Home to Harmony

Harmony #1

by Philip Gulley

Come home to Harmony, Indiana, a peaceful slice of small-town America, as Sam Gardner, Harmony-born and raised, begins his inaugural year as pastor to a new flock of old friends, family members, and outrageous eccentrics -- in this unforgettable place where earth-shattering events rarely occur, but small life-altering ones happen daily.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Humor, Inspirational, Adult Fiction, Adult

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Philip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life. Along with writing Front Porch Tales, Hometown Tales, and For Everything a Season, Gulley is the author of the Harmony series of novels, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, which are coauthored with James Mulholland.

He hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.

Gulley lives in Indiana with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam—in a rambling old house with Gulley’s eclectic chair collection (64 at last count) and a welcoming back porch.

Gulley is also the Pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting House in Camby, Indiana. If you find yourself in Camby, you're invited to attend a sermon.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books I'd like to give a 3.5
It is, as the book jacket indicates, a cross between Jan Karon's "Mitford" series and Garrison Keillor's "Lake Woebegone" tales - a genre I've tentatively decided to call "Nostalgic Pastoral Fiction," with "Pastoral" used in its older sense rather than its religious one. (Although in this case it would work either way.) In "Harmony," each chapter is a loosely connected anecdote from the life of one of the denizens of the small Mid-Western town of Harmony, its Friends Meeting, or said Meeting's pastor (who is also the narrator.) Each chapter concludes with a pithy sermonette.
The pastor/narrator does not suffer from an excess of the wisdom or even piety that so infects Father Tim of the Mitford series. This renders him rather less lovable to me, but perhaps more realistic all the same. The townfolk were also a mixed bag of semi-saintly and sanctimonious. And mostly the seromonettes seemed theologically sound and even profound at times. Still, born and raised in a Friends (Quaker) church, many of the Meeting-related anecdotes had an air of familiarity for me - but not the happy, nostalgic sort. More the teeth-gritting "boy am I glad my current church doesn't operate that way because I would go stark raving mad, run screaming, and seriously contemplate dropping out forever" sort. I wanted to punch a couple of the idiotic members and then shake the pastor by the neck and demand he justify why he's put up with their nonsense for so long. When he finally Did discipline one of them I gave a little mental cheer but still found it too little, too late.
Which makes me wonder why I rate it as high as I do. I am a sci-fi, historical fiction, and to a lesser extent suspense and political thriller fan - genres about as far from nostalgic fiction as one can get. By all rights I ought to hate this book, just like I ought to hate Mitford. But I savored each entry in the former series. Harmony, like Mitford, is simple, flavorful, and easily digested - like a nice grilled cheese sandwich with a bowl of tomato soup after too many days of spicy, complicated meals.
So while I half-fear that I am praising a Thomas Kincaid painting while rejecting the Rembrandt for being too dark and complicated, I will Probably seek out the rest of this series - at least as a palate cleanser.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm almost done with this, and I must say it's not something I would have been looking for. This book is a spiritual, inspirational, making your soul feel good... a far cry from the vampire/paranormal erotic romance I've been reading! I happen to be cruising the aisles at my library and the binding jumped out at me. all the books in the series were there so i grabbed the first and got comfy in a chair. Reading the first couple chapters I didn't know what I had been reading. I thought it was just a book on good ole hometown living. Surprise surprise when i read the back cover to learn the author is a quaker minister. Spiritual books aren't really my bag of chips, but i think something drove me to this book. my dad died last august and i've been questioning faith, i'd been thinking about things more lately and had the full intention to go pick up another vampire/witch book but found this instead. this is the faith i've been looking for! raised catholic i've never felt i needed a priest to get to God, quakers believe just that. not only does this book give a breath of fresh air on the insight of the religion but it is humorous. i love reading about all these townspeople, what they were like back in the day and what they are like to the main character in the present. i love the idea of a small town, everyone knows everyone, not a whole lot of change. each chapter has a message at the end and it has forced me to think. i will be reading the next in the series, Phil Gulley is a great writer! this story is just like a comfort food! warm and cozy. i'm appreciating more little things in life, i'm going to be ok.

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the reviews on the back of this is from Library Journal, which called the book "filled with grace." They're absolutely right. Sometimes, Christian fiction can be so heavy-handed, but this was just beautiful. Having gone to a church in small-town Indiana (and also having actually been to the real Harmony), I could totally appreciate the characters who hated change, the characters who wanted change more than most other things, the characters who loved all the weird crotchetiness but wouldn't admit it for fear of being thought provincial. These people were so real, from the ways they made you want to bang your head on the wall to the ways they made you hope for humanity. And one thing I really loved was that, though it all, Pastor Sam (who is in first person, which can be tricky to pull off without sounding terribly folksy and ridiculous) keeps admitting that he has so much to learn. He lies, he judges, he screws up just like "the rest of us" and has to say, yes, that is what grace is about, that is why we follow this God who creates people that make us want to hibernate until they retire to Florida. This a book quietly overflowing with grace, with love, with patience and a recognition that just because you fall down doesn't mean that you get to hate yourself or the people around you.
I have a lot of friends who are either pastors or in some theological role--this book made me want to hug all of them for what they do (and what they don't), but it also made me realize how crazy-stupid-God-awful-annoying-lovely-beautiful-broken-redeemed this family of Christ is. It also made me want to go find the next one, because I've been told this is the first of a series.
I look forward to it very much.


Notes from the Second Read
Okay, wow, time and life situation do a lot to a thing. So it's been a while and I picked this up again because I now am a pastor myself (yeah, 2011 me didn't see a lot of things coming) and am looking at this with a completely different lens and...well, the shine has worn off. That five-star rating is now three because I still do appreciate everything I found in the review above but Lord, does this book do a lot of terrible Nice Christian things. The small-town beauty of grace remains, and that's awesome, but "grace" gets used to paper over a lot of behavior from the cast of characters that's deeply problematic. People are allowed to be spoiled, petty, mean, and controlling to the main character because he's a pastor and therefore supposed to love them through everything--but y'all, I am here to tell you that love has to come with accountability. It has to, otherwise it's just abuse with Hallmark language. I've met these people in my own congregations and yes, yes, yes to the grace of being with people in their best and worst hours but absolutely no to the idea that people "are just like that" and "set in their ways."
There is one moment this gets acknowledged when the pastor does let someone leave when they've worked themself up to it. "You try to win people over with love and patience, but some people don't want to be won over. All they want is their way" (87). And I felt that deeply and appreciated Gulley's willingness to acknowledge it--but there's so much here of small-town distaste for anything that isn't theirs, anything "newfangled," and that just isn't something I have patience or heart for these days.
When I finished this book the first time, I had such a renewed sense of love for the Church. When I finished this book this time, I was so frustrated that this is the culture that creates folks who tell me they've outlasted other preachers and they'll outlast me and until I preach what they want, they're not going to tithe. (Two different people, but yes, both of those things have been said to me.) And it made me so, so sad.
Don't read this if you're clergy in the 2020s, I guess. It has too much rose in its lenses to take it seriously when you've seen what this looks like in real time.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put this under "Christian Fiction" because as I understand it's a somewhat fictionalized account of the writers experience. If I'm wrong I apologize.

That said, it's a good read. Inspirational, humorous and uplifting. I'd say if you liked the Milford books you will probably enjoy this.

I haven't read any of the follow-up books but I hope to get around to them. Life can always use a look at the brighter side of things.

[Trace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't remember the last time I read a book that had me literally laughing out loud quite as much as this book did.

Mitford fans will definitely love Harmony. The characters are every bit as real and human as the Mitford residents. By the end of the book, I felt like I really knew these characters. Once you've laughed and cried alongside them, its hard not to feel connected to them.

Philip Gulley has a perfect formula, it seems. In nearly every chapter, he would introduce the character and the issue. He will have you PEEING your pants and crying tears of laughter and THEN he'll hit you with something really poignant and important to think about.

Its too bad that I declared my last book read as my favorite book of 2014 so far, because I'm wondering if this book doesn't trump that last one, even if by a hair.

One thing's for sure - I'm borrowing every Philip Gulley title that my library owns. My only dilemma is whether to binge or space them out and savor... :)

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked out this audiobook at my library since it was recommended as a readalike for Jan Karon's Mitford Series.

Although Harmony and Pastor Sam were not quite as endearing as Mitford and Father Tim, I did find it to be well worth a listen. The gospel was presented without being preachy and that is a difficult row to hoe.

It was a reminder to me of some of the churches I have been a part of and the personalities you are in community with. There is much to be learned about grace when serving alongside others in the church and that crosses all denominational lines. We are all sinners on the road of sanctification -- a work in progress. All praise to the One who will uphold His saints until they cross the finish line.

[Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea behind this book. Small town preacher ... His flock... Small life stories. But overall there was 0 plot. And every chapter ends with a little tribute to good that is way too heavy handed. The writer has a sweet style, but in the end cannot tell a story and does not seem to have anything new to say.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute warm hug with a cover on. I read this is one day and loved every minute of it. Funny, quirky, and sometimes so poignant.
It is not overly deep nor literary, but sometimes that is very ok. There are days where we need a book that feels like a cozy blanket and a cup of tea.

[Jenalyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible book for so many reasons. I almost gagged at the end of each chapter when the author tried to give us his philosophical Maxisms. So cliche. So cheesy. The book had absolutely no structure and was wandering from story to story with hardly any character development of our dear pastor. It's quite obvious that the author (also a pastor) fashioned this entire book around his little philosophical nuggets, while the plot and everything else took a backseat. I was hoping for another great "Mitford" series, but alas, no. Definitely no.

[Anjanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Really, an adorable book. 🥰 I think I’ve met every one of these characters, living in Indiana!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, anecdotal, character driven stories of small town life filled with simple truths. I laughed out loud a couple times and even wept a bit, but then I am a sentimentalist. A folksy, witty style of writing that seems grounded in real life. In this case, it is the life of a Friends Meeting.
What kept me reading was the common place situations that occur in every congregation. There is always the "traditionalists" who speak loud over their fear of any change. There are the wounded who occasionally seek shelter from the world. There is the all powerful women's group that can guilt the males into doing most anything that they think needs to be done to further God's work whether it is to shod the barefoot Choctaw Indians or to get a water saving toilet in the ladies room.

The book wouldn't be so special if it weren't for the wonderful turns of phrase.

About sitting in the same pew every Sunday:
"My wife and I considered having another child, then realized we'd upset the fragile balance of the meeting. So our family is small, due to Quaker family planning-parents ought never bear more children than the pew can hold."

About serving on church committees: "You serve six years, then are paroled, having done your time."

About the sermon critics: "Complaining about the service was a weekly ritual for Fern, a deep joy, almost a sacrament. During worship she would sit in the 6th row and scribble furiously. At first I thought she was taking notes, but what she was doing was gathering evidence."

About Home: "When love takes you by the hand and leaves you better, that is home. That's the place to stake your claim and build your life."

The result is a warm, cozy book that could be described both as profound in its simplicity of describing the best of Christian living and as 'Christianity Lite' in small town Midwest. If you prefer the heavier theological, intellectual, tough life "grey area" morality studies, try "Tattoos on the Heart" by Greg Boyle. It is another anecdotal, character driven examination of Christian action and reflection based on life in the world of East LA.

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book is favorably compared to work by Twain, Keillor or Jan Karon, prospects look good for it. And so this volume was, and so it is. A slice of the Midwest, small-town humor, and gentle nudges toward godliness are all aspects of a story that took hold in me easily. Extra points are awarded for capturing Hoosier ways and wisdoms. I shall be happily found wandering down Harmony’s lanes for many more volumes.

[Almira · Rating 4 out of 5]

When "The world is too much with me" I seem to turn to Philip's Harmony series, it always lifts my spirit. 12-28-24


Gentle read from a Quaker minister set in the small town of Harmony.
At times, some members of the Harmony Quaker congregation can be absolutely annoying, yet others are always looking at the good in people - just like in real life.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this book I really enjoyed and even made me laugh out loud. Other parts were irritating and I felt the author almost got a bit mean at types. I am glad I read it but won't be looking for others in the series.

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun read! I highly recommend this book for writers to study the mastery of the short autobiographical story. Although not a memoir, the characters and situations are so believable that it definitely reads like one. Each chapter follows the characters of Harmony and reads like a short story with a lesson at the end. I found myself tearing up at some of them. The reason why I only rated this three stars is because of the narrator, Pastor Sam. I found myself getting frustrated at his evident lack of healthy conflict and discipleship in his church body. He let the more vocal members of the church walk all over him and resorted to doing things like secretly installing a new toilet at night so as not to upset the penny-pinchers, or pretending he hadn’t accidentally left the church freezer unplugged, thus ruining the women’s frozen chickens for a church event. He came across as a doormat, not a confident but humble leader. Although I think a Christian could read this book and appreciate the over-the-top peace-keeping Pastor Sam did to pacify the heretical members of the church body, I think a non-Christian would come away from this book seeing typical Christian tropes (as inaccurate as they may be) perpetuated.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Philip Gulley's books, as was my mother before me. I spent enough time in her small Indiana hometown (where my grandfather was the town's only doctor and where, even though I lived in the "big" city two hours away, absolutely everyone knew me when I came to visit) that I can recognize a realistic portrayal of the best in small town life when I read it. And this is it. (Also, the funniest in small town life -- Gulley knows how to laugh at well-meaning human folly better than most.)

I read this during the Christmas season when warm memories of Christmas's past (and summers past and birthdays past and so many other times past) washed over me, that I could only reflect on how lucky I have been to really know this piece of America. I now happily live in a city large enough to have interstate signs pointing in our direction 200 miles away, and I spend every Thanksgiving and Christmas with my daughter's family in New York, which is a wonderful, exciting place with an entirely different kind of charm. But, oh those childhood memories of simpler times . . . if you want to share in those, read Home to Harmony.

[Shauna Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one. So many quirky, small town characters that make up this book of tales. I laughed aloud countless times and am ready to dive into a second serving of Philip Gulley’s word buffet asap!

[Andréas Skogholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

ÄLSKAR den här boken! Men för att verkligen få ut det mesta av den behöver man vara kristen och helst aktiv i en frikyrkoförsamling. Mycket kärlek, mycket skratt och mycket glädje!

[Dana Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried with laughter. I cried with all the heartwarming sweetness.
4.5 stars

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I love the small town feel, the humor, and the profound moments at the end of each chapter. It reminded me in some ways of Jan Karon's At Home In Mitford, but thankfully wasn't a Mitford Copycat. Some of the "Quaker-isms" bothered me a bit, but not enough to make me not read it. Also there was one chapter in the middle that was . . a bit . . . adult. Ahem. The book could have done without that one. :P

What I loved most about this book was the profound 'lessons' at the end of each chapter. I wanted to pound my fist on the table and shout "AMEN!" after some of them. They didn't come across as preachy, AT ALL, just as an observation or encouragement.

The characters were great; Dale Hinshaw was HILARIOUS and annoying, I loved Miriam and Ellis Hodges; and of course, Sam Gardener and family was sweet too.

Favorite quotes:

"I don't think we ought to look for Christ in a quilt. I think we ought to look for Christ in the poor, in the common, in the lady who rings up our groceries, in the man who mops the grocery floor, in the kid who delivers our pizza. . . We always look for Christ amid magnificence. But that Christ has a history of showing up amid the unlovely. Born in a dirty stall. Crowned with thorns. Died gasping on a shameful cross atop a jagged rise. We don't need to be beautiful for Christ to take us in . He is equally at home when we're broken down and dirty. "

" 'I'll be fine,' I'll tell him. 'I'll be fine. You go on home. Don't worry, I'll be fine.' Putting on a brave face. We learn that in first grade."

"In the end, that is what we all must do. Stand where we feel led. Stand straight, stand tall, and try hard to remember that other folks might be led to stand elsewhere."

All in all, I loved this book! Excepting the one aforementioned chapter, I heartily recommend this!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Phillip Gulley's "Front Porch Tales," I was eager and intrigued to pick up his first work of fiction, "Home to Harmony." And I'm happy to report that the magic and wonder that made "Front Porch Tales" such an enjoyable read is present here.

The story is told from the perspective of Sam Gardner, who grew up in the small town of Harmony and has now returned as the minsiter of the local Quaker congreagation. There's no real plot to the novel, so much as there are anecdotes about the various people and places in town. Gulley's Harmony reminds of the calm, tranquility that first make Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon so enduring to listeners and then readers. (Indeed, at times throughout the book I found myself yearning to hear Mr. Gulley's voice telling us these stories). At the end of each chapter, Gulley presents us with the moral of the story or makes a good point. He's never heavy-handed with it and the point he's trying to make fits seamlessly into the stories.

If you're looking to slip into a comfortable place that's gentle and calm, I highly recommend a trip to Harmony. The book and the stories are as comfortable as old friends.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

These vignettes about a fictional rural town shine mostly because Philip Gulley has a gift for taking commonplace occurrences and imbuing them with deeper meaning and insight. Sometimes delightful, sometimes poignant, but always pertinent. There were moments when I was a little troubled with how unenlightened (read that as nasty) some of the members of the church were but then isn't that just how it is in reality?

Very enjoyable, with more than a few thought-provoking quotes.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series of books by Philip Gulley. They are about a Quaker minister, his church, and his small town in Indiana. Some parts are just laugh out loud funny. These books would be great to take on a trip when you need some interesting light hearted reading.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems like a knock off of the Mitford books, but not nearly as good. Especially troubling to me is the feeling that the author really doesn't respect religion at all. At least the Mitford series takes religion seriously. This just seemed silly, and a little condescending to me.

[Leaon Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip Gulley has thee coolest style of writing. It reminded me of the Mitford series, yet... to me; was even better.

[Kim Faires · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re read but SO worth it.

A lot like the Mitford series but makes you think about deep truths.

[Nancy Cook-senn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful tales of a young pastor coming home to minister and his experiences -- good, bad, humorous, poignant -- in dealing with his flock.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip Gulley’s, HOME TO HARMONY, is part Garrison Keillor, and part stories from small town Midwest America. Each chapter presents an event and characters who face a variety of ordinary tasks and challenges, and ends with an overview of philosophy that is heart warming. Anyone who grew up in rural Midwest will recognize the fictional town residents and identify them with real people. Gulley uses his experiences as a small town pastor to collate a wonderfully poignant glimpse into the area which is somewhere along US Route 36, the heart of the country. Five cups of sentimental-I-TEA with a bowl of Quaker Oatmeal.

[Lori Henrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of like reading a group of short stories because it seemed like each chapter concentrated on a particular theme. Think that is why it took me a bit longer to read than I figured it would. I have to say that at some parts I was a bit bored. I won't be reading anything else in this series or probably from this author. I rated it three stars because it was just not my particular taste, but others would probably like it. I did like parts of it because it was kind of slow.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Gulley's 4 books about a sweet, small community of Harmony Indiana as seen through the eyes of the Harmony Friends Church pastor is sweet, sad, heartwarming, hilarious. You will find the church and community of people much like the folks you know. SO like the folks you know that you think you live there.