Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
The Handmaid and the Carpenter
In this wonderful novel about love and trust, hope and belief, Elizabeth Berg, the bestselling author of We Are All Welcome Here and The Year of Pleasures, transports us to Nazareth in biblical times to reimagine the events of the classic Christmas story.
We see Mary–young, strong, and inquisitive–as she first meets Joseph, a serious-minded young carpenter who is steadfastl...more
We see Mary–young, strong, and inquisitive–as she first meets Joseph, a serious-minded young carpenter who is steadfastl...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
November 7th 2006
by Random House
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,967)
Berg brings readers back into time in this poetic and delicate retelling of the Nativity story. This book focuses on the relationship between Joseph and Mary beginning when Mary they are children. When they meet later when Joseph is 16 and Mary is 13 years old an instant connection develops and the two are betrothed. While betrothed the two continue to live at their parents homes and Mary questions her engagement to Joseph. Mary is then visited by an angel that tells her that is with child. Jose...more
One of the books I read over Christmas was this very small one.
Berg retells the birth of Jesus from a unique perspective. She tells us Mary and Joseph met, fell in love and married.
"She was a wonder to behold, with her black curls escaped from her braid, her cheeks flushed dusky rose, her gaze so direct and yet mysterious." Thus was Joseph's first impression of a 13-year old
Mary, and the result was a "heart knocking my chest like a caged animal wild to be released." Mind you they were both hidin...more
Berg retells the birth of Jesus from a unique perspective. She tells us Mary and Joseph met, fell in love and married.
"She was a wonder to behold, with her black curls escaped from her braid, her cheeks flushed dusky rose, her gaze so direct and yet mysterious." Thus was Joseph's first impression of a 13-year old
Mary, and the result was a "heart knocking my chest like a caged animal wild to be released." Mind you they were both hidin...more
Elizabeth Berg's "The Handmaid and the Carpenter" is a difficult book to review. It is, as some big-name reviewers have pointed out, poetic and reflective. It means well. Nevetheless, this novelization of the Holy Family in its early years also suffers from careless theology.
In brief, the carpenter gets his just desserts, but the handmaid -- somewhat surprisingly -- does not. Joseph is here portrayed as a model of traditional rectitude. Mary, while not promiscuous, is rather shockingly forward...more
In brief, the carpenter gets his just desserts, but the handmaid -- somewhat surprisingly -- does not. Joseph is here portrayed as a model of traditional rectitude. Mary, while not promiscuous, is rather shockingly forward...more
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 authorit...more
Audiobook. Elizabeth Berg’s take on the nativity fills in some of the blanks in the lives of Mary and Joseph. It explores questions such as: Who was Mary apart from angels, wise men and the baby Jesus? How did Joseph react to his wife’s pregnancy? What were their hopes and dreams as a couple and how did they live in their community? This was an interesting exercise, but Berg’s characters speak a stilted combination Bible-talk and modern speech. Her Mary is a petulant teenager who wants her freed...more
Elizabeth Berg's "The Handmaid and the Carpenter: A Novel" was a very detailed novel written describing the life of Mary and Joseph. In the book, we see how Mary and Joseph first meet, fall in love, and get married, from a very different and compelling perspective.
When Joseph first sees Mary, he describes her as "a wonder to behold, with her black curls escaped from her braid, her cheeks flushed dusky rose, her gaze so direct and yet mysterious." After first meeting each other, their families d...more
When Joseph first sees Mary, he describes her as "a wonder to behold, with her black curls escaped from her braid, her cheeks flushed dusky rose, her gaze so direct and yet mysterious." After first meeting each other, their families d...more
I didn't like her characterizations of Mary or especially Joseph. I thought it was a cute love story and could see the value of humanizing them for some people but it wasn't my cup of tea. I will enjoy discussing it with book club, I think there is a lot to be pondered in the book because it brings to mind Christ's early years which we know so little about.
I liked the look at the culture in Jesus' time, I just wasn't sure I believed her interpretation of it. I didn't particularly like the sexual...more
I liked the look at the culture in Jesus' time, I just wasn't sure I believed her interpretation of it. I didn't particularly like the sexual...more
The author definitely took great liberty with the scriptural account of the birth of Jesus.I found the portrayal of Joseph very disappointing. Jesus needed a strong,faithful and humble stepfather to take the responsibility of caring for God's Son seriously. This is utterly discounted by the narrator, who focused on her idea that Joseph took on the responsibility for what he believed to be Mary's bastard conceived through an illicit affair with a Roman soldier. He is portrayed as faithless, altho...more
Meh...this book didn't do much for me. I thought it would be so interesting to read a book about Mary and Joseph beginning their lives together, but Berg failed to really capture my interest. I've been thinking about where she went wrong with this one, and I think, for me, it boils down to not enough character development. Obviously these are beloved historical figures that people around the world consider blessed and whom Christians read and hear about often, but still we know so little about t...more
An innovative and creative look at the birth of the Savior by focusing on the relationship between Mary and Joseph. I really appreciated thinking about the birth of Jesus from the perspective of a young couple who were floored with the news that they would be the earthly parents of the Savior. While this is no "The Red Tent," it still made me think about this precious story in a whole new way, and it brought me to tears several times.
In standing with Elizabeth Berg being my favorite writer, she stood up to my expectations on this book. I got it for Christmas in 2006 and waited until 2007 to read it, but I thought it started out slow, so I put it aside. Now a few years later, I have converted my religion, but still decided to give the book a shot. It didn't even speak to me as a religious book, because it's not really. It's only the authors take on what she thinks happened -- all the day to day things that you don't get to se...more
Meh... It was okay. It is the author's interpretation of the love story between Mary and Joseph. So, not about Jesus hardly at all, which is fine for the story. Somethings were portrayed in a way that didn't jive with me. I wouldn't recommend it.
Also, it was read by the author. I don't think a lot of authors should read their books. Her specially. I felt like it took SO LONG because she read.... everything... so.... slooooowly...... It felt like she was trying to put feeling into it but it just...more
Also, it was read by the author. I don't think a lot of authors should read their books. Her specially. I felt like it took SO LONG because she read.... everything... so.... slooooowly...... It felt like she was trying to put feeling into it but it just...more
Dec 28, 2009
Magda
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Magda by:
Dooce
Shelves:
historicalfiction
I really really really wanted to like this book, but it made me gag. It's sort of a retelling of a fairy tale, with bits of The Shack thrown in, and plenty of imagination from the author, without, very sadly, any research (at least in the Orthodox tradition of the Nativity).
The author tries to be "historically accurate" by putting the birth of Christ in 4 B.C., but on December 25, bam! (As opposed to His birth in the spring, when it is more likely that the shepherds would have their sheep out.)...more
The author tries to be "historically accurate" by putting the birth of Christ in 4 B.C., but on December 25, bam! (As opposed to His birth in the spring, when it is more likely that the shepherds would have their sheep out.)...more
Elizabeth Berg's "The Handmaid and the Carpenter: A Novel" is a richly detailed saga of an historic time and a Biblical couple; it is a tale that she has imbued with her special skill of immediacy and an everyday voice, and as a result, we can visualize this young couple as they struggle with the effects of a miraculous conception on their relationship and their lives.
We follow them in their journey to Bethlehem and the events that unfold there, just as we come to see the other small and large m...more
We follow them in their journey to Bethlehem and the events that unfold there, just as we come to see the other small and large m...more
I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the fact that mary was just a child herself when she carried the son of god. The way that Berg wrote this story was refreshing to me. She didn't play it safe but she really gave a good dose of humanity to a story we all know so well. I don't think she disrespected the mother of christ but she didn't write about her like Mary was a diety she wrote about like she was a human being and a very young women which is what she was. I liked the vulnerability she gav...more
This is the love story of Mary and Joseph. We meet them as they meet each other and declare their intentions toward one other. Mary is a brazen 13 year old girl who is visited by an angel and Joseph is an uncompromising 16 year old who lacks the faith to believe in the miracle of Mary’s Christ child. This is their story and although it obviously includes Jesus the story ends with Joseph’s passing.
I listened to this on cd read by the author and thought it was a nice story for the season. I think...more
I listened to this on cd read by the author and thought it was a nice story for the season. I think...more
In this book we discover that the holy family was made up of real people. Usually I am wary of books claiming to put a new spin on what I know to be perfection, but I am just getting back to reading and I figured a familiar story might be soothing. What I liked most about this book was the portrayal of Mary. She complains, she whines, she experiences sexual feelings for Joseph. Joseph in turn is a real man with desires and problems. You come to see the imperfections present in a story you've bee...more
I thought that Christmas time would be a good time to read this book about Mary and Joseph.
In order to write a book like this, an author has to take a lot of creative liberties. I just didn't care for the characteristics Berg assigned to Mary and Joseph. Joseph was domineering, chauvenistic and unforgiving. I, personally, do not believe that Joseph was doubting Jesus' origins all the way to his death bed- and in a way punishing Mary all that time for his unbelief. Mary's portrayal as a defiant a...more
In order to write a book like this, an author has to take a lot of creative liberties. I just didn't care for the characteristics Berg assigned to Mary and Joseph. Joseph was domineering, chauvenistic and unforgiving. I, personally, do not believe that Joseph was doubting Jesus' origins all the way to his death bed- and in a way punishing Mary all that time for his unbelief. Mary's portrayal as a defiant a...more
This is an interpretation of the account of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Christ. I have always thought about how good Mary must have been and how great a faith Joseph had. I rarely gave much thought to their humanity. Elizabeth Berg explores this facet of a well known account. Joseph did take Mary as his wife, but this act of faith most likely didn’t come without fear and uncertainty. Mary, though chosen by God, was still a young girl growing into womanhood. She was learning to leave behind th...more
I have loved every single book by Elizabeth Berg that I have ever read, and this one was no exception. Her in-depth portrayal of the humanity of Mary and Joseph made them so much more relatable to me than have other Christmas stories that I have read in the past. Her creativity with the story enhanced it, while remaining respectful and believable. I liked that she stayed true the integrity of the Biblical telling while taking some liberties and filling in the gaps of the story with fictional rep...more
The author has a slight disclaimer in the foreword about the Bible being a poem, and therefore up for interpretation, so I suspect this novel may offend some.
I find it interesting to view the author's rendition of life in Nazareth at 4BC. I feel she portrays the characters well.
It is a quick and pleasant read. I find myself taken aback each time the author mentions that a woman's place is to please her husband (which comes up frequently), but keeping in mind that this is a historical novel, I'm...more
I find it interesting to view the author's rendition of life in Nazareth at 4BC. I feel she portrays the characters well.
It is a quick and pleasant read. I find myself taken aback each time the author mentions that a woman's place is to please her husband (which comes up frequently), but keeping in mind that this is a historical novel, I'm...more
This book was a hard read. I read this book over the course of two years. I started it, Christmas of 2011, I believe and returned to it Christmas 2012. The author does write with beautiful pros and I believe she is sincere in trying to capture the birth of Christ with historical accuracy as well as leaving room for the awe and wonder of greatest miracle there ever was, but for all that some how the read still just seems boring. Especially after the climax which was the birth of baby Jesus. Mary...more
This is a wonderful telling of the biblical story of Mary and Joseph. Based on the Biblical events, Elizabeth Berg uses her imagination to fill in the details of how they met and what their lives were like. I was pulled in to the story and thought about what it must have been like for a young woman, put in a situation that cast her on the outside of her culture, the dilema of a very devout and faithful jewish man, caught by culture, tradition and the rules that govern that community. What are th...more
This was a novel based on the courtship and early years of the marriage of Mary and Joseph. Mary was portrayed as strong and inquisitive,
while Joseph was serious minded and devoted to the traditions of the
people. He was never quite sure about the revelations he and Mary
received from the angels. That must have been a cloud over his life.
Mary is the favorite character. It was a very realistic look at what
their lives may have been. It's refreshing to read a new "take" on an
old story every now and t...more
while Joseph was serious minded and devoted to the traditions of the
people. He was never quite sure about the revelations he and Mary
received from the angels. That must have been a cloud over his life.
Mary is the favorite character. It was a very realistic look at what
their lives may have been. It's refreshing to read a new "take" on an
old story every now and t...more
I thought this was just a beautiful little book. At its core, it is a love story; the story of an ordinary young couple who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, whose love carries them through hardships, doubts and their own imperfections. It makes Mary and Joseph highly accessible and human without detracting from the wonder and miracle of the Christmas story. This is not a retelling of events, but a fleshing out of the events as presented in the Bible. As such, one's faith might aff...more
In this wonderful novel about love and trust, hope and belief, Elizabeth Berg, the bestselling author of We Are All Welcome Here and The Year of Pleasures, transports us to Nazareth in biblical times to reimagine the events of the classic Christmas story. We see Mary young, strong, and inquisitives she first meets Joseph, a serious-minded young carpenter who is steadfastly devoted to the religious traditions of their people. The two become betrothed, but are soon faced with an unexpected pregnan...more
I was really disappointed with Elizabeth Berg's take on the nativity story. While I thought she did a great job of depicting Joseph, his doubts and the disappointment he felt regarding unmet expectations, the character of Mary fell flat.
Mary's character seemed all over the place - one minute naive, one minute wise beyond her years, one minute she seems prophetic and divine, the next she seems just downright nuts. I found myself unable to relate to her and that's a shame because there was so muc...more
Mary's character seemed all over the place - one minute naive, one minute wise beyond her years, one minute she seems prophetic and divine, the next she seems just downright nuts. I found myself unable to relate to her and that's a shame because there was so muc...more
I was initially attracted to this book because I love books that tell familiar stories in a new way or from a new perspective. This book is so much more than that. It makes Mary and Joseph tangible, realistic, and above all, achingly human. Joseph’s fury and broken heartedness is reason enough to read the book. Perhaps the Holy Family is not historically accurate in this book; however, they are exactly as I have pictured them since I was a little girl. Mary was beautiful and Joseph was tall, han...more
I love the Christmas story and I was really looking forward to reading this book to get a new perspective. I have to say I came away disappointed, but I think that is to be expected in a novel like this. We have all heard the Christmas story and we all add our ideas to what might have gone on in the relationship of Mary and Joseph, so it was difficult to reconcile my own ideas with those of another.
Mary was portrayed completely different from how I ever would have imagined her. In the beginning,...more
Mary was portrayed completely different from how I ever would have imagined her. In the beginning,...more
I thought this was an interesting read. It was quick and enjoyable, and gave a new insight into what Mary and Joseph might have been feeling around the time of the Nativity. My only problem with it was her portrayal of Mary. I always thought of her as a pious, pure girl who God chose to bless. In Berg's version, during their betrothal, Mary is a little more forward than I think she would have been at the time or for her character. Other than that I would recommend it if you want a quick, enjoyab...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Elizabeth Berg is the New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including We Are All Welcome Here, The Year of Pleasures, The Art of Mending, Say When, True to Form, Never Change, and Open House, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection in 2000. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year, and Talk Before Sleep was short-listed for the ABBY Award in 1996. The w...more
More about Elizabeth Berg...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“For what reason would I lie to one I so love?”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
Dec 24, 2011 04:03am