The Carpenter's Notebook -- A Novel

The secret to living a good life can be found on a jobsite. Two years after his fatherÆs death, Brendan Herlihy leaves his daughters and collapsing marriage to fulfill a promise: remodel his fatherÆs dilapidated shop into an art studio for his mother. There Brendan finds his fatherÆs dented and scratched aluminum contractorÆs clipboard, Gideon HerlihyÆs CarpenterÆs Notebook. On the curled, yellowed papers Gideon recorded æTrue ThingsÆ that helped outline the mission of his life and make sense of his existence as a young father, husband, and man. Gideon used his tools for more than just building and improving the homes in his small town, he used them to build and improve his life. He used them to find meaning. Too soft and out of shape, Brendan recalls sunny, sweaty summers long ago working with his father and rediscovers that building is both a physical and mental test. With every swing of his hammer and every turned page of his fatherÆs notebook, he makes progress rebuilding the shop. And, with every wall Brendan tips into place, every pound he sweats off, and every fear he defeats, Brendan rebuilds himself and his familyÆs life.Mark Clement is the author of 'The Carpenter's Notebook -- A Novel', published 2005 under ISBN 9780975421239 and ISBN 0975421239.