Customer Reviews

Just Shy of Harmony

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In this wonderful sequel to Home to Harmony, Sam is beginning his second year as pastor of Harmony Friends Meeting. This sequel, as the first book, follows a year in Harmony. Dale Hinshaw is still getting on Sam's (and everyone else's) nerves and has a new idea for witnessing - scripture eggs. Deena Morrison, owner of Legal Grounds, returns and plays a bigger part as does Wayne Fleming.

I enjoyed this book even more than the original. Instead of the vignettes of small-town life that the original had, the sequel follows a more traditional storyline and I found that the characters came even more to life for me in this fashion!

Mr. Gulley takes an irregular route to the very heart of things, complete with a test of faith. The reader returns to Harmony where once again the author shines up the mediocre and the mundane and turns it into a miracle. A very sympathetic look into the discouragement of leading a church of willy nilly believers, with one or both feet in the past and blinders on their eyes. The reader will learn why goal setting and a gymnasium aren't necessarily a good thing for a church, and how a run-away wife and mother can pull people together. The accidental lottery winners and scripture eggs and yes - gossip - keep things interesting, when life isn't always harmonious. Believe it or not, there is something for everyone here in this story of a Quaker minister challenging faith and depression. The well intentioned, as well as the goofier members of this congregation, are kindly and humorously set out in caricatures that leave you laughing or shaking your head (and I'm betting you'll recognize some of these folks). The Friendly Women taking on the liberal press and hijacking the hospital kitchen was simply a touch of genius. The gentle people of Harmony occasionally practice the fine art of indifference, but joy and faith, steadiness and kindness carry through. A thought provoking and profound ending that challenges the reader to come up with their own explanation. Might giving thanks be more important than seeking the truth?

Don't miss Gulley's other warm, wonderful and charming books: Home to Harmony, Front Porch Tales and For Everything There A Season ... divided into easy to digest chapters for all ages.

Last weekend I spent a wonderful year in Harmony reacquainting myself with the good citizens of this simple Indiana town. This is the second book in a series about the small town of Harmony, Indiana. Brought to life by a master storyteller,the common folks of Harmony will make you laugh, cry, pull your hair out in disgust, and leave you with a warm feeling. Phil Gulley will lead you down a path of character assassination and, just as you have passed judgment, facts are revealed to reverse your feelings 180 degrees. A subtle lesson in prejudging others results in a paradigm shift that leaves you rooting for the underdog. I can't wait for the next book in the Harmony series to find out what Dale, Sam, Jessie, Deena, Fern, and all the other great folks of Harmony will be up to.

This book was excellent. A lot more serious than the first, but definitely with its lighter moments, like with the Scripture Egg project. I'm sure that many people can relate to the characters in this book, who are so believable. I can relate to Sam's struggles with his belief in God, as I'm sure that many have experienced the crisis of faith. I was touched by Asa's and Jessie's generosity with the lottery money and how the town pulled together over Sally's illness. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. And the author himself is such a nice guy. I have friends who used to go to his church, and he responded quickly to an e-mail where I complimented him on his first Harmony book.

This is the first book I've found that hits close to the best in the Mitford series. It's different than the Mitford series, tho. It's more concise and succinct. Every page shines with laughter and true faith. I enjoyed it more than the first "Home to Harmony". The author is more polished and he is just hilarious, has created characters that we love getting to know, and, if you've ever been active in church you can spot most of your fellow parishioners among them. Thank you, Mr. Gulley, for such a warm and entertaining experience from cover to cover.

My whole family (teenager included) just finished reading this delightful book. We all found ourselves laughing over the scripture egg project, and the folks of Harmony. Maybe we saw ourselves in some of the people. Even though parts of it were serious, it brought you to the place of reflecting about your own spirituality and yet brought humor into the story at the same time. I have read all of his books, and found this one as delightful as the others. Thanks Phil!

After Signs and Wonders I was expecting something better. I understand the author wanted to show the downward side of community but the thing was there was little if any true Christian behavior among these people. Certainly there was no leadership from their pastor. I realize he was sort of burned out but it seemed he wasn't in the habit of calling them back from unChristian talk and/or behavior. Disappointing to say the least.

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!

Phillip Gulley is my favorite author. I have waited a long time for the second book in the Harmony series. Mr. Gulley has a way of writing in such a way you can feel the spirit. What a gift he has been given.
Just shy of Harmony continues the glimpse in the lives of the citizens of Harmony Indiana and the Harmony friends meeting.
The stories are filled with warmth, love, and compassion.
I am ready for the next installment of this wonderful story.
I encourage you to visit Harmony and sit a while at the legal grounds coffee shop and make sure you get a scripture egg!!!!!

I've just recently gotten acquainted with Gulley and his descriptions of life in Harmony. What a delight. As a son of a pastor, I can (sort of) relate to the many interesting individuals crossing any minister's path, like those in Sam Gardner's life. Yet, in the midst of the foibles Gulley confronts, there are the moments of subtle truth that all of us need to bear in mind. The twists and turns in Sam's life, while some may think are a bit unusual, are not so unreal after all.

I highly recommend this and any other of Gulley's works.