Livin' In Mitford

Twenty years ago I was perusing the "new books" shelves at our local library and ran across AT HOME IN MITFORD by Jan Karon.  It looked intriguing so I checked it out and after about 3 chapters I was completely in love with the North Carolina mountain town of Mitford and its cast of quirky characters.  I was so smitten that I wrote a 3-page letter to Ms. Karon singing her praises and thanking her for giving me some good old-fashioned story telling that didn't involve infidelity, divorce, murder or any of the other "issues" that pass for story-telling these days.  I don't generally purchase books, I keep the local library's circulation statistics in good order or I find things at used books sales.  But I have bought every book Jan Karon has written, including the ones for kids!

Several years ago she decided to put the town of Mitford to bed and wrote a couple of spin-off books about the life of Father Tim, the main figure of the Mitford series.  They were on a much more serious note and, although they were good, they were not the same warm-hearted  faire that we were used to in Mitford.  

So imagine my delight when I discovered on her website that she was planning two more Mitford books.  And look what came in the mail:

I was going to launch right into it, but then I decided to do what I'd been claiming I would do when I retired...reread all the original series.

I've made it thru books 1 and 2 so far, so maybe by Thanks giving I'll be ready to open the cover of this new one.  I can hardly wait 'cause I'd rather be in Mitford!