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Summary
Summary
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.
Author Notes
Jan Karon was born in North Carolina in 1937. After a career in advertising, she began writing a column in the Blowing Rocket. The column, about life in the small North Carolina town of Mitford, centered around an Episcopalian minister named Father Tim. Her Father Tim stories were collected into a book and published by a Christian publisher. She is the author of A Mitford Novel series and two children's books entitled Miss Fannie's Hat and Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny. She has won numerous awards for her work including the Christy Award for A New Song and the Gold Medallion Award for A New Song, A Common Life, In This Mountain, and Shepards Abiding.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Fans of Mitford, N.C., will rejoice over this anticipated full-length seventh installment in the bestselling series, especially those disappointed with its shorter, rather lightweight predecessor, A Common Life. Although this offering is permeated with Karon's trademark charm, the plot isn't all sweetness and light. Three years have passed since Father Tim Kavanagh and his wife, Cynthia, returned to Mitford from Whitecap Island, and depression and discontent are gnawing away at the good cleric as he faces the big "7-0." As Cynthia's career reaches new heights, Father Tim makes some personal decisions that lead to tragedy. But never fear - although Karon strikes some somber notes, she avoids becoming heavy-handed. Devoted readers will find the same appealing characters and enchanting writing that originally won them to the series. edith Mallory is up to her old tricks, plotting her seduction of Father Tim, and haircut wars are fought between barber Joe Ivey and stylist Fancy Skinner. Convicted jewel thief George Gaynor returns to the series after his release from jail; something new is cooking down at the Main Street Grill; and Dooley Barlowe learns the ropes of romance even as he agonizes over a search that may turn up his lost father and brothers. Karon more fully fleshes out two of the series' minor characters, Helene Pringle and Hope Winchester, and introduces newcomer Millie Tipton, a wise-cracking Methodist preacher who fits comfortably into town life. Homespun dialogue, fresh and lively descriptions, laugh-out-loud moments and poignant scenes mark the heartfelt book, which is a happy reunion for Mitford devotees. (May 27) Forecast: With more than 10 million Mitford novels in print and with the most recent title, A Common Life, dominating bestseller lists last year, the success of this installment is a no-brainer. A month before publication, it had already ventured into Amazon.com's top 50. Break out the orange marmalade cake. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Following the sweet trifle of A Common Life (2001), Karon serves up heartier fare in the latest installment in the increasingly popular, faith-based Mitford series. Father Tim has been retired from the Lord's Chapel for several years now but still feels unsettled. Although he and wife, Cynthia, have made plans to spend a year in an Appalachian ministry, there are other opportunities available, several of them related to Cynthia's growing fame as an author and illustrator of children's books. But Father Tim's inability--or stubborn refusal--to control his diabetes leads to a crisis that completely overturns his generally placid daily round. Meanwhile, efforts continue to reunite all the members of adopted son Dooley's scattered family; rehabilitated ex-convict George Gaynor comes back to town with interesting consequences for Hope Winchester at the Happy Endings Bookstore; Emma Newland's efforts to make Father Tim computer literate finally start to pay off; the Main Street Grill regulars welcome the new pastor at the Methodist church--a woman (perhaps destined for a larger role in the next book?). Notwithstanding her quaint small-town setting and folksy cast of recurring characters, Karon always manages to avoid sentimentality by realistically depicting life's challenges. In past books Father Tim has ministered to other people in need, but this time he undergoes a severe test of his own, and it makes for a deeper book. Loyal fans will eat up the newest Mitford, and readers who may have been growing weary of Father Tim will find refreshment here. --Mary Ellen Quinn
Library Journal Review
Father Tim Cavanaugh is bored. At first, retirement seemed like a good thing; now he longs for a mission, a parish, a goal. After a diabetic blackout at the wheel of his red Mustang, he finds he has seriously injured a fellow clergyman and killed the man's dog. Guilt, confusion, pain, and envy send him into a depression. However, God is keeping Father Tim in Mitford, NC, for a number of reasonsDto find Dooley Barlow's brother Sammy, to bury Dooley's grandfather, to encourage and support the "man in the attic" when he is released from prison, to help Uncle Billy find some new jokes, and to act as cheerleader for his wife, Cynthia, as she is showered with awards from the publishing world. Once Father Tim realizes that he is needed in Mitford, he regains his love of life, his sense of humor, and his happy existence. Karon's writing makes everyday life seem very important; her storytelling compels the listener to become a caring and concerned part of the community. Read with lively and interesting voices by John McDonough, this novel is highly recommended.DJoanna M. Burkhardt, Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Univ. of Rhode Island, Providence (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
"I got to do somethin' to rake in business." Percy slid into the booth, looking...Father Tim pondered what Percy was looking...Percy was looking old, that's what; about like the rest of the crowd in the rear booth. He sucked up his double chin. "Maybe I ought t' mess around with th' menu," said Percy, "an' come up with a special I could run th' same day ever' week." "Gizzards!" said Mule. "What about gizzards?" "I've told you for years that gizzards is th' answer to linin' your pockets." "Don't talk to me about gizzards, dadgummit! They're in th' same category as what goes over th' fence last. You'll never see me sellin' gizzards." "To make it in th' restaurant business," said Mule, "you got to set your personal preferences aside. Gizzards are a big draw." "He's right," said J.C. "You can sell gizzards in this town. This is a gizzard kind of town." Mule swigged his coffee. "All you got to do is put out a sign and see what happens." Percy looked skeptical. "What kind of sign?" "Just a plain, ordinary sign. Write it up yourself an' put it in th' window, no big deal." "When me an' Velma retire at th' end of th' year, I want to go out in th' black, maybe send 'er to Washington to see th' cherry blossoms, she's never seen th' cherry blossoms." "That's what gizzards are about," said Mule. "What d'you mean?" "Gizzards'll get some cash flow in this place." "Seem like chicken livers would draw a better crowd," said Percy. "Livers tie up too much capital." J.C. was hammering down on country ham, eggs over easy, and a side of yogurt. "Too much cost involved with livers. You want to go where the investment's low and the profit's high." Mule looked at J.C. with some admiration. "You been readin' th' Wall Street Journal again." "What would I put on th' sign?" asked Percy. "Here's what I'd put," said Mule. " Gizzards Today. " "That's it? Gizzards Today? " "That says it all right there. Like you say, run your gizzard special once a week, maybe on..." Mule drummed his fingers on the table, thinking. "Let's see..." "Tuesday!" said J.C. "Tuesday would be good for gizzards. You wouldn't want to start out on Monday with gizzards, that'd be too early in th' week. And Wednesday you'd want something..." "More upbeat," said Mule. Father Tim buttered the last of his toast. "Right!" "Wednesday could be your lasagna day," said J.C. "I'd pay good money for some lasagna in this town." There was a long, pondering silence, broken only by a belch. Everyone looked at Mule. "'Scuse me," he said. "Do y'all eat gizzards?" Percy inquired of the table. "Not in this lifetime," said J.C. "No way," said Mule. "I pass," said Father Tim. "I ate a gizzard in first grade, that was enough for me." Percy frowned. "I don't get it. You're some of my best reg'lars-why should I go to sellin' somethin' y'all won't eat?" "We're a different demographic," said J.C. "Oh," said Percy. "So how many gizzards would go in a servin,' do you think?" "How many chicken tenders d'you put in a serving?" "Six," said Percy. "Which is one too many for th' price." "So, OK, as gizzards are way less meat than tenders, I'd offer fifteen, sixteen gizzards, minimum." J.C. sopped his egg yolk with a microwave biscuit. "Be sure you batter 'em good, fry 'em crisp, an' serve with a side of dippin' sauce." Percy looked sober for a moment, then suddenly brightened. "Fifteen gizzards, two bucks. What d'you think?" "I think Velma's going to D.C.," said Father Tim. A brief silence was filled with the sound of the dishwasher running full throttle behind the rear booth. Accustomed to its gyrations, the occupants of the booth no longer noticed that the wash cycle occasioned a rhythmic tremor in the floorboards. "So how do you think your jewel thief will go over?" asked J.C. "He's not my jewel thief," snapped Father Tim. "It was your church attic he hid out in," said Percy. "I think he'll go over just fine. He's paid his debt to society in full, but better than that, he's a redeemed man with a strong faith." Silence. Chewing. Slurping. "I hope," said Father Tim, "that you'll extend the hand of fellowship to him." There. That's all he had to say about it. Mule nodded. "No problem. It's th' right thing to do." More chewing. "So how come you're not goin' to Rwanda or someplace like that?" asked Percy. "Hoppy wouldn't allow it." Hoppy would never have considered such a thing. Father Tim knew his limitations and they were nu- merous. "What about th' kids in your own backyard? You ever thought of doin' somethin' for them?" The fact that he'd supported the Children's Hospital in Wesley for twenty years was his own business; he never talked about it. "Tennessee is our own backyard." How he ever ended up with this bunch of turkeys was more than he could fathom. "We'll miss you," said Mule, clapping him on the shoulder. "I won't hardly know what to order around here." Father Tim laughed, suddenly forgiving. He thought he might miss them, too, though the possibility seemed a tad on the remote side. "Here comes Hamp Floyd," said J.C. "Hide your wallet." "What for?" "Th' town needs a new fire truck." "Seems like a good cause," said Father Tim. He took out his billfold and removed a ten. "Th' town's got th' money for a standard truck, but Hamp wants a few bells an' whistles." "Aha." "Plus, he won't have anything to do with a red truck," said J.C. "Seems like a fire chief would like red. Besides, what other color is there?" "Yellow. He's holdin' out for yellow." A yellow fire truck? Father Tim put the ten back in his billfold and pulled out a five. --from In This Mountain by Jan Karon, Copyright © June 2002, Viking Press, a member of Penguin Putnam, Inc., used by permission." Excerpted from In This Mountain by Jan Karon All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
