Rating: 
Summary: Trite
Review: A Common Life lacks the delightful storyline and dialogue that characterize the earlier Mitford books. In this book, the writer does not produce the character depth, spiritual tone, and charming witticisms of her earlier novels. I would not have guessed it as the work of the same author. Overall, I was very disatisfied with this purchase and do not recommend it to Mitford fans. It spoiled the series for me. Be content with the other volumes.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I knew before the book came out that it was going to be the story of Tim and Cynthia's wedding. I was very excited to learn about this episode in their lives that had been skipped in previous Mitford books. However, when the book was released, I was extremely disappointed in the writing, which seemed rushed. The characters did not come alive as they had in previous installments. I love the Mitford series, and I look forward to Ms. Karon's future books, but this one was by far the least fulfilling of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Jan Karon Rewrites From Previous Books
Review: Come on, Jan Karon - this is just the old books rewritten. I have loved the first books and read them front to back without breaks. This is nothing new!What's happening to Dooley? There are other adventures Father Tim and Cynthia can have, why the rewrite? I am truly sorry that I waited anxiously for this book and that I spent money on it. I hope if Ms. Karon decides to write another in the Mitford books, it will have heart, and spirit, and joy, and new material!
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: Thank goodness I borrowed this book from the library... I would have been very upset if I purchased it! This book should not have been listed as "the sixth book in the bestselling Mitford Years series" as it implies it is a continuation of the prior books that are written in chronological order; somewhere the words PREQUEL should have been included. Details provided in this book could have been included in a previous book of the series; A Common Life was too wordy and too religious giving this reader the impression it was written to fulfill Jan Karon's contract. I enjoy reading about life in Mitford, but will thoroughly research future books in the series before reading them.
Rating:
Summary: A Picture Postcard...
Review: A Common Life fills in the details of the wedding of Father Tim and Cynthia. While the book is short and in someways sparse, it was a lovely glimpse of the events and days both before and after the wedding. While there is no "story" other than the wedding, we are given glimpses of our favorite characters and memories they hold dear. We see a ..show through Dooley's tough outer exterior, Uncle Billy finds his best joke, the townspeople of Mitford turn out in droves for the wedding of their beloved Father Tim. Initially I was disappointed in the lack of a "story", but as I read I became wrapped up in the love story again. To be a witness to the marriage of Father Tim and Cynthia as they stood before God was a true gift from Jan Karon. I stopped wishing for more details and a longer story and was grateful for being a part of a snapshot in the continued tale of the town of Mitford.
Rating:
Summary: Worried about Jan Karon!
Review: I have bought and thoroughly enjoyed Jan Karon's first 5 books. My daughter, who has also read them, bought "A Common Life" for me for Mother's Day. And, I might mention paid the full price of $25.00 at her book store. We were delighted to finally get another Mitford story. Imagine my disappointment when I read the whole book in the same time it took me to read one chapter in her previous books. And then to realize it was a chapter that could have been added at the beginning of book three? I can't believe Ms. Karon would think her devoted public could be fooled by a double spaced, wide margined book. I think she owes us an explanation and an exceptionally well written next book. I read on the book jacket that one of her next books will be some of Father Tim's favorite sayings. I will not be purchasing that one! I already have everything he's ever said in the first five. Finally, I'd like to say to Ms. Karon, if she reads these, that I apologize for not writing about your first five. I didn't even know I could do this until just recently. They were the best fictional books I've ever read. Thank you for the Mitford Series and please turn out another great one!
Rating: 
Summary: I Found Myself Smiling Often
Review: I just finished reading A Common Life yesterday afternoon. I knew this book was supposed to be a novella about the events leading up to Cynthia and Father Tim's wedding. So I had no preconceptions that it would be an in depth story about the characters. For those who know and love the characters, they are already deep in our hearts and we remember them daily. I found myself finding out little "tidbits" of information about the characters I loved. I realized how important Uncle Billy's jokes are to him - that they are what make him who he is. He showed this in how much time and effort he spent trying to come up with the perfect joke to tell at the reception. I knew that Father Tim and Cynthia loved each other, but found an even deeper understanding of it throughout this book. I smiled and giggled over Louella and Miss Sadie going through the catalog - trying to decide on what dress they would wear for the big day - their enjoyment and excitement leaped out at me. I enjoyed reading about out how Uncle Billy met his Rose and how Louella met her husband. I found myself touched by the tizzy Esther went into when she feared they would not ask her to make her famous orange marmalade cake for their wedding. I enjoyed so many things about this book. I felt it let me see inside some of the more "minor" characters that are not as fleshed out in the normal books. I found out things about them that made me feel even more in tune with them - their fears, their doubts, their hopes. I eagerly wait the next ones that are due out this fall.
Rating: 
Summary: Book from the heart~
Review: I recently finished reading this book and when done, I sat back and thought...THIS is a book about feelings. It is not a story, it is a means of conveying from the heart, exactly what commitment, respect, honor and love is ALL about in marriage today. With the actions of marriage today, so much of what Jan Karon has written about has been lost during the hustle and bustle of a wedding, THE plans, THE moment, THE schedule of events. Jan Karon has reminded the world about THE feelings, THE commitment and THE life of a marriage. I think it was a most enchanting presentation of the realities of marriage and a wonderful book presenting issues and feelings that a bride and a groom SHOULD be concentrating on as they enter into a most sacred of trusts and sharings. This book would make a WONDERFUL gift for a bride to be...a book to be shared with her daughter on her wedding day. Nothing is wrong with Jan Karon....everything is perfect with the writings. What is needed with this book is to take a big step back...and let your eyes open wide for your heart to see~
Rating:
Summary: Warm & Fuzzy - Not This One
Review: Up until now, I have absolutely loved the Mitford books. I just couldn't wait for the new one. What a disappointment!! I wanted to know what happened to Dooley during his teen-age years and how he reacted to his inheritance, etc., and about the lives of the other characters I have come to love in these books. It just didn't happen. At times I felt like the author had forgotten what she wrote in previous books. This book seems totaly out of sequence. Hopefully, it there is a next book, it will leave me feeling warm & fuzzy again.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: I feel that the entire content of this book would have made an extra chapter in the one to which it relates. There is not much that is new here. All of the new information, if extracted, would take up 25 pages (without the art work). There is so much border art, it is obviously intended to take up space & make the book look longer. Jan Karon has a very faithful following for the Mitford series. I am disappointed that Ms. Karon thinks so little of her readers, that she would trick them into buying this.
| 
