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Patches of Godlight: Father Tim's Favorite Quotes

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A beautiful collection of some of Father Tim's favorite quotes and a great companion to the Mitford series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon.

Written in Father Tim Kavanagh's own hand, this wonderful collection of quotes brings to life the personal reflections of Mitford's beloved Episcopal priest. Here Father Tim has carefully recorded his favorite quotes from a variety of thinkers, philosophers, and poets whom he has admired over the years. Next to the quotes are Father Tim's personal comments, scribblings, and doodlings. From C. S. Lewis and Mark Twain to Aristophanes and St. Paul, these heartwarming words on love, life, and faith are a perfect addition to the Mitford series--and a must-have for Jan Karon's millions of readers.

Further inspirational and uplifting quotes are collected in a second volume,  A Continual Feast .

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2001

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About the author

Jan Karon

142 books2,793 followers
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 a Charlotte, N.C. advertising agency. She advanced in the company after leaving samples of her writing on the desk of her boss, who eventually noticed her talent. Karon went on to have a highly successful career in the field, winning awards for ad agencies from Charlotte to San Francisco. In time, she became a creative vice president at the high-profile McKinney & Silver, in Raleigh. While there, she won the prestigious Stephen Kelly Award, with which the Magazine Publishers of America honor the year's best print campaign.

During her years in advertising, Karon kept alive her childhood ambition to be an author. At the age of 50, she left her career in advertising and moved to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, to pursue that dream. After struggling—and failing—to get a novel underway, Karon awoke one night with a mental image of an Episcopal priest walking down a village street. She grew curious about him, and started writing. Soon, Karon was publishing weekly installments about Father Tim in her local newspaper, The Blowing Rocket, which saw its circulation double as a result. "It certainly worked for Mr. Dickens", says Karon.

The Father Tim stories became Karon's first Mitford novel, At Home in Mitford. That book has since been nominated three times (1996, 1997, and 1998) for an ABBY (American Booksellers Book of the Year Award), which honors titles that bookstore owners most enjoy recommending to customers, and the only book ever nominated for three consecutive years. The fourth Mitford novel, A New Song, won both the Christy and Gold Medallion awards for outstanding contemporary fiction in 2000. A Common Life, In This Mountain, and Shepherds Abiding have also won Gold Medallion awards. Out to Canaan was the first Mitford novel to hit the New York Times bestseller list; subsequent novels have debuted on the New York Times list, often landing the #1 spot.

Karon has also published two Christmas-themed books based on the Mitford series, The Mitford Snowmen and Esther's Gift, as well as Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. Other Mitford books include Patches of Godlight: Father Tim's Favorite Quotes, a compilation of wit and wisdom, and A Continual Feast: Words of Comfort and Celebration, Collected by Father Tim. In addition, Karon has written two children's books, Miss Fannie's Hat and Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny, and an illustrated book for all ages, The Trellis and the Seed.

Karon says her character-driven work seeks to give readers a large, extended family they can call their own. Though Light From Heaven is officially the final novel in the series, there's yet another Mitford book in this prolific author. Karon urges her millions of ardent fans to look for the Mitford Bedside Companion, releasing in the Fall of 2006. "It has everything in it but the kitchen sink", says Karon.

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5 stars
833 (49%)
4 stars
507 (30%)
3 stars
259 (15%)
2 stars
62 (3%)
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12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
622 reviews135 followers
January 21, 2018
This is a nice, complimentary book to the Mitford series. This books is composed of quotes, notes, Bible verses and thoughts to ponder, all organized in a format that is supposed to be Father Tim's very own notebook. The majority of this book is written in cursive, which is supposed to be Father Tim's handwriting.

This would make a lovely coffee table or bedside book, especially for Miftord fans. My only complaint is that I found the handwriting difficult to read at times. I also read the ebook and I didn't like the format. Due to the notes done in cursive, the text was treated like a photo and what would have been 8-10 page in the paper back copy, was 1 page in the ebook form. Because of this, I couldn't highlight or bookmark specific quotes that I really liked. All in all, a very enjoyable book of quotes and thoughts to ponder with gentle reminders of Father Tim, a dear Mitford character.
Profile Image for Pam.
34 reviews3 followers
December 30, 2008
I keep this book by my bedside and read through parts of it when I only have a little time to read. It's very inspirational. Jan Karon quotes a wide variety of people from C.S. Lewis to Thomas Jefferson. It's especially meaningful if you've read the Mitford series. I've marked my favorite quotes, but inevitably I find a new favorite every time I read it again.
Profile Image for Clarissa.
104 reviews
January 18, 2011
I got many good quotes for my own little book of sayings! Good stuff!
Profile Image for Lynette.
1,427 reviews5 followers
February 2, 2008
This book is really great if you like quotes. It is supposed to be Father Tim's quote book (he is a fictional priest in the Mitford series). I like to thumb through it occasionally. There are really great quotes. It is a little hard to read because it is supposed to be hand written.
899 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2010
I really like what they have done with this book. It has handwritten notes, typed notes with overtypes, strikeouts, and repeating characters, coffee stains, all in all a well designed book. But, it's also a great read. It gives you an insight into what is important to Father Tim.

I took this book on a flight with me, and finished the book. There were some notable quotes, but I'll have to indicate them when I have the book in my hands.

There are no page numbers in this book. There are also a number of blank pages at the back of the book to record your own quotes.
23 reviews21 followers
December 23, 2011
If you're looking for a relaxing read, this is for you. It is filled with "handwritten" and "typed" quotes and reflections. Think of what it would be like to sneak into Grandpa's study and browse through his journal. A good gift for a loved one of the reflecting persuasion.
Profile Image for Beth Peninger.
1,884 reviews2 followers
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October 30, 2023
I love and adore the Mitford Series, and its main character Father Tim, by Jan Karon. Within that series Father Tim, a voracious reader, leans into and on the wisdom he discovers in the numerous books he reads so he's always quoting some author or drawing on the example of a public figure. To that end, Karon created this book of some of Father Tim's favorite quotes. It is designed to look like a notebook in which he jotted down, in his own handwriting, quotes to remember etc. And it is truly just a book filled with quotes by people, that's it. A very quick read, really more of a skim, that wasn't quite as inspiring as I think I imagined it would be. Somehow the quotes and such fall a little flat without the actual voice of Father Tim. I don't feel like this book of quotes rates a rating, so I leave it void of one. It is simply a book that has been sitting on my TBR for a very long time and I have now read/skimmed.
Profile Image for Sheri Hathaway.
Author 3 books6 followers
Read
September 27, 2019
This is done in a very different format. It's printed to look like Father Tim's notebook with quotes written in his handwriting. Other entries are typed, apparently on the Father's typewriter, including the type o's. It gives the reader a relaxed feeling of glancing casually into his notebook after having picked it up from his desk. It's a collection of quotes of famous people and some Bible verses. I borrowed it from the library but I'd like to get my own copy just for the quotes. It would be a good resource for many of the projects a writer works on in their professional and private life.
439 reviews5 followers
September 2, 2019

Jan Karon's Father Tim is a book character who has always inspired me. His struggles with God are authentic, yet he holds on to his faith; he accepts people as they are, believes and wants the best for them and loves words and quotes of history. This book is a treasure of anecdotal and heartening words from Father Tim's journal. I read it bit by bit in the mornings while drinking a cup of tea - what an encouraging way to begin the day.
45 reviews
March 2, 2019
I did not love this one like all the others, I’m sorry to say. I never have been into poetry & this reminds me of it. The cursive writing is very hard to read. I did get a kick out of the typed pages from Father Tim’s own typewriter.
But don’t let this stop you. It’s just not my cup of tea.
Enjoy.
Profile Image for Tamara.
712 reviews
June 3, 2021
Wonderful ... just that simple

This is one of the best book of quotes I have ever read. Happily I now own it. As a bonus, it has blank pages at the end to allow me to add more favorite quotes. Although this will not be for everyone, it has been a favorite morning read (just a few pages) for several months.
Profile Image for Cathy Hodge.
1,609 reviews13 followers
June 17, 2021
This is a companion book for the Mitford series. Father Tim keeps a notebook of quotes to use for sermons, letters, etc. I liked the memorandum format that looks like actual written notes and typed (with typos) quotes from famous writers and not famous friends. The warm personality of Father Tim Kavanaugh comes through in this journal. Enjoy
144 reviews22 followers
August 23, 2017
I am going to keep this book real handy for reference time and again. What a wealth of wisdom for those inevitable times in our life that need time for pause and reflection! Have sticky notes on all my most favorite quotes!
435 reviews
January 12, 2019
Love this book. If you are a fan of Father Tim's, so will you! Not only does
it showcase his favorite quotes but he adds his own messages beside them.
If you haven't read the series you won't know who Stuart or Dooly and the
others but the quotes are worth the reading.
319 reviews
September 28, 2020
I have loved the Jan Karon books and so I picked this up from one of the neighborhood boxes. This is supposed to be quotes, scriptures and thoughts that were important to him. It is handwritten (which I occasionally found difficult to decipher) has markings, and side notes. Kind of fun!
Profile Image for Patricia Butler.
69 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2022
If you like quotes you may love this book. If you don’t like the fonts mimicking handwriting, You may find this book annoying. I do like quotes, and found so many gems from such a variety of people. I found the format and fonts difficult on the eyes at times, but just took it slow and steady.
Profile Image for Andrea Engle.
2,055 reviews59 followers
November 23, 2022
A vast collection of good words and bright thoughts from such Christian writers and thinkers as Charles H. Sturgeon, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, Frederick Buechner, and several others … good sermon material …
Profile Image for Michelle.
274 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2023
This is a fun quick read. It is set up just like how father Tim kept his journal of inspirational quotes. I truly felt like I was reading his journal. If you’ve read the Mitford series I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Katrina Misley.
39 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2017
Great collection of quotes! I love a good quote. Bonhoffer, Lewis, Longfellow, all good stuff.
554 reviews
December 23, 2017
The words and ideas are beautiful but its not in print but very sloppy cursive and is extremely hard to read.
31 reviews
September 1, 2018
Good series

Good idea. Writing hard to follow on kindle. Typed words would have made it more enjoyable to read. Recommend this series.
Profile Image for Joy Gerbode.
2,024 reviews17 followers
February 1, 2019
While this book has some very wonderful quotes in it, I was anticipating more of Father Tim's quotes ... pieces from the Mitford series ... and thus was a bit disappointed.
Profile Image for Courtney Shevchenko.
162 reviews9 followers
February 15, 2019
I loved this collection of quotes. My only complaint is that the handwriting was hard to read in places.
168 reviews
October 8, 2019
Hard to read

Cute and useful i am sure but hard to read. Print it and it will be more accessible. A pity
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews

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