Oh....I almost wish I hadn't come in here.....to discover Father Tim and Cynthia got married.....I haven't gotten that far with the books yet. I'll not read any further until I catch up! Bye for now.......

I'm trying to stay in line... I have started "Out to Canaan" and it is going to be as good as the others..

It is October 1 and time to begin discussion of Book 4, which I am sorry to say I haven't even started yet, although my wife has the book. Sure hope this one is as good as Book 3 was, which I found to be the best of the series so far. As we did last month, we will just take the discussion nice and easy, sharing any comments we have on the book as we read or from remembrance.

Can't you all imagine fall in Mitford and the beautiful trees. Bet that is happening right now in the NC mountains.

I am going to archive Book #3 but it will still be open for futher comments anyone cares to make. You will be able to find it by clicking on the link in the above chart, which I will change as soon as I have a chance to archive the book.

Larry

Larry, tried to go to the previous book discussion, but got the message pathname not found. I am on a waiting list at the Library for this book. Darn! Since Wednesday, too.

Still cannot get into the Green Hills discussion.

Shirley, the Green Hills discussion has been Archived, I think, it's no longer in the bookstack above? Let me put the url here for you: Try this one: These High Green Hills

Ginny

Shirley, the Green Hills discussion has been Archived, I think, it's no longer in the bookstack above? Let me put the url here for you: Try this one: These High Green Hills

Ginny

Ginny, thanks for the clickable. I knew it was archived, but wanted to go back to see if there were any comments I had missed. I still get that weird message when I click on the book stack at the top of this folder.

Which book gives you a wierd message, Shirley? We've just updated the bookstack, I was asleep at the switch, the Green Hills is no longer there unless there's been a crash! hahahahaha

Wouldn't that be something, all that work Jim did for nothing!

Ginny

Oops, didn't mean the book stack, meant the chart at the top of this page.

You're right, they're not working, will write Larry if he doesn't see this first!

Thanks for the heads up!

Ginny

My brother and his wife live in the Western NC mountains in the house she grew up in, a few miles west of Asheville. They have been back there since the early 1970's. My brother has never really made a living there, just barely scraped by, and sometimes I have wondered why they didn't come back to California or go somewhere else. But then I go back there to visit, and the country is SO beautiful, I understand perfectly well why they stay. They'd rather be poor in such a beautiful place than make more money somewhere else ... and I can't say they're wrong.

I love the Mitford books although sometimes I do think the characters are really too "good" to be true! Yes, some of them have ups and downs, but we know they will turn out all right in the end. And I do find the gentle humor and warmth of feeling comforting.

I live in a city too big to have a "Main Street Grill," but I do have some experience with them. For more than 30 years my family has spent several weekends each year at Holtville, a little desert farming town east of El Centro, where we race sports cars on an abandoned WWII Navy airstrip outside of town. The J&M Cafe was the Main Street Grill (or Dorothy's Chatterbox Cafe, if you listen to Garrison Keillor) of Holtville. When we went in for breakfast early Saturday morning, Hilda would see us coming from across the street and have our table set and waiting for us with my husband's tomato juice and my orange juice and coffee. There was a group of old farmers who were always there by 6:30 a.m. having coffee and visiting before heading out to the fields. They knew us and we knew them, some by name, and always chatted. It was the place to find out what was going on in Holtville. It had a back room where the local Rotary, Soroptimists, Lions, etc. had their meetings.

Alas, the woman who owned the restaurant died suddenly last year, and it closed. So far, no one has stepped up to reopen it. Hilda and I cried when we parted, it had been SO many years. Now we eat breakfast at the taco shop down the street, which turns out to have its own "hot stove league," but they are not the ones we knew from J&M. We don't know what happened to them.

Here's another "Main Street Grill" story. My father grew up on a farm near the little town of LeRoy in Coffey County, Kansas. A few years ago I took a notion to drive down and see if I could find the ancestral farm. The last shirt-tail relative I knew in the area died in 1977, and the only thing I had to go on was a photo my husband had taken of the place about 1970, when we had visited her. A friend and I drove up and down the country roads without success. Seeing many newer houses, I thought perhaps the old house had been torn down, in which case I would never find the place because there was nothing else to distinguish it.

Finally we decided to go in to LeRoy and see if there was a local cafe where we might get a cup of coffee and perhaps find someone who would recognize the photo. After all, there is always a group of farmers having coffee at Dorothy's at 4 o'clock on a weekday afternoon. So we went to town and found Jane's Place, and sure enough, towards the back of the room was a table of six or seven gray-haired gentlemen in plaid shirts and denim overalls. We sat in a booth and Jane herself came to wait on us. I showed her the photo and she said it certainly looked familiar, but she hadn't been in the area all that long and wasn't sure where it was - but she could probably find someone who would know.

Jane went back to the kitchen with the photo. Another gray-haired woman came out and said, "That's Mannschreck's place" -- and as the screen door slammed behind a departing farmer, she exclaimed, "And there goes Mannschreck now!" She ran after him and brought him back.

He turned out to be the son of the people who bought the place from my grandparents' estate in the late 1930's. He had built a new house on the other side of the property, but his daughter and her husband lived in the old house, and he gave us directions and urged us to go out and visit. He was on his way home, and by the time we visited the cemetery where my grandparents are buried (to which he also directed us), and got to the farm, the family was eagerly awaiting our arrival and gave us a wonderful guided tour.

So I feel as if I know all about the Main Street Grill!

KATIE...what a super story! Or stories, even! I love that Main Street Grill, and I'm sure there is one in every town. We had one in the very small town near our farm area home in Ohio. Mostly my husband and I were there for breakfast only on a Saturday now and then, but the same faces were always there.

So nice to see you here! I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did...again. I just re-read it, and I do believe it's my favorite of the whole bunch.

Katie...who almost forgot to subscribe to this new discussion!

As you may know, our Larry, who is leading this discussion, is in the hospital with heart problems, possibly coming home today! So please continue along with the discussion till he's able to rejoin us!

And best wishes, our Larry, we love ya!

Ginny

I am back and ok for now, no new heart blockages. Now back to more pleasant things.

Katie, your experiences in small towns was so interesting. I may have said the already but will say it again. We live in a little town, surrounded by a lot of housing development. We have Kathy's Cafe and about 6-8 retired men, me included, meet there 4 days a week at 8 a.m. for coffee and just good fellowship. I don't miss if I can possibly avoid it as it is a great way to start the day, always a lot of teasing and great, good humor. On Fridays the retired men, about 12-16 met at our local Senior Center for coffee. It is truly a wonderful joy of being retired and living in a small community.

Katie, I also agree with you that the characters are probably too good to be true but it is pleasant to contemplate that such a place as Mitford could exist and that there really are people like those described whether all located in the same town or not. It leaves us with a good feeling and personally I have found that very enjoyable. I wouldn't care to read only this type of story but it provides a nice oasis once in a while.

We seem to have run out of a little steam here in our Mitford discussion. I have a proposal to all of the participants. Since Book 5 still hasn't been issued in paperback, why don't we stop with Book 4 for now and we will hide the Book Five discussion and sometime next year reactivate it after the paperback is available. I am open to continuing in November as previously planned, delaying Book 5 for maybe 6 months or so, or just cancelling our discussion of Book 5 all together. We won't vote as such but we will be guided by the concensus of the participants. Feel free to share your thoughts on this here in the discussion and there are no right or wrong things to say.

Larry

Sounds good to me, LARRY. I do want to hear what others think of THIS book, tho, since, as I said, it is my favorite of the 5.

And I am happy to hear you say that you are a ROMEO! (That stands for Retired Old Men Eating Out. Heh heh...)

Katie

Fine with me... I just priced A New Song last week at B&N and thought I would see if I could get it from the library, but my library doesn't have any of the Mitford Series.

I'm enjoying this Mitford book for the second time. I read the book in August and now I'm listening to the Recorded Books version, narrated by John McDonough. By listening to it I'm catching things that I didn't notice when I read it. The characters are wonderful, and the spiritual message so inspiring! You can tell, I guess, that I really love these books! I enjoy other people's comments very much.

I finished Out to Canaan last night and am anxious to read A New Song. I hope there will be more about Dooley and how he grows up to be a vet, perhaps. I like that boy in the book.

Do you suppose he and Lace will get married someday?

We don't have a Main Street Grill exactly. But we have a restaurant nearby that has chicken specials on Monday and Tuesday evening along with double bubble.

We have a group of people here on our lake that meet there very often and always have a great time talking and laughing. Nothing planned. We just go there and know there will always be someone that we know and have fun with. Main Street Grill reminds me of our restaurant.

Katie, with you, Pat W. and I we have three who have expressed a positive for delaying the discussion of the 5th book. We will wait a few more days for others to have the opportunity to get to this discussion and give an opinion if they want before making a decision.

mem, my wife commented about loving the reader of the Mitford books on tape. She then got the books and has since read them in print. The characters are pretty representative of personality types found in most small communities or within our circle of friends to a lesser extent. When you think about it, many of the characters experience really serious problems like Dooley's Mother, the children, and others. While the author brings most situations to a happy ending, sometimes the path of getting there is far from happy. Karon has a wonderful way of getting the spiritual element in without becoming preachy (at least in my view).

Yolanda, I still have quite a way to go to finish Book 4 and hope I get it done by the end of the month. The idea of Lace and Dooley getting married seems pretty frightening in terms of their personalities as I have seen them to this point in the books. I think there are to be more books in the series so guess that is a story possibility.

Your informal group at the lake is vary much the same type of thing we have with our men's coffee group. No demands to always be there but an expression of concern or interest the next time you appear as to "where have you been" and "hope there wasn't some type of problem".

Larry

What I like most about the Mitford series is that the central character is a man about "our age" whose life changes dramatically, and who copes with the changes with some uncertainty and difficulty, but always with good humor and an essential humility.

We expect our lives to change when we are young, but somehow I think we mostly expect things to settle down as we get older ... and then, we're not as prepared as we might be for the inevitable changes that come. I'm at the point of considering going "out to Canaan" myself before long, and wondering how it will feel when I find out I'm not as essential as I thought I was. I know that intellectually, but it's really hard to say, well, I can retire and things will chug along without me. Father Tim takes it pretty hard when his parishioners accept his retirement plans so willingly!

I see that Hallmark has a special holiday line of table settings of enamelware and mug featuring the Mitford snowman. Inspired by Jan Karon's novels. They're pretty cute. Plate is $ 5.95. Mug is $ 4.50. They are available at all Gold Crown Stores.

It's interesting when Father Tim says something and Karon adds "meaning it". It's rather a comment on how many things people say and don't really mean, isn't it? Father Tim sometimes resorts to "little white lies", but most times he seems to "mean it".

About postponing the discussion of A new Song: Please don't forget to get back to it! I haven't read it yet, but look forward to it.

Larry, thanks for your comments about your wife's listening to and then, reading the books! It's a good idea. It really adds another dimension to enjoy!

OK...any comments about the Mayoral race? Or Tim and Cynthia's new roommate?

There seem to be many changes in the air for Mitford. Do any of them worry you? Besides Dooley wanting to drive, I mean.

Katie

Katie, It is a constant series of new challenges for Father Tim and Cynthia. I am just to the point of the festival and the planes showing up.

Regarding the delay, I haven't heard any opposition to doing that and a couple of votes to do it. I saw that I had failed to communicate to Pat Scott that we probably wouldn't proceed and a banner was displayed a couple of days ago. I think I will post a notice in a day or so that we have decided to delay the discussion of the last book until the paperback is out but that we definately plan to continue the series, probably will be a book 6 before too long. We can leave it in our list of upcoming discussion with an advanced date so we won't forget about it.

Larry

To all of our Mitford readers, the time has come to make a firm decision on whether to delay. Having heard no opposition, let's change the beginning date for Book 5, "A New Song" until next June. The reason is that according to information I just found on the author site from the clickable above the table, Book 5 will be out in paperback in the spring. Therefore, allowing time for people to acquire the book and sometime to read it, it seems that is a logical time to begin. If the book comes out early, like in March, we can always change the date and begin the discussion.

I also found the following regarding the next book in the Mitford series, which Jan Karon is writing at this time: "...the next Mitford book will be called A Common Life, which is the story of Father Tim's and Cynthia's wedding. I'm working on it now, and it never fails to make me smile. (When Esther Bolick's recliner remote loses power and she has to heave herself over the side, I laugh out loud!)"

We will leave this discussion up for a while longer and then archive it but it will still be available for additional comment.

I have really enjoyed the Mitford books and am still reading Book 4 so may have some additional comments.

Larry

LARRY...sounds good to me. I do wish we could get a real discussion going here. This is my favorite of all the books because so many subplots get resolved. Come on guys...what do you think about Mitford now?

Larry,I think it's a good idea to wait for the paperback. Katie, I'm with you on the idea that this may be the best in the series! I liked them all and really feel at home in Mitford. (No pun intended). It's been like reading about old friends, so, it's a pleasure to read about what they're up to. I've been saving A New Song because the new book won't be out for a while.

I have just finished the fourth Mitford book. Like Katie, I think it is my favorite. I have enjoyed watching Father Tim grow through the four books from a very private quiet person into a man who enjoys the family life. It has enhanced his ministry so much as well as his personal life.

I grieved when I finished the book because it is like leaving a place that I have grown to love. I will look forward to reading the fifth book next year. I wish it were in paperback now.

Because I have heart disease myself, I have followed closely the story of Olivia and her request for "Phillipians 4:13, for Pete's sake." I have just been advised by my cardiologist that it might be advisable for me to have open heart surgery for the second time in less than 5 years. I have another test to go before he makes the final decision. But, I am still leaning heavily on "Phillipians 4:13, for Pete's sake!"

I would LOVE to have Esther Bolicks recipe for Orange Marmalade Cake. Doesn't the very sound of it make your mouth water? I am suprised that she finally parted with the recipe. Some women guard their recipes with their very lives.

Anyway, what are we reading next?

Lucy C

Poor Esther! She didn't have much choice but to share her recipe! That doesn't appeal to me as much as Tim's meatloaf...

Now then...for this non-Bible reader, what does Phillipians 4:13 say? I'll be happy to quote it often, if you think it would help you, LUCY.

Maybe I should re-read "A New Song". I didn't like it nearly as much as the first four books, but am willing to try it again...sometime between now and June.

Katie

See you all in June, if not before... if the paperback comes out early.

Katie, I do not read the Bible either, but I looked it up on the internet & here it is: Phl 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Lucy C, you can find the recipe for the Orange Marmalade Cake by clicking on Jan Karon Author Site at the top of the chart showing the 5 book titles. I believe it's in the first newsletter. This is an interesting site. Give it a try. If you actually make the cake, pass it around. LOL

Katie, Yes, I believe that claiming that scripture will help me. Thanks to Shirley, you already know it. One woman called it the 10 finger prayer. She quoted it over and over as she was regaining her abilities (like walking) after a stroke. She recovered very well, I heard.

I will look for the cake recipe. I may make it after I recoup from the surgery which is almost a surety at this time. I have one more test to be sure and it is scheduled for 8:00 AM tomorrow (Tuesday).

I, too, would like to have Father Tim's meatloaf recipe. I love meatloaf. I can make that relatively low fat, so it isn't as big a no no as some of the foods I crave and have been eating lately as though I thought I could do as I please and live forever. Silly me.

Take care all. See you soon. And, thanks again.

Lucy C

Just a quick note a propos of yesterday's announcement of the agreement between the Roman Catholics and the Lutherans on salvation by faith (as opposed to works) -- Karon, through Father Tim, is not very pushy about theology as a general proposition, but I seem to remember early in this book she has Father Tim planning a sermon re-emphasizing the Protestant point.

What do you all think - did the Catholic Church come around to Luther's view, or is the agreement just fancy theological footwork with no real change of position?

Katie, I expect we will only know after we see what happens. Putting something on paper doesn't cause things to happen immediately. It will be interesting to watch over the next few years.

Larry

"Out to Canaan" was yet another good book by Karon. As for the views on faith and works, it is definitely my belief that we should be living by faith; however, some religions do stress works, I understand. If that were true, I am afraid a lot of people will miss the calling.

I think Luther's emphasis on salvation by faith rather than by works arose out of his strong disapproval of the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church of his day. Since the Church doesn't do that any more, it probably is less of an issue now.

Channel surfing in a few moments of enforced idleness in a hotel room not long ago, I happened on a dialogue between two women on the Catholic Church network. Both evidently had been raised in evangelical churches and had converted to Catholicism, one (who seemed to be the "expert") a long time ago, and the other (assuming the role of eager student) more recently. The subject of their conversation was their current, Catholic understanding of the relationship between faith and works, and how it contrasted with the evangelical notion of salvation by faith alone. It was a very interesting conversation. Their idea, as I understood it, was that salvation comes by faith and is exemplified by good works; in other words, I got the idea that good works is a necessary but not a sufficient condition of salvation. They understood the evangelicals to believe that no matter what a person does or has done in this world, faith alone is sufficient. I don't really know that much about the Lutherans (although my sister-in-law was a Lutheran missionary in Africa for more than 40 years all told), but I would guess that the Lutheran position is somewhat closer to the Catholic than the evangelical as described by these discussants.

I have no personal stake in this argument because, as a lifelong Unitarian/Universalist, I personally believe that if there is anything to be saved from (which I doubt), salvation is universal, i.e. it is not necessary to subscribe to any particular belief system or to follow any particular set of rituals to obtain it. Thus Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Wiccans, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, or whatever are all equally "saved." So to me it is an academic argument, but still an interesting one. I would like to read the sermon that Episcopalian Father Tim was going off to write!

I, too, would love to read Father Tim's sermon. I am a pentecostal christian and we believe that all the miracles done by the apostles are present in the world today among the close followers of Jesus Christ. However, Father Tim and the people in his town exemplified a faith seldom seen today. It blessed me over and over. I would have loved to visit that church had it been a real one.

The scripture says that "faith without works is dead." Perhaps that is the discussion you heard between the two converted catholics, Katie. It sounds like a very interesting discussion.

I am looking forward to the next book. It is a pity that it doesn't come out in paperback until June. Do you know if the Librarys have it yet?

What are all of you reading meanwhile? And, did anyone go to Chicago? I saw a picture of your nametag in Pics, Larry, but I thought they said you didn't make it. I am sorry to hear that.

Lucy C.

Lucy, I got the next book at our Library. Check them out.

Lucy T. I'm happy to see you back! Everything go well with your surgery? Hope so, and that you're feeling on the mend! Be sure to let us know if you do try the orange marmalade cake. I'm diabetic, so I'd better not even look at it! My library has both the print and Recorded Books versions of A New Song. I hope you find it at your library.

So interesting to read these comments. I love all of Jan Karon's books and read them in a day or two, savoring them for months. Cannot wait for another one but I do wish Dooley would finally get his $$. Would be interesting to see what he would do with it. from tampa.

Thank you Shirley and mem for letting me know that you did find the next book in the library. I will look for it.

Tampa - I, too, read the books very fast and savor them for months. I refer to them in conversations and have used one of Father Tim's prayers in a devotional I conducted. I usually don't used "canned" prayers but that particular one was so moving to me that I felt I could truly pray it from the heart.

Mem, the cardilogist said it was time for surgery and the surgeon said not yet. I have done a round of steriods and am now on a little pill that should improve my life. So far, it has not been a miracle cure. The cardiologist wants me to go to see the surgeon and talk to him. So far, he has only seen a copy of my tests. I have the symptoms that say "now" but the Dr. doesn't detect any fluid left when he listens.

Just hanging in and waiting for a miracle. When I get it, it will not be my first one. I still am practicing Olivia's prayer. I had heard it referred to as the 10 finger prayer in a sermon a couple of years ago. As Olivia would say: I can do ALL things through Christ which strengths me." and she would say: "for Pete's sake." I think it is wonderful that I found these books just as I needed to see someone else overcome in a case of a "bum" heart.

God is good!!!

Lucy C. keep praying "Olivia's" prayer. Here's hoping the little pill works -- sometimes meds don't help immediately, but after a while they do!

I just went and looked at the orange marmalade cake recipe. Wish I had done that before Thanksgiving - I might have made it instead of the from-the-pumpkin pie. (Although my grandson might not forgive me!)

However, if I make it, I think I will cheat and start with a white or yellow cake mix! I learned to make layer cakes from scratch as a teenager, but I gave it up about 40 years ago, when the commercial mixes began to produce results better than anything I could do. I made buttermilk biscuits from scratch until about 30 years ago when Bisquick came out with the buttermilk mix -- and it made biscuits just as good as mine, or better, and much quicker!

The only thing I still do from scratch is pie crust. So far, I can still make a better pie crust than a mix.

To: Katie Sturtz: You are so right; A New Song is not as good as the previous 4, but take heart; another new one is in the works right now.I believe it is the locale that makes the difference. To: Lucy C: Put it in God's hands. God gives the best to those who leave the choice to him. About Out to Canaan; These quaint folks are like our extended family.To see the changes wrought in Dooley, and others, is most remarkable. Love is behind it all and Jan Karon's books teach us how to make love, the dominant force in our lives.

Mem and Tampa, I certainly intend to leave my condition in God's hands. His are so much more capable than any human's will ever be. And, after all, He specilizes in things thought impossible.

Katie, because of you, I have to fight jelousy now. LOL. I have NEVER learned the secret of a good pie crust. I buy those most of the time. What a good idea to start the orange marmalade cake with a mix. But, this cake sounds terribly rich. Probably enough fat grams for a week in each piece. Of course, I'll bet it would be worth it.

Lucy C

HI, ALL: I DID NOT GET THE ORANGE CAKE RECIPE. IS IT PRINTED ON SN SOMEWHERE? I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD PIE CRUST AND AS LONG AS PET RITZ IS IN BUSINESS, THAT IS WHAT I USE. AS FOR CAKES, I USUALLY DO THE SCRATCH BIT.

FATHER TIM IS SUCH A DELIGHTFUL FELLOW. I GET AMUSED AT HIM GETTING MARRIED AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF BACHELORHOOD, AND APPARENTLY, LOVING IT. HE WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND A MATE LIKE HIS WIFE.

Well, Lucy, I will share the secret of the PERFECT pie crust, if you PROMISE not to tell:

It's lard. Yes, evil, wicked, unhealthy, artery-clogging lard. Of course we only do it once or twice a year, and we NEVER tell <G>.

Now, I can make a passable piecrust with Crisco, too; still better than storebought or any mix I ever tried. But alas, nothing quite comes up to the standard of the "real thing."

Betty, the marmalade cake recipe is on Jan Karon's web page. There's a link to it at the top of this page.

The recipe is all yours, Ladies. I'm crazy about Esther Bollick, but hate orange marmalade...or any kind of marmalade. I'm a Brownie-cookie person.

Happy Holidays to all of you nice people! I have just returned home from a wedding at our church. The decorations were red poinsettias and candles and the girls were red dresses....all very pretty and Christmasy.

Betty, one of my childhood friends was married the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Heaven help me, I can't remember for sure what year it was but it was either 1956 or 1958. The bridesmaids' dresses were red brocade, and we carried white fur muffs with red roses pinned to them.

Three of us, that I know of, still have the dresses to this day. My daughters both used mine for "southern belle" Halloween costumes and I expect my granddaughter probably will, too, when she grows into it. My muff disappeared years ago, but my friends (who are sisters) still have theirs.

Alas, we lost the bride to a heart attack over Memorial Day in 1997. We miss her.

Anybody still around this discussion? I'm in the middle of A New Song and love it. I think it may be the best yet!! When Father Tim goes deep-sea fishing, I, literally, laughed til i cried! Happy Holidays to all!

Father Tim's fishing escspade read like something that would happen to me if I were to go on such a trip. I sorta missed the atmosphere of Mitford in the latest book. Now, someone has said there is yet another being published? Good. Do you know when?

I'm trying to hold off on A New Song... But it sits there on my bookshelf calling out loud... I don't know of I can wait till June..

I,too, was trying to hold off reading A New Song, but last week I was suffering with a a doozy of a cold, and my DIL said I should break down and read that book because " maybe it will make you feel better" -- so, I did and she was right, I felt a lot better! I look forward to the discussion in June. Happy Holidays all you Mitford lovers!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL OF THE MITFORD LOVERS!!

Am new to your discussion, but I too have consumed the Mitford series and longed to visit these wonderful people. I've cheated and read ahead--borrowed the hardback from a rich friend! So many of the situations are just too true to life...the rich widow chasing the poor parson, etc. I love Father Tim and his courage in taking Dooley on. didn't think there were many real bachelors out there brave enough, but I've recently met a former Catholic priest who has married and taken on two teenager step-children. I promised him a book loan to see if he can pick up tips from how Tim handles Dooley. Don't think they have a dog that reacts to Scripture though.

happywind, welcome to the Mitford discussion and to SeniorNet here on the www. These are delightful books and we will discuss the next books after it comes out in paperback, which is suppose to be this spring. Wouldn't be surprised to see the next book in the series on the bookshelves before too long. Hope you will join with us when the discussion begins.

Larry

Jane S... This series is a favorite for me... Always nice to have one to read that is pleasant, non-controversial, and entertaining

Jane S, hope you will join in with us when we start our gentle discussion of Book 5. These books had characters we could all identify with and would like to have as friends.

Larry

I really liked this book, all of the people in it hold your interest and the story line is great also.

I too missed the atmosphere of Mitford in the latest book. Needed a scorecard to keep up with all the new people plus all our friends back in Mitford. Don't misinterpret here, I LOVED the book. And I was delighted to see in the postscript Karon is working on the next book...hooray. They are like visiting an old friend, I hate to see each one end.

Hello, I'm new to this page, but love reading and am always looking for new authors to read. I've just bought my first Mitford book and pleased to see that I can still log on to the archives for your discussion. I loved the Miss Read series set in the Cotswolds and see that these books may be of a similar type. I am looking forward to getting started and wonder if I can wait untill our next holiday to begin.

bailey, welcome to our Mitford discussion. We all have really enjoyed the first 4 books and plan to discuss the 5th book fairly soon as it will be out in paperback very soon.

Larry

Jan Karon will be online Thursday, April 20 at 4 PM EDT at http://www.jankaronfacetoface.com/

I have read all 5 of Jans books. I have enjoyed every one. Are we going to ever find out more about Dooley? Loved that boy. I have re-read some of them. I couldn't wait for