Rating: 
Summary: A quiet simple story that you'll either like or find slow
Review: Keep reading and give it a try. Let yourself relax and enjoy the town of Mitford. You'll enjoy like I did a sense of calm and accomplishment for the time you spend in Mitford with different people. I did have a slow time getting into this book but am very glad I gave it a chance and really enjoyed a simple story for a change to our busy life styles. Don't think I would give this book my highest rating or recommendation only because it is so slow and simple that it doesn't give you the desire to keep picking it up to read about characters with depth. If your looking for something different, give it a try.
Rating:
Summary: Simplistic, predictable, but a good tranquilizer
Review: The characters are not well-developed, the plot was totally predictable, and one does not get any feeling of deep feelings from the people in the book. If you think "Disney for Adults" or "Golden Book for Grownups," you'll understand what these books offer. I was given a set of 4 Mitford paperbacks, which I read in a couple of evenings. I found them relaxing and even sleep-inducing, which isn't all bad. Fine writing and fine fiction? Of course not. Given the stress in the world today, I understand the popularity of books like these that are utterly undemanding, emotionally or intellectually. The hunger for these (as expressed in many customer reviews) does say something sad about the emptiness of people's lives -- so empty that they must fill them with these shallow fictional characters? Because of the bland nature of these books, they make a good gift for someone in the hospital. Just be sure the personal you give them to is Christian, because the books will offend those of other faiths with the idea that perhaps the author is trying to convert them!
Rating: 
Summary: No Depth
Review: I read At Home In Mitford and though it a book without depth. It reminded me at first of James Herriot's books. His books I liked; this I didn't care for too much. There were no surprises. Also no suspense throughout the book. I knew what was going to happen. There would be a new heart for Olivia. Emma would marry her much younger man. I actually had to put the book down when the man came out of the bell tower. Not really. Would a real preacher want a wife who lets rollers in her hair? It is cute for the story but not in real life. All in all I simply didn't seem to be able to get in this book. It was a cute read. The end
Rating: 
Summary: A Town Like My Own
Review: Refreshing, delightful and providing a chuckle every now and then. Just like my little town I moved to one year ago. Excentric people that have nothing but love and kindness for their neighbor. And all shepharded by their Rector. He reminds me of our new minister. I love this book and have read the next in the series which I loved even more. Now on to the next.
Rating:
Summary: If I could give it 10 stars I would!
Review: What a wonderful, easy and very amusing read. I loved it from cover to cover and couldn't put it down. I live in a small town (not quite as small as I imagine Mitford) but we have just as many quirky people. Father Tim is wonderful, I wonder if real ministers have the same conflicts as he does. This made me look at my minister in a whole different light, realizing that he is just a person, struggling through life just like the rest of us mere mortals. I would recommend this to people of all ages, I have passed it on to my closest "reading buddy" but when I get it back I'd love for my ten year old to read it with me again.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT READ
Review: I love this entire series. I have high expectations when I read Christian books and many are disappointing and fall short of how God wants us to lead our lives, but this Mitford series is not only a great read but is in fact a great example of God's love in action! Father Tim may be very human but he does a great job of leaning on God to go beyond human and to minister to the people in his life and community in a way that is very heartwarming and inspiring. The characters are not only believable but very lovable. I would like this series to go on and on. Hooray for Jan Karon, I hope she writes more in the future.
Rating:
Summary: A Welcome "Home"
Review: "At Home in Mitford", the first in the Mitford series, is a novel that will sincerely touch your soul, as you follow the life of Father Tim, as he learns that life, indeed, can begin after 60. Surrounded by a parish, and a town, of loving and lovable characters, Father Tim meets love in the form of author Cynthia, adopts a lost boy (Dooley) and a God-fearing behemoth of a dog named Barnabas. This is one of the few books in my life which has made me laugh out loud, cry, and rejoice that there are indeed still authors who truly deserve the title of artist. Ms. Karon is that deserving person.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful and inspiring
Review: This book and it's wonderful characters become real people to you as you read. And in the process they all remind us that the little pleasures are so wonderful. They communicate with each other in such delightful ways. All the intertwining of their lives brings such joy to the reader. And to read a book that has included the wisdom of religious faith in such positive, encouraging fashion was like finding a light in the darkness. These people give me hope. I believe that there are Mitford's out there all over. And I can see the same spirit in my home church community. A story about people who genuinely care about each other and try to find the courage to share their lives, has been one of the greatest reading experiences of my life. I've bought this book for all my friends.
Rating:
Summary: I'm Moving to Mitford!
Review: The Mitford series, starting with the delightful "At Home in Mitford" is a breath of fresh air in a stale world. It is "Andy of Mayberrty" with a spice of Christian wisdom. I read this book first while on vacation and found it to be a perfect traveling companion. It carries you along on a pleasant journey through the lives of some very memorable "characters" and is very satisfying reading. We own two sets of the entire series as we have loaned the books out to friends several times and not one has been disappointed. These stories are indeed a treasure. Why haven't you read it yet?
Rating:
Summary: I want to live in Mitford!
Review: These books start out a little slow--it took me a little while to get into the first one. I kept thinking, "What is it everyone loves so much about these books?" Then, after a couple of chapters, I realized I was hooked on these characters & kept reading straight through all the books. I loved Dooley & the dog.The only thing that I thought was a little unrealistic about the book was the fact that those "mountain" people were just a little too "cultured." I live not far from "Blowing Rock" which is the town this book is supposedly based on, and a lot of my relatives live in that area. While the "accents" were accurate, I've never known a single mountain person in that area to attend an Episcopal Church--most of the people I know don't even attend church. An Episcopal church would be a little too quiet and ritualistic. Most of the mountain people I know prefer clapping, foot-stomping churches. I thought the "grill" where they all gathered to eat was also a little unrealistic. Most mountain people do not "eat out." It would have been more realistic to have them gather daily around a woodstove in some little country store. (I've sat around plenty of these stoves, with a bunch of men in overalls chewing their tobacco). These books are great, though. I love the progressive relationship between Father Tim and Dooley, and the relationship between Cynthia & Father Tim is great! Who doesn't like a love story! These are your typical "Rated G" books--nice, clean, & wholesome!
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