Product Description

Enter the world of Mitford, and you wont' want to leave. But Father Tim, the local rector, is suddenly not so sure. A dog the size of a Buick follows him home and won't go away. A hostile boy is left in his care. His attractive new neighbor wears a path to his door, stirring feelings he hasn't felt in years. Add to that an epic dinner party, a potentially valuable painting, a surprising tale of unrequited love, a mysterious break-in and mdash;and you have At Home in Mitford, a delightful novel, rich with appealing characters, charm, and wit and mdash;and a story to return to again and again.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #446580 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 542 pages

From 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

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.

Ingram
The first in a series of novels, this heartwarming book introduces readers to a small, charming North Carolina town and its equally charming denizens. Filled with the mysteries and miracles of everyday life and rich, provincial humor, At Home in Mitford will have readers clamoring for more. Followed by a sequel, A Light in the Window.

Customer Reviews

Relaxing...Not Overly Stimulating
I liked this book, but felt that there could have been more of a plot or story behind the town. All of the things that seemed like big mysteries didn't turn out to be that way. It was a nice peaceful story of a town that I would like to visit. However, that's all it was, and a little long to have no purpose.

A cozy mystery
At Home in Mitford is the first book in the Mitford series. It introduces you to the major characters (and quite a few minor ones) that Karon develops in the later Mitford books. I didn't continue to turn the pages of this book because the plot was so riveting I couldn't put it down. I kept reading because I needed to know what happened to Father Tim and the other citizens of this charming little town. Karon does a wonderful job of making the reader care about these lovable characters.

Think of this book as a cozy mystery with no dead body. It does, however, have a jewel theft, a kidnapping, a runaway and several medical crises to keep you turning the pages. If this isn't enough, there is also a romance and an old secret that comes to light, so it has something for everyone. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

A Gentle Read
I've been interested in the reviews I've read, being in agreement with them most of the time. Those who complain about a lack of reality, etc., miss the point all together. There is enough so-called reality everywhere we turn. A reality of crudeness, selfishness, and disdain for anything gentle. Hooray for Jan Karon, and her wonderful world of Mitford. I have even missed my favorite TV shows (Law & Order, and CSI), for a few hours of delight in the pages of Mitford. Father Tim and all the rest have won my heart!