Rating: 
Summary: A small town story!
Review: "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon is the first of her Mitford series that deals with Father Tim, a village rector, who seems to know everything that is going on in Mitford. Father Tim's life was changed when a stray dog took an immense liking to him as well as a young boy named Dooley that moved in with him. Not to mention, there was also the attractive and funny neighbor by the name of Cynthia that just moved in next to his house. On top of all these things, there are problems, issues, and stories of the Mitford folks that Father Tim had to deal with.
"At Home in Mitford" is a warm, funny and sweet book that deals with small town personalities and living. Through the eyes of Father Tim, we get to see interesting as well as eccentric characters in Mitford that we can't help but relate to. At the beginning of the book, I was overwhelmed by all those characters and couldn't keep track of who is who but after a while, I was able to. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it for readers seeking a cozy and intimate read.
Rating: 
Summary: A refreshing perspective!
Review: This is the first in the six-book (so far) Mitford series of novels by Jan Karon. Her stories are refreshingly decent. The protagonist is an Episcopal priest, Father Tim Kavanagh. He believes what he preaches, and not only talks the talk--he walks the walk. The stories take place in a small North Carolina village of approximately 200 population, Mitford--the kind of place everyone would like to live, if they could. Karon keeps your interest, as evidenced by the fact that she is a best-seller with this series, but she does not resort to foul language--the nastiest word in the book is 'poop'--violence, explicit sex or car chases to keep her readers interested. These are thoroughly decent stories, written by an author who has decorum and restraint, and whose tales you would not be ashamed to read to your children or your mother. In this story, Father Tim--a never-been-married bachelor--takes in an eleven-year-old boy from his disabled, poverty-stricken grandfather who has him because his drunken mother is unfit. He also adopts a nondescript dog "as big as a sofa," deals with the many problems of his parishioners, and begins to fall in love with his neighbor--at the age of sixty. In this series it would be well to start with this book and then immediately proceed to book number six in the series, "A Common Life," which for some unknown reason was published out of chronological sequence. If you are like a great many others, you will quickly become a fan of Karon, who has written children's stories as well, most notably "Jeremy," the story of a stuffed rabbit which she wrote for her own daughter--a book which has received much acclaim. Joseph Pierre
Author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
Rating:
Summary: refreshing retreat
Review: A friend at work had raved about this book and lent it to me to read. I must say that I was skeptical at first, but after reading it I realized that it was everything she said it was and more. The story is about an Episcopal preacher, Father Tim, and other residents in Mitford, a fictional small town in North Carolina. Having gone to college in a small North Carolina town, this book was like coming home again. The characters are so well-developed, I felt as if I knew them personally. Father Tim is a sixty-year-old preacher who has never been married. He is befriended by Barnabus, a dog "as big as a sofa" who comes out of nowhere and jumps up on Father Tim knocking him down. The only way to control the dog is to quote scripture.
Later in the book, he also takes in an 11-year-old boy, Dooley. The boy's grandfather has become sick and is very poor. The boy has been living with the grandfather because his mother is a drunk who can't raise the child. Dooley is a likelable character, but one who gives Father Tim a test in patience.
Cynthia moves in next door. She is an author from New York who writes children's books about her cat, Violet. Soon Father Tim and Cynthia realize that they have deeper feelings for each other, although they don't want to admit it.
This book really gives a feel for living in a small southern town. Karon has evoked a sympathy for the characters that makes you want to keep reading and finding out more about them. I can't wait to read the next book, Light in the Window, and see what happens with Father Tim and Cynthia!
Rating: 
Summary: One visit is more than enough
Review: 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. I didn't continue to turn the pages of this book because the plot was so riveting I couldn't put it down. I kept reading because I needed to know what happened to Father Tim and the other citizens of this charming little town. Karon does a wonderful job of making the reader care about these lovable characters.
Think of this book as a cozy mystery with no dead body. It does, however, have a jewel theft, a kidnapping, a runaway and several medical crises to keep you turning the pages. If this isn't enough, there is also a romance and an old secret that comes to light, so it has something for everyone. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Relaxing...Not Overly Stimulating
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Relaxing...Not Overly Stimulating
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Good book but too much religious undertones.
Review: I picked this book up at a resale store for $2. It sounded like a warm, Southern story that I would enjoy and relate to since I was born and raised in the South. For the most part, I found it to be just that, but I must admit that the religious references and 'Jesus undertones' of the book became VERY tiring halfway through the book. That and also there are scenes in the book that just come 'out of the blue' and make no sense at all, such as the scene when the jewelry theif hiding in the church attic reveals himself during a church service. The caracters are also interesting, but I could not help the feeling that there was too much 'sameness' in all of them. Every town member feels the exact same way about everything religion. This felt flat one onesided. (During a lot of the book I felt that Jan Karon was preaching instead of telling a tale.)Jan Karon fails to extend their personal traits beyond their obvious religious ones. Overall, a decent book, but don't buy it new, buy a used copy, save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing Change
Review: I read all of the Mitford Series and the first one is tough to get through because there are so-o-o many characters, but well worth the patience.
The Mitford Series are charming, warm, spiritual, fun and sometimes, sad - there is real life portrayed in this enchanting place - people get sick, people die, people have problems of all kinds but, as hard as it is to believe, the people in this town come together and help their own.
I don't know if such a town and its people exists anywhere but boy I sure would love to live there.
The critics are so used to reality shows, and ugly politics, ugly news reports they can't handle the gentle, peaceful Mitford..if you are spiritual, gentle, kind, loving, caring, or looking for that - escape to Mitford - beats watching the news these days.
Rating: 
Summary: I Don't Get It
Review: I've seen these books everywhere, (That should have been my first clue - truly excellent books don't end up in the dollar resale bin) so I was looking forward to reading this when it turned up on my book club list. If you ever find out you have two weeks left to live, move to Mitford because every day is a freaking eternity! I would not have finished this incredibly boring, preachy, plotless book if it wasn't required reading for the book club. Needless to say, I'm not interested in the rest of the series. If you want to read about a bunch of lily-white, holier-than-thou, cutesy, unbelievable small-town folks (who must have some secret income somewhere, because their jobs and their lifestyles are completely incompatible), then this is the book for you. I thought it was one long snooze.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT AM I MISSING??!!??
Review: There must be something. After seeing these books virtually everywhere--and their bestseller status--I decided to see what all of the hoopla was about. I borrowed this book from a friend (it came highly recommended by several people) and attempted to read it. Note attempted. I can see where some would find the "idyllic" little town of Mitford appealing--I guess. I found it unbelievably Stepfordish. The cast of characters--especially Father Tim--are just BORING. I was warned about the apparent lack of plot and action--neither are necessary for me to enjoy a book. But this was just ridiculous. The dialogue--who talks like that? I feel a smidge of guilt for writing this review when I did not complete the book (this is a first), but I just can't do it. I cannot get through this book, and where I once felt like I cannot leave a book unfinished, this book will remain thus. Life is simply too short. On to enjoyable reads.
I'm sure that there must be something I'm missing...? One can only hope.
DYB
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