Canadian writer, poet, and craftsman John Terpstra's memoir, A Carpentry of Words and Wood, published by Gaspereau Press, offers a deeply personal and human reflection on the surprising intersection between the craft of carpentry and furniture making and the art of writing and poetry. The work contains 196 pages, and its pages are decorated with illustrations by artist Wesley Bates, and designed using the “Garamont” font, to reflect the care of craftsmanship.The high standard for which the house’s publications are known.
Terpstra begins his memoirs with a poignant and pivotal confession, noting that he had to put what happens to forest trees out of his mind to practice his profession; His dual passion for carpentry and furniture making on the one hand, and writing and publishing books on the other hand, consumes large quantities of wood and paper, which makes him a partner in some way in the process of environmental destruction of forests. Through a throaty and contemplative prose style, the author delves into the complexities of his extended relationship with trees and wood, tracing its development.As a craftsman and writer for decades.
The book draws a philosophical comparison between the precision of carpentry and wood construction, and between the formation of words and the drafting of poems and literary texts, explaining how the two materials, words and wood, combine to furnish the moral and material life of a person. The author also addresses his experience of transitioning into retirement with feelings that blend bitterness with melancholy transformation, discovering in the end that trees have a canopy of valuable lessons that provide a deeper understanding of human existence and giving. The work represents a literary testimony that combines...Environmental awareness, love of the craft, and self-reflection in the tranquility of nature and words.
