At Home in Mitford

Amazon.com

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

Book Description

Combining the stellar script-adaptation skills of award-winning writer Paul McCusker with the best-selling novel by Jan Karon, Radio Theatre's At Home in Mitford will leave listeners longing for more. Set in the charming village of Mitford, this book will delight listeners as it draws them into the life of Father Tim, an Episcopal rector who finds himself running on empty and longing for change. His bachelor existence is changed and enriched by a lovable cast of characters, including a stray dog, a lonely boy, and a comely neighbor.

Customer Reviews:

Book - "At Home in Mitford".......2007-09-21

It's an absolutely wonderful story. It's about the experiences of Father Tim over his lifetime of being a minister. Some of his experiences were funny, some sad. I highly recommend it. There are 9 books in the series, but this one should really be read first.

SUPERB WRITING.......2007-08-27

In my opinion AT HOME IN MITFORD is one of the most fantastic books you can't help but feel like your there.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.......2007-08-27

What a wonderful find ! I love books and am an avid reader,I have been blessed to have received this wonderful book from my sister.A pleasure to read and impossible to put down. No bad language,no violence,just pure love,joy,and how most anyone would love to live their life as this.Keeps you interest at high level all the way through the book,and leaves you with such a good feeling,can't wait to get to the rest of them.Jan Karon has to be a truly blessed author.Thank You

Such FUN to read!.......2007-07-24

A friend of mine insisted that I'd like this book but I wasn't so sure - because for some reason I'd presumed that it would be simple and silly. Was I wrong! This book is so much FUN to read! And you never know what will happen next. Spending time with these folks in this village is like a vacation. I will read the entire series. It reminds me of the style of James Herriott, the veterinarian in England stories.

Mitford series review.......2007-07-15

I have read all the books in the Mitford series. I could not put them down. I thought they were all very good. I think Jan Karon did an excellent job making the reader feel these characters were real and that we were right there with them in the story (and I'm not one to be like that at all!) I haven't found many books that I enjoyed reading as much as I did this series. I can't wait for more stories written by Jan Karon.

Average customer rating:

As expected
Uplifting
In This Mountain Audio CD
In This MOuntain
Dwindling ever dwindling

In This Mountain (The Mitford Years #7)
Jan Karon
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0670031046
Release Date: 2002-05-27

Amazon.com

Father Tim Kavanagh and his wife, Cynthia, return from Whitecap Island to "the little town with the big heart" in Jan Karon's seventh novel in the bestselling Mitford series, In This Mountain. Retirement holds challenges Father Tim hasn't anticipated, and even as Cynthia's career as a children's book author and illustrator brings her new accolades, he finds himself dogged by health troubles and dissatisfaction with the way his life is turning out. However, the beloved villagers of Mitford are on hand to offer support and humor through every crisis, and a few new characters are introduced to keep interest in the series fresh. Throughout the tale, Karon folds in themes of grace and forgiveness, and offers hope for even the most difficult situations. Fans will be delighted to find that this installment of the series is full of the engaging descriptions and charming depiction of life in Mitford that first won Karon the loyalty of legions of readers. --Cindy Crosby

Book Description

Father Tim and Cynthia have been at home in Mitford for three years since returning from Whitecap Island.

In the little town that's home-away-from-home to millions of readers, life hums along as usual. Dooley looks toward his career as a vet; Joe Ivey and Fancy Skinner fight a haircut price war that takes no prisoners; and Percy steps out on a limb with a risky new menu item at the Main Street Grill.

Though Father Tim dislikes change, he dislikes retirement even more. As he and Cynthia gear up for a year-long ministry across the state line, a series of events sends shock waves through his faith-and the whole town of Mitford.

In her seventh novel in the bestselling Mitford Years series, Jan Karon delivers surprises of every kind, including the return of the man in the attic and an ending that no one in Mitford will ever forget.

Customer Reviews:

As expected.......2007-09-24

This is a great "next chapter" to the series. If you've read the others you'll love this too.

Uplifting.......2007-08-31

I have read all of the Mitford Years books, and have found this one
just as entertaining and uplifting as all the rest. It is spiritual
without being "preachy", with a strength and gentleness that renews
ones faith in her fellow man.

In This Mountain Audio CD.......2007-07-23

I obviously didn't read the product info well enough - this is an ABRIDGED audio book, which I don't enjoy; I like to hear every word the author wrote, and feel frustrated when the action doesn't flow smoothly as originally written, but hops and skips all over the place.

In This MOuntain.......2007-06-09

Like all the other Mitford Series I loved this one and looked forward to the next one!!

Dwindling ever dwindling.......2007-05-26

I very much enjoyed the first few books in this series, but it seems that the author had written herself out, alas, and had nothing much more worthwhile to say. This seventh offering in the lot is just not worth reading, when there are so many other books out there waiting.

For one thing, the author waxes more and more religious with each book. In this volume people are throwing prayers at each other on virtually every page, over the smallest of trifles. It gets a little annoying after a time, annoying and ludicrous. For example, when the bishop has chest pains, his secretary calls Father Tim and asks him to pray for the bishop. The call might have been spent to greater good in finding a competent cardiologist first. Jesus himself admonished his disciples to pray in private without fanfare or show, for those who pray loudest in public "have their reward." At various times Tim does remind himself to pray the prayer that always is answered: Thy will be done. Asking God to change his laws or abrogate the laws of nature feels wrong to me. Prayer and dogma get in the way of the story and weaken this novel to a great extent. That the prayers are answered in fiction is a matter of the writer stacking the cards that way.

Secondly, while I'm sure some readers are much taken with Dooley, I've found him unpleasant and occasionally obnoxious (for lack of better words) since book one. He is no better in book seven. Why Father Tim takes such pleasure from seeing him is beyond me. Dooley is self-centered and thoughtless.

My advice to a reader who has not read any of this series would be to stop after book four. There is nothing after that worth one's time.

Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen

Average customer rating:

nostalgic look at the past
Love the story, despise the writing and the writer
Oey! A great story but NOT a good storyteller.
Feel good book about the greatest generation . . .
The Good Old, Bad Old Days

Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen
Bob Greene
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Volunteer Work | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 006008197X
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

Millions of American soldiers, many of whom had never left their hometowns before, crossed the nation by rail during the years of World War II on their way to training camps and distant theaters of battle. In a little town in Nebraska, countless thousands of them met with extraordinary hospitality--the "miracle" of veteran journalist Bob Greene's title. "The best America there ever was. Or at least, whatever might be left of it." So Greene writes of North Platte, now a quiet town along the interstate, its main street all but dead. It was a quiet town then, too, at the outbreak of the war, but still a hive of activity as its citizens gathered to provide, at their own expense, coffee, sandwiches, books, playing cards, and time to the scared young men who rolled through by the trainload, "telling them that their country cared about them." Greene's pages are full of the voices of those who were there, soldiers and townspeople alike, who took part in what amounted to small acts of heroism, given the shortages and rationing of the time. Greene, generous in his praise if rather disheartened by the modern world, against which he contrasts the past, turns in a remarkable account of the home front. It deserves the widest audience. ---Gregory McNamee

Book Description

The author of the New York Times bestseller Duty shows how a small town in Nebraska gave meaning, joy, and hope to every train of World War Two soldiers passing through their town. The town came to symbolise the patriotism of the American people during World War Two.

North Platte, Nebraska, is alone on the plains in the middle of the country. But before the air age, the Union Pacific Railroad's main line ran right through town. When World War Two began, the trains transported young soldiers across the continent to both coasts on their way to battle. Then a local resident had an idea: why not meet the trains coming through, offer the servicemen and servicewomen some warmth and support? On Christmas Day, 1941, the first train rolled in and the surprised soldiers on board were greeted with welcoming words and baskets of treats.

What happened in the years that followed was a miracle. The railroad depot was transformed into the North Platte Canteen. Every day of the year, every day of the war, the Canteen was open from 5 a.m. until the last troop train pulled away after midnight, staffed and funded entirely by private volunteers, to serve thousands of military personnel daily.

Customer Reviews:

nostalgic look at the past.......2007-01-06

This was a book I read for my book club. I liked the story yet I felt it became repetitive. I think I would like to see more pictures and a few less stories. I found myself wishing the book would end and kept going back to the photos.

Love the story, despise the writing and the writer.......2006-11-09

Six million boiled eggs, more or less.
Fried chicken, sandwiches, cookies, milk, birthday cakes, chewing gum, candy, matches for six million.
North Platte, a small town in western Nebraska, was a water stop for steam locomotives. From a few days after Pearl Harbor until 1946, the people of North Platte and the surrounding farm and ranch country of Nebraska and eastern Colorado met every troop train that came through town.
Dozens, sometimes, in a single day, at any hour. During the 10-minute stops, the ladies of the area handed out food and smiles.
No other place did that. When Bob Greene tracked down some of the men who were met at the North Platte Canteen, most of them started crying. It was, they said, the nicest thing that happened to them during the war.
You can take it as heartwarming or as a slap at the rest of the country, much of which was indifferent or hostile to men in uniform in those days. In places like Norfolk, Va., there were signs on stores that said: No sailors or dogs allowed. Either way, it's a remarkable story.
It started with Rae Wilson, then 26, whose brother was in the Nebraska National Guard. She thought, mistakenly, that her brother was coming through town on a troop train and wrote a letter to the North Platte Daily Bulletin suggesting a canteen to greet the local boys.
Somehow, the community recognized that all the soldiers and sailors passing through were their boys, and they spontaneously formed the canteen.
Greene takes the story as purely heartwarming. The mothers, some of whose sons had been killed in combat, coming down day after day, the young girls excited to meet the handsome boys even if only for minutes.
It was a women's outfit. Men participated, but only in the background.
The story never got the attention it deserved, and Greene was barely in time to salvage it. The heroism of the people was worthy of a better messenger.
Greene's attempt to explain why this happened in North Platte and not anywhere else is superficial.
To him, it was a remarkable effort from a town of 12,000 people who had been through the Great Depression. But in fact western Nebraska's economy had collapsed in 1922. Most of the banks had failed even before the stock market crashed in 1929.
The rest of Greene's ruminations are equally ill-informed, trivial or both.
The writing is as inept as we have come to expect from Greene, a long-time Chicago Tribune columnist until he was forced to resign in disgrace for a serious violation of ethics. The book does not appear to have been edited or even proofread.
The story is wonderful, though, and worth reading anyhow.

Oey! A great story but NOT a good storyteller........2005-11-17

I agree that the story of the North Platte canteen and all the people supporting it for all those years is wonderful, incredible, definitely a story needing telling.

However, I only give the book 2 stars b/c the author repeats himself what feels like hundreds of times. I forced myself to listen to the entire book b/c I had a lot of hours in car. But the gist of the story can be completely conveyed in 1 cassette. Sure, we would have lost the personal vingettes, but mostly we would have lost hearing the same words repeated again and again and again and again. The author may be a journalist, but definitely it felt like one who likes to hear himself talk.

Plus, transitions between sections, sometimes even sentences, was terrible. So many times, there wasn't even a pause or a breath before a major turn was taking place in the story direction, making it difficult to listen to.

I'm grateful to know of the North Platte canteen and what the people did. But, this was a laborious way to hear the story.

Feel good book about the greatest generation . . ........2005-07-14

It was a monumental act of generosity that kept the North Platte Canteen in operation from 1941 to 1945, offering food, drink, and gratitude to the multitude of troop trains carrying young servicemen through Nebraska during WWII. Greene's book is a tribute to those who made it possible - a scrapbook of memories recalled by men and women who are now in their 70s, 80s and older.

Through scores of interviews, he is able to capture again the excitement, the emotions, and the utter innocence of that place and time. Just 10-20 minutes - as men burst from the trains, were welcomed with home cooking and smiles, and then dashed back onboard again - are remembered 60 years later by men who have never forgotten and often dissolve into tears as they try to explain what it meant to them, no more than boys then, far from home and family.

The book is written in a breezy Sunday supplement style, and social historians may desire a bit more objectivity. Oddly, Greene never explains how he located all the former servicemen he interviewed. And finally, it's not all feel good. Greene notes how time has changed North Platte, symbolized in the deserted downtown and the absent train depot, torn down long ago. "Dust in the wind," he muses sadly at the end. But like an old photograph, there is his book to preserve the memory that "once upon a town" it all really did happen.

The Good Old, Bad Old Days.......2005-06-24

Good, because of everyone being so generous. Bad, because it was the beginning of World War II and so many Americans, particularly in the midwest, had suffered enough in the first world war that they bitterly opposed US entry into the War until the day that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and isolationism became a thing of the past. Still that change from opposition to the war to a full-scale call for vengeance must have been a bewildering one for the little people of the midwest, and they showed it in the incidents that led to establishing the North Platte Canteen.

Bob Greene has always had a soft spot for the little person, and he has two sets of them here--the GI boys who passed through North Platte on their way to God knows where, some of them never to return to our shores. The kindness done to these boys at the station might have been the last friendly voices they heard before death. And on the other side, a gallant band of townspeople and farmers--traditional enemies--put aside their differences and started carving up pheasant to make sandwiches the likes of which most of these soldiers never tasted before. Greene underplays the generosity of these Nebraskans, for my grandmother, who lived in the town during the war, always maintained that the food and coffee wasn't just for soldiers, but for anyone who they felt like giving it out to. She was present at the station when one cup of coffee, given to a pregnant lady passing through Nebraska, triggered her labor there on the north side of the station, and she gave birth to a baby an hour afterwards. The sad thing, grandma said, is that the baby was born without a father, for he had died in the Leyte Gulf and the mother was travelling to go live with his folks in Denver.

Those were the good old, bad old days all right, and Greene's book, while repetitious, is nevertheless valuable. A few more years and most of the first person participants of the "Miracle of the Pheasants" will be stilled forever. Too bad the publisher didn't run to printing some photographs of the boys who ate and the girls who made the popcorn. Maybe there could be a special edition, as with SEABISCUIT, with an accompanying DVD.

Coastal North Carolina: Its Enchanting Islands, Towns, and Communities

Average customer rating:

Not a guide book
You will treasure this book
Good Investment!
Home Again!

Coastal North Carolina: Its Enchanting Islands, Towns, and Communities
Terrance Zepke
Manufacturer: Pineapple Press (FL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1561642983

Book Description

•North Carolina's Outer Banks and Upper and Lower Coasts are full of enchantment, from the magical waters to the stunning islands, imposing lighthouses, and captivating lore. Author Zepke brings you: •History and heritage of coastal communities like Manteo's Fort Raleigh, where Sir Walter Raleigh established settlements in 1585, and Kitty Hawk, the birthplace of modern aviation •Main sites and attractions like Cape Hatteras's tallest lighthouse in the United States and Wilmington's 230-block historic district •Complete listings of boat ramps, marinas, golf courses, and spots to practice unusual sports such as kitesurfing and hang gliding. •Little-known natural gems such as Bear Island's Hammocks State Park and the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge

Customer Reviews:

Not a guide book.......2007-05-14

Interesting book, but it is not a guide to the Carolina Coast, as it states in its introduction.

You will treasure this book.......2004-09-07

This has to be the most definitive information available about North Carolina's coast, including every island, town and community. It's incredible! Being a native North Carolinian I thought I knew a little something about coastal North Carolina, but when I opened Zepke's newly released book I was absolutely astounded by the depth and detail of her research. It has everything from history to fishing schedules, ghost tales to fun quizzes, interspersed throughout with fascinating tidbits of information.

As the author quips,"I did it for you", you'll surely smile, picturing her footprints left in every nook and cranny along the entire North Carolina coast. Close your eyes and you'll feel the wind on your face and the sand beneath your feet and marvel at the magic of this book.

Good Investment!.......2004-09-05

We bought this in a bookstore during our vacation and were so glad we did. As we visited places, we read what the book had to say about its history and historic sites. I really enjoyed the highlighted boxes filled with interesting trivia. The photos of what places used to look like were also helpful and interesting. Our family answered the quizzes found at the end of each section. As a middle school teacher, I am looking forward to using it as a reference for my classes. The Fun Ways to Learn, also found at the end of each section, will be especially helpful.

Home Again!.......2004-08-10

I was born & raised in NC & grew up loving the coast, but have lived away for a number of years. This book took me "home again". It is well written & covers so many of the beautiful & interesting places on that diversified coast. The pictures as well as the descriptions make it real. After reading this delightful & informative book, I truly do want to go home again if only for a visit. It gives you a wonderful insight into the coast of the Old North State.

Average customer rating:

A gyp
I think it's worth the money.
Not even worthy of being a book...
The Mitford Snowmen
WAY too short!

The Mitford Snowmen (Mitford Christmas)
Jan Karon
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670030198

Book Description

It's Christmastime in Mitford, and everyone's favorite characters are filled with holiday spirit. In The Mitford Snowmen, a swirling snowfall brings them to Main Street for a snowman-building contest complete with doughnuts, hot chocolate, and contagious good cheer. A charming small trim size and enchanting four-color illustrations make this the perfect way to visit Mitford—and gather a heart full of Christmas joy.

Customer Reviews:

A gyp.......2007-06-18

What I think is most amazing is the fact that the publisher had the audacity to put a $10-plus price on this and double that for the Large Print version. The book is no more than a short short story with some mundane illustrations. The story itself is rather nice, but it really belonged in one of the first four novels in the series.

I think it's worth the money........2003-01-26

A very sweet book. I found it a true value: a delight for Mitford series readers plus a chance to introduce the characters to the youngsters. My 10 year old dyslexic son now wants the Mitford series read aloud to him. Look at her children's books: Miss Fannie's Hat and Jeremy.

Not even worthy of being a book..........2003-01-10

I could type the entire book in this section and save you the trouble of checking it out, but I won't, because that would be copyright infringement. But this book is less than 1000 words. There isn't even a moral to the story - it's just a story about several of the Mitford residents building snowmen in front of the stores on Main Street. This is SUCH an obvious attempt to milk the Mitford series for more money without having to actually write another novel. I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I wasn't expecting a long story, but I was expecting something to happen! Philip Gulley writes short stories in all of his books and each of them have a meaning or moral and most aren't that much longer than this book. Seems to me that it would have been easy enough to write a short story with a moral or lesson, but alas, no. Read it IN the library - don't even bother checking the book out.

The Mitford Snowmen.......2003-01-03

Don't waste your money. It takes less that 10 min. to read and I didn't even find it very entertaining. I was so disappointed! I have enjoyed all of Jan Karon's other books but I feel she wrote a few lines to earn some extra cash. I am so disappointed I may not buy another thing that she writes!

WAY too short!.......2002-12-23

If you're a real Mitford fan, you will want to read this book. I settled down for a cozy little read, but I was disappointed that it took me less than 5 minutes to read the whole book, start to finish!

Amazon.com

A Common Life is a trip back in time for fans of "the little town with the big heart." Somewhere between the second and third volumes of Jan Karon's Mitford Years series, dyed-in-the-wool bachelor Father Timothy Kavanagh and his next-door neighbor Cynthia Coppersmith tied the knot. The author left it to readers' imaginations to fill in the blanks. In this delightful story, Karon paints a complete picture of the events surrounding the wedding of Mitford's best-loved couple, and chronicles the poignant and often hilarious reactions to the nuptial news by the tightly knit North Carolina community.

All the details cherished by those who are enchanted by weddings are offered here, from the color of the bridal outfit (aquamarine) to the choice of flowers (virgin's bower and hydrangeas). When the wedding bells finally ring, the pews are packed with the people who make Mitford special: ornery Uncle Billy, delightful Miss Sadie, indispensable Louella, and the cantankerous Emma Newland. And there's not a dry eye in the house when Father Tim's problematic foster child Dooley Barlowe sings for the two people who love him the most.

A Common Life is not just a wedding story. It's also an intimate portrait of the unfolding love between Cynthia and the shy Father Tim, complete with fears and hesitations, professions of commitment, and Barnabas the dog delivering love letters. But there's nothing heavy-handed here. The tensions don't run any higher than wondering if Cynthia will make it to the wedding on time after getting locked inside her own bathroom, or guessing if Esther will make her famous three-layer orange marmalade cake for the reception. Told in the warm, down-home style that Karon has built her reputation on, A Common Life is sweet without being saccharine, charming without being cloying. It's an invitation to a literary reunion of the best kind, and like all weddings, it will probably coax a few tears and plenty of smiles. --Cindy Crosby

Book Description

Mitford's Lord's Chapel seats barely two hundred souls, yet millions of Jan Karon's fans will be there for the most joyful event in years: the wedding of Father Tim Kavanagh and Cynthia Coppersmith. Here at last is A Common Life, and the long-awaited answers to these deeply probing questions: Will Father Tim fall apart when he takes his vows? Will Cynthia make it to the church on time? Who'll arrange the flowers and bake the wedding cake? And will Uncle Billy's prayers for a great joke be answered in time for the reception?

All the beloved Mitford characters will be there: Dooley Barlowe, Miss Sadie and Louella, Emma Newland, the mayor; in short, everybody who's anybody in the little town with the big heart.

A Common Life is the perfect gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries, and for a bride or groom to give to his or her beloved. In truth, it's perfect for anyone who believes in laughter, relies on hope, and celebrates love.

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't fit.......2007-05-13

This book, about a third the size of the others in the series, appears to be something left over or deleted from about the second volume. "A Common Life" is way out of sequence and just isn't very interesting. It deals solely with the marriage of Father Tim and has little to do with Mitford or the other characters. I found the novel (it is scarcely that) a real disappointment, compared with the first four books of the series. If the author felt that the information therein was significant, why was it not included at the appropriate place in time? The question is never answered.

Sweet..........2007-01-30

This mundane novel is something that would appeal to my grandmother..simple, quaint, well written. It is a geat book for a young girl, but for an adult reader it lacks the ability to hold one's interest. Perfectly harmless, but it makes for a dull read--a filler type story for when you simply want to pass the time...

A Common Life: The Wedding Story.......2006-08-31

Another in the wonderful Mitford series - I have enjoyed each up-lifting book! The characters become like family and neighbors; you laugh and cry with each one; and as soon as you finish one book you can hardly wait to read the next.

Another great one by Jan Karon!.......2006-05-12

While this book was shorter... it was nevertheless a great story! It is well worth the money and time!

Mitford is the kind of place that we would all love to live.... a slpeey little town in the mountains where you know your neighbors. I recommend buying this book... and curling up in your favorite chair with a warm blanket and cup of hot chocolate! Turn the phones off and slip away... I guarentee that you won't want to come back!

A very common life . . ........2006-02-20

Disappointing for Ms. Karon's readership -- very mundane and you could skip this book entirely and not miss anything with the Mitford happenings. This is not worth the money!!

These High, Green Hills (The Mitford Years #3)

Average customer rating:

Jan Karon
Third in the series
Prompt and reliable
Wonderful... as are all of Jan Karon's books!
Karon Satisfies Cravings

These High, Green Hills (The Mitford Years #3)
Jan Karon
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0670869341

Amazon.com

The village of Mitford is soothing tonic for a readership that feels starved for community and yearns for clear morals. The recently married Father Tim and his plain-folk neighbors live the best of Christianity in everyday life. Even the rampant gossip in Mitford is the good kind: folks worrying about other folks and everyone minding one another's business out of concern rather than malice. As a result, no one faces a crisis alone. Often the crises are cause for a belly laugh, such as the rectory's new computer system that seems programmed to torment. But just as often the crises have the bite of real-life problems, such as the bloody young girl in shredded clothes, whom Father Tim finds after she was beaten by her drunken father, and the soul-wrenching despair Father Tim feels when he loses a surrogate mother. The heavily quoted scripture gives a day-to-day context for biblical teachings as well as spiritual solace during the sadder days at Mitford. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

For years, Mitford's sixty-something rector has been happily married to his parish. Now he's also married to Cynthia, his vivacious next-door neighbor. For Father Tim, life in Mitford has never been so full of surprises. His wife is "aging" his already ancient kitchen walls, not to mention burning his draperies. The mountain boy he's learned to love as his own makes a heartrending decision. And the agony of mastering the church computer system is as boggling as the pandemonium that breaks loose when his quiet rectory becomes a nursery. All this, however, is small potatoes compared to what happens on a wilderness camping trip that sends him home a changed man. In These High, Green Hills, Jan Karon takes her readers on a heartwarming and hilarious visit to Mitford, where her lovable characters always inspire laughter, tears, and fresh hope.

Customer Reviews:

Jan Karon.......2007-10-03

I love this series and would hope everyone would read it. It is how life should be.

Third in the series.......2007-04-17

Cynic that I am, I do not usually like any book that could be described as "heartwarming," and this book has been described with that adjective. So why am I not giving it a review of only one star? Because despite myself I enjoyed the book. I know it is manipulative in the extreme. I realize that Ms. Karon stacks the cards to make everything come out well--e.g. when Father Tim and wife are lost in the cave and rescued before they suffer more than mild thirst. The whole thing is akin to the old western movies where the sandy streets are filled with horses but there is no horse manure--ever. Mitford just doesn't have any hardcore villains, no real crime, no manure. When people curse, we don't actually hear the words. It is, in effect, Pleasantville.

The fact is, this and the first two installment are not novels at all by any strict definition. There is no real plot that works throughout. Rather, there are mostly minor incidents that soon get resolved or are left over for the next book. Oh, people die and babies are born and there are marriages. But nothing of real moment happens outside the pale. Jeopardy does not enter into this little mountain town.

I must admit that I am troubled at times by the theological intrusions. These seem to increase with each book so far. Father Tim, the central character, is an Episcopal priest, so religion is unavoidable within the narrative. Alexander Pope, the 18th century English poet, warned us to beware of anyone with only one book, be it the Koran or Bible or Catcher in the Rye. Not every solution or measure or value can be found in one work. And not all of Father Tim's solutions are found in one book--or so it seems to me.

But it is comfortable for a reader to go to Mitford for a few hours, and in the final analysis, the real reason we read is to enjoy, to escape, as it were. Mitford is an escape from the more trying events of the real world. I'm now on the fourth installment of the Mitford books with five more to go. I look forward to the trip.

Prompt and reliable.......2007-01-12

This item arrived within a few days and was in the condition as stated.

Wonderful... as are all of Jan Karon's books!.......2006-05-12

Mitford is the kind of place that we would all love to live.... a slpeey little town in the mountains where you know your neighbors. I recommend buying this book... and curling up in your favorite chair with a warm blanket and cup of hot chocolate! Turn the phones off and slip away... I guarentee that you won't want to come back!

Karon Satisfies Cravings.......2006-03-20

For those who have been craving yet another helping of Mitford, Jan Karon's, These High Green Hills will surely satisfy your appetite. This third book in the series immediately dives into the newlywed lives of Tim and Cynthia Kavanagh. As frequent Mitford readers know, Tim's marriage to Cynthia came as a shock to everyone, including Tim himself. Being a bachelor for over sixty years had definitely created many habits that Tim finds hard to break. However, with Cynthia's bright spirit, and ever flowing creative juices, Tim soon realizes that change is inescapable, even in the small town of Mitford.
While Tim plunges into married life, many of his closest friends experience variation in their lives as well. Tim's surrogate son, Dooley ventures into the world of private education, thanks to benefactress, Ms. Sadie Baxter. Though she is aging, Ms. Sadie shows the same old spunk, and continues to develop her lifelong friendship with her domestic employee, Louella. When the town helps Ms. Sadie celebrate her ninetieth birthday, the future seems as bright as ever. However, Ms. Sadie takes a turn for the worst when she falls and injures her wrist. Despite the worries of her health, everyone anxiously awaits the completion of The Hope House Retirement Home, Ms. Sadie's largest contribution to Mitford. She is providing the money in honor of the Episcopalian church, where Tim holds the pastoral position. Since Father Tim resides as her priest [her most beloved in her years of membership], Ms. Sadie gives him the task of finding a chaplain for the home. Apart from the worries of this job, Father Tim must still fulfill his duties to his parish, including the labors he detests. For instance, the understanding of technology. Due to the slow progression of Mitford, hardly anyone knows much about electronics, especially computers. However, the church soon discovers that a computer is a must for keeping things organized. Will Tim win the technological battle with his longtime secretary, Emma Newland? Change is forever creeping into the quiet peace of Mitford.
Beyond the borders of the small town lies a rough area known as `The Creek'. Poverty, drugs, abuse, and much more are prevalent throughout this domain. As Father Tim becomes more involved with helping the people in this area, the struggles become involved with him as well. Several situations leave him feeling helpless, and he must rely solely on his faith in God's strength. Tim and Cynthia encounter another faith-testing experience when they agree to help chaperone the youth camping trip.
Throughout the ups and downs in the hills of Mitford, Tim continues to learn the meaning of true faith, and that God is in complete control. He professes this lesson to others during the story, amongst birth, death, romance, new life, and whatever else is served to the town of Mitford. Karon has truly outdone herself this time. She's shaken things up a bit, which leaves readers with the usual: still hankering for more!!

The New England Cookbook: 350 Recipies from Town and Country, Land and Sea, Hearth and Home

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Ordering a Book
Addicted to recipes
Bring New England home
Truly a taste of New England
GET READY FOR SECONDS. AND THIRDS. AND ...

The New England Cookbook: 350 Recipies from Town and Country, Land and Sea, Hearth and Home
Brooke Dojny
Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 155832139X

Amazon.com

Apart from Native American cooking, the dishes of New England are our country's most venerable. Brooke Dojny's The New England Cookbook offers more than 350 recipes, including traditional favorites such as Boston Clam Chowder as well as unexpected pleasures such as Athena Diner Avgolemono. Many of these come from the immigrants who have made New England their home over the years. Because Dojny has cast her recipe net widely, the book is comprehensive; readers interested in a complete view of Northeast cooking, and those seeking simple recipes for good food--plain to reasonably fancy, old-fashioned to contemporary--will welcome the book.

In chapters devoted to dish types, from starters to desserts, Dojny reveals a compelling culinary repertoire. Among her selection, cooks will want to try Vermont Chicken and Leek Pie with Biscuit Crust, Rosemary Grilled Bluefish with Rosemary Lime Butter, and North Fork Crusty Pan-Seared Scallops. A chapter on sandwiches and pizzas includes such savory temptations as Portuguese Chourico, Peppers, and Onion Grinder and Famous New Haven White Clam Pizza; one of two bread-baking chapters offers breakfast specialties such as Berkshire Puffed Apple Skillet-Baked Pancake. Dojny's dessert recipes are particularly attractive, presenting the likes of Hester's Sour Lemon Pudding Cake, Hungarian Crêpes with Walnut Filling and Warm Chocolate Sauce, or the eloquently simple and good Best Maine Blueberry Pie.

With anecdotal sidebars and a list of sources for down-home ingredients, the book invites the solid, flavorful American cooking that is our principal culinary heritage. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

In he New England Cookbook , Brooke Dojny picks up the strands of culinary influence and provides, in 350 recipes and plenteous anecdotes, a portrait of the way New Englanders cook today.

Customer Reviews:

Ordering a Book.......2007-01-06

Just wanted you to know that I have had trouble ordering "The New England Cookbook". Amazon took my order but kept delaying their shipment of it, saying that they were out of stock (and kept pushing the date forward). I waited patiently for 2 months, then decided that they did not have the item they claimed was in stock.

This was not the first time I have had problems with Amazon. If they have the product they ship immediately, but if they don't.....

Sue in Illinois

Addicted to recipes.......2006-07-19

Let me start off by saying that I returned the book and never tried a recipe. I was stunned by how mundane and unsophisticated the recipes are. The cookbook reminded me of one of those fundraising cookbooks put together by schools and churches where everyone contributes one recipe. The reviews were so good I was expecting something exciting and innovative but instead it was filled with dishes that are as common as dirt. If you own Fanny Farmer you already have everything in this cookbook. I grew up on Buzzard's Bay in Massachusetts and I was looking forward to some real New England favorites. The clam chowder recipe was not as good as one I already posses and the author advocates corn meal on her fried clams. No thanks.

If you are looking for easy recipes that may or may not be authentically New England this may be a good cookbook for you. If you are a gourmet cook looking for sophisticated regional fare I say keep looking.

Bring New England home.......2004-06-21

I bought this book after my trip to New England, and I was not disappointed. I love to cook, and I prefer cookbooks written by professionals who know the difference between restaurant cooking and home cooking, know history of cuisine they present, and share personal stories. All of the above I found in the Brooke Dojny's book. I have tried 15 recipes over the past 6 weeks, and all of the results came out terrific and tasting very much like what I ate in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. I also find the recipes that I have tried to be very easy to follow. Following the recipe for Italian veal piccata, I produced the dish that tastes better than in most Italian restaurants in California and other parts of the States. The recipe for meat loaf is simply the best available! I also appreciate all the forewords and notes for recipes.

Many recipes are quite versatile. For example, the sauce for crab cakes is excellent for many fish or poultry dishes. Even if you serve it with boiled chicken or beef that you used for making broth, the dish becomes excellent instead of being something rather bland and eaten out of frugality and necessity :). This sauce can last in a refrigerator, too.

This book appears to be very helpful when planning a dinner, whether it is a special occasion dinner or just a middle of a week meal. All recipes have specifications as up to which step a cook can prepare a dish in advance. I recently made a sea food feast for my husband's birthday in a middle of a week, and I used this book's recipes only. The feast was spectacular and original, and I was able to do all the shopping and preparations ahead on a previous evening. On the actual celebration day I just spent an hour after work for making four dishes. All in all, they constituted a lovely original coherent special dinner.

After this book, I will gladly buy all books authored by Brooke Dojny.

Truly a taste of New England.......2003-12-10

This book is by far the most stained and used in my collection. Its spine is broken, its pages spotted with grease and cheese, its margins filled with notes.

Every special meal in our home has something from this book - on Thanksgiving, our table was graced by "Whipped Winter Squash with Cranberries," "Crumbly Cider Cornbread Stuffing," and "Shaker Cornmeal Pumpkin Bread." Included in this collection are glorious recipes for a traditional tuna casserole, (tuna casserole glorious, you balk? try for yourself and see!), banana nut bread, clams casino, pizzas and sandwiches, veggies and pasta, fin-fish and shellfish.

There is truly something for every occasion, from the fancy holiday table to the casual backyard lunch. If you are from New England, you'll feel right at home among these pages, whether you hail from the coast of Maine or inland Massachusetts. If you are from another region, you'll be inspired by the folklore and mystery of America's most frugally creative cooks. Fire up your stove and enjoy!

GET READY FOR SECONDS. AND THIRDS. AND ..........2003-05-26

What's cooking? How about Midsummer's Eve Fresh Pea Soup, Herbed Seafood Lasagna, Nor'easter Baked Fish Chowder. And, of course, Cape Cod Turkey . . . which has nothing to do with turkey but salted codfish. We have lots of cookbooks in our collection, but this is one that is going get lots of use. Real soon. Some of the recipe names are a bit tough to swallow (Marlene's Beauteous Butternut Bisque, Red Flannel Hash) but hey, if they can dish it out, we can eat it up. Save room for seconds. And thirds.
And . . .

Archaeology at La Isabela: Spain:America's First European Town

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Archaeology at La Isabela: Spain:America's First European Town
Kathleen Deagan , and Jose Maria Cruxent
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0300090412

Book Description

In this important book, Kathleen Deagan and José María Cruxent present detailed technical documentation of their ten-year archaeological excavation of La Isabela, America's first colony. The artifacts and material remains of the town offer rich material for comparative research into Euro-American cultural and material development during the crucial transition from the medieval era to the Renaissance. The period when La Isabela was in existence witnessed great innovation and change in many areas of technology. The archaeological evidence of La Isabela's architecture, weaponry, numismatics, pottery, and metallurgy can be precisely dated, helping to chart the sequence of this change and revealing much that is new about late medieval technology. The authors' archaeological research also provides a foundation for their insights into the reasons for the demise of La Isabela.

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Ten minutes
esther's gift
The Best of Things Come In Little Boxes....
The cake is a bust
An enjoyable holiday tale

Esther's Gift (Mitford Christmas)
Jan Karon
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0670031216
Release Date: 2004-10-21

Book Description

Readers flocked home to Mitford last Christmas, making The Mitford Snowmen a New York Times bestseller.

In Esther's Gift, Esther Bolick is filled with the holiday spirit as she prepares to bake the annual batch of her famous-and utterly scrumptious-orange marmalade cakes. Right after Christmas Eve service at Lord's Chapel, she and Gene will deliver a two-layer marmalade to each of seven friends and neighbors, all of them favorite Mitford characters. Then Gene calculates what it costs to bake this legendary cake, and Esther is stunned. Is it worth it to spend so much money on people who haven't always measured up to her expectations? The answer is clear. She'll cut her list back-way back.

This decision makes perfect sense until the lyrics of a Christmas carol steal into her heart, and help remind her what a gift really means.

Customer Reviews:

Ten minutes.......2007-06-12

It shouldn't take the average reader more than ten minutes to read this book, cover to cover. That's not an exaggeration. And as such, this book just isn't worth the price, any price.

Esther argues with herself over the cost of her locally famous cakes, which she gives to the deserving, especially at Christmas. And she decides that the price she pays is worth it. That's it.

If you must read this, get it from the library. You can read it there too.

esther's gift.......2006-11-10

this was a good book i love jan karon.. got it in good condition and in a timely manner..

The Best of Things Come In Little Boxes...........2003-12-22

Esthers' gift isn't a lengthy story...another in the Mitford Series. Yet, in it, I found another "chapter" of life in Mitford. The true 'meaning' of Christmas' which touched my soul. If you keep in mind this book is a 'small' piece of the Mitford life...you'll be thrilled beyond your wildest dreams! I plan to 'try' the cake. Perhaps as some have been 'dissappointed' in it...it 'may' be a 'ficticious recipe'... one that sounds like a real one for the book. It's a 'dandy' of a cake in Mitford...but Jan Karon didn't promise us (anywhere that I read) that it would win a prize at the State Fair! It's a MUST for your collection!

The cake is a bust.......2003-12-16

I have read every Mitford word. I gave this book to friends for Christmas thinking it would be a fun way to get started with her writing. When visiting my sister-in-law I spent a careful morning in the kitchen making the marmalade cake from the copy I gave her. Better move to Mitford and beg Esther to bake one for you because even the recipe is a disappointment. I think of myself modestly as a seasoned baker with 30 years experience. Perhaps Karon's publisher outsourced the job to a cakemix chemistry lab? I did all the painstaking steps and used all the top ingredients; something is off. Maybe Esther gave Father Tim a smudged recipe card? Karon is much better with theology than with the oven. I also feel ripped off by the "industry" of side items to the Mitford books. Let's stick with substantive stories and messages.

An enjoyable holiday tale.......2003-11-20

"Esther's Gift: A Mitford Christmas Story," by Jan Karon, is about Esther Bolick, who is getting ready to bake the orange marmalade cakes that she traditionally makes as Christmas gifts. But economic pressures force her to reevaluate the tradition.

This is a sweet, charming tale that is nicely enhanced by colorful illustrations. The text includes an actual recipe for orange marmalade cakes.

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