At Home in Mitford: A Novel

I’ve read this book (and the series) many times over the years. The characters are beautifully written, and their stories will make you laugh and break your heart. It never fails to nourish my soul.

Many thanks to my dear friend who just posted about a need to “go back to Mitford” …I researched the book series and decided I too needed this kind of novel especially during this holy time of year. To say I wasn’t disappointed is putting it mildly! What an absolutely beautiful, inspirational, funny and great book. I love Fr. Tim and all the characters that makes one reading the book simply feel like you are right there in Mitford! Thanks Roberta! Your best recommendation ever! Looking forward to each of these wonderful stories!

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and how the author brought them to life. I laughed and cried and fell in love with Mitford and Father Tim.

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." —Proverbs 16:3A New York Times Best Seller and a recent Hallmark Movie!It's refreshing to read a well written book that's not only engaging, but witty, heartfelt, and refreshingly clean. But that doesn't mean this fictitious little southern charm town doesn't have its quirky characters or scandalous stories. There's something for everyone without the sexual smut and vulgar words that drive so much of today's book market.In this story about an aging, slightly overweight priest, a mangy dog, a quirky neighbor, and a homeless boy, there's no cussin, no sex, and no mayhem! … Well, there's a little mayhem, but pure delightful. In the high, green hills of Mitford, the air is pure, the village is charming, and the people are generally lovable. This book is the first in a series, but it also stands alone very nicely all by itself. It'll make you laugh out loud, cry a little, and inspire you to try a little harder and be a little better, remembering that behind every secret there's a story waiting to be told."We never, ever know what heartache lies under those rooftops. … Everybody is trying to swallow something that won't go down." —Jan Karon, At Home in Mitford"God asks us not to worry about tomorrow. … Just stick with today, is what he recommends. Of course, it helps to stick with him, while we're at it." —Jan Karon, At Home in Mitford

I bought this for a favorite older friend who had not read this genre before. She said she can just see all that is being described and she is able to follow all the “feelings “ throughout the book. She’s looking forward to the next book in this series.

A lady I had just met, recommended this book to me. I had no expectations, but barely into the book I knew I would love it. I was moving to North Carolina! This book helped my transition from moving to settling in. Can’t wait to start another book with Father Tim.

A feel good touch your heart look intothe lives of those folks in Mitford. Andrelating to all that entails.

A friend loaned this book to me and I returned it quickly as the print seemed very small and made it hard to read. Then I bought the kindle version. I thought it was just OK. Some of the characters were very over the top. The whole town was sooooo church based. I grew up in a very small town, and while we all knew everyone else's business, not everyone was this friendly. The town of Mitford was way too good to be true. The story never really seemed to go anywhere. Anyone who had strayed from the path of God was saved by just one prayer. It was just too much to believe. I had a hard time with the way the town wanted to change Father Tim. Yes, he was diagnosed with diabetes, but even before that, the town's people were after him to get a car, take a vacation, do this, do that. They seemed to think they knew what would be best for him based on what was good for them. I just wanted to tell them all to back off.Another problem, the dialect. I am from Georgia, so I understand how small town southerners speak. But I felt the author went a little too far to push this point home. Also, and maybe it is different in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but we don't cut off the first part of words, we cut off the end. So in the book "That old dog"became "'at o dog" whereas it should have been "tha ol dawg." I'm sure this will not bother some but it did make the book a little less entertaining for me.

This is the second time I've read this first installment in the Mitford Series. Enjoyed it very much again. Heartwarming. Brings me back to what is really important in this life. I recommend this book (and the whole series) to anyone who would like to read a story about kindness, caring for others, and friendship. A wonderful reminder of the goodness that God put in people and is often lacking in the world we live in today.

Having read nearly all of Jan Karon's novels, I had never been able to get a good copy of the first in the series. I was delighted to find a brand new copy of the book and was a pleasure to read.

One in as whole series,a fun read

Someone gave me this, and I didn't know what to expect.7 books later (and I've just completed the series) it's almost become part of life to read a bit every night.Yes, it's fiction, but so much of it rings through.And it's not saccharine sweet - there's a lot of funny, awful, gritty real-life stuff in here.Now the whole series is on my shelves and I'm very grateful to the lady who gave us the first book and said "try this - I think you might like it".

I stumbled onto this series through a friend and have not stopped buying/ reading the books! I just love the innocence, the witty dialogue, the characters, and the charm of Mitford. Having grown up in a small town I can appreciate where this priest is coming from. Highly recommended, especially to fellow Christian readers.