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5th out of 25 books
—
17 voters
Shepherds Abiding (Mitford Years #8)
by
Jan Karon
Millions of Americans have found Mitford to be a favorite home-away-from-home, and countless readers have long wondered what Christmas in Mitford would be like. The eighth Mitford novel provides a glimpse, offering a meditation on the best of all presents: the gift of one?s heart. Since he was a boy, Father Tim has lived what he calls ?the life of the mind? and has never r...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
September 28th 2004
by Penguin Books
(first published 2003)
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“Shepherd’s Abiding” is a warm and fuzzy book that is part of the Mitford Years Series. I read about three or four of the series and always felt refreshed after reading them. Places like Mitford are where we all want to be at times—away from the maddening crowd.
In this novel Father Tim and his wife Cynthia are preparing for Christmas. It begins in October when everyone is waiting for the maples to turn their brilliant colors. He finds an old plaster nativity set in the antique store and is someh...more
Part of the wonderful Mitford series, this one is concerning Christmas and how everyone is dealing with the approaching holidays. Father Tim is shown a well-worn nativity set from the 19th Century that is badly in need of repair and repainting. Encouraged by his antique store friends, he dives in, hoping to complete it as a gift for his beloved wife. Things are changing in Mitford as they do all over. The Grill is closing, the husband and wife owners finally retiring. That leaves the townspeople...more
Who knew that books could be just like comfort food? I've not read the Mitford books, stumbled onto this one (#8) because I'm on a Christmas-book reading binge this month.
I listened to this one and it was like having mac and cheese made by mom, or vanilla wafer/banana pudding or homemade egg custard with nutmeg browned on top. SIGH...I feel like I've gone home -- At various times during the story I felt as if I was in my childhood home town. Then there were parts that reminded me of the town wh...more
I listened to this one and it was like having mac and cheese made by mom, or vanilla wafer/banana pudding or homemade egg custard with nutmeg browned on top. SIGH...I feel like I've gone home -- At various times during the story I felt as if I was in my childhood home town. Then there were parts that reminded me of the town wh...more
Apr 10, 2011
Angela
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bookcrossed-or-otherwise-set-free,
2006
Karon works more homespun magic with this latest uplifting story set in sleepy Mitford, N.C. Father Timothy Kavanagh, stalwart of the Mitford series, is approaching 70 when he comes across pieces of an old English nativity scene at his friend Andrew Gregory's antique shop. The set has definitely seen better days, and Andrew is hoping that someone will volunteer to restore it. Who better than Father Tim, who seems to have reached a turning point in his life and needs a project to distract him? In...more
I read Jan Karon's Shepherds Abiding every year at Christmas time and every year I find another heart warming message I hadn't found before. This years message was 'The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.' It wasn't even close to any usual Christmas message I've treasured over the years. But the part about keeping an untroubled spirit encouraged such a feeling of free-spiritness in me. This book is about how an ret...more
I'm going to write the same thing for the entire series. It's a syrupy sweet old fashioned read which does not demand anything of the reader. Many find the series feel good, and there are some sparkles of true conflict here and there, but mostly it's about the mundane daily plight of a vicar who finds love later in life and saves people - emotionally and physically.
If you like the first in the series, keep reading because you will be comforted by the characters and will want to see who is added...more
If you like the first in the series, keep reading because you will be comforted by the characters and will want to see who is added...more
Jun 22, 2010
Ruth
marked it as to-read
304 pages.
Since he was a boy growing up in Mississippi, Father Tim has lived what he calls "the life of the mind." Except for cooking and gardening and washing his dog, he never learned to savor the work of his hands. And then he finds a derelict nativity scene-twenty figures, including a flock of sheep, that have suffered the indignities of time and neglect.
Could he give the small company new life? Restore the camel's ear, repaint every piece, replace a missing nose on a wise man? "You can't te...more
Since he was a boy growing up in Mississippi, Father Tim has lived what he calls "the life of the mind." Except for cooking and gardening and washing his dog, he never learned to savor the work of his hands. And then he finds a derelict nativity scene-twenty figures, including a flock of sheep, that have suffered the indignities of time and neglect.
Could he give the small company new life? Restore the camel's ear, repaint every piece, replace a missing nose on a wise man? "You can't te...more
This was another great book from the Mitford series. As the title somewhat indicates, this one took place around Christmas time. It was the shortest in the series and occurred over a couple of months whereas the others took place over many months, sometimes years. These books usually don’t have a definitive plot, and I mean that in a good way. It just follows the lives of the people living in the town of Mitford, NC. I think one of the most appealing thing about this series is that Mitford seems...more
Shepherds Abiding By Jan Karon This book takes the reader to Mitford and lets you glimpse into the lives of it's residences at Christmas. Father Tim has an old nativity set in his basement that he want to fix up for a present to his wife. There were two angels for the display and while working on one of them he drops it and it brakes. His wife finds the broken angel in the trash;she puts it together using her skills as a potter and when father Tim presents her with the renewed nativity set she p...more
Another Christmas-themed novel I pulled off the shelf. I got through most of it while waiting in the airport!
Always fun to drop in to Mitford for a visit, and this book is no exception. A little lighter maybe than some, but I enjoyed Father Tim discovering new skills, Hope discovering new courage, relationships growing and memories recalled and made anew. And the gentle reminder that perhaps giving is more about what's valued, than what it costs.
And I still get to the end wanting to see the comp...more
Always fun to drop in to Mitford for a visit, and this book is no exception. A little lighter maybe than some, but I enjoyed Father Tim discovering new skills, Hope discovering new courage, relationships growing and memories recalled and made anew. And the gentle reminder that perhaps giving is more about what's valued, than what it costs.
And I still get to the end wanting to see the comp...more
A sweet Christmas story in the Mitford series. Father Tim Kavanaugh restores an old nativity scene for Cynthia's present. And, Cynthia has a special present in the makings for Tim. The story also focuses on other Mitford citizens and their dreams for the Christmas season. Hope Winchester wants to by the bookstore where she works. Lew Boyd wants his new wife, Earlene, to tell her mother about their marriage, retire and move to Mitford so he won't be so lonely anymore. Uncle Billy wants to make a...more
It would be a good idea to read Shepherds Abiding every year at Christmas time. Every time I've read it, I find something I missed the time before. This book is about how an retired minister makes his Christmas in the small town of Mitford. All of the Mitford series characters are present but this time we get to see more of the ones that have kept a low profile in her other books. What a joy it was to get to know them better. I'll like to keep this book close this Christmas season to remind myse...more
Eighth in the Father Tim Kavanaugh of Mitford, NC series.
It’s Advent, and Father Tim has found what he thinks will be the perfect gift for his wife, Cynthia: an old Nativity set in need of refurbishing. Although he has no skills in this area, Father Tim takes on the task with his usual enthusiasm, aided by friends. Dooley and Lace are quite the young adults, and Tim and Cynthia have a hard time keeping out of the way of the stormy relationship.
All of Karon’s strengths are present: sensitive writ...more
A few years ago I started reading the Mitford series and only got through the first three books. I decided one of my New Year's goals was to start the series over and finish it by the end of the year. Since it was December, I wanted a Christmas book to curl up with, so I chose "Shepherds Abiding," hoping it wouldn't be a "spoiler" for me. Unfortunately, the books DO go on in chronological order, but I don't think I "spoiled" anything with my return to Mitford. I loved spending some time with Fat...more
This is the eighth book in Jan Karon's 'Mitford' series. It's shorter than the majority: less than 300 pages, and print well spaced out, so I read it in less than two days.
It's a bit of a novelty book rather than an important one in the Mitford story; Christmas is approaching, and the retired Episcopal priest Father Tim spots a rather scruffy set of plaster nativity figures in the antique shop. Hoping to surprise his wife, he enlists the help of a couple of friends and sets to work to repair and...more
It's a bit of a novelty book rather than an important one in the Mitford story; Christmas is approaching, and the retired Episcopal priest Father Tim spots a rather scruffy set of plaster nativity figures in the antique shop. Hoping to surprise his wife, he enlists the help of a couple of friends and sets to work to repair and...more
This book was an ideal book to take with me to read on a plane to Europe. The Mitford series has such loving and sensible Christianity in it that it gives me hope. For non-Christians it is a delightful look into typical small town life. Every small town has its varied personalities, and so does Mitford. I would recommend that anyone interested start with book #1 on the series so that they can learn to know and love the individual characters as they are introduced.
I really tried to finish this book, but it just didn't catch my attention. I have enjoyed other books that jumped back and forth between characters, but this one was too confusing for me to keep up. Perhaps if I started with the first book in the series, I would have enjoyed it better. The main story of Father Tim refurbishing the nativity scene was just too slow for me. However, this does not in any way stop me from continuing on my Christian fiction quest.
There's only one more book to go in the Mitford series. Although I've loved them all so far, this special Christmas story really touched my heart. As I read the ending, I was getting ready to shed some tears. Jan Karon has given us a wonderful gift in these stories. Mitford could be the town I live in with its' pretty hills and a cast of interesting characters. I really don't want this series to end and I am hoping to get the cookbook for Mother's Day!
I loved the Mitford series, and while it's been awhile since I've read the original set of books, this was a lovely Christmas story - - reverent without being overly gooey, touching and an easy read. I would NOT recommend this book unless you've read some of Karon's other stories, however - - -there were too many characters that entered into the fray with little or no explanation to read easily without some prior knowledge of Mitford's residents.
Much as I have adored every other title in the Mitford series, I was at first inclined to pass over this seemingly stand-alone entry. I have fallen so deeply in love with the colorful, quirky, eccentric yet fiercely loyal characters that I didn't want to disrupt the flow. How glad am I that I ignored my first instinct and instead chose to finish this rather quick read!!
The story is completely engaging, many of the secondary events that unfolded were immensely satisfying (Hope's efforts to acquir...more
The story is completely engaging, many of the secondary events that unfolded were immensely satisfying (Hope's efforts to acquir...more
I read this book during Advent and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story centers on Father Tim and his desire to complete a seemingly impossible task before Christmas Day. The tale is wrought with all of the frustration, anxiety, and then overwhelming joy that Christmas preparations entail. I truly felt that I could identify with Father Tim in all of his humanity as he prepared for "the Big Day." Just a lovely, well written story!
12/10 - I decided, while reading this book, that Mitford novels are like milk chocolate. They do lack the sophistication and complexity of dark stuff - but they still make great comfort food.
I've been a long time enjoy-er of Karon's books, and this was like revisiting sweet memories. Like all the Mitford books, it's a gentle, simple story with a simple plot and lots of personal triumphs for the characters involved. The only thing I didn't like about this one was the passages told ENTIRELY in Unc...more
I've been a long time enjoy-er of Karon's books, and this was like revisiting sweet memories. Like all the Mitford books, it's a gentle, simple story with a simple plot and lots of personal triumphs for the characters involved. The only thing I didn't like about this one was the passages told ENTIRELY in Unc...more
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Obviously I should have known, based on the title and the picture on the cover that this is a Christmas book, but I was simply reading it as the next book in the series and must say: it will really put you in the Christmas spirit!! I finished this in mid-October and am really excited for Christmas this year! Without going over the story like I'm sure many others have already done, I would say this is one of the best Christmas books I've read. A definite must-read during (or before!) the Christma...more
Dec 09, 2007
Angela
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who like sweet, whimsical fiction
Shelves:
book-club,
fiction-whimsical
I read the rest of the "Mitford" books a LONNNG time ago, before this one had been written, so it was great fun to dip into the Mitford world again in a new story. Just a sweet, wonderful book. I listened to it in my car as I was going about town so it took me a while to get through, but the reader was excellent, and it really helped me savor the book rather than just slam through it. My friend Paula reads it every year around Christmas, and she bought me a paperback version of it as an early Ch...more
Book # 8 of 9 books in the Mitford series. Christmas is coming and Father Tim Kavanaugh has a special project he is working on as a surprise for his wife, Cynthia. She, meanwhile, has a surprise in store for him as well. As we continue to follow the residents of Mitford in their holiday preparations it becomes clear that the best gifts are those that come from God.
I loved how this book focused solely on one Mitford Christmas. I can see myself rereading it during the holiday season because it is such a delightful read and contains such a warm spirit. It was interesting to discover how the magic of Christmas seemed to touch so many of the residents of Mitford, resulting in glowing, radiant sentiment. A most worthy read!
Sweet book, quaint little town - very folksy! I appreciated the subtle Christian "thread" throughout the book. The reason I gave it only three stars is because the way the book was divided made it seem very choppy, not flowing. This is #8 in the Mitford series, so maybe if I'd read the previous books I would have been more familiar with the characters.
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A very simple story that brings out some of the very basic messages of Christmas. My favorite line in the book is that when you love someone your eyelashes go up and down and stars come out of your eyes. It is helpful to have read at least 2 or 3 of the first part of the series to know a little bit about who is who concerning the characters.
"8th in the Mitford series, another lovely tale, this one a Christmas story. (Too bad I didn't get around to reading it in December as planned!) Fr Tim takes on a project, to restore an old, large nativity scene in need of drastic repair. The story hops between character. Pleasant small town xmas preparations."
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Born Janice Meredith Wilson in 1937, Jan Karon was raised on a farm near Lenoir, North Carolina. Karon knew at a very early age that she wanted to be a writer. She penned her first novel when she was 10 years old, the same year she won a short-story contest organized by the local high school. Karon married as a teenager and had a daughter, Candace.
At 18, Karon began working as a receptionist for...more
More about Jan Karon...
At 18, Karon began working as a receptionist for...more
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