Helpful Score: 1
I love the way Holmes presents the love between Mary and Joseph. I had always felt that theirs must have been a love relationship not just an arranged marriage by their parents. The description of the houses, the town, and the activities of the people really bring the setting to life. You can really see Mary going about her tasks helping her mother. The story of the couple once they marry is beautiful and touching. Their courage in the face of the obstacles of the trip to Bethlehem and giving birth in the stable is so realistic.
The issue I have with the book is her depiction of the families. I really dislike the habit authors have when fictionalizing Bible stories is that of making a situation as bad as it could possibly be. Every adult member in the couple's immediate family has major problems. Joseph's dad is an alcoholic and his mom is a weak helpless enabler. Mary's mother is bitter, her marriage had been horrible for years and she is overly proud of her daughter. Mary's father Joachim is really the only half-way positive parent and even he has problems and their marriage has problems.
Somehow I think that the families of Mary and Joseph were better than that to produce two such strong, godly young people. I have always envisioned them having strong supportive families that may not believe at first but would come to believe and support Mary and her vision from God. Joseph's family would probably have had a more difficult time but would have believed what their son told them and trusted that he was making the right decision. I am sure the depiction of the neighbors and other relatives was spot on but I do believe their immediate families were better than Holmes envisioned them.
The issue I have with the book is her depiction of the families. I really dislike the habit authors have when fictionalizing Bible stories is that of making a situation as bad as it could possibly be. Every adult member in the couple's immediate family has major problems. Joseph's dad is an alcoholic and his mom is a weak helpless enabler. Mary's mother is bitter, her marriage had been horrible for years and she is overly proud of her daughter. Mary's father Joachim is really the only half-way positive parent and even he has problems and their marriage has problems.
Somehow I think that the families of Mary and Joseph were better than that to produce two such strong, godly young people. I have always envisioned them having strong supportive families that may not believe at first but would come to believe and support Mary and her vision from God. Joseph's family would probably have had a more difficult time but would have believed what their son told them and trusted that he was making the right decision. I am sure the depiction of the neighbors and other relatives was spot on but I do believe their immediate families were better than Holmes envisioned them.
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