Product Description

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 really learned to savor the work of his hands. When he finds a derelict nativity scene that has suffered the indignities of time and neglect, he imagines the excitement in the eyes of his wife, Cynthia, and decides to undertake the daunting task of restoring it. As Father Tim begins his journey, readers are given a seat at Mitford’s holiday table and treated to a magical tale about the true Christmas spirit.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35637 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780142004852
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Esther Bolick, mayor of Karon's beloved make-believe Mitford, bakes a marmalade cake for Christmas that is as sweet as her hometown. Her story, Esther's Gift, and The Mitford Snowmen--"both included in this holiday collection--are previously published, stocking stuffer--sized narratives that Karon's fans have mostly likely already consumed with zeal, but the title novel is fresh entertainment that Mitford aficionados can enjoy while they do their own holiday baking. Sounding like Santa himself might, reader McDonough rumbles out these cheery tales, using dramatic pauses, lilting character voices and, at times, simple a cappella renditions of hymns to convey the upbeat innocence of the town and its residents. Choir music by Journey of the Soul fills the gaps between the novel and short stories, soaring as high as listeners' emotions will when Father Tim presents a restored nativity scene to his wife, Cynthia, on Christmas Eve. Though this audio production may be too cloying for some listeners, others will be buoyed by McDonough's jovial narration and the novel's inspirational themes.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap
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 teach an old dog new tricks!" he reminds himself. It's when he imagines the excitement in Cynthia's eyes that he steps up to the plate--and begins a small journey of faith that touches everyone around him.

The eight novel in the bestselling Mitford Years series is a mediation on the best of all presents--the gift of one's heart. Lovingly written and beautifully illustrated, it seeks to restore the true Christmas spirit and give everyone a seat at Mitford's holiday table.

About the Author
Jan Karon writes "to give readers an extended family and to applaud the extraordinary beauty of ordinary lives."

Customer Reviews

Faith abides in Mitford
I picked up the newest installment in the Mitford series from my church library. Yes, the margins are pushed in and yes I wished for more...but I was blessed with what was there. The story of Father Tim's Christmas was exactly what I needed. It is a story of faith, faith in doing what you didn't imagine you could do, faith in hoping for something you never dreamed of having, and faith in the simplicity of the lives of our Mitford family. The book is setting the stage for the end of the series where we may see the conclusion of all the loose threads, will Kenny be found, will Father Tim and Cynthia travel to Ireland, will Dooley stay a Barlowe or become a Kavanagh...these are worth waiting for, in detail and in depth.

To get to enjoy Christmas in Mitford makes this book worth my time to enjoy the story. But most of all it gave me faith when I needed to replenish my soul.

Perspective
The encouragement and peace I enjoy most when reading a Mitford story are all here in Shepherds Abiding. I have not been disappointed with the length of the book as some of the other reviewers. Instead I have been thrilled because I have been comparing the length of this holiday season release with the two previous holiday books by Jan Karon, Mitford Snowmen and Esther's Gift. Several months ago I understood that there would be one final novel in the Mitford Series--and I believe that is still the case with release projected for 2005, and so considered the release of Sheperds Abiding a wonderful surprise. It is a wonderful reflection on the holiday season.

A trip to Mitford is always worth the read.
Although I, too, was disappointed at the shorter book, I always find it enjoyable to sit down with Jan Karon's delightful cast of characters. I had been hoping for a more in-depth story that would take us further along in Father Tim's journey and explore more of the story lines that have been hinted at in past installments of the Mitford series. For example, will Father Tim find Kenny, the last missing Barlowe sibling? And when will Dooley discover that he is a millionaire? But we will have to wait until the final book to find out the answers to these questions.

What I did find in Shepherds Abiding was a book very similar to A Common Life. While not as in-depth, the story gave us a better look into the thoughts and personalities of other residents of Mitford. We have only known Hope Winchester and Lew Boyd on a fairly superficial level up until now, and it was wonderful to get more insight into their lives and, particularly, their spiritual journeys. However, I did miss some of the characters that generally play a bigger role, such as Dooley and Cynthia.

Nothing terribly exciting or dramatic happens in Shepherds Abiding. But that's never the case with life in Mitford - it's the characters and walking with them through the ups and downs of everyday life that give Jan Karon's books their charm.