At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years)

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: The characters in Mitford are generally a sweet lot but have no dimension. I could not, in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone. I understand why people have been drawn to Mitford and its inhabitants. Everyone there is nice to one another. Everyone knows everyone's name. Sort of a "Cheers" without the beer. If you feel that you must read this book because your friend thought it was "fabulous" borrow her copy. Don't waste your money.

Rating:
Summary: Delightfully Wholesome and Charming
Review: I am not quite finished with the first book in this series, but I do intend to purchase and read them all... While it is taking me longer to read this book as opposed to other books I read, I am finding this book really charming and humorous... and for once, something I can highly (safely) recommend to say, my mother or aunt. It is an easy read that could be enjoyed by a variety of ages. I love the references to the Bible, and just the little stories about the people who live in Mitford. I live in a small town, and it seems not a whole lot different from Mitford! This whole series is a welcome addition to my library!

Rating:
Summary: Characters, dialogue, funny predicaments...it's all here.
Review: I absolutely loved 'At Home in Mitford'. It is probably the best book I have ever read. As a mother of three small children, I rarely get to read anymore. I was surprised by a friend with a gift of this book. When I started reading - I just couldn't hardly put it down. I looked forward to my quiet reading moments with an unquenchable enthusiasm and finished it in record time (finishing a book is alone a record for me)! The characters were so vivid - I felt I knew each one. One negative reviewer criticized the character "Catherine" when the name is actually "Cynthia" (makes me wonder whether THAT interviewer actually read the book) and she is a character so full of life,so quirky, happy, and fun-loving; she reminds me of my incredible mother. Another one of the few negative reviewers said that it was boring. Well, I don't want to give any of the many interwoven plot lines away so I will just say that a lot of real "action" doesn't happen on the show 'Friends', for instance but you watch it for the characters. It is more 'on par' with "Steel Magnolias" than "Hunt for Red October". Another great asset of this book is it's DIALOGUE. I just laughed throughout the entire book. I would LOVE to meet Jan Karon. And finally, this book was an incredible blessing to my Christian walk. To read a 'picture' of caring people SHOWING their love was so uplifting. I pray that it will bring many blessings to many others. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Mitford series.

Rating:
Summary: how lovely to read a book with it's heart on it's sleeve!!
Review: I picked up this book on the way to the airport-having no idea what it was about but looking for some amusement on a long flight. after the first chapter or two I thought this book was too Readers Digest for me--but a few more chapters down the road -I was hooked. And couldn't we all use a Father Tim in our spiritual lives?-How appreciative I was that he had his own issues to wrestle with-his own baggage to carry-- he was 6 feet tall in my eyes! As a "southern novel " it was soothing to read about a town of genteel eccentric for a change as compared to the loonies often depicted in the darker southern epics. I read this book in 3 days and ran out to buy the next 2 in the series and finished both in record time.Have just purchased the last two but I am trying to savor as I don't want the experience to end!!!Keep writing Jan Karon- you are indeed a primrose in a fictional deep and dark forest.

Rating:
Summary: A laugh-out-loud kind of book
Review: I was told about this book by some women in my Bible Study group. Even though it is not a spiritually uplifting book in a theological sense, it is most definately spiritually uplifting in an emotional sense. I found myself laughing out loud at so many of the wonderful characters that Jan Karon has brought to life. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, and plan on buying a copy of this one for my Mom, Grandma, and Mamaw. It is a wonderful book for all ages to enjoy. Clean-cut fun, something a lot of us crave but can't seem to find anymore.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for young and old alike.
Review: The book was reccomended by my great grandmother, who was sure I would fall in love with the town characters as much as she did. The thoughts of a small town preacher and the delemas he encounters as he ages in life is a wonderful way to make your life smile. The serenidy of a small town, nesled away from the large city hustle is appealing to most every one. You realize the difficulty and reslution the charecters go through is not far from where you may have been. The book made me laugh out loud and think church life isn't as resticting as I thought. This is a book I will keep in my library for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: At Home In Mitford - a peaceful getaway!
Review: I was laying in bed one night with my mom. We were both reading. My mom was reading "At Home In Mitford" Suddenly she started to laugh out loud. I asked her what was so funny and when she explained, I started laughing too. I asked her if I could borrow the book when she was done. Normally I don't read adult books, my being only eleven, but I must say that this is possibly one of the best books I've ever read - right up there with Harry Potter! I could not put the book down! I took it too Indiana with me. I finished it there but left it with my grandma so she could read it! Every time I picked up the book, I began a new trip to Mitford. In Mitford I found a place where I could go in times of sadness (as I said, parts of the book made me laugh out loud), when I was in search of a break from my little brother, or just to have some fun. I loved Father Tim's character and Dooley's "proper English". Sometimes, it seemed as though the people would jump right out of the page and start acting right in front of me! The description was that vivid! I have also read "A Light in the Window" but I have to say, the first one was better. I've just started "These High Green Hills" and I say,"Keep 'em comin' Ms. Karon!"

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous and uplifting story of a town and it's priest.
Review: Karon makes you feel like you know these people and their town. Their Christ centered lives are both human and uplifting. It's definitely a feel good book. It's extremely well written with marvelous characters, and brings back faith in modern literature.

Rating:
Summary: A poorly-written waste of time
Review: Jan Karon has a hard time keeping track of her characters names - at least two first names change throughout the book and one name vacillates on spelling {Jena/Jenna}. The author's overuse of the word "he" is more than just irritating; it is confusing. Numerous times, "he" refers back to the wrong antecedant. And, a small "h" is even used when referring to God. The plot, if you could call it that, is boring, and the characters are unbeleivable. Catherine isn't described fully to us [as a blond] until the book is almost over. If J. Karon wasn't going to describe her characters when they were first introduced, she should have continued to stay mute instead of dashing our own creative images of the characters when the tale is nearly through. I had to read this for our book club, or I would have stopped after trying the first hundred pages. My open-minded husband disliked the book, too.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in a long time!
Review: This book did exactly what reading is suppose to do. Made me feel as if I was right there in Mitford and I can't wait to go back.