"A
wonderful book about building both houses and relationships that
is wise, touching, and as satisfying as a hard day's work well done.
Mark Clement's message is to do everything well and do everything
right, from plumbing a line to talking with your son. In writing
this terrific book, he has followed his own advice. Like Chicken
Soup for the Soul , it shows us that the greatest wisdom is
built from the material of every day life."
Bret
Witter, Editorial Director, HCI and
Publisher
of Chicken Soup for the Soul
"Home
Improvement is a thread that runs through many of our lives. Mark
has woven it into very rich and unique story."
Dean
Johnson, co-host of Hometime
"Inspiring
work and great reading — don’t miss it!”
Scott
Phillips, host of Public Television’s
American
Woodshop and American Homeshop
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=859
Two years after his father's death, Brendan Herlihy leaves his two
daughters and a collapsing marriage to fulfill his promise that
he would remodel his dad's dilapidated shop, transforming it into
an art studio for his mother. In the process, Brendan uncovers some
curled, yellowed papers upon which is father, Gideon, had recorded
"True Things" that helped outline the mission of his life
and make sense of his existence as a young father, a husband, and
a man. It seems Gideon had utilized his tools for more than just
carpentry in building and improving the homes in his small town
-- he had used them to build and improve his life. With memories
of working long ago summers at his father's side, Brendan rebuilds
his father's workshop, and in doing so, begins to rebuild his own
life and family. Highly recommended reading, The Carpenter's Notebook
is a heartwarming, even inspirational novel written with a superbly
engaging flair for original storytelling by author Mark Clement.
—Midwest Book review
"Clement’s
simple story tweaks many old job-related aches but also finds redemption
in the personal victories delivered by plans well-made and followed
to their end. Anyone who works for a living, but especially those
enactors of allegory who build and remodel homes and whose line
between work and personal time is often blurred, are sure to connect
with this affirming tale – I polished it off in one satisfying sitting.”
Dave
Holbrook, editor for JLC magazine
"Reading
The Carpenter's Notebook was like having a depth-charge
set off in the deepest recess of my mind — shaking me out of the
routine of my life, waking me back to the beauty, love, and things
of value that surround me. It was a reminder of who I am, who I
could yet become, why I made the choices I have, and how I might
learn from my trade to make better ones. My father died 19 years
ago tomorrow and I have used his tools (the ones I keep in a toolbox,
and the ones I keep in my heart) to build a home and a life for
my family.
As a young builder, I read Tracy Kidder’s House
. Kidder put into words what I only felt about building, and
after reading that book, I knew what I was going to be doing for
the rest of my life. Almost twenty years later, after reading Clement’s
The Carpenter’s Notebook , I now know why.
Part of the value of a story well-told is that
it throws us back upon ourselves while securing for us the truth
of our shared humanity. This book does that.”
Dave
Crosby, a custom builder and writer in Santa Fe, New Mexico
“This
story put me in touch with my own life in a new way. But it also
shows that when you fulfill a promise, the whole world opens up
to you.
Anybody who builds should read this book and
see the legacy and memories they will leave behind for their children.”
Rick
Schwolsky, Editor-in-Chief of Tools of the Trade
and
El
Nuevo Constructor magazines from Lafayette, Colorado
“Mark
Clement’s novel The Carpenter’s Notebook is truly magical.
Not since Tuesday’s With Morrie has a book impacted me
at such a deep level.
I not only learned how to calculate the rise
and run of a staircase, but, for first the first time in a long
time, truly reflected on the importance of hard work, the rewards
of doing a job right, the risks of loving with everything you’ve
got, and the satisfaction that comes from appreciating everything
you have — including the courage to love with everything you’ve
got.”
Mark
Gauthier is a tool industry specialist, father of two, husband,
and
home improvement enthusiast in Wenham, Massachusetts
“A
thoughtful journey to discovery — The Carpenter’s Notebook
is about figuring out who you are using carpentry as the reference
point. It was a fast, fun read.”
Steve
Veroneau owns Transformations, LLC
a high-end
custom
building/remodeling firm in Falls Church, Virginia
“Not
only does The Carpenter’s Notebook give great rules for doing different
jobs, but Mark ties them with life-lessons as well. It is really
interesting and enlightening.
A very sweet and loving story. Well told.”
Brent
Hull, author of Historic Millwork and
founder
of Hull Historical in Fort Worth, Texas
“As
a fourth generation builder who grew up hearing family tales and
musings of a heritage steeped in the proud but perpetually struggling
trade of shelter, this story rings as true to life for me as plumb
and square is true to a structure. A great lesson of home spun philosophy
for those who have lived it, and even greater for those who haven't.”
Don
Dunkley, coordinator of JLCLive!, the
construction
industry’s
only live demonstration trade exposition
“The
Carpenter’s Notebook hooked me after the first few pages with
a simple, engaging and heartwarming story that reveals that the
craft of building holds the keys to life’s lessons.”
Mike
Guertin, contributing editor to Fine Homebuilding magazine
and
author of Precision Framing and Roofing with Asphalt Shingles
“I
read it enthusiastically and I actually could not wait to get from
one chapter to another. I really liked it...a lot. ”
Dennis
A. Dixon, author of Finding Hidden Profits
and
owner of Dixon Ventures, in Flagstaff, Arizona
"Mark
Clement cleverly reveals that being a craftsman isn't just a profession,
it's a way of life. I thoroughly enjoyed his book."
Michael
Honan, a builder/carpenter in Danvers, Mass.
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