At Home in Mitford: Amazon.ca: Jan Karon: Books

Product Description

From Amazon

Father Tim, a cherished small-town rector, is the steadfast soldier in this beloved slice of life story set in an American village where the grass is still green, the pickets are still white, and the air still smells sweet. The rector's forthright secretary, Emma Garret, worries about her employer, as she sees past his Christian cheerfulness into his aching loneliness. Slowly but surely, the empty places in Father Tim's heart do get filled. First with a gangly stray dog, later with a seemingly stray boy, and finally with the realization that he is stumbling into love with his independent and Christian-wise next-door neighbor. Much more than a gentle love story, this is a homespun tale about a town of endearing characters-- including a mysterious jewel thief--who are as quirky and popular as those of Mayberry, R.F.D. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

The first two novels in Karon's Mitford series chronicle the everyday eccentricities of a small North Carolina town.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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First Sentence
He left the coffee-scented warmth of the Main Street Grill and stood for a moment under the green awning. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

321 Reviews

5 star:		(202)
4 star:		(50)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(28)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (321 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Relaxing...Not Overly Stimulating, April 4 2004

By

TJ's Mommy (El Dorado Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Home In Mitford (Hardcover)

I liked this book, but felt that there could have been more of a plot or story behind the town. All of the things that seemed like big mysteries didn't turn out to be that way. It was a nice peaceful story of a town that I would like to visit. However, that's all it was, and a little long to have no purpose.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Gentle Read, Mar 16 2004

By

Joan Thomas (Aloha, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1) (Paperback)

I've been interested in the reviews I've read, being in agreement with them most of the time. Those who complain about a lack of reality, etc., miss the point all together. There is enough so-called reality everywhere we turn. A reality of crudeness, selfishness, and disdain for anything gentle. Hooray for Jan Karon, and her wonderful world of Mitford. I have even missed my favorite TV shows (Law & Order, and CSI), for a few hours of delight in the pages of Mitford. Father Tim and all the rest have won my heart!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Charming escapism...if that's what you like., Feb 6 2004

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T. George "anne-with-an-e" (An American city) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1) (Paperback)

Well, I've about Mitford for years from my friends, and I finally got to sit down and read the first one. If I were to rate this book against all literature, I would give it 3 stars at best. Everything is too crafted, manipulated and unreal. People will argue that it's full of the "real world": people get sick, people die, people are lonely, there is theft, there are mean people, there are homeless people, there are drugs. Yes, but the story is never really concerned with delving into the realities of these things - instead, each is simply a burden on weary yet loving pastor and so he prays about it. And everything works out to the perfect ending.

I think Karon's main purpose is to try to craft a world where things go wrong but you can see God moving and so hope is restored. Scripture, prayer and evangelical "answers" to life fill the pages. And, though not bad, Karon's proposed solutions for the world are like bandaids lightly resting of top. She numbs the mind with pleasure, but she does not stir in the dark depths of each of us and address the realities there. Authors such as Dostoyevski, Tolkien, and Lewis are better at bringing forth a powerful and penetrating hope in the face of the worst evils. Karon's work is trite by comparison.

However, understanding that this book is more about escapism than it is about real life, I will say that she does a good job with this. She is a good writer and fairly engaging story teller. She develops a cast of characters that become alive for you - the pastor, the grocer, the grill owner, the vet, the housekeeper, the tough boy, the dog, the doctor. The one really weak character was Emma.

The one real criticism I have (on a lighter level) is that the cast of characters is too large - with Karon usually assuming you can keep track of them all. It was like reading a Russian novel, but without the index to refer to. After awhile, I gave up trying to figure out who all the extraneous people were, and this - unfortunately - meant that I was less involved in the story and didn't care as much as the pages went on.

I'm sorry that this review sticks out like a sore thumb among the raving reviews. As far as escapist literature goes (and we all have a preference - whether mysteries, horror, romance, whatever), this is a worthy endeadvor.

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars One visit is more than enough
I agree with the negative reviews ... poorly written, boring, flat characters, utterly predictable and annoying. However, I also somewhat understand the appeal of this book. Read more

Published on Mar 28 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars A cozy mystery
At Home in Mitford is the first book in the Mitford series. It introduces you to the major characters (and quite a few minor ones) that Karon develops in the later Mitford books... Read more

Published on Mar 27 2004 by Kristi Lewandowski