe, appropriately for the characters here. This was a thoughtful and charming novella and my only criticism is that Mary was a bit too modern for me - show more granted, Ms. Berg did not portray her as the silent, doe-eyed, suffering Madonna, but a girl on the verge of womanhood given an awesome, daunting responsibility, who is outspoken, thoughtful and not afraid to go against society's norm, yet all the while knowing what her duty and position in life must be. Ms. Berg also used the modern calendar as the time frame - scholars don't know if Jesus was born in December, and don't agree on the exact year or date, but it may have been either March or September. I assume she used the December birth date for familiarity. I thought the shift in POV at the end was jarring, but the author kept Joseph true to the character she portrayed. This story may not appeal to traditionalists who are used to and accept certain of the Christian church's doctrines, but it is nevertheless an appealing story and worth your consideration. show less

This is a quick read - great for the Christmas holidays. Things I really liked about this telling of Mary & Joseph: They are portrayed as real people grappling with issues of faith and perception. Although Joseph & Mary don't always see eye to eye, their love for each other seems to bridge those gaps. Refreshing in a world where we are told that real love means always agreeing. Part of me protested Joseph's character, particularly at the beginning, but as I continued to read, I began to really appreciate his character. Great book

This is the story of advent, fictionalized and retold primarily from Mary's perspective. In this instance, Mary is cast as a deeply curious and philosophical young girl. By contrast, Joseph is a logical man who is full of doubts about his wife's claims.

This novel is short and warm - one feels the emotional struggles of the two characters. Really though, nothing new or distinctive is added to this telling. The setting is not particularly vivid. The two are described as being in love, but it's not clear why or how this love came about. Mary is a near-perfect creature, with only occasional bouts of backbone and personality coming through now and then. Joseph is a bit of a brute, often annoyed at how much his wife talks.

It is not unique or show more inventive. It is not particularly religious or particularly blasphemous. I kinda didn't understand why anyone would write a book like this. show less

This was a good book. At first, I was a little iffy on the doctrine. After all, if you are going to write about Christ, the least you can do is study and stay true to the Bible. However, it turned out to be a nice telling of the Christmas story and made Mary and Joseph seem very real.

Unlike the other book I read on the birth of Christ, Two From Galilee, this one portrayed Joseph much more like I thought he would be at the news of Mary's pregnancy. He didn't simply take it in stride, letting it fall by the wayside because of his love for her. No, he got angry and sought to divorce her privately, as it details in the Bible.

The other touching moment of the story was a forward in time to Joseph's death. The last moments of Mary and Joseph show more were very touching, as she prepared her heart to raise Jesus, as well as her other children, as a newly single mother, with His fate in mind.

Recommended. show less