Fifth Seal
This is an interesting retelling of the Nativity from the points of view of Joseph and Mary, but also of the wise men who came to worship at the manger and of the shepherds who kept watch. It begins a few months earlier, when their neighbors notice that the young bride of four months is beginning to show a very advanced pregnancy. The people in their village shun Mary, and Joseph’s friends have an intervention in the hope that he will renounce her. The Thoenes write of the world as it was at the time of Christ’s birth from a modern perspective everyone can appreciate. There are many characters and several subplots in the beginning that might confuse the reader, but perseverance pays off, and it all falls into place. Throughout the book, Bible verses and prayers are included to show their relevance to the story, but they slow the action. The authors have provided study questions suitable for individual use or group discussion.
