3/24/08

Simple tales and food for the soul


Mitford Years Books 1-9 by Jan Karon

Well I thought I would wait until I had finished all the books in the famous Mitford series before writing a review. Since the beginning of the year I have read all 9 books one after another and loved them all without exception. They are all wonderfully crafted, character driven, life affirming and message driven books. They introduce the imperfect and entirely believable world of Father Tim Kavanagh, a smalltown Vicar and his transformation from confirmed bachelor to ever increasing family man.

We get to know his smalltown parishioners intimately, enjoy his late in life romance with Cynthia and his very personal journey into fatherhood and grandfatherhood by proxy with Dooley, Sammy and the twins. Along the way we learn 'the prayer that never fails', live through great joy and sadness in his parish and learn how to bake a wonderful Orange Marmalade cake! We take journeys with him to different parishes he oversees and thereby get another wonderful cast of characters to love.

These books are not fast-moving, thrilling, romantic, gripping, complex, dramatic, mysterious or challenging. These books are like putting on a favourite cosy sweater, with a hot mug of tea in hand, a delicious cookie to nibble on and a roaring log fire at your feet. They envelope you in warmth, familiarity, and you relax and enjoy the journey into a soul enriching world.

If you have never read a Mitford book and are ready to escape to a happier simpler place with a great message of faith interwoven - these books may be just the ticket.

I now own them all and have no doubt they will be re-read many times over the years to come.


Reading Order:
At Home in Mitford
A Light in the Window
These High, Green Hills
Out to Canaan
A New Song
A Common Life
In this Mountain
Shepherds Abiding
Light from Heaven

4 comments:

Linda Jennings said...

Thank you! Several friends have mentioned these books but I didn't know where to begin reading as I didn't want to start in the middle or at the end of the series!

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

Oh, these are some of my most favorite books of all time! I just love them too. I read them slowly, through the years, and I do not own most of them. I'm rather envious of your wonderful collection and that you can go back to them at any time, and reread them. :)

Enjoy and Happy Reading!!!

Unknown said...

My pleasure to help with a list Kinda, I know I was confused too at first!

Stacy and even better I got them for a $ each at our library sale!

Anonymous said...

I've heard so much about these books and our library always seems to have #1 checked out. I need to put it on reserve and just wait it out! I MUST read this series.