This author has truly tapped into a rich literary vein and continues her series with the same warmth of style, depth (and consistency) of characterization, and great storytelling which has become its hallmark. While Father Tim, Cynthia, Dooley and all the rest are here in abundance, there are some great new characters, reflective of the setting move to the Outer Banks. Her portrayal of the folk there is spot-on as usual and she manages to adroitly display all the eccentricities, foibles, and endearing humanity, without being maudlin. The spiritual depth and even bits of mild theology add to the mix in resonant and surprising ways. As I've said of this writer before, it is a mistake to constantly label these works as "Christian fiction;" certainly they are all that the label implies, but so much more as well. Don't be put off by labels; there's so much here for all spiritual ramblers and questers of all stripes. Always, again consistently, a blessed reading experience.

I bought this book for my lovely wife. She's still feeding me so it must be good...

Typical for Karon, this book seems to force me to go to the store and buy the next one.Unfortunately, I read much faster than she writes.

Most wonderful fiction series I've read in many years! I love Jan Karon's Mitford Season, and can't wait until the next ones come out. The characters have become so real to me, I feel like I've known them all my life. I am an avid reader and truly dread coming to the end of each of these books. It's hard to find good Christian fiction, which are loved even by those who do not usually read Christian literature, but these fit the bill! I give them for gifts to many.

Another great book as usual! Too bad there aren't more books like her's. Don't we all wish we lived in Mitford! Great Bible quotes, great friendships and a little love splashed in somewhere!

With each passing book, the story lines seem to get thinner and thinner, which is why, I suppose, Karon decided to uproot the preacher and his wife and move them to an island 600 miles away from Mitford. A change of scenery to introduce some new people and stories. Still, it seems the main character spends most of his time either praying or saying "consider it done." The characters seem to lack depth and almost everyone is perfect. And the people who aren't perfect still get to have happy endings. The things that make for a good story - a character who wants something and is trying to get it against all odds, a plot that has a climax, a believable antagonist and protagonist, etc. - are lacking in this book.

Good for Father Tim and Cynthia. Cynthia finally got Father Tim to venture out beyond the great town of Mitford! They didn't get off to the best start with the massive storm on the way to their new home, but all turned out good. Poor Johnathan gets a wonderful loving home while the town takes care of his mommy and I think that was probably my favorite part. I loved how Cynthia, not being a mom herself did such a wonderful job with a sad little boy who wants nothing but his mommy back. This book had such heart to it. A very good read.

Every time I open another Mitford book, it is like going home again. As always, Karon paints a picture of comfort, quaintness, and pure delight in her town and all of it's characters.

In this fifth installment, Father Tim and Cynthia are headed to Whitecap, a little island on the coast where Father Tim will serve as an interim pastor in this new town. Here you will meet a new set of characters, as Father Tim & Cynthia meet the community of Whitecap. Beloved Mitford is still in the picture, as were are kept up to speed with its goings-on, as everyone from Emma to Dooley call in to check on Tim & Cynthia.

As always, Father Tim steps in to help the town of Whitecap with the ups and downs of life that it's members come across while not forgetting about his friends and loved ones back in Mitford. In A New Song, Father Tim will reach out to a town recluse, Morris Love, who lives in the neighboring mansion, next to Dove Cottage, where Father Tim and Cynthia are staying. Cynthia also steps in as a surrogate mom for a brief time, to little Jonathan, who's mother is recovering from an emotional breakdown. As the stories unfold, you'll find yourself loving the new set of townsfolk, and continuing to love the old ones. Of course, the ending of A New Song, leaves you wanting for more~

Recently retired after years of serving as the rector of Lord's Chapel, Father Tim is going to agree to pastor a small parish off the Atlantic coast. There's one big problem though: How can he and Cynthia leave the town, and the boy they love?

Soon however, the charming island of Whitecap rveals its own cast of unforgettable characters. There is a lovelorn bachelor trying his hand at personal ads, a church organist with a past,a gifted musician who never ventures beyond his gate for some reason or other, and a young mom who struggles terribly with paralyzing depression.

Mitford is never far from Father Tim and Cynthia's mind-especailly when Dooley gets in some trouble with the law.

Father Tim Kavanaugh, the longtime rector of Lord's Chapel in Mitford, has at last retired. After a few months of relaxing with his lovely wife, his bishop asks him to serve as an interim pastor of a small chapel on Whitehead Island. Knowing that this isn't the bishop's bright idea, but God's, Tim eagerly takes on the challenge.

After drawn-out goodbyes in Mitford - and many parishoners trying to convince him to stay - Tim and Cynthia head to Whitecap. Of course, even the way there isn't easy, as the couple hits a downpour in their convertible, and faces a washed-out bridge. Once they arrive, they begin to enter into island life, which is both a new and different kind of life, and yet similar, than that they were accustomed to in Mitford.

Tim faces similar challenges from those he knew as a Mitford pastor - a single mother's bout with depression, petty fighting amongst his parish, and a recluse neighbor's need for prayer. Yet, there are new challenges on Whitecap too, particularly when a hurricane strikes the people in a profound way.

A New Song is an interesting installment to Jan Karon's series chroniciling the life of Tim and Cynthia, and yet was not as satisfying as some of her other books. I missed the cast of characters from Mitford, but did not grow very attached to any of the new townspeople from Whitecap.

What was more present than in many of the other books was Father Tim's personal relationship with God, and how much he craved that relationship for his parishoners. While religion has, of course, come into the other books; in this book it seemed far more personal. Father Tim considered himself tethered far more closely to God on his island home, rather than tethered to the earth, as he was in the mountains. He seems to listen more closely to God, praying in ways that would surely seem foolish to others, particularly for his next-door neighbor. His celebrations of the liturgy are also more moving, whether they are done at the home of a shut-in, or at a homecoming for his new chapel.

All in all, this book is sure to be required reading for all followers of the Mitford books.

To me, this was the most satisfying of the Mitford novels. Father Tim and Cynthia are stretched, much as we are in our everyday lives. I found myself just curious to start each next chapter. Not like a mystery page turner, of course. But I just had to know the outcomes of everything. Life isn't sugar-coated. I believe this story actually happened, which is a sure sign of a good novel.

Jan's books always make me smile. They are written with such heartfelt vigor. Father Tim is so real to me that it's as if I know him. I like to contrast books. Another series that is so very true and amusing (and much more likely to bring a tear to your eye) is Homer Hickam's series of Coalwood books - October Sky, The Coalwood Way, and Sky of Stone. Mitford fans would love Coalwood.

I love books 1-5 in the Mitford series. They're simple books with stories about good people that end up giving a good feeling while reading them. Reviews of #6 were so bad though, I didn't even bother.

If you're just starting, you want to be sure and read the five books in the proper sequence.

If you loved the four original Mitford books, you will love coming home to your old friends. Reading this next volume in the series was like putting on an old, comfy pair of shoes - it just felt right. Father Tim and Cynthia have to uproot their life and move to a new locale, but we don't lose touch with all their family and friends back in Mitford. The author keeps us up to date with the daily goings-on in the town, whilst we meet new people in Whitecap and experience new places, people and events on the tiny island that the Kavanaghs now call home. I'm surprised that five volumes of one series can keep me entertained, but Jan Karon seems to have the formula down. This is a nice, gentle read and I look forward to the next installment.

I think this is Karon's best, so far. She introduces her protagonist, Father Timothy Kavanagh--a newly retired Episcopalian priest--to a new island parish, to fill in until they find a new permanent priest. He and his wife, Cynthia, leave their home in Mitford for the small North Carolina offshore island of Whitecap, where they confront the problems of several of the parishioners there, in addition to the burglary of their home in Mitford, the problems of their foster son, Dooley, with the law, hurricane force storms, and the anger of a talented but anti-social neighbor who is holed up in his mansion, refusing to face the world.

Karon skillfully weaves the stories together in this narrative, which kept me reading avidly until I had finished all 400 pages. She draws her characters from among people I--and you--have known all of our lives. They live and breathe. Father Tim is no plastic hero; he is a flesh and blood man with fears and weaknesses. He is afflicted with diabetes, for example, and gets seasick. Nobody but one who has been dreadfully seasick at some time in their life could possibly have written of it as sympathetically as does Jan Karon.

This is a skilled writer who does not depend upon cliché violence, explicit sex or filthy language to grab your attention. She does it instead with convincing stories about normal, good, everyday people whose problems and solutions get and hold your attention. Strong religious themes are a large part of her work, but the affect is not saccharin.

Joseph H. Pierre,
author of "The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity"

Father Tim and Cynthia in tow with Baranabas to Whitecap Island. There is plently there to sink your reading teeth into, new characters, town, and that charm this author pervades.

I enjoyed all of this volume as much as the others, especially relating to the anticipation of arrival at a new church and their anticipation of new clergy as well.

Tugs on the heart from former parish brought back rich memories for me as well as Father Tim.

Mildly let down by the ending to this one. The mystery of it and all left me somewhat amazed and frustrated. Seems author shifted writing and script path she previously carved so meticuously and persistently for confusing waters. Last chapter left me a drift. Not enough though not to purchase the sixth volume which awaits my reading.

All volumes in series are wonderful!

I just finished reading "A New Song," and actually finished up the entire Mitford series in sequence. I received the first two books for Christmas and ended up getting the other three for myself because I liked the first two so much!

I was hooked on this series from the first chapter. Father Tim, Cynthia, and the entire towns of Mitford (and Whitecap Island in "A New Song") captured my heart. I love Father Tim's ability to get involved with this parishioner's lives and Cynthia's spunk and sense of humor. Even the pets (Barnabas and Violet) were well-drawn in this series, and Dooley Barlowe was a delight!

Whitecap Island isn't Mitford; however, and I did miss the fact this book wasn't set in Mitford. However, with phone calls and issues of the "Mitford Muse" I was able to stay in touch with the home folks of Mitford right along with Father Tim! I loved the way Junior's, Morris', and the Tolsons' problems were resolved in this book. And these are just a few of the unforgettable characters Ms. Karon has created -- all her books are full of them.

I was truly sorry to turn the last page and finish this book (and the series). I can't wait for "A Common Life" to come out in April! I'll definitely be buying it, and I'll definitely revisit the "Mitford" series, because once isn't enough to read this wonderful set of books. What a refreshing change they were, and what a wonderful way to spend the winter!

Here's hoping Jan Karon continues to add many more books to this series. Since "A Common Life" backtracks a little bit, I'm still wondering if Dooley's two lost brothers will be found, and I'm curious about what Helene Pringle will end up doing. And what WAS in that ivory envelope Father Tim gave her?

Keep them coming, Ms. Karon!

Reading one of Jan Karon's books is just that, a sweet pleasure. I have swallowed book five of the Mitford series whole and can hardly wait for my next serving. They just seem to get better and better as I go along.

In this installment, Father Tim and Cynthia go to live on the island of Whitecap off the coast of North Carolina, leaving their little town of Mitford behind but not for long. The apron strings run mighty long, and his friends are not lost over the miles. It's all quite entertaining as he tries to juggle the responsibilities of both parishes. Add a little international intrigue, a major storm that leaves it's legacy on their daily lives along with a three year old that just wants to watch a movie in a box. Could that be a Video Father Tim?

Karon has created some of the best characters I have ever encountered. Where is this town? I would love to stop in for a visit. Oh well, I'll have to be content with knowing I have book six to look forward to. 1/26/01

"A New Song" is the last in the five-book series of the enchanting town and people of Mitford. However, "A New Song", for me, did not quite measure up to the previous four books. I think it was all psychological, because, although Jan Karon, as usual, outdid herself, I just didn't want to leave Mitford, and with "A New Song" I had to pack my bags and move away, along with the delightful Father Tim and his inimitable wife,Cynthia. Mitford had gotten under my skin, and I wanted to dwell there forever and ever. I wanted the fifth book to continue to be all about Mitford and its precious people. Anyway, I understand that there are two more books forthcoming in this exceptional series, and if this is true, I hope Jan Karon returns Father Tim, Cynthia, and me to Mitford permanently!

Once again we meet our gold old friend, Father Tim with his wife, Cynthia. Only this time, he has been assigned as interim in a parish in an Island off the coast of North Carolina.

It has been a real pleasure reading this book and reading once again about the comings and goings, not only in Mitford, but also in Whitecap Island. This author has the incredible talent of making you feel part of this communities. You laugh with their good fortunes and you cry with their sorrow.

Once again, a plus and a great book to read!

This series has for me the same fascination as a gory highway accident transformed into a ride at Disney World. Karon has taken a cue from Miss Read, and from E. F. Benson before her, but has ruthlessly purged all the intelligence and wit from her models. In place of anything that might keep a Read or Benson reader reading, Karon has supplied a relentless spout of mild soap opera, and a cast of characters whom we are apparently supposed to consider to be loveable "Fools of God," but all of whom in fact come across as complete retards. Most retarded of all is the main character, an Episcopalian "rector" named Tim Kavanaugh. When good old Tim is not delivering staggeringly mindless sermonettes cribbed from Cokesbury tracts, he is cursing himself for his own stupidity, something the long-suffering reader has already done far more colorfully than ole Tim ever could. Tim's wife Cynthia is even more retarded than Tim, which one would consider impossible until one has read a few books in the series. In this latest book, Tim gets a double dose of soap opera as he is stuck on a storm-lashed island full of the usual Karon retards, while trying to keep track of what's going on with the original retards from Mitford, his headquarters in the first four novels. Note that although set in North Carolina, the books have no black characters (except for one token maid), no Jewish characters, not even any Catholic characters. There are not even any "furriners," the most furrin character having indetectable Italian ancestry. Every person in the novels is a good ole boy (or girl as the case may be), and they do love to read their bibles, except for one character per book that hates religion because of some childhood trauma. Needless to say, Father Tim bumbles around senselessly and offends the character even more, but by the last chapter that character is a convert and is babbling meaning-free and terrifyingly insane Christian jargon with all the other characters! What a guy! This 5th novel in the series even introduces one more character who apparently is black, but you'll rest easy knowing she is also a maid.

As I say, the fascination of a highway accident, an Ed Wood movie, or a letter from an inmate of an insane asylum. Karon will become a millionaire many times over from these books, because they are perfectly pitched at a certain type of reader, the genteel careerless, cultureless southern female of about 45 - 75 years of unwise age.

A visit to Mitford is like a breath of fresh air, a reacquaintance with old friends, and a renewal of faith all in one. After four previous books, Jan Karon has once again drawn us into the spell of the small town life that glows with love, life, and spirituality. This time, we not only get to catch up with all our old friends in Mitford, but we are introduced to another congregation of interesting and unforgettable characters. When Father Timothy and Cynthia go to a small island off the North Carolina coast, we become involved in the lives of another set of wonderful--and a few not so wonderful--people. Whitecap Island is as much a microcosm as is Mitford, and Father Tim assimilates the various levels of society so that a cast of colorful characters emerges and duly receives the blessings that seem to flow effortlessly from his loving ministry, not only to his own congregation, but to everyone in town. The coastal environment also conjures up visions of the sea and all its many faces, from blue and tranquil to gray and menacing as storms roll in that challenge anyone's faith or fears. The most abiding feature of any of the Mitford books, and this one in particular, is the easy spirituality that permeates the stories. As an Episcopal priest, Father Tim exudes his belief in a loving god who is accessible to all, and in his daily life and works, he challenges and influences all whose lives he touches. The quotations from the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Episcopal Hymnal are inspiring and beautiful to the spirit. Overall, Father Tim's love and wisdom are a wealth to the readers whose lives also become filled to overflowing.

It has been a long time since a series not in the fantasy genre has captivated my attention and imagination the way Ms. Karon's Mitford series has. As a former resident of WNC, I find her firsthand insight to the people, the region and the atmosphere to be right on the mark. I love the fact that I could step out of my own doorstep and see each and every character in the series as my friends and neighbors. Well Done!

In A New Song, Ms. Karon continues the great thread she has begun and the shift of Fr. Tim and Cynthia to Whitecap from Mitford only adds fresh vitality to this series. The characters are solid, the dialog very real and the book moves from the very serious to the sublime. *the deep sea fishing trip was so funny, I had to put the book aside and surrender to a laughing fit....thank you for that! *

If you have enjoyed Mitford up to now, then by all means read A New Song. I fervently hope that Ms. Karon continues to bring us the news from Mitford for some time to come.

Unlike most of the other reviewers, this is my first Mitford book. I'll admit, I bought it because it seemed like a pleasant read and it was 50% off. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I could have done without the author's slight preachiness, but it *is* a book about a preacher, I suppose. It was a quick and easy read, with lots of memorable characters that make me look forward to the next installment. I found it difficult to forget adorable baby Jonathan. I wanted to comfort the tortured Morris. I guess the best way to describe A New Song is that it is cute. It paints a "cute" image of small-town USA.

I found this the most interesting of the Mitford books, and unlike the other four, which I read in a couple of days, this one actually made me feel something toward the end. Yes, the books are easy reads and unsophisticated and simple, but this one found a bit of new depth.

I forgot to say this in an earlier review that I submitted. I was tired of the predictable and cliched characters in the other books and enjoyed the cast of people more in this book. There is more to mine here, and I hope the author stays in Whitecap for awhile so she can do that digging and tell us more about these people.

If you cry during reruns of Little House on the Prairie, you'll love this and the other four titles in the "beloved Mitford series." This is the kind of reading that diehard nonfiction readers scoff at: too soft, too sweet. But don't we all deserve to be touched by an angel once in a while? The Mitford series centers on Father Tim, an aging priest who ministers to the small by lively congregation of the Lord's Chapel. He is by turns fussy, funny, and faithful (the kind of faith that is simply there, not overdone, just a part of daily life). And Karon's gift as a writer is that she allows his story to unfold. We discover the characters and the subplots without the heavy hand of a writer who wants to ensure that we "get the message," and we're delighted in the process. Even if your usual bedtime fare is A Brief History of Time, I encourage you to visit this little town for a while. You'll come away enriched.

In A New Song, Father Tim and his wife Cynthia take up temporary residence in a new town, and a number of new memorable characters get added to the Mitford list. There is great continuity, and as usual, the story is heartwarming and insightful. I can't wait for the next installment in this wonderful, uplifting series!

Karon must have hired a ghost writer, as this book is not nearly as enticing and soothing as former books. Most of the book is based on Father Tim's train-of-thought inner dialog and is full of biblical quotes, uninspired comments, and preachy advice to others. Typical Tim answers to others are such things as "Aha," "OK," and "Amazing." Karon has run out of plot and vocabulary. Especially jarring are her once-trendy slang words, all issuing from Tim's 65-year-old mouth: "Pumped up," "couple of," "on their turf," "out of here," "schlepping," "pretty good," and "dadgum blasted rough." Boring!

Not quite finished with this book I have waited so long to read. Enjoyable but like Timothy and Cynthia I am homesick for Mitford. The people here are not nearly as interesting as those back "home" and I miss the daily activity of Dooley. Had three brothers and he was like all of them up until he got into some trouble. But he is a good boy and will survive. In my mind there is something missing in this book -- can't quite figure out what it is but doesn't hold my interest like the first four which I have read over and over. Please take them home and write more books about Mitford.

After reading the previous novels in this series, I couldn't wait to read this one! And I wasn't disappointed. Jan Karon's warm, engaging style of writing kept me turning the pages. She has created a gentle but very realistic small-town world, much like Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon, with lovable characters that you really care about.

A New Song continues the delightful travel through the rest of their lives of Fr. Tim and Cynthia Kavanaugh. Those who think that the cryptic ending indicates that Fr. Tim has gone home to the Lord are in error. At least the author says so in several interviews I have read. "Why would I do that?", she asks. The next book is to be the story of their wedding. This was passed over rather quickly in an earlier book, but now we will get to attend. Moving to the coast of N. Carolina from the mountains to be the interim priest at St. John's, Fr. Tim find a church and a community much in need of him and God's healing grace. I won't detail all of the new characters or what has happened to some of the Mitford people. Buy it, enyoy it, and savor the wisdom and insight that it contains.

Jan Karon's Mitford Series, Books, 1,2,3,& 4 were a refreashing delight to me. The people in Mitford became like family as I read each book. I could not wait to read the latest book in this series, "A New Song". However, I felt that Jan Karon should have ended the series with the fourth book. In a " New Song" the author has not made up her mind whether to write about the people of Mitford or those on the small island of North Carolina, thus she was unable to give substance to any of the new characters and cheated the reader out of new antics from our beloved characters of Mitford. The ending of the book was quite odd, almost making the reader think one had gotten a hold of his clergyman's Sunday Sermon. If there is a sixth book, I hope Father Tim is back in Mitford, and Jan Karon is once again focused on the Mitford Flock.

The other reviewers seem to be disappointed that Karon has moved the Kavanaghs from Mitford, but not me. I thoroughly enjoyed the new set of townspeople and new challenges for Fr. Tim. The only problem I had was that there was some confusion at the end (why did he need to circle Morris's house so many times? Never explained.) I felt the confrontation of Helene Pringle was too quickly and too easily disposed of. Why would Tim and Cynthia return for her when they wouldn't go back when Dooley was arrested (Bishop or no?) The cryptic ending was out of character for Karon's style, and too cute of a segue into the next book. Nevertheless, Ms. Karon, I'll buy your next Mitford series book the instant it's published. Your musings are real "comfort food " for the brain!

I love all of Jan Karon's Mitford books. They are insightful and touch my heart. I love that they are about everyday issues and characters who are wholesome. I want to know when the next book is due out and I believe Jan Karon needs to give us the recipe for the Orange Marmalade cake.

Another delightful adventure in the Mitford Saga

Jan Karon's Mitford series are the best books I have ever read. I look foreward to her next one. Her characters seem real and feel like family to me.

Taking Cynthia and the Rector out of Mitford appears to be hard for many -- but some of the message seems to be that change is a natural and special part of life. Didn't the rector resist retirement? Don't we all resist change? Every Jan Karon book is inspirational and satisfying of some deep need in me. I made a gift of the set of earlier books to an elderly great aunt -- and she loves them too! Just sign me up to preorder any upcoming books.

Have been waiting for this book. Even preordered it! Found it very slow and missing the charm of the last four. Will there be another? Maybe "Back at Home in Mitford?" Sure hope so.

I enjoyed A New Song --- but it just didn't come up to the standards of her previous stories. I couldn't follow the characters through the story -- found myself leafing back to refresh in my mind who they were. I did not connect with the characters in this book, as I did with the others. The story just seems to float along without much substance or "meat". I was just a bit disappointed.

A friend recommended the Mitford books to me. After reading the first book, I shared it with my pastor's wife and she has shared it with others. I have now read them all including "A New Song" and I can't wait for Jan Karon to write the next ones. I hope that she will never stop writing. These books about small town life and the people in them have brought me such joy.

I thank you Jan Karon for writing such a clean book that can be read by all. I appreciate your spiritual insights and your understanding of the ongoing joys and trials of our everyday lives.

It occurred to me also that the last scene could be Father Tim meeting his maker, but I think more likely Jeffrey Tolson, who's story line remains dangling. I enjoyed the peacefulness of the novel as always.

Jan Karon has done it again! Loved the Mitford series and thought A New Song did not disappoint me. It was a book to enjoy in the evening after a hectic day, knowing that while the happenings to the Kavanaughs were realistic,as the story unfolded it did not complicate the mind. It was a vacation away for a few hours. I looked forward to visiting with them after a hard day at work. Sure hope Karon keeps it going. We need more books like these. It's amazing that in this intense world Jan Karon can write so interestingly about simple uncomplicated people and it isn't boring in the least. I truly recommend to all readers who are fed up with the excesses and intensities and dramas of everyday life.

I have read many books throughout my days, even though I am only 20 and I find Jan Karon to be one of the best authors of her time. She presents a book with clean pages, no filth scornes the book. I have desperately searched for an author of this quality and was blessed to have found it on the best sellers list at my library. I am always reading books, to just discover the filth that they think America wants to hear.Well, they are wrong! We are searching for quality above and beyond that. Our hearts desire is to see a comical point of view with people that remind us of home. How I rejoiced to see characters like those in my home town. It made me smile, it made me laugh. Any writer that can do this to me deserves a Noble Prize for Literature. I applaud her in every since. To be so bold as to give her Christian point of view is to go above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you for all you have writen!

I have read all five of the Mitford books. This book was my least favorite of them. I found that I did not care about the characters in their new town the way I did about the people in Mitford. I hope Father Tim and Cynthia are back in Mitford for the sixth book.

Uplifting and refreshing reading. All people need to be accepted. Our attitude towards them will determine their response most of the time. If we fail sometimes, nothing is lost. Father Tim sees everyone as "good" and acts accordingly. This is the secret of his success with his parishioners. May we all learn from him and make the world a happier place. I hope Ms. Karon will continue to delight us with her stories.

We wondered if Karon could keep our interest with a new setting and different characters. She did not disappoint. We still laugh out loud, cry and thoroughly enjoy the entertaining situations in whichTim and Cynthia find themselves. The spiritual and moral lessons come through loud and clear adding much to the story line. Our favorite incident, Tim going deep sea fishing!! My husband and I always read Karon to each other before retiring at night, we could feel poor Father Tims pain (while laughing til the tears rolled down our cheeks). We love the lessons learned by showing the human frailties of Tim and Cynthia, as well as the people they encounter along the way. May Tim and Cynthia live to be 100 (and Barnabus too) and Jan Karon still telling their story. Thank you Jan for a well written series the whole family can read. We have learned to love you through your books.

The Mitford books, and now a Whitecap book, have been a surprising and wonderful stroll through a different layer of life than most people experience -- or at least take note of. A New Song continues a great tradition. Everybody knew from the beginning who took the bronze statue, but it was a very moving chapter when it was resolved, even if one is a little dumbfounded that Fr. Tim didn't figure out who took it. My questions: So is it in bk 6 or 7 that Lace and Dooley make it to the altar? Will Dooley's birth father be there? Will Buck punch him out? Will Morris be the organist? Will Fr. Tim be there, or will he (or Cynthia) have gone home (could we stand the poignancy)? Thanks for the great and fresh spiritual writing, Jan Karon. And thanks even more to my own mother, for sharing this series with me.

I loved this novel, it was a very uplifting, emotionally fulfilling tale of love and dedication. Only "The Triumph and the Glory" can rival it for pure, inspirational beauty.

Once again, another Karon triumph! Loved it! Let me also share with my sister Karon fans another novel you will adore--THE LAST DAY, by Glenn Kleier. There is no more moving and poignant a novel, and surprisingly, it was written by a man! A most enlightened and wise man (good looking, too, if the dust jacket does him justice!) I hope you find it as powerful and compelling as I did.