Book Reviews and More: Do Carpenters Dream of Wooden Sheep? - Corinna Turner

Saturday, 5 June 2021

Do Carpenters Dream of Wooden Sheep? - Corinna Turner - A Friends in High Places Story

Do Carpenters Dream of Wooden Sheep?

St. Joseph's Story as Dreamt by a Sleeping Teenage Boy

A Friends in High Places Story

Corinna Turner

Unseen Books

Zephyr Publishing

ISBN 9781910806180

ASIN B0968X9PC9

I was intrigued about this book from the first mention of it on social media. Not that I am already a big fan of Turner’s canon of work. And have read everything she has published, and eagerly anticipate anything new from her. Some that were announced years ago, and others like this that I only heard about weeks before publication date. If you are a big time Science Fiction Fan, or even a scifi movie buff the title will immediately trigger some thoughts. And if you are not you will find out during the story.

This story takes place over a single night, and yet tells the story of most of a life time. It is the story of two friends, one in hospital during covid for cancer treatment, and his friend ho spends 2 nights at the hospital helping his friend. Daniel has cancer but seem to completely trust God. They tried to watch Blade Runner but Daniel was having a rough night. Razim is bored and after Daniel falls asleep finds a book about Joseph and Mary and decided to read it.

“The Tale of Joseph and Mary, says the heading. Hey, maybe it’s fiction. That’d do. As long as it’s not a romance. But Daniel’s not into soppy stuff and it must be quite a manly romance, from the cover. I flop back on the camp bed and open the booklet.

Oh. Maybe it’s not fiction. There’s an ‘introduction’ by someone or other. I flick past it. Uh-oh. The first chapter begins with a Bible quote. Heck, it’s another of Daniel’s religious books, isn’t it? He went super-religious after getting his diagnosis. It makes me kinda want to ditch him sometimes, when he really gets going, but even if we hadn’t been friends since kindergarten, that light in his eye… It’s scary as heck, but it fascinates me, too. I just wish I could figure out how he can be so flaming happy when he’s in this fix.”

Razim reads most of the book, gets frustrated and decided to call it a night himself. But his dreams are anything but predictable. Part of the description of the story is:

“In Merillia, his name is Cleopas, and his big brother, Jo, is considering an arranged marriage to a girl called Miryam. Soon, events are in motion that will change their lives—and the world—forever.

For anyone who feels over-familiar with the Holy Family’s story after Christmas after Christmas of nativity plays, this imaginative re-telling thoroughly blows the dust off.”

And Turner is firing on all cylinders in this story. Or should I say sailing on all hydrofoils. This is a top notch scifi story. Masterfully written, and an incredible reimaging of the nativity story. But she has done more than reset the story. She brings it to life in a new way. And at the end of the story are a number of other sections:

Going Deeper

More Information

Discussion Questions

Prayers

The Complete Scriptural Account

There are 4 wonderful prayers. And a list of several books to go deeper, with a mix of fiction and nonfiction resources listed. A fantastic read just as a story. However, during the Year of Saint Joseph, it is a resource that I am certain will bless many. Another excellent volume from Turners gifted pen.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of other books about Saint Joseph click here.

Other reviews and articles about Saint Joseph:

Consecration to St. Joseph - Fr. Donald Calloway
Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph Compiled from Traditional Sources- TAN Books
Prayer to Saint Joseph Prayer of the Day
Joseph of Nazareth - Federico Suarez
Devotion to St. Joseph - F. Declaux
Go to St. Joseph: Do Whatever He Tells You - Brian Kiczek
Saint Joseph: Help for Life's Emergencies - Kathryn J. Hermes
Feast of Saint Joseph 2018 Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary Principal Patron of Canada
Companion to Saint Joseph - J.B. Midgley - CTS Companions Series
Saints of the Roman Canon - Julien Chilcott-Monk - CTS Living the Liturgy Series
Seven Saints for Seven Virtues - Jean M. Heimann

Saint Joseph Prayers and Devotions - Donal Anthony Foley

Model of Faith - Leonard J. Delorenzo

St. Joseph and His World - Mike Aquilina

Do Carpenters Dream of Wooden Sheep?

Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt: Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph the Protector - Father Mark Goring - A nine-day preparation for entrustment to St. Joseph

Nine Days with Saint Joseph - Andrew Offer, O.P. and Jonah Teller O.P.

Who is St Joseph? - Herbert Cardinal Vaughan - CTS Onefifties