Life Goes On: A Harmony Novel [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Philip Gulley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 2004

Pastor Sam Gardner is back in his fourth year serving the eccentric Quaker community of Harmony, Indiana, which continues to bustle with gossip, scandals, and small-town fervor. Amidst the surprising and annoying struggles of his congregants, Sam's commitment is put to the test. Wrestling with what it means to faithfully preach the gospel to this community, the pastor becomes even more endearing as he faithfully seeks to serve his quirky flock.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like Signs and Wonders, the previous book in the popular series featuring Pastor Sam Gardner and the colorful parishioners of the Harmony Friends Meeting in Harmony, Ind., Gulley's fourth installment unfolds through a series of warm, lightly comic anecdotes. Readers will know they're in cozily familiar territory from the get-go, when Dale Hinshaw—the vigilant, long-winded, self-appointed guardian of doctrinal purity—seizes an opportunity to take the pulpit on Easter Sunday (Pastor Sam has laryngitis) and rant for 45 minutes without a single mention of the Resurrection. As the book strolls along, Sam presides over a funeral for a fellow who—oops!—isn't dead, experiences a couple of home-repair mishaps, gets validated for another year of preaching, contracts head lice and bemusedly recounts the antics of his fellow citizens. Tiffany Nagel, the "Sausage Queen," is unmasked as a vegetarian; the town's 29-year-old spinster, Deena Morrison, finally meets her Prince Charming thanks to ringworm; and Dale Hinshaw keeps causing trouble, even for his own wife. By the time December rolls around, Pastor Sam is fed up with every "narrow-minded kook" in town, and it's time for some soul-searching and a re-evaluation of his job as pastor—if those kooks don't get him fired first. This is sweet, homespun storytelling, as comfy and reassuring as warm socks in a wet spring. Gulley's growing number of fans will relish this funny and occasionally hokey novel.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Harmony holds "the biggest collection of crusty, lovable characters since James Herriot settled in Yorkshire."
-- Booklist (Booklist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (October 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786268778
• ISBN-13: 978-0786268771
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,803,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Philip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life. Along with writing Front Porch Tales, Hometown Tales, and For Everything a Season, Gulley is the author of the Harmony series of novels, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, which are coauthored with James Mulholland.

He hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.

Gulley lives in Indiana with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam--in a rambling old house with Gulley's eclectic chair collection (64 at last count) and a welcoming back porch.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At home in Harmony, July 26, 2004

By 

S. Jones "Book Gourmet" (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Goes on (Hardcover)

Each time I read one of Philip Gulley's books, I take a deep breath before I start--certainly this one can't possibly be as funny, rich, and satisfying as the one before. I can tell you that I've never been disappointed in any of Gulley's books. While reading this latest title my long-suffering husband banished me from my comfortable prone reading position in bed and sent me downstairs because I was giggling too loudly and keeping him awake. Truly, I don't think that Mr. Gulley could write a bad book if he tried. If you have worked in a church in any capacity whatsoever, you will recognize the marvelous personalities that he's created. I'm a librarian and a voracious reader and his books are a true banquet for this reading gourmet.
Sue-Ellen Jones
Fort Collins, Colorado

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another enjoyable Harmony book, November 8, 2004

By 

Gen of North Coast Gardening (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Goes on (Hardcover)

This book is another excellent addition to the series. I loved that Gulley is making Sam more human, and fleshing out his character by showing the things he struggles with inside.

The usual vignettes about small town life and pastoring are here, and religion is dealt with so lightly that I think people of any religion would enjoy the book. Gulley has a light touch when talking about God and religious beliefs, and his beliefs are inclusive and inspiring to even non-believers in ways that Jan Karon and other churchy small town writers can't always pull off.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spiritual Journey Continues---, March 19, 2004

By 

Leigh E. Fleming (Des Moines, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Goes on (Hardcover)

Philip Gulley is not only a great story teller, he is a resource for spiritual enlightenment. There is a "lesson(s)" in every chapter! Readers will see themselves in the characters because all of Gulley's "people" are human--open/closed minded, loving/hateful, confused/focused, assertive/passive; Pastor Sam realizes that he has not been honest with himself--haven't we all been there at one time or another? The fourth novel about the little imaginary town in Indiana called Harmony and its parade of characters is a wonderful read. .The book lifts up the "human condition" and helps us understand that our pains, sorrows, joys, frustrations, and loves all have value in shaping who we are and what we are becoming. Every page is spiced with Gulley's humor that warms one's heart and brings laughter and chuckles to the reader. The last two pages of the book is full of love. . .God's love.