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At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years, Book 1)
by Jan Karon

Published: 2005-06-30
Paperback : 542 pages
9 members reading this now
14 clubs reading this now
9 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members
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 ...
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Introduction

(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.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

1. What role does Barnabas play in Father Tim’s life? What other characters seem to invade Father Tim’s already busy life, only later to prove enriching elements? Are there any that are a permanent drag on his spirits? How does Father Tim come to terms with them?

2. Dooley appears on the scene untamed and uninvited. What is it that finally makes Father Tim and Dooley aware that they need each other? How does Dooley contribute to Father Tim’s life? Have you had “Dooleys” in your own life?

3. Choose two of your group members to read the dialogue between Dooley and Puny in the middle of Chapter Seven — the scene where they first meet. How does the dialect differ in your part of the country? Try reading a brief part of a Dooley speech in the dialect of your own region.

4. Which characters did you dislike at first, only to later come to appreciate or at least understand them? What characters in the book react that way to someone new?

5. Compare Miss Sadie and Miss Rose. They are very different characters, but both make a powerful contribution to the books. What makes them such vivid characters? What would Mitford be like without them?
What unique contributions do they make?

6. Priests seldom have people they can confide in. Who are Father Tim’s confidants? What secrets does he entrust to them? What role does prayer play in giving Father Tim a chance to truly vent his feelings?

7. “Mitford takes care of its own,” says Mayor Cunningham. How does this happen in the book? Is this limited only to small towns? What other types of communities can it take place in?

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "At Home In Mitford"by Barbara F. (see profile) 01/22/15

Father Tim, a bachelor rector, resides in Mitford North Carolina. You will be drawn in to the delightful life of living in Mitford through Father Tim's experiences of companionship, caring, counseling,... (read more)

 
  "One of my favorites.."by Connie P. (see profile) 06/16/08

Oh Father Tim and the whole town are so wonderful and so warm. I read the whole series more than once. I love the way you feel when you read this book, and you think you know all the people... (read more)

 
  "This book is an adult fairy tale"by Wendy G. (see profile) 06/15/08

I really wanted to like this book. I was looking forward to reading it. I couldn't. As hard as I tried, I could only get three quarters the way through this overly sweet novel. The first cha... (read more)

 
  "An Inspiring novel that will make you think twice about life itself"by Kelsey G. (see profile) 04/15/08

I read this a long time ago, and I didn't like it, yet I never understood it. Then I read it a few years later, and I enjoyed it much more this time.

 
  "A quaint story of Father Tim and his life in a small town."by alice c. (see profile) 04/15/08

I loved this book. It was recommended to me by a coworker, and after I read it, I immediately reached for the second and third and all of the books in the series. If you like books that have a good story... (read more)

 
  "A 'feel good' book - save it for December reading."by Kathryn D. (see profile) 04/14/08

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