Home to Harmony

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Summary: Harmony-a Place Close to Your Hometown & Heart
Review: If you ever read Sherwood Anderson's 'Winesburg, Ohio' or tuned-in to Public Radio for a night of Garrison Kiellor's 'Prairie Home Companion,' you would certainly take a liking to Philip Gulley's down-home tales in 'Home to Harmony.' Gulley takes us back to a time when we were all young and small being with loved ones-in a small town, sitting on the front porch after supper, watching the sun go down on another day. The sky in beautiful hue of orange and pink. You can hear the crickets serenade. In the distance you can hear a neighbor's door shut. The porch is a time of the conversation-listening story after story. Gulley takes us the again into every season of the year where life shimmers at every corner. Gulley reflects on his own life experiences some told by his grandfather with all the warmth and humor in each story. Imagine a tiny town where you bearly notice on a road atlas. Gulley portrays himself as Sam Gardner, a Quaker pastor of Harmony Friends Meeting. Sam's life begins as he's chose by the folks of Harmony after the passing of their former pastor. Sam speaks of his first year leading his hometown church.

From there the reader and Sam join in some of the most heartwarming and funniest characters and situations you'll ever know. Makes you wish there was a Harmony near you. Experience life and adventure in small-town revival and the laughable incongruity of Billy Bundle, former wrestling champ billed as the "World's Shortest Evangelist." Get to know every cherished and sometimes oddball letters printed in Bob Miles Jr.'s Harmony Herald's controversial "Bobservation Post," much like the Reader's forum in some local newspaper you know of. When the day slows down visit the Legal Grounds Coffee Cup where a painting of the Last Supper hangs on the wall behind the buffet. Just think, Jesus and His disciples gazing over the salad bar. There's always some fish story to fry at the Coffee Cup. Namely the swordfish that appeared in Vinny Toricelli's pond-referred to the Loch Ness of Harmony. Sam's best friend from childhood, Uly Grant a direct descendant of Ulysses S. Grant whose son settled in Harmony, married a Quaker and opened the Grant Hardware Emporium. According to some historians, whether it was all true or not-we leave that to your opinion. Each place in Harmony town square has it's own reminiscences through every page. Each one entertaining to bring back some old memories of your old hometown. Reminds one of simple and ordinary moments of life that are treasured sacred gifts of faith, hope and love we have in family and friends. If you want to settle into a gentle, heartwarming, faith-inspired world and escape the rat race-then come home to Harmony. Here you'll meet colorful characters, hiliarious mishaps and a moral to encourage you. If you love 'Home to Harmony' you'll equally be smitten with 'Just Shy of Harmony,' 'Signs and Wonders: a Novel,' 'Christmas in Harmony,' 'Hometown Tales,' 'Front Porch Tales' and 'For Everything a Season.'

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Summary: Move over, Jan Karon, Tom Bodett, and Garrison Keillor
Review: If you grew up under the staple in the atlas, which is where Harmony is, you know people like the ones who live there. And you cherish them as Philip Gilley does. Reading HOME TO HARMONY was a gift to the heart.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ
Review: MR. GULLY HAS WRITTEN ON OF THE BEST BOOK I THINK I HAVE EVER READ. I ABSOULTELY LOVED THIS BOOK AND I AM NOW PASSING IT ON TO OTHERS SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID. IT MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD AND I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS CHARACTERS. IT WAS A EASY BOOK TO READ AND IT MADE YOU WISH THAT YOU COULD LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE REST OF THEM. I HOPE THAT HE WRITES A SEQUAL TO THIS BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK TO HARMONY AND VISIT THE LITTLE TOWN AGAIN. BEING A CATHOLIC I LOVED THE IDEA BEHIND THE QUAKERS AND WHAT GOD MEANS TO THEM AND WHAT HE DOES FOR THEM. ( I LOVED THE REFERENCE ABOUT THE POPE ). I HOPE MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THIS AND GET AS MUCH OUT OF IT AS I DID. THANK YOU MR. GULLEY FOR ALLOWING US TO GO TO HARMONY.

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Summary: Like a delicious cup of coffee in front of a cozy fire...
Review: Philip Gulley can be relied upon for a daily "pick me up", just like a delicious cup of coffee that is savored in front of a cozy fire. As the busy mom of a 5 month old I find Gulley's books to be a real treat during the few down times I have during the day. They are so richly written that the characters seem to pop off the pages. You'll swear that you know some of them! You can almost hear the sound of their voices. "Home to Harmony" is an entire story, yet it is broken into bitesized pieces, perfect for "snacking" here and there. You may only read a bit, but you'll feel like you've had a full course meal. "Home to Harmony" is absolutely yummy!

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Summary: Anything But Harmony
Review: Please, please, please don't compare this author to Jan Karon; well, other than small town and some scripture, anyway. Mitford's warmth, charm, characters, jokes are so much fuller and make you want to visit on a regular basis. I just wanted to drive through Harmony and never look back. Back-biting, spineless, hateful...I passed it along with a disclaimer because I don't like to keep books from friends just because I don't like them.

Rating:
Summary: Home to Harmony
Review: The first Philip Gulley book I read was Front Porch Tales. It was wonderful. I went on to read Home Town Tales, and For Everything A Season, I was so excited to find out he had written a novel, it was everything I expected and then some. I found this book very easy to read and very entertaining. I shared it with many friends. It is a vacation for the mind.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: The whole Harmony series is very enjoyable, and it among my favorite in the fiction genre. They are all light-hearted and full of wonderful and entertaining characters. The books follow Sam, a pastor in a small-town Quaker church, and the eclectic group of individuals who are members.

You will likely find yourself laughing out loud at the antics of Dale, as he undertakes his scripture-egg project or his salvation balloons. Fern Hampton may drive you nuts, but you'll learn to love her.

Many reviewers compared this to the Mitford series, reading this one because they enjoyed the Mitford series so much. I tried reading the series after this one, and found it dry and dull.

These books are easy, pleasant and clean reads. Enjoy!


Rating:
Summary: Laugh Out Loud Funny
Review: This is a delightful book, not at all what I feared (a knockoff of Mitford - another town I'd love to live in). Philip Gulley's writing style is full of dry wit that makes me laugh out loud and insist that those near me listen to a funny section. Who could resist the Live Free or Die Sunday School class; Frank, the secretary who hangs up on callers he doesn't like; Miss Rudy's flinch when she hears of Jesus healing the ten "leapers"? On a more serious note, grace , sorrow, and redemption are woven through his stories. If you are looking for superbly written stories, this book would be the perfect choice.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding work!
Review: This is the first book of Mr. Gulley's I have read. 2/3 through the book, I thought it was kind of dry, no climax, etc. There really isn't a climax, but the end gives you a twist that is just wonderful about Christianity and a true Christian. Awesome work, I can't wait to read more of his work!

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Summary: MORE MR. GULLEY!!!
Review: This is the first Phillip Gulley book I've read, so I can't compare it to his others, but this book was one of the most delightful reads I've had in a long time. It was way too short and just as I was totally falling in love with Harmony and all it's inhabitants, the book was over! Many heart-wrenching stories and many laughable moments as the pastor of Harmony Friends Meeting takes you on a visit of this small town. In the same vein as Jan Karon's Mitford series, but not a complete story, but a series of vignettes. Please Mr. Gulley.....MORE!!!!