At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: study sofa, marmalade cake, finest sermon, Miss Sadie, Father Tim, Miss Rose (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Father Tim, a cherished small-town rector, is the steadfast soldier in this beloved slice of life story set in an American village where the grass is still green, the pickets are still white, and the air still smells sweet. The rector's forthright secretary, Emma Garret, worries about her employer, as she sees past his Christian cheerfulness into his aching loneliness. Slowly but surely, the empty places in Father Tim's heart do get filled. First with a gangly stray dog, later with a seemingly stray boy, and finally with the realization that he is stumbling into love with his independent and Christian-wise next-door neighbor. Much more than a gentle love story, this is a homespun tale about a town of endearing characters-- including a mysterious jewel thief--who are as quirky and popular as those of Mayberry, R.F.D. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

The first two novels in Karon's Mitford series chronicle the everyday eccentricities of a small North Carolina town.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670882259
• ISBN-13: 978-0670882250
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (402 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,562 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #6 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( K ) > Karon, Jan
  #71 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Domestic Life

• This is item 1 in The Mitford Years Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

120 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visiting Mitford is a peaceful retreat!, May 15, 2000

By	Jennifer N. Germanotta (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1) (Paperback)

As a voracious reader, having read hundreds and hundreds of books over the past twenty plus years; I can honestly say the Mitford series has been the best yet! Never has a fictional book touched my heart as these have. As I began reading the series, I found myself making changes in my life brought about by Ms. Karon's writings. Familial relationships, friendships, my faith, and my personal contentment have all been enriched by Father Tim, Barnabas, Dooley, and the residents of Mitford. In her writing, Jan Karon empowers her readers to find peace, happiness, and contentment in their own lives through the lives of her gentle characters.

The series of five books begins with "At Home In Mitford" which introduces the reader to Father Tim, a cherished Episcopalian rector in the town of Mitford. The residents of Mitford will surely come to take up residence in your heart as you read through this heartwarming series of miracles, love, mysteries and everday life which take you into the lives of Mitford's charming, eccentric, and lovable citizens including Father Tim's big black dog, Barnabas, who can be instructed to behave with a mere verse of scripture!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters, dialogue, funny predicaments...it's all here., September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1) (Paperback)

I absolutely loved 'At Home in Mitford'. It is probably the best book I have ever read. As a mother of three small children, I rarely get to read anymore. I was surprised by a friend with a gift of this book. When I started reading - I just couldn't hardly put it down. I looked forward to my quiet reading moments with an unquenchable enthusiasm and finished it in record time (finishing a book is alone a record for me)! The characters were so vivid - I felt I knew each one. One negative reviewer criticized the character "Catherine" when the name is actually "Cynthia" (makes me wonder whether THAT interviewer actually read the book) and she is a character so full of life,so quirky, happy, and fun-loving; she reminds me of my incredible mother. Another one of the few negative reviewers said that it was boring. Well, I don't want to give any of the many interwoven plot lines away so I will just say that a lot of real "action" doesn't happen on the show 'Friends', for instance but you watch it for the characters. It is more 'on par' with "Steel Magnolias" than "Hunt for Red October". Another great asset of this book is it's DIALOGUE. I just laughed throughout the entire book. I would LOVE to meet Jan Karon. And finally, this book was an incredible blessing to my Christian walk. To read a 'picture' of caring people SHOWING their love was so uplifting. I pray that it will bring many blessings to many others. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Mitford series.

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure escapism at it's best!, February 26, 2001

By	Dianna Johnston "Compulsive Reader" (Joplin, MO) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1) (Paperback)

Call me crazy, but I'd LOVE to live in Mitford--a place where nothing happens but your occasional dog-napping, jewel-thievering, and finding strangers in your attic.

Sound boring? Oh, but what a nice, calming change of pace that would be! Jan Karon has written a terrific, wholesome story about a small village in North Carolina where wonderful and sometimes strange things happen. Written through the eyes of the Episcopalian priest, Father Tim shows us a refreshingly old-fashioned life where goodness and kindheartedness prevails. You get to meet many lively and eccentric characters who quickly become your friends and who make life in Mitford such a pleasure and a privilege.

At Home in Mitford is the perfect diversion from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. A calm, relaxing novel full of charm and sassy wit that "celebrates ordinary people leading ordinary lives." Though not for everyone, especially for those who need lots of action in their reading, this novel goes down like a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. Enjoy!