Rating: 
Summary: A Simple Pleasure
Review: Returning to the refreshing town of Mitford in the fourth book of the series was good for my soul. Delving into the lives of Father Tim and his parishoner's is the best medicine I know for relieving the day to day strain of life. This time in Mitford, changes are happening everywhere you turn. Father Tim and Cynthia are deciding about retirement, Buck and Pauline are faced with making life changing decisions, the town's long time Mayor is in a fight against an unscrupulous opponent in the mayoral election, and there is a mystery afoot with a Florida real estate company trying to buy several prime pieces of property. Who is behind the real estate offerings? Why does someone want to buy all the property? Why is Mack trying so hard to become Mayor of Mitford? Will Dooley ever get along with Lace? These questions are all answered as all ways as the story winds its way through the heart of Mitford and its readers. One of my favorite things about the Mitford books is how Father Tim's faith is portrayed. He lives his faith, everyday, with every decision. He moves me in his efforts to be fair and kind and responsive to the many missives he handles in his duties. Read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Another enjoyable book in the Mitford series.
Review: Once again we find ourselves in Mitford. Now, however, this peaceful little town finds itself in the midst of many uncertain changes. Father Tim is thinking about retirement, much to the chagrin of his congregation. Some think that change and development is what is needed in order for Mitford to keep up in the world. But are the townspeople ready for such changes?
Rating:
Summary: IS THERE NO END TO THIS SERIES? I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT!
Review: By the time I finished reading "Out to Canaan," my mouth was literally watering for a piece of Esther's orange marmalade cake. Does somebody have the recipe for it somewhere??? As I closed this book, I realized with a pang in my heart that there was one more book left for me to read in this magnificent series. Then what do I do? Is there life after Mitford?
Rating: 
Summary: She's done it again!
Review: "I couldn't put it down" is an understatement. Once again, Jan Karon took me away from my reality and enveloped me in the Mitford world. It was a pleasure escaping to a small North Carolina town similar to the one where I grew up. It tuggs on the heart strings and the corners of your mouth. Enjoy!!!
Rating:
Summary: Changes abound
Review: Two forces contend throughout "Out to Canaan," the fourth book in the Mitford series: tradition and change. Two mayoral candidates represent each side of the coin.Esther Cunningham, with thirty years in office, a passel of grandchildren, and a penchant for fast food, is facing a challenger in the latest race. Mack Stroupe, a hot dog vendor, promises progress and prosperity for the town if he is elected. It's a tough sell, but he wins many people over. Something about the whole situation, though, sounds an alarm for Father Tim, town counselor and conscience. Is the mayoral race somehow connected to the mysterious Miami Development, the company that wants to purchase Sadie Baxter's mansion and turn it into a spa? Changes of another sort are happening all over Mitford, and some are definitely for the better. For instance, Dooley Barlowe has developed into an ambitious young man, and is becoming more grounded, too, as Father Tim works to reunite his scattered family, one by one. Some changes are more chaotic, such as the opening of the Kavanaugh home to new residents, including Harley Welch and his surrogate daughter, Lacey Turner. And some changes, like most in life, are a mix of good and bad, such as Father Tim's impending retirement. I read this Mitford book with as much pleasure as the previous three, and look forward to more.
Rating:
Summary: Mitford - We should all live there
Review: What a wonderful series of books. I can hardly wait for Book #6. Jan Karon is so good that you can almost taste Esther Bolick's "Orange Marmalade Cake". Good reading - these books make you feel good.
Rating:
Summary: Delight, Joy & Grace Just Fall Off the Pages Into Your Heart
Review: Even after consuming this book a couple of times, I am still quite in awe of Ms. Karon's mastery of her art. Father Tim and Cynthia join the roller coaster ride of married life, raising a teenager, and balancing their vocations, with faith and love and abounding hope. A delightful dog, cantankerous kitty, and a marvelous mix of friends figure into this tale that revolves around small town politics.
Rating:
Summary: Visit Mitford -- you won't be disappointed
Review: If you cry during reruns of Little House on the Prairie, you'll love this and the other four titles in the "beloved Mitford series." This is the kind of reading that diehard nonfiction readers scoff at: too soft, too sweet. But don't we all deserve to be touched by an angel once in a while? The Mitford series centers on Father Tim, an aging priest who ministers to the small by lively congregation of the Lord's Chapel. He is by turns fussy, funny, and faithful (the kind of faith that is simply there, not overdone, just a part of daily life). And Karon's gift as a writer is that she allows his story to unfold. We discover the characters and the subplots without the heavy hand of a writer who wants to ensure that we "get the message," and we're delighted in the process. Even if your usual bedtime fare is A Brief History of Time, I encourage you to visit this little town for a while. You'll come away enriched.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Series
Review: I have just finished reading the first four books in the Mitford series. Book #5 is sitting on my night stand. I read every night before actually going to sleep and the problem with this series is that it is hard to put a book down when it holds you so spell bound. The characters feel like friends and the small town setting is like home. Do yourself a favor and read this series!
Rating:
Summary: When I get to heaven...
Review: When I get to heaven I'm going to tell God I want to live in Mitford! Actually anyplace Jan Karon writes about will be okay! I hooked!
|
