“At Home In Mitford” – A Book Series For Couples Who Enjoy Easy Reading
You might think Jan Karon’s Mitford series is primarily women’s fiction. Here’s a little secret: men enjoy these books too!
Tens of millions across the globe have read and loved the Mitford series. And many of those readers have been men.
The Mitford series is mostly set in the small mountain town of Mitford, North Carolina, although a few of the books take place elsewhere. The main character is Father Tim, the rector of a small Episcopal church. We follow him, the family he builds, and the people around him through an endless variety of plot lines. Women readers love the sweet stories, the happy endings, and the gentle life lessons. Men will enjoy the humor, the camaraderie between Father Tim and his friends, and the adventures he finds himself involved in. Almost-Retired Life readers may also relate to him dealing with aging and facing retirement. I think everyone will love the way the author draws us into Father Tim’s world.
The Mitford series is the equivalent of a ride down a lazy river. Or laying in a hammock, swinging in a gentle breeze…
Although set in contemporary times, the series takes us back to a time many of us long for, when life was kinder and more relaxed. These books aren’t thrillers or edge-of-your-seat suspense. They are easy reading, an escape from the crazy realities of our current chaos into a more pleasant place. Even when there is tragedy or loss or pain, we know somehow it’s all gonna be alright in the end. Reading about Father Tim and all the other characters offers hope that there is still a place where people are decent and life is happy. Isn’t that something all of us need, especially in today’s world?
Bob Says:
I must admit at the start that Liz was recommending these books to me for years. I said “No, thanks,” thinking that the books were meant for women. Boy, was I wrong! I can honestly say the Mitford series has been the best yet. At Home in Mitford introduced me to Father Tim, an Episcopal priest in the small town of Mitford and his big, adopted dog Barnabas (who, by the way, behaves just by quoting scripture). It is a heartwarming story of miracles, love, laughter, mysteries, and the everyday life of its citizens. I will tell you that the minute you begin to read this story you are hooked. I’ve read all of the books in the series now and haven’t been to the library in months. Jan Karon is an excellent storyteller. I’m intentionally not giving a lot of detail what this book is about… so prove me wrong. Is it the best or what?
Liz Says:
Way back in the mid-90s I came across the book At Home in Mitford at our local bookstore. (That was back in the stone ages when we had local bookstores and we read hard copies of books.) I distinctly remember reading it while reclining on the white wicker loveseat that sat on the front porch of the house we were living in at the time, surrounded by blooming azaleas and camellias. It was an idyllic setting for my introduction to what has become my all-time favorite fiction series.
After I devoured the first one, I rushed back to the bookstore to purchase book two, A Light in the Window. Which was quickly followed by book three, These High, Green Hills. I think it might have been at that point that I ran out of Mitford books and had to wait until the next one in the series came out. Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, author Jan Karon produced a new book every year or two. I waited in anticipation for each new release, and eventually read all fourteen of them – multiple times. The fifteenth book in the series came out recently after a long break, and it was like going home again. Now I’m waiting to see if there will be a sixteenth book!
At Home in Mitford and the rest of the Mitford books will draw you in and make you wish you lived there. If you want a series that will inspire you toward a kinder, slower, more meaningful life, try reading the first book. We think there’s a good chance you’ll love Mitford from the start