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Summary: Good for you, Jan Karon
Review: I'm impressed with karon's first effort and can't wait to read her subsequent books. I became totally absorbed in the Mitford community and had that sinking feeling when the novel ended; I felt like I'd lost some new friends. Thus, I'm happy to see that the saga continues in subsequent books. As an editor, I was generally pleased with the editorial work on "At Home in Mitford," though perhaps the author and editors miscalculated the reader's interest in a few places, such as regarding Miss Sadie's story (in my opinion, it went on far too long--I would have given a few vigorous red slashes to the manuscript...! But forgive me, editors can't help critiquing). Another thing: Perhaps the copy editing could have been a little less slavishly devoted to the comma styles mandated by the Manual of Style! Sometimes the comma style interrupted the readability. (As an aside, note that that copy-editing error seriously flawed the sequel to Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Doves," which won the Pulitzer Prize. I think the sequel would have been much better if an overzealous copy editor had been told to keep his or her paws off what sounds natural! Don't worry too much about it, though, Jan; just ask the copy editor to relax a little, and trust your instincts!) But, overall, I could tell that care had been taken with the editing and proofreading--aspects of creating books that are sadly underestimated in publishing today. In short, thanks for the wonderful read, Jan. It is an engaging snapshot of a small town--and a religiously oriented world, one that seems heartfelt rather than dogmatic (to cynics like me). Congratulations!
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Summary: Jan Karon's writing is wonderful therapy in a busy life.
Review: At Home in Mitford is my first encounter with Jan Karon. What a delightful discovery!! Karon's style is so conducive to "relaxing with a good book!" Fr. Tim is most appealing for his lack of pretention, and his obvious gift for understanding the everyday problems of his congregation. He reaches out without taking over!! I can't wait to begin the next book in the Mitford trilogy!! H. M. Hamilton
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Summary: A lovely, relaxing read with quirky familiar characters.
Review: The Mitford series of books are my new "must read" recommendations to my reading chums. "At Home..." introduced me to the wonderful characters and it was instant LOVE! I am now on the fourth of the series and can't wait for the next installment.The unobtrusive religious setting is a refreshing background for the stories. Without using torrid sex scenes, the love story unfolds in such a warm way. The moral of the story?-- that even lives that appear hum-drum, ordinary and boring are filled with excitement, surprise and love, if you look for it!
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Summary: What a wonderful, heart-warming inspirational book.
Review: Jan Karon I hope you keep writing this series for
as long as your able. I feel like I know these
quirky characters and I love them like family.
This is truly one of the best books I ever read.
I am now going to jump on the second one and savor
it as I savored the first. This is the kind of book Oprah should honor.
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Summary: Miss Read just got bettered!
Review: Sure this book is sweet and pastoral and decent, but it is nice to read a book I can recommend to my (much) younger sister and don't have to worry about my little brother picking up.
Ms. Karon has well developed characters (I could identify with Father Tims' weight struggles) and realistic situations (I can also understand not finding time to go on vacation).
Highly recommended for anyone who likes a gentle book that restores your belief in the decency of... dogs.
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Summary: In lieu of flowers
Review: After reading this engaging, uplifting book, I bought a copy and sent it to my friend who had just lost her mother. Although my friend is back in the swing of things, I sent her this book in memory of her mother for that day when she feels lonely and misses her mom and could use a faithful friend like Father Tim. It's that kind of book
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Summary: Where's the TV series for Jan Karon's books?
Review: I loved this series of books. I recently visited Blowing Rock, NC and discovered these wonderful books. I have read non-stop since my discovery. I think this would be a wonderful TV series - right up there with "Touched by An Angel" and "Promise Land". A real treat for readers
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Summary: I wish more books like this were being written today!
Review: This is the kind of book I'd like to write if I could: the kind I'm always looking for on library shelves and seldom find. Jan Karon gives us characters that are true and vivid descriptions and dialog. The people in Mitford live real lives, and their faith is part of that. And guess what? There are lots of places like that in this country!
It's a joy to read something that's uplifting without hammering a "message" into the reader. This book fills a niche between the overly saccarine and the completely depressing. I wish more books like it were being written today.
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Summary: A poignant trip to the home for which we all seek
Review: I had the good fortune to meet Jan Karon while I was reading At Home in Mitford. What a delightfully upbeat, spiritual woman she is - and how wonderfully that sensibility is conveyed in her novel. Mitford may not be real on the atlas, but it is the place we all have in our hearts; the picture we hold in our minds of life as it could be. There are troubles and challenges and deep joys and celebrations. Through them all, the characters stick by one another and take each day as it comes. What a gift to be reminded that such a place may yet be real in our time and place, beyond the lure of imagination
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Summary: Don't start this book at eight in the evening.
Review: I'm buying all the Mitford cassettes for my 87 year old blind mother, but I have had the wonderful experience of reading the first three and I'm heading to a bookstore for the last one (or buying it here--I switch around to support locally owned stores, too). I began "A Light iin the Window" around eight at night, and didn't go to bed until completing the book around two am. Be careful--as you can tell from the above reviewers, this author is highly contagious. I now have a fatal case of Karonitis. How fast can she write? Susan Lundy
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