Rating: 
Summary: A common dissapointment
Review: The richness that you found in all the other Mitford books was unfortunately lacking in A Common Life. The book does provide some additional insights into the much loved Mitford residents, but I found the book lacking in many areas. It would have been fun to read about the wedding arrangements and the reception. Also, I would have liked to read about the reaction that Edith had to Father Tims engagement. I hope that Jan Karon publishes further stories in the Mitford series that are as rich and enjoyable to read as the previous books.
Rating: 
Summary: You Are Invited To A Blessed Event!!
Review: Dear Mitford Readers,You are cordially invited to the wedding of our beloved Father Tim, and our dear Cynthia Coppersmith! I highly suggest you don your best Sunday outfit, and don't miss this blessed event!! Jan Karon, stated that her readers dearly wanted to know what happened at Father Tim and Cynthia's wedding, and now she has taken us and given us this rare treat of what did actually go on. She has shown us more of Father Tim, and Cynthia's characters, she has taken us inside the minds of all the other characters, and we have seen for ourselves, how they felt about this marriage, and how they go back and how they felt about the loves of their lives!! I loved this book from the moment I saw it! I loved the cover art, and the pen and ink drawings. To me it is the most beautiful book of them all! It is beautiful inside and out!! I knew this book would be a "novella", and this is what I was expecting, not a continuation of the larger books!! I am not in the least disappointed in this book, as I have just finished reading it, and I had tears pouring down my face, as I read about this great event in Mitford history!! I urge every Mitford reader to give this book a fair chance. Jan Karon has said that she loves this book, and its very special to her, and I agree, I love this book too, and I can feel the love flowing through her words!! Jan Karon, is one author, that has never failed me, and I have read each book, and am rereading the series for the third time, and she has not failed me with this book either, as I knew she wouldn't!! Again, I highly recommend this book, for any Mitford lover, for any bride and groom, and for anyone that wants to be given a glimpse of heaven on earth!! As long as I have breath in my body, I will sing the praises of these glorious, books!! To Jan Karon, I again thank you from the bottom of my heart, for giving me, the most joyous and soul-satisfying books I have ever read!! Your devoted fan, Becky Carden, aka The Mitford Cheerleader!!
Rating: 
Summary: Phillippians 4:13 for Pete's Sake!
Review: I too was disappointed in the length and lack of detail in the latest Mitford novel. I had read about it's forthcoming publication so I knew it was about the wedding of Father Tim and Cynthia, so going back in time a bit didn't take me by surprise. What did surprise me was the disappointment I felt when I saw the the lack of depth of detail in this book compared to the other books in the series. It's completely different in format from them, shorter text, larger type, wider margins. While I enjoyed the story contained in this book, I wish it had been treated with the care and consideration of the first books. I feel the author has let her loyal and enthusiastic readers down. I'll be careful to look at the next one before buying (this time I had pre-ordered the book).
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Addition to the Series
Review: As enthusiastic fans of the Mitford books and newlyweds ourselves, my husband and I loved this delightful addition to the series. Jan Karon tells the wedding story with all the charm and delight she has threaded into her previous stories about the Mitford community, and we were delighted with this chance to "attend" the wedding we missed between two of the earlier volumes. We read this one aloud during our daily commute to work, and the book never failed to start and end our workday with laughter. As a native of a small Western North Carolina town much like Mitford, I can also attest to the authenticity of the dialect and the characters. Although this shorter story left us hungry for still more Mitford, we welcome the addition and eagerly look forward to the next volume! I highly recommend this book to other Mitford fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to snuff!
Review: I ordered 4 copies prepublication, for myself and three friends who are devotees of the series. Next time I will wait until I can peruse a copy before ordering! "Common Life" is closer to novella than novel, with its double spacing and chapter illustrations attempting to stretch a work rather lean on true material. I was disappointed that it did not further the Mitford saga, but merely expanded on a small retrospective piece. I hope Jan Karon has a more substantive novel in the works for her fans, or her following will greatly dwindle.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Disappointment
Review: After the first well crafted five this was like a composite of clipped together pages from the others. I was really disappointed by this one. I love the Mitford books but this one was a real letdown!
Rating:
Summary: I'm disappointed.
Review: I was so excited when I saw the announcements on television that a new Mitford book had been released. I have enjoyed all of the previous books tremendously and was eagerly anticipating the next installment of the lives of all of the characters. I bought this book at a local buyer's club at a discounted price. After looking at the book when I got home, I was very glad that I'd gotten it at a discount. The book is only 186 pages long, has huge margins on each page. The timeframe of the book is several years earlier than the last book. While it was great to again meet all of the characters of the town and be involved in the actions and thoughts of their lives, it wasn't enough. This book is like a good short story or perhaps a couple of good chapters the usual Mitford book. I've been reading it for around 1 hour, and have only 20 pages left. I need more!
Rating: 
Summary: Contrary to others, I loved it...
Review: Okay, so this wasn't a long missive about our beloved Mitford and its wonderful inhabitants. This was a glimpse into a brief moment in the life of Father Tim and Cynthia Coppersmith and their joyous wedding. Maybe the story was published out of order and maybe it was too short but to me, any story of Mitford is better than none. After reading this little book in one sitting, I felt even closer to Father Tim and the love of his life....and I felt a deeper understanding of Father Tim's spiritual life. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, relaxing, peaceful, funny quick read
Review: Okay! I'm one of the people who bought the book and LIKED it. I was forewarned of the backward glance it would give and that did not bother me. I was well removed from reading the other books in the series, which I loved and gave away in sets to friends and loved ones. And I think this little volume, so beautifully appointed with wedding graphics and chapter separations, is actually rather inspirational. I had forgotten how Karon's skill in dialogue makes her characters come to life. I was chuckling softly all the way through it, trying not to disturb my sleeping spouse. The Reverend Tim's revelation of his good news at the Grill is priceless, presented as it is around the marvelous ballet of who is ordering what for lunch. And each encounter with the regular pairs of characters, the Bolicks, the mayor and her spouse, Miss Sadie and Louella, Uncle Billy and Rose, Dooley and Barnabas, just warmed my heart. On a smaltzie note, Tim and Cynthia's love and committment to one another is refreshing and endearing giving hope to the old romantics in so many of us. Their fears and hesitancies are quite real, too. The saying, "There is no fool like an old fool," does not go unheeded in their cautionary moments. This is a feel good shortie that whets the appetite for another Jan Karon biggie. With such talent, another title should be coming or another series starting. Anticipation of such is good.
Rating:
Summary: I want more!!
Review: I have been anticipating the next Mitford book since finishing reading the last one. This book is a disappointment to me, as it is not what I was expecting. There was not the usual depth of characters. I did not feel like I was involved with what was going on, but was merely an onlooker. I think, to be fair, that if I were to read all the books again, and read this one in context between volumes 2 and 3, it would be alright. It took me less than a few hours to read; I had been hoping to savor it for a week or two, as I usually do. I hope this is not the last of what we hear from Mitford - I need to know what is going to happen with Dooley and siblings!
| 
