At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years)

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I will be forever grateful to my daughter-in-law who loaned me this book. Knowing nothing about the story, I began reading it looking for the "grand scheme", thus missing the beauty of the story-reading about the joys and rewards of uncomplicated lives simply and honestly lived. It awakened in me the desire to uncomplicate my life and to find beauty in the everyday lives and places that are a part of my surroundings.

Rating:
Summary: warm and fuzzies
Review: One would have to live in a small town to realize that Mitford is alive and well in the United States. I loved the book and recommend it for anyone wanting a feel-good book. I left Mitford, waiting for my next journey back!!

Rating:
Summary: A Big Disappointment
Review: After hearing all the uproar and seeing the multitude of book store displays devoted to Mitford, I found the actual book to be trite and contrived and (gasp!) not at all well-written. Karon has somehow misplaced her village--is it Yorkshire? is it New Hampshire? Certainly, it isn't North Carolina. Her dialect was unconvincing and at times downright confusing, her characters were all too pious, and her village a bit too idyllic for my taste. I also found the book to be edited carelessly--someone referred to as Leo is referred to as Lou several pages later. It's all a little too white bread for me (in fact, the only African American character is a domestic and is quaintly referred to as a "raisin" by Our Hero). If you want small town life brought to life with humor and charm, check out EM Delafield's Provincial Lady series.

Rating:
Summary: Starry eyed author with predictable characters
Review: I read this book upon the recommendation of my godmother who lives in North Carolina. Perhaps being a resident of that state makes this syrupy saga more palatable but I found it discomforting that the solitary "outreach" program the church promoted was a bi-annual visit to one homeless person carrying some food. It was also disheartening that the only black in the story was the town matriarch's housekeeper!

Rating:
Summary: I've packed by bags! I want to move to Mitford.
Review: I loved this book. I felt at home, I knew all the neighbors, and loved each one. I could hardly wait to read something else Jan Karon wrote. And what I really wanted was to read every thing I could about Father Tim, and I have. Once you start, you can't quit.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This is definitely a feel good book. In this day and age it is very comforting to be able to sit down and read a book that literally helps you escape to a quiet place and leaves you feeling peaceful. No psychopaths murdering people for the fun of it, no sex scenes, and no foul language. Just wonderfully insightful writing about a town everyone wishes they could live in. I think the greatest compliment a person can give a writer is telling them their life is enriched becaue of their writings and feeling that I definitely would have missed out on something good if I hadn't come across Jan Karon's books. You don't need any flavored coffe breaks when you have a Jan Karon book!

Rating:
Summary: AHinM was my bible, now ALintheW is my new daily reference
Review: "At Home in Mitford" was a treasure that I happened upon! I didn't want it to end . But, I knew that I had Light in the Window waiting. Jan Karon's Mitford series is so loaded w/ food for thought. The Mitford series is filled w/ lessons on life , and , in a subtle way, reminds me of what is important in my life w/ my husband and my baby. I thank God that I have such truly beautifully written books that help in keeping me grounded in the day to day living.I want life to be like Mitford. If I have faith,I feel that I can live my life the way God had planned. The appreciation for the simple things in life, the day to day stuff, Karon makes it all sound so special and wonderful!! Knowing that these things are also in my life just waiting to be properly recognized helps me keep the faith. I hope Jan Karon will continue to enrich my life w/ her writing.

Rating:
Summary: her books take you away from hectic reality and show love
Review: are you telling me she has wrote nothing before this hard to put down gotta share it with my friends book?! As with all of her subsequent books that i have read she does not fail to ease my hectic bus ride to work or calm my thoughts or worries...in fact if a devotional was included i could think of nothing better to start my day! Midford is the small relaxed town of yesterday that we all long for...neighbors that care and a town clergyman that works hard for the Lord and is rewarded with the love of the townspeople. Throw in non stop twists and turns to Father Tim's everyday life and displayed is the life of a true Christian. Not perfect but striving to be and being a great example to all in the meantime. Super read...get it today!

Rating:
Summary: Delightful
Review: This Mitford series is the most delightful, heart-warming fiction I have ever read. You laugh, cry and just come away feeling you know these people personally. Highly recommend reading this series.

Rating:
Summary: great book. enjoyed it very much. looking forward to more
Review: What a cozy, charming little story. I found myself relaxing several degrees each time I picked up the book. Couldn't stop thinking though, there needs to be a cook book to go with this "Mitford series". My mouth was constantly watering over all the delicious meals being prepared. cakes, pies, soups, stews ,etc. Anyhow, loved the book. Looking forward to more from Jan Karon.