Marjorie HolmesRezensionen

Marjorie Holmes shares her conversations with God, touching upon the big issues and the smaller details of a woman's everyday life. From marital difficulties, routine household tasks, and problems with children, to keeping healthy and sane in an increasingly violent world, I've Got to Talk to Somebody, God reminds us all that no matter where we are or what we do, God is watching over.

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 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.

Grand Rapids

58518

Good novel of Mary and Joseph.

"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 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.

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 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.

A beautiful love story and what it may have been like for Joseph and Mary when Jesus was born.

Looks at a possible version of Jesus' life in Nazareth, stressing his relationships within his family.

I found this book to be Biblically accurate and is borderline blasphemous.
Some of the author's creations that I found offensive are:
Salome, a fictional sister of Mary is married to Ephraim and Ephraim approaches her about taking a second wife.
Mary's mother, is portrayed as being short tempered and not very loving as a wife or a mother.
Jesus' father, Joseph, is critically injured when Jesus is a young man when a tree falls on him. Mary begs Jesus to heal him. He does not and Joseph soon dies from the injuries he sustains in that accident.
There is a strange reference to Jesus' brother, Matthew and the Parable of the Prodigal son.
The flirtations and relationship Jesus has with Tamara.
There isn't a lot of meat in the Bible about Jesus as a young man, but had the book been about Jesus as a teacher, leader, teacher of Parables and included the Sermon on the Mount, choosing the disciples and his life healing the sick it would have been much more enjoyable and she would not have had to "make up so much."
The author has taken a sacred story and injected too many thoughts of her own of the young Jesus and taken too many liberties and interpretations.

This was different from any "religious" book I have ever read. It had main themes from the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph, but also had some cultural norms and customs that are not included in the Bible, but were part of life at that time. It gave me a new perspective of how courtship/marriage, and regular family life was at the time of Jesus' birth.

I really enjoyed Joseph's tenderness and love toward Mary at the time of Jesus' birth. This would be a great read at Christmas time, but I am a bit early.

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 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.

One author's interpretation of the story of Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus. I had read good things about this book, but I didn't really enjoy it. I didn't particularly like the characters, and I spent too much time analyzing how close to the truth I felt it too be. I couldn't just enjoy it.½

3.5 stars. I have recently read several historic fiction books with settings and characters from the New Testament. I liked this best - I think the writing is less old-fashioned. Mostly I read it as a fantasy with characters whose names matched up with members of Jesus' family. That way, any anachronisms were less annoying. And I could skip over the theological differences.

The author included inspiration from some of the well known parables, and based some incidents in the book on them, letting Jesus and his family play the parts of, for example, the lost sheep and the prodigal son. There was a fairly lengthy set-up for the latter and I could see it coming - still it was well presented, including the attitude of the faithful son and the loving response of the father to his concern.

This is actually book 2 of a trilogy. The first book, Two From Galilee is described as a love story of Mary and Joseph. The third one is called the Messiah, and finishes the story from the gospels. I haven't read either one, and probably won't bother. The book was from the library and I worried whether the remaining week would let me finish it. I need not have been concerned, I wrapped it up the very next day after counting the number of chapters remaining.

I loved it! I'm not sure how much is true, but the author points out at the beginning of the book that she doesn't know what happened and that this is a work of fiction.

great!

Nice to see how it might have been back then

I loved it! I'm not sure how much is true, but the author points out at the beginning of the book that she doesn't know what happened and that this is a work of fiction.

I liked this book even better than the previous in the trilogy. While some fundamentalists may think it heretical, I found it to be very believable, tender and true to the Word of God.

Mary and Joseph have returned to Nazareth, to their families, to start their own family. The relationships are very real, from the sibling rivalry to the great friend of the family whom the children call "uncle".

Jesus and John's stories are thought provoking as familiar stories from the Bible are woven into the fabric of the lives in the book. Parables' beginnings are explored in a unique and wonderful ways, again making the stories from the Bible even more compelling. It made me go to my Bible to read the words of Jesus, as he told the parables he lived in the book.

The story is tense at times, however, as he realizes fully who he is and what his destiny will be. My F2F book club is going to read the third in the series, The Messiah, for Easter, and I am glad there will be a break in between this one and the next.

This is one that I will purchase, and I highly recommend it.

Very good storytelling makes this a winner to read. Solid Christian doctrine makes it believable. With a combination like that, it's hard to go wrong.

I have just a few issues, though, with some of the characterizations. The first, and greatest, is with Mary's mother, Hannah. She is portrayed as a harsh, selfish, harpy of a woman who takes to her bed with headaches whenever she doesn't get her way. It was annoying at best and caused me to bristle every time she was involved in the story. When she finally broke at the end, believing that her daughter was actually carrying the Messiah, I felt no sympathy for her in the least. I was glad that she had finally received her mental comeuppance.

The other issue I had, albeit very minor, was Joseph's reaction to Mary's pregnancy. He was not angry in the least, but only confused. The text also doesn't indicate that he wanted to divorce her quietly, but that it was the urging of her father for him to do so. This story tells of a firm and steadfast Joseph who never waivers in his love and devotion to Mary. I don't think that's the way it could have happened, especially when the culture at the time called for the stoning death of the woman.

With that said, the writing was beautiful. I highlighted many passages in the course of my reading to be able to go back later and fully digest them, or to have the simple pleasure of reading them again. Mary's arrival at Elizabeth's and her reaction was a joy. Joseph's delivery of the Christ child was touching. It was a delight to read and I look forward to the other two in this series.

Highly recommended.

At Christmas the Heart Goes Home by Marjorie Holmes is a compilation of articles that the author wrote for Woman’s Day Magazine, the Washington Star and other periodicals over a period of forty years. These are short, inspirational stories about the magic, love and brotherhood of Christmas. There is a touch of yesteryear about these stories as they seem to reach back to before the years of internet and cell phones. They tell of times when the whole family went out to cut a Christmas tree, paper chains were hung as decorations, and Christmas wasn’t complete until the family was together and church was attended.

I took my time with this book and I did enjoy it and the warm feelings it evoked, but at the same time it was a little sweet for my taste. If you are a lover of Christmas and love reading happy books of comfort and spiritual joy then I think you would enjoy this book of holiday stories with titles like “Take Time For Christmas Memories”, “Beauty In Your Own Backyard”, and “The Secret of the Christmas Tree”.

An interesting book that originally came out in the 70s. It looks at the relationship between Mary and Joseph as a romance (nonarranged marriage) but deviates considerably from the scripture texts. The author says that she spent time during several trips to the Holy Land to do research. She wrote another book called Three From Galilee which takes up where this books ends. The final chapters of this book end with the Magi's arrival and the flight to Egypt. I wanted to read this during Christmas to get in the mood but I actually finished it on New Year's Day. A departure from Anne Rice's book which is from the point of view of Jesus, this book has a narrator who includes the dialogue of many characters.

Two From Galilee is a beautifully written tale about the greatest love story of all time. Ms. Holmes combines the divine and earthly essence of Mary and Joseph's story and brings it to life!

While reading this fictional rendition of the age old true story, I found I could relate to both Mary and Joseph as real people. I gained a glimpse of what they may have gone through - their blessings, challenges and day to day lives. How their families and friends responded to God's miracle.

Every time I read this book, it brings me back to the absolutely true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Christ. I am blessed and awed again and again that God so loved us he sent His Son to save us. Thank You, Lord!

A must read at Christmas time....the whole series is a really great way to picture how the lives of Mary, Joseph and Jesus were. This book shows what Mary might have been facing and feeling.

First line:
Hannah had been restless all night.

In Three from Galilee, Marjorie Holmes creates an imaginary childhood and youth for Jesus. Here she deals with his ministry and Passion. Because this is fiction it allows for some imaginative directions that may or may not make sense to all based on your religions interpretation of Jesus life.
Since these are 'what might have been' I found it easy to suspend any disbelief about what I was reading and relax and just enjoy this for what it was.
I did find it interesting the way that Holmes wound 'bible stories' into this part of Jesus' life, for instance one of his brothers left home stealing his inheritance and returned many years later like the prodigal son.
An enjoyable read. I am ready to pass this book on to someone else now.