toytaco99
05-04-2010, 03:22 PM
From a cheering blog called Hope is the Word (http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2010/05/04/i-read-itbeaded-hope-and-at-home-in-mitford/), this review:
The second book I read for the I Read It! challenge, though, is a
lovely piece of fiction that I enjoyed not only for the story but also
for the way it is written. Yes, I finally, finally succombed to the
pull of Mitford! I cannot even begin to say where my inspiration for
reading this book began, but certainly Monica’s ongoing mention of the
series on her blog had something to do with my decision to finally
plunge in. I have actually had this book for a while and even tried
to read it once, but for some reason, I just didn’t find it terribly
appealing at the time. However, at this point in my life, I needed
something encouraging and uplifting to read (have I mentioned before
that I find pregnancy draining in every way?), and At Home in Mitford
just hit the spot. This book really needs no introduction (the series
has its own forum, for Pete’s sake!), so I thought that instead of
rehashing the story, I would share why I like it and some quotes I
found inspiring. How’s that?
First, why I like this book so much:
This book is refreshingly optimistic, but not in a saccharine way. The characters in the story have real problems (homelessness, dysfunctional families, serious illness, mental illness, to name a few), but they mostly choose to live victoriously through Christ.
Father Tim seems like a real person, not a stained-glass saint. He has his own weaknesses and foibles, but he consistently reminds himself that his strength comes from God. I like this a lot because I found myself identifying with Father Tim throughout the story.
The other characters are also mostly depicted realistically. Some of them are likeable and some of them are not, but mostly they are a mixture.
The writing! Oh, the writing. I’ll let it speak for itself:
As the streets and lanes gave way to countryside and sloped toward the
deeper valley, the rolling farmland began. Here, pastures were
stocked with Herefords and Guernseys; lakes were filled with trout and
brim; barnyards succored chattering guineas. And everywhere, in town
or out, was the rich, black loam that made the earthworm’s toil one of
unending satisfaction. (18)I just love that last sentence!
Later, drifting toward a restless sleep, he murmured a deep truth:
“It’s different having a boy in the house.”Given the imminent arrival of our own first son, this one struck me as
funny (as well as gave me pause)!
How could he have considered taking Monday off? Monday was the diving
board poised over the rest of the week. One walked out on the board,
reviewed the situation, planned one’s strategy, bounced a few times to
get the feel of things, and then made a clean dive. Without Monday,
one simply bombed into the water, belly first, and hoped for the best.
(391)I feel the same way about Mondays, too.
Perhaps, in a small parish, he was spared the passion, but he didn’t
feel spared the challenge. He was feeling more surely than ever that
he was exactly where God meant for him to be. All he really needed,
he knew, was the endurance to be there with stamina and zeal. (391)Amen, Father Tim.
I give this one a Highly, Highly Recommended!
Read the full review over at the Hope is the Word blog: http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2010/05/04/i-read-itbeaded-hope-and-at-home-in-mitford/
The second book I read for the I Read It! challenge, though, is a
lovely piece of fiction that I enjoyed not only for the story but also
for the way it is written. Yes, I finally, finally succombed to the
pull of Mitford! I cannot even begin to say where my inspiration for
reading this book began, but certainly Monica’s ongoing mention of the
series on her blog had something to do with my decision to finally
plunge in. I have actually had this book for a while and even tried
to read it once, but for some reason, I just didn’t find it terribly
appealing at the time. However, at this point in my life, I needed
something encouraging and uplifting to read (have I mentioned before
that I find pregnancy draining in every way?), and At Home in Mitford
just hit the spot. This book really needs no introduction (the series
has its own forum, for Pete’s sake!), so I thought that instead of
rehashing the story, I would share why I like it and some quotes I
found inspiring. How’s that?
First, why I like this book so much:
This book is refreshingly optimistic, but not in a saccharine way. The characters in the story have real problems (homelessness, dysfunctional families, serious illness, mental illness, to name a few), but they mostly choose to live victoriously through Christ.
Father Tim seems like a real person, not a stained-glass saint. He has his own weaknesses and foibles, but he consistently reminds himself that his strength comes from God. I like this a lot because I found myself identifying with Father Tim throughout the story.
The other characters are also mostly depicted realistically. Some of them are likeable and some of them are not, but mostly they are a mixture.
The writing! Oh, the writing. I’ll let it speak for itself:
As the streets and lanes gave way to countryside and sloped toward the
deeper valley, the rolling farmland began. Here, pastures were
stocked with Herefords and Guernseys; lakes were filled with trout and
brim; barnyards succored chattering guineas. And everywhere, in town
or out, was the rich, black loam that made the earthworm’s toil one of
unending satisfaction. (18)I just love that last sentence!
Later, drifting toward a restless sleep, he murmured a deep truth:
“It’s different having a boy in the house.”Given the imminent arrival of our own first son, this one struck me as
funny (as well as gave me pause)!
How could he have considered taking Monday off? Monday was the diving
board poised over the rest of the week. One walked out on the board,
reviewed the situation, planned one’s strategy, bounced a few times to
get the feel of things, and then made a clean dive. Without Monday,
one simply bombed into the water, belly first, and hoped for the best.
(391)I feel the same way about Mondays, too.
Perhaps, in a small parish, he was spared the passion, but he didn’t
feel spared the challenge. He was feeling more surely than ever that
he was exactly where God meant for him to be. All he really needed,
he knew, was the endurance to be there with stamina and zeal. (391)Amen, Father Tim.
I give this one a Highly, Highly Recommended!
Read the full review over at the Hope is the Word blog: http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2010/05/04/i-read-itbeaded-hope-and-at-home-in-mitford/