Mary & Joseph

by Robert Marcum, David L. Walker (Narrator)

Mary & Joseph

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Lds Fiction, Religion, Christian Fiction, Christmas, Historical

406 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, although it’s clearly a lot of conjecture and guessing as to the gaps in what little we actually know about them (and the author begins the book by addressing this in the preface), but he does employ his own knowledge (and it’s thorough) of Jewish practices and rites under the Law of Moses. This understanding, coupled with what we know historically and through the Bible, helps him to write a book about what might have happened (and some things that certainly did) on a very personal level, and we get to know and love Joseph and Mary and understand them better than before.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. There were times the author hurried over things I would have loved more time spent on, and times he spent more time describing things I hurried through. But I cannot ignore the powerful message and view this novelization presents. We all know the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph. This book brings them to life, without trying to fictionalize or "fill in" too much. It helped mes to imagine what it may have been like for them and for Jesus as a child/young man. What great faith they had--I only hope I can be as strong as they were. My eyes were opened, my mind expanded and my heart torn. Highly recommended.

[Michelle Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since we are studying Come Follow me for 2019, I thought it would be appropriate to re-read this book by a former member of my Stake Presidency in Rexburg. It is a fictional book about Jesus’ birth and up to the beginning of his ministry. Knowing that most of the story line is made up, I enjoyed reading it for the historical content of life during that time; the traditions, mindset of the people. Bro. Marcum spent hours upon hours studying life and tradition during this time and it was good to get a basic knowledge of life in and around Jerusalem while Jesus was a child.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised I liked this as well as I did. It's very obviously a fictional account of what Jesus' parents went through and what their lives could have been like, but it was pretty interesting.

[Kay Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was expertly written as I learned more about their customs, and culture. I can definitely see Mary and Joseph the way they were written in real life.

[April Schwanke Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always careful when reading fiction related to Biblical stories, wanting to be sure that the story lines up with scripture. I found this book accidently: I had read a fictional account of Mary and Joseph many years ago, and while I couldn't recall the title, I tried to find it to reread it. While I knew this was not the book I looked for, it sounded too good to not read. The author helped me walk the pastures of Nazareth, the docks of Capernaum, and the temple courts of Jerusalem. He explained tradition, custom, and sacrifice very well, which I greatly appreciate. Laughter took over my body, and tears slid down my face, along with characters that seemed even more real than before. I'm so glad Robert Marcum wrote this book; I'm so glad I read it.

[Lisa Reising · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I know a lot of the story’s detail was conjecture, much of it was obviously well researched for setting, culture, and politics - and all of that pulled together gave me some new perspectives to consider. Having just watched a new, very Catholic-viewpoint video production called Mary (2024), which had me shaking my head at all the obvious errors just Biblically, this book, by contrast, was easy to read, easy to think about, and felt like a worthy stab at what may have been.

[Nanci Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Mary & Joseph’ by Robert Marcum

This is historical fiction surrounding the true story of Mary and Joseph. Since we don’t know the conversations that were had, all their friends or enemies, their personal feelings or Joseph’s job sites, the author took the liberty of filling in what might have been, while staying true to the story of Mary and Joseph according to the King James Version of the Bible.

Loved it!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made Mary and Joseph real

This book made Mary and Joseph come to life. So down to earth and yet you felt their spirit and what it must have been like for them. Wanted it to continue and cried at the end and I am not one that usually cries. Great read! Take the time to put this on your list to read, won’t regret it

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the novel stories about Christ's birth because it gives me the ability to find insight and reality in it that is sometimes hard to envision. This book was written with some good perspective and relationships. It's not been my favorite novel of this sort, but I enjoyed it.

[Cleone Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story

I really enjoyed this book, I learned so much about
the Times,the villages and people from the days of Jesus. I loved the sweet innocent love story of Mary and Joseph.

[Tisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could have been

A very good story, giving a fictional but realistic version of the life of Jesus and His family from just before the Annunciation to just before He began His ministry.

[Teresa Bertolio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Scriptural Retelling

Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. Real people who lived, loved, and yet had miracles in their lives. This is a fictional rendition of the Bible story of this holy family. Super good reading! I highly recommend it!

[Ocea Coy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! Truly brings to life the biblical characters, makes you think and wonder what Jesus was really like and though it is fiction, helps you to see what life might have been like through the eyes of Mary and Joseph.

[Susan Morton-Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith deepening story

This book adds "more to the stories" that we all have known and read in our culture. The TV series "The Chosen" is so inspiring I wanted to know more and have read many books.... This one adding cultural and human significance. The rating should be a 10!!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting telling of how it could have happened.

[Linda Spears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book!

The best book I have read about Joseph and Mary. I highly recommend it! Even though I read the last few pages with tears in my eyes.

[Lisa Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved the spirit I felt while reading it. Mary and Joseph were truly chosen to be our Savior's earthly parents. Read the book! Feel the spirit of these magnificent people.

[Sarah Hawks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. It gave a perspective on the earthly parents of Jesus Christ.

[Jeanenne Hilliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book on how it may have really been in all the details of Mary & Joseph’s lives and journey as parents to Jesus. It gave me such insight and really changed me.

[Hannah Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifuly written, brings the story to life.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a new favorite. I loved all the emotions this book brought to me. I have a new love for Mary and Joseph and all they did for our Savior, Jesus.

[Danielle Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story about incredible people. I am happy to accept this story, however fictional, as canon. I have always deeply admired Mary and Joseph, and this book made them more real to me.

[Donna Peake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really brought Mary & Joseph to life. I loved Joseph, such a caring man. Would have liked to get to know more about him.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book with a lot of skepticism, but found it to be well researched and a thoughtful look into the way life may have been for Mary and Joseph.

[Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly liked the cultural background information including in the story, although the author doesn't use explanatory footnotes much. Here's an example. Joseph and Mary were likely quite poor and scrolls containing the scriptures, needing to be copied by hand, were very expensive. Marcum makes up a story of Seth, a rich man that Joseph and Mary befriend on the road to Bethlehem. Seth is a Jew living in Athens but going to Jerusalem on business. He speaks of the importance of learning to read and write Greek knowing the influence of Greece in culture and commerce. At that time, most Jews spoke Aramaic rather than the sacred language of Hebrew or the foreign Greek language. Then Seth shows Mary and Joseph a scroll containing writings of Isaiah in Greek. Seth says:

"I was curious and bought this [scroll:] in Alexandria while on business there. I believed these words and bought many others. Eventually, I was converted and learned Hebrew as part of my decision to bring my family home to this land. So you see, having this in Greek saved my life. Many others will follow because they read many things in Greek now. The writings of philosophers, of politicians, of religious leaders and poets. Why not our Torah?"

Mary and Joseph acknowledge that learning Greek and becoming familiar with the scriptures is vitally important, but this is the first scroll in Greek that they have ever seen. No way will they ever be able to afford to purchase such a thing. So Seth gives the scroll to them as a gift for the baby soon to come.

I thought about Christ needing to have access to the scriptures and needing to have access to them in Greek as well as Hebrew. He obviously knew them well by the time he visited the temple in Jerusalem at age 12. How would that have happened? This story, made up though it was, provided both the cultural setting and an explanation of the sort of thing that may have happened.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is the well known story of Joseph and Mary but written in fiction form with many enriching details of daily life and culture as it would have been back then. It really brings this beautiful love story to life and makes you realize once more just how difficult this would have been for Mary and Joseph both religiously and culturally. They were indeed amazing people chosen by God to be Jesus's parents just as Adam and Eve were amazing people chosen by God to be our first earthly parents. The most touching moment for me was when Jesus is nearly 13 which is the age of a man in the Jewish religion. He is the one to take the sacrificial lamb to the temple to be the offering. When he returns holding the dead lamb in the bloodied cloth, Mary noticed that Jesus is very pale and subdued and as she puts her arm around him, she realizes that Jesus knows---He knows that He is the Lamb of God offered as a sacrifice for all. For all that He knows He is the Son of God called to do this for mankind, He is still just a mere boy at this point. It made me appreciate Jesus even more for that He went though for each of us and I was indeed "Amazed at the love Jesus offers me."
This was a beautiful and tender work produced by author Robert Marcum for which I am very grateful.

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from a friend many years ago and loved it but couldn't remember the title, author, or even which friend loaned it to me. After several Google searches, I finally found it and bought my own copy.

This is a fictionalized account of the lives of Joseph and Mary. The historical and cultural context is well researched, including a bibliography, and some end of chapter notes explaining the author's reasons for some of his depictions. The narrative starts with Zacharias' experience with an angelic visitor at the temple and ends just before Jesus begins his earthly ministry. The majority of the book focuses on His birth and Mary and Joseph's experiences during His early childhood years, skipping several years between chapters, making this a great December read.

I love how reverently Marcum brings this story to life. I especially love how he depicts Joseph. As a foster and adoptive parent, his story resonates with me. Besides the incredibly moving love story of Mary and Joseph that is prominent throughout the book, there are other love stories of completely fictional characters that are sweet and romantic. As my daughters would say, this book "gave me all the feels."

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by an LDS author and it is a fictionalized account of Mary & Joseph. I was a bit skeptical going into it, but I was touched by the sincerity of the book and its portrayal of these two amazing individuals. We read it for book club for our Christmas book and it really helped me feel the reality of the Christmas Story and birth and childhood of the Savior. Something that stuck out to me was the various trials that Mary and Joseph endured, such as fleeing to Egypt. I tend to get stuck in thinking that following Christ should result in a life free of difficulty, or that trials mean I am doing something wrong. It is hard for me to really grasp and embrace the idea of this life being difficult by design as it is the trials that reveal our true natures and help us forge the people we need to be.

This book is not widely available, though, so you might have to look hard to find a copy.

[Lyndsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually like historical fiction much but I liked/really liked this book. The author repeatedly states that this is a fictional account, despite his many hours of research and study. After realizing that, I enjoyed the book. Mostly because for the first time in my life, I was able to think of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph as real people who really lived real lives. The book stresses that if they weren't real people, who did real people things and lived fairly normal lives, how would everybody NOT know that Jesus was the Messiah?!? Duh Lyndsey, why didn't you think of that before? The LDS perspective offered me new insights that linked the birth of Christ and the restored church in ways that I had never before thought of. Examples: visions, witnesses, and strong marriages & families. Good read.