Shepherds Abiding (The Mitford Years, Book 8) [Large Print] [Paperback]

Jan Karon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2004

Since he was a boy growing up in Mississippi, Father Tim has lived what he calls "the life of the mind." Except for cooking and gardening and washing his dog, he never learned to savor the work of his hands. And then he finds a derelict nativity scene--twenty figures, including a flock of sheep, that have suffered the indignities of time and neglect.

Could he give the small company new life? Restore the camel's ear, repaint every piece, replace a missing nose on a wise man? "You can't teach an old dog new tricks!" he reminds himself. It's when he imagines the excitement in Cynthia's eyes that he steps up to the plate--and begins a small journey of faith that touches everyone around him.

The eight novel in the bestselling Mitford Years series is a mediation on the best of all presents--the gift of one's heart. Lovingly written and beautifully illustrated, it seeks to restore the true Christmas spirit and give everyone a seat at Mitford's holiday table.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Esther Bolick, mayor of Karon's beloved make-believe Mitford, bakes a marmalade cake for Christmas that is as sweet as her hometown. Her story, Esther's Gift, and The Mitford Snowmen--"both included in this holiday collection--are previously published, stocking stuffer--sized narratives that Karon's fans have mostly likely already consumed with zeal, but the title novel is fresh entertainment that Mitford aficionados can enjoy while they do their own holiday baking. Sounding like Santa himself might, reader McDonough rumbles out these cheery tales, using dramatic pauses, lilting character voices and, at times, simple a cappella renditions of hymns to convey the upbeat innocence of the town and its residents. Choir music by Journey of the Soul fills the gaps between the novel and short stories, soaring as high as listeners' emotions will when Father Tim presents a restored nativity scene to his wife, Cynthia, on Christmas Eve. Though this audio production may be too cloying for some listeners, others will be buoyed by McDonough's jovial narration and the novel's inspirational themes.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From the Inside Flap

Since he was a boy growing up in Mississippi, Father Tim has lived what he calls "the life of the mind." Except for cooking and gardening and washing his dog, he never learned to savor the work of his hands. And then he finds a derelict nativity scene--twenty figures, including a flock of sheep, that have suffered the indignities of time and neglect.

Could he give the small company new life? Restore the camel's ear, repaint every piece, replace a missing nose on a wise man? "You can't teach an old dog new tricks!" he reminds himself. It's when he imagines the excitement in Cynthia's eyes that he steps up to the plate--and begins a small journey of faith that touches everyone around him.

The eight novel in the bestselling Mitford Years series is a mediation on the best of all presents--the gift of one's heart. Lovingly written and beautifully illustrated, it seeks to restore the true Christmas spirit and give everyone a seat at Mitford's holiday table.


From the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 365 pages
• Publisher: Random House Large Print (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375728279
• ISBN-13: 978-0375728273
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,171,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jan Karon is the author of the bestselling series of nine Mitford novels featuring Father Timothy Kavanagh, an Episcopal priest, and the fictional village of Mitford. Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karon's Mitford books include At Home in Mitford; A Light in the Window; These High, Green Hills; Out to Canaan; A New Song; A Common Life: The Wedding Story; In This Mountain; Shepherd's Abiding; and Light from Heaven. The Father Tim Novels include "Home to Holly Springs" and last fall's release of "In the Company of Others," set in County Sligo, Ireland. There are over 40 million Mitford and Father Tim novels, childrens books, and CDs in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Faith abides in Mitford, November 11, 2003

By 

Sharon Knutson "chinamomma" (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shepherds Abiding (Hardcover)

I picked up the newest installment in the Mitford series from my church library. Yes, the margins are pushed in and yes I wished for more...but I was blessed with what was there. The story of Father Tim's Christmas was exactly what I needed. It is a story of faith, faith in doing what you didn't imagine you could do, faith in hoping for something you never dreamed of having, and faith in the simplicity of the lives of our Mitford family. The book is setting the stage for the end of the series where we may see the conclusion of all the loose threads, will Kenny be found, will Father Tim and Cynthia travel to Ireland, will Dooley stay a Barlowe or become a Kavanagh...these are worth waiting for, in detail and in depth.

To get to enjoy Christmas in Mitford makes this book worth my time to enjoy the story. But most of all it gave me faith when I needed to replenish my soul.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perspective, November 7, 2003

By 

R. A. Higgins "rsahiggins" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shepherds Abiding (The Mitford Years, Book 8) (Hardcover)

The encouragement and peace I enjoy most when reading a Mitford story are all here in Shepherds Abiding. I have not been disappointed with the length of the book as some of the other reviewers. Instead I have been thrilled because I have been comparing the length of this holiday season release with the two previous holiday books by Jan Karon, Mitford Snowmen and Esther's Gift. Several months ago I understood that there would be one final novel in the Mitford Series--and I believe that is still the case with release projected for 2005, and so considered the release of Sheperds Abiding a wonderful surprise. It is a wonderful reflection on the holiday season.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A trip to Mitford is always worth the read., October 28, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shepherds Abiding (Hardcover)

Although I, too, was disappointed at the shorter book, I always find it enjoyable to sit down with Jan Karon's delightful cast of characters. I had been hoping for a more in-depth story that would take us further along in Father Tim's journey and explore more of the story lines that have been hinted at in past installments of the Mitford series. For example, will Father Tim find Kenny, the last missing Barlowe sibling? And when will Dooley discover that he is a millionaire? But we will have to wait until the final book to find out the answers to these questions.

What I did find in Shepherds Abiding was a book very similar to A Common Life. While not as in-depth, the story gave us a better look into the thoughts and personalities of other residents of Mitford. We have only known Hope Winchester and Lew Boyd on a fairly superficial level up until now, and it was wonderful to get more insight into their lives and, particularly, their spiritual journeys. However, I did miss some of the characters that generally play a bigger role, such as Dooley and Cynthia.

Nothing terribly exciting or dramatic happens in Shepherds Abiding. But that's never the case with life in Mitford - it's the characters and walking with them through the ups and downs of everyday life that give Jan Karon's books their charm.