At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
Series: Book 1 of 15
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (April 29, 2008)

Review by Mae Clair

I’m late to the ballgame in discovering the small town of Mitford and its assortment of quirky characters, but I’m so glad I have! At Home in Mitford is the first book in an established and beloved series spanning fifteen novels (at present count). The central character, Father Tim Kavanagh, is rector of the town’s Episcopalian church, a man approaching his 60^th birthday. He is equally charming, humble, and an all-around good guy—even when God shuffles surprises his way.

Enter an excitable black dog “the size of a Buick,” (who grows quiet when hearing scripture), an attractive new neighbor, a cat named Violet who likes to climb on roofs, a jewel thief with a contrite soul, and a rough-around-the edges boy who carves a place in Father Tim’s home, not to mention his heart.

If that isn’t enough, the folk of Mitford weave in and out of Father’s Tim’s life like a twining ribbon. With names like “Homeless Hobbs,” “Puny,” “Absalom Greer,” and “Miss Sadie” (to name only a few) you’ve got a unique collection of personalities. Yes, there are a lot of secondary and tertiary characters, but they’re as becoming as a bouquet of flowers, each adding vibrant bursts of color. I had no problem sorting who was who. This isn’t a laugh-out-loud book, but it is one to bring warm smiles and plenty of chuckles—along with some well placed heart-tugging.

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Actually, he found his dog more attentive than many of his congregation. On the other hand, none of the congregation ever openly engaged in vigorous scratching, so it was a wash.

At Home in Mitford, by Jan Karon

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Messages of faith—how God works in our lives—are beautifully woven through character interaction and Father Tim’s actions, dialogue and thoughts. This snippet is from one of his discussions with a troubled stranger who appears in his church:

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“Do you like the fall of the year?”
The man gave an odd laugh. “Why?”
“One of the things that makes a dead leaf fall to the ground is the bud of the new leaf that pushes it off the limb. When you let God fill you with his love and forgiveness, the things you think you desperately want to hold on to start falling away . . . and we hardly notice their passing.”

And another:

“My friend, if you keep your eyes on Christians, you will be disappointed every day of your life. Your hope is to keep your eyes on Christ.”

At Home in Mitford, by Jan Karon

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Everyone needs a Father Tim in their life! He loves his church and his town—and his parishioners (even non-parishioners) love him. I have already read the next five books in the series and ordered several more. I look forward to a long, leisurely stroll through the pages of each successive novel, watching how the characters grow. The major plot threads in book one tie up neatly at the end, with a few larger story arcs left to carry through successive novels.

If you enjoy a book that feels like indulging in a cup of warm cocoa, I cheerfully recommend this heartwarming and funny read. It checks all the boxes for a faith-central, touching, and entertaining tale. I give At Home in Mitford five exuberantly joyful fish!

I purchased the Kindle version of At Home in Mitford