Jan Karon's charming North Carolina small town belongs with the great places of fiction: Macondo, Faulkner's unspellable county, the Louisiana of James Lee Burke, Egypt, Maine, and Hillerman's New West. The sense of place is such a hallmark of this series. And she populates it with such knowable and knowing characters who linger long after the last page of each new book unwillingly, but inevitably ends. There were events here that made me weep and lots that made me laugh. The simple, homespun, yet more theology of Father Tim resonates and redacts with power and sheer gorgeousness. I particularly enjoy, employ, and cherish his prayer than never fails: "Thy will be done." Potent powerful lessons of the human spirit and how it meshes with the divine unfold in pleasant, totally unpedagodical or pedantic reading. Unfortunately marketing this as Christian fiction limits its audience. This is great and mighty stuff for all readers, students of the way of the heart and spirit. Blessings in a book.

Item sold - exactly as stated online - item was delivered very fast and in perfect condition.

Out to Canaan (The Mitford Years, Book 4)

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. 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.

I just loved this book. I am reading the Mitford series and getting to know the characters. It's great to have a respite from our busy world. This book had me laughing out loud in a few places.

My 97 year old grandmother is in love with Mitford. She has macular degeneration and can no longer read with her eyes so she "reads" with her ears. Whenever she is feeling blue or is sick in bed, she just puts Mitford in and says she feels comforted. This was the missing book of her series on CD and we sent it for her 97th birthday. A highly recommended series - the first book may seem a bit slow, but once you finish, you'll want to read the rest of the series.

I bought for a gift for my mother. She is thoroughly enjoying. I will read next as we both share the Jan Karon Mitford Series with equal compassion for this small town.

This is a great book. It contains no violence or sex and still manages to entertain on every page.

Having read the first four books of the nine-volume Mitford series, one right after the other, I think I am saturated for a time and need to read something else. Not that there's anything wrong with the series.

In this fourth installment of the Father Tim saga, the author introduces a bit more grit and travail. There are alcoholics who fall off the wagon. There is a rescue of a lost child. And Father Tim almost loses his house in a nefarious plot. But there is also a bit more religious intrusion than usual--or at least I noticed it more. It's all well and good to pray about all the problems one faces, but it's necessary as well to do something more physical to solve them. If, for example, your dog gets hit by a car and is bleeding in the street, pray if you like, but do it after you have seen to the dog's injuries. The dog's life, in this case, was saved not by prayer, I suspect, but by competent and immediate care of the pet.

I really can't fault the writer, however. Her description of people and the things they do, the way they react, is realistic, regardless of my take on the matter.

There are five books to go in the series. I'll definitely read them, but not just yet.

This is by far the most enjoyable book I've read in the Mitford series and the others were all five star in my opinion. Jan Karon has such a terrific sense of humor and this book shows it at its very best. I especially enjoyed getting to know Harley, Lace's friend from the Creek area. I almost fell off my chair laughing at some of his language, being from the South I have heard people speak just as he does but it was still hilarious to read it. There were so many other enjoyable storylines : the mayoral race between Esther Cunningham and Mack Stroupe, Andrew Gregory and his wonderful surprise, Buck Leeper's return to town and of course the ever-deepening relationship between Dooley and Fr.Tim. Overall a highly satisfying visit to the village of Mitford.

This book, like all the Mitford series, is predictable, but I don't mean that as a criticism, but to the point that good things happen to good people and sometimes we get to see Karma kick back in action. I do hope that Jan Karon keeps writing more of these books. They are as addictive as potato chips!

In the fourth Mitford book, Father Tim manages to keep himself busy as usual. Fernbank must be sold, but the only potential buyer isn't making a very good offer. Father Tim must deal with the unhappiness of his parish after they hear of his impending retirement. The long-time Mitford mayor faces some stiff competition for the upcoming election, and there's something fishy about his campaign. Another enjoyable Mitford book.

Father Tim and Cynthia are contemplating their future in this book, but in the midst of it all, is too much happening at once. Father Tim who is the legal counsel, psychologist, foster parent, political analyst, and rector of his congregation, is always there to lend a helping hand or advice. Also, longtime mayor, Esther Cunningham, revered for preserving traditions of the town, finds a formidable foe in Mack Stroupe, a free spending industrialist who stands for the two most reviled words in Mitford; change and development. Father Tim, once again has his hands full with Dooley, his foster son. Dooley is back from Prep school for the summer, and the good rector is trying to doctor Dooley's past. Father Tim managed to locate two of Dooley's siblings, Poohbaw, and Jessie,and found his alcoholic mother, Pauline as well.

Another hard to put down book!

I absolutely loved the Mitford Series! With all the gloom and doom in this world, it's nice to go back to a simpler and more wholesome way of life.

Father Tim Kavanaugh, the ever-stuck-in-the-mud pastor of the Episcopalian Lord's Chapel, has finally decided, with his wife's help, to make some big changes. His good friend, Bishop Stuart Cullen, comes to the Chapel to announce that Father Tim plans to retire in eighteen months.

Father Tim soon realizes that a year and a half is not nearly long enough to complete the tasks the Lord has given him in Mitford. He must sell Miss Sadie's grand mansion which she willed to the church, ensure that Hope House is running a tight ship for the elderly, and find him and his wife a new place to live. Not to mention, a slightly shady real estate agency is trying to make questionable deals throughout Mitford, and a new candidate is trying to oust Esther Cunningham from her long-held spot taking care of Mitford's own as its mayor.

These grand happenings are, as always, secondary to the interpersonal relationships that are always on Father Tim's mind. His foster son, Dooley, is maturing; and two other young girls are brought into his life. Buck Leeper, the abrasive constructin foreman, may be ready to make some changes; and Puny Guthrie's twins have started calling him granpaw. It is these people, that make up Mitford, that always make Karon's books so compelling. The reader of the series feels as if she knows the characters, and is always moved to find out more about what makes them tick.

Out to Canaan will be cherished by all faithful readers of the Mitford books!

If you like heartwarming stories, this is the book for you. When I finished this book, I was left with a very happy, satisfied feeling. Father Tim and friends will renew your faith in the goodness of people. Highly recommended.

The Mitford Series is a collection of incredibly simple books about small town life. Told from the point of view of a preacher in a mythical town in the hills of North Carolina. Everybody knows everybody else, and not much happens. These are the perfect books to curl up with for some summer porch or beach reading.
Like life the plots are winding and not necessarily purposeful but by the end of the stories your can think back and realize how things developed to an inevitable conclusion. You basically follow a 60 year old preacher through his travails. Since he is a Christian man there is quite bit of bible quotation, but otherwise the story is not about his church so much as his efforts to keep life in order and cope with being recently married man, past his youth yet surrounded by a small town that loves him - sometimes too closely.

One warning..this is very much a "sweet" book. It challenged me to forgo my natural skepticism. I put this in the category of a read that won't tax the reader all but may instead impart a little smile.

Also be aware that a stong Christian message plays throughout much of the dialogue and thinking.

I'm gonna get flamed for this review; I might even lose my status as a "Top 1000" reviewer. But somebody has to tell the truth about this book.

This is apparently a continuation of a series of books about the little town of Mitford, North Carolina. Mitford supposedly has a population of only a thousand, although there are many more businesses and churches than a town of that size would realistically have.

The main character is the longtime rector of the Episcopal Church in Mitford, who is valiantly trying to solve the problems of at least a dozen people. Those attempts are complicated by his own personal and family problems, as well as some political divisions within the town.

Without exception, every attempt to solve every problem is successful. The rector confidently places his trust in the Lord, and remarkable coincidences save the day in every case.

The naiveté of this book is breathtaking. Karon seems to believe that good intentions will always be rewarded, whether you are trying to reform an alcoholic, raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for your church, teach a teenager how to drive, or build a marriage between two people who remained single well into their fifties. Has Karon's life really been like that, or has she been sleepwalking since birth? The rector doesn't even have to break a sweat to solve every problem and rescue every soul in town. No one ever resents his attempts to intrude into their lives. He never has to deal with the often-agonizing issue of where to draw the line between supporting people and teaching them to support themselves.

The religious aspect of the book is not heavy-handed, but the preposterous naiveté of the author's viewpoint applies to religion as well. At one point the rector assures one of his church members that the Lord would not allow a cholera relief project to fail since it's too righteous and important a cause. Now, if relieving cholera is so important to the Lord that He will intervene in human affairs to assure the success of the project, one might wonder why He didn't intervene to prevent the epidemic in the first place. But neither our good rector nor the author Karon seem to have allowed such faithless ideas to enter their heads. Again and again, ridiculously unlikely coincidences, attributed to divine intervention, occur at the very last minute to save the day. In Karon's theology, God seems to spend all His time cleaning up after His own oversights.

In order to inject some "realism" into the story, Karon provides a squabble between the rector and his wife - a squabble so minor that no real live married couple would even remember it the next day - and inflates it into a titanic crisis.

The characters in the book are consistently and uniformly superficial and one-dimensional. No one ever deeply questions his/her own values, no one feels unloved or unappreciated. No one looks back on his/her life and wonders whether it was truly worth it. There are two teenagers in the book, and neither encounters the emotional crises or shattered self-esteem that are a virtually universal part of everyone's adolescence. There are two "bad guys", but they are kept permanently in the background, and, I believe, neither ever speaks a word. And needless to say, their inner motivations are never explored - presumably because Karon is unaware that human beings ever HAVE inner motivations.

A previous reviewer mentioned that there is a good mystery story in this book. Here's the mystery: a little girl is missing, having been taken somewhere, previously, by a cousin. The rector's secretary looks up the cousin's name on the Internet, and discovers that he is living in Florida. The rector and his wife drive down and get the little girl and the cousin (who is nearly dead from gangrene - and the rector saves the day again). That's the "mystery". The whole thing.

There is nothing wrong with idealism. We can all aspire to create our own little Mitfords in our lives, and to devote as much time as possible to helping others. The reason this book is so astoundingly bad is not because it is idealistic. It is bad because anyone who tries to live a life like the ones portrayed in this book, and expects to have anything remotely approaching the results this rector achieves, will experience bitter disillusionment, followed by terminal cynicism.

The book, very simply, is a lie.

The mystery novel seems to be lacking in the past ten years, but Karon does an excellent job of reviving the genre. Father Tim is the best undercover agent I've seen in years. His sleuthing powers are great. Out to Canaan has plot twists and surprises around every corner. Why only a 3 star rating/ Well, I couldn't figure out the addition of the parakeet selling widow in chapter 8 and it seemed to distract from the main plot too much. Be on the lookout for the mysterious Cynthia in Chapter 3, the vegetarian travel agent, she will surprise you in chapter 12. A good book for detective/mystery novel fans.

This is the first book I've read by Jan Karon, and I must admit that I was enthralled. It is the fourth in a series, "The Mitford Years." I probably should have read the previous three books first, usually a good plan with a series like the long Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian. But this book stands alone very well. Oddly, I'm now starting the sixth book in the series, "A Common Life: The Wedding Story," in which the events described obviously precede the events in "Out of Canaan." I'm frankly perplexed that Karon would write them apparently out of order.

"Out of Canaan" is the story of the rector of an Episcopal church, his wife and friends in the very small southern community of Mitsford. In fact, nearly the entire population of 200 souls seems to be involved in the story in some way. Everyone knows everyone else.

This is really a good story. The protagonist and most of the other characters are devoted Christians, and there are many Christian references: Bible quotations, hymn lyrics, and other references. The story will probably not be appreciated by atheists, but may be of interest to folks of other religious faiths who can identify with the human feelings portrayed, and ignore dogma conflicts.

Although there is some conflict in the plot--otherwise, there would be no story--one cannot characterize it as suspenseful. For those impatient people who demand suspense and a brisk pace toward the resulution of the conflict, this book might be characterized as "boring." For me, it was a delightful experience. If you like to read, and appreciate nice turns of phrase and realistic characters--the kind of people you know and meet every day--you'll probably enjoy this book. Personally, I loved it.

Joseph H. Pierre

The small town experiences modern life -- change. From the hysterical mayorial battle to the bakery shutting down, Tim and Cynthia look forward to retirement. Dooley's future and their own become intermingled in this volume. The author is amazing to keep up the tone and interest and build the plot and characters on where she left off. I don't find her losing much of this pace until the end of #5, but maybe when I get into the recently released #6, I'll discover her genius or maybe she just got tired. Always toughest to land a plane or finish a sermon or a book.

Returning to the refreshing town of Mitford in the fourth book of the series was good for my soul. Delving into the lives of Father Tim and his parishoner's is the best medicine I know for relieving the day to day strain of life. This time in Mitford, changes are happening everywhere you turn. Father Tim and Cynthia are deciding about retirement, Buck and Pauline are faced with making life changing decisions, the town's long time Mayor is in a fight against an unscrupulous opponent in the mayoral election, and there is a mystery afoot with a Florida real estate company trying to buy several prime pieces of property. Who is behind the real estate offerings? Why does someone want to buy all the property? Why is Mack trying so hard to become Mayor of Mitford? Will Dooley ever get along with Lace? These questions are all answered as all ways as the story winds its way through the heart of Mitford and its readers. One of my favorite things about the Mitford books is how Father Tim's faith is portrayed. He lives his faith, everyday, with every decision. He moves me in his efforts to be fair and kind and responsive to the many missives he handles in his duties. Read and enjoy.

By the time I finished reading "Out to Canaan," my mouth was literally watering for a piece of Esther's orange marmalade cake. Does somebody have the recipe for it somewhere??? As I closed this book, I realized with a pang in my heart that there was one more book left for me to read in this magnificent series. Then what do I do? Is there life after Mitford?

Two forces contend throughout "Out to Canaan," the fourth book in the Mitford series: tradition and change. Two mayoral candidates represent each side of the coin.

Esther Cunningham, with thirty years in office, a passel of grandchildren, and a penchant for fast food, is facing a challenger in the latest race. Mack Stroupe, a hot dog vendor, promises progress and prosperity for the town if he is elected. It's a tough sell, but he wins many people over.

Something about the whole situation, though, sounds an alarm for Father Tim, town counselor and conscience. Is the mayoral race somehow connected to the mysterious Miami Development, the company that wants to purchase Sadie Baxter's mansion and turn it into a spa?

Changes of another sort are happening all over Mitford, and some are definitely for the better. For instance, Dooley Barlowe has developed into an ambitious young man, and is becoming more grounded, too, as Father Tim works to reunite his scattered family, one by one. Some changes are more chaotic, such as the opening of the Kavanaugh home to new residents, including Harley Welch and his surrogate daughter, Lacey Turner. And some changes, like most in life, are a mix of good and bad, such as Father Tim's impending retirement.

I read this Mitford book with as much pleasure as the previous three, and look forward to more.

Even after consuming this book a couple of times, I am still quite in awe of Ms. Karon's mastery of her art. Father Tim and Cynthia join the roller coaster ride of married life, raising a teenager, and balancing their vocations, with faith and love and abounding hope. A delightful dog, cantankerous kitty, and a marvelous mix of friends figure into this tale that revolves around small town politics.

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.

Hey everyone I am a 14 yr old and I read these books on therecomendation of my gramma and mom and they are great! Read them!

I have zoomed through the first 4 Mitford books and am now midway through the 5th. The characters grab you and transport you to a town where I think, deep down, we would all like to call home. Father Tim is a "real" person with very human characteristics. Yet his basic goodness will restore your faith in humanity. The theology is not shoved down your throat, but rather is grasped between the lines. All the characters are memorable. Cynthia and Dooley in particular help shape the wonderful story line. The huge dog, Barnabus, who is disciplined only by hearing Bible verse, worms his way into your heart. I am so glad I discovered this series, and I recommend it to absolutely anyone!

I have just finished "Out to Canaan" and went directly to "A New Song". These stories are so good, I don't know if I can wait for #6! The stories are entertaining, compassionate, and can make you laugh out loud, and then cry. The reader feels like they personally know the townspeople of Mitford by the fourth book and genuinely cares about what happens to them. Jan Karon has alot of talent and I hope the series continues for a long, long, time. If Mitford were a real town, it's population would soon be expanding, as most readers would love to live there.

As with the previous 3 Jan Karon books in the Mitford series the most comprehensive comment I can make about this book is that is brings great peace. The subject, people, and story are as lilting as the language. The book glows. This books just continues one of the most amazing series of books I have ever read. The spirituality present is not overwhelming but greatly comforting.

This is the best of the Mitford series. I found myself wanting a note card to capture scripture ideas to remember during my own trials and tribulations. The closing sermon still speaks to me.

Mitford is how I thought the world was 'gonna be! This series is a fine loving gift to give yourself or older folks who need to be reminded of the good in the world and the hard work it takes to make good happen.

I'm on Out of Cannan now. I have read them all. I hate to finish one becasue I'm afraid there will not be another one. I truly love Father Tim and Cynthia. Their humor has provided me with hours of laughter and their compassion has brought me to tears. The first laugh I had was when Uncle Billy smiled showing his three teeth. Thanks so much Jan. Can't wait for more!

After a long,cold winter of reading alot of Oprah's suggested books, I found such a nice change of pace in Mitford.. I'm suggesting my husband and my daughter read them . Anyone who is tired of the foul language and depressing violence found in most bestsellers, should read all four of Jan Karon's books. I am anxiously awaiting for her fifth book .

I loved this series so, that I bought the whole set and can't bare to part with even one. I want to read them again and again! Can't wait for the next one....

this book was the last of a series of books that was so uplifting. So many things I read were so relevant to my life in my community. How I wish I could be in Mitford and know all the characters that lived there. What a beautiful place to be and the church sounded like a great one to be a part of too. I recommend this to anyone who loves life and other people. It is a positive outlook when so much we read is negative. I enjoyed the Christian outlook. What a witness the father is!

The best series of books I've ever read! Read all four! You won't regret it! I can't wait to go back to Mitford!

As the wife of an Episcopal priest, I was proud that someone wrote so explicitedly about how much hard work and great fun it can be to be in the ministry. Keron writes about all the unique stories that make-up the fabric of the minister's life yet doesn't neglect the real, day to day life with a spouse!

I cannot tell you what pleasure this series brought to me. My husband even liked it and we read 2-3 chapters a night until all were done. The story line is very realistic - not every situation had a happy ending - and it really brought to light how difficult life can be. I am anxiously awaiting a new novel or continuation of this series!

I liked this book, because it was clean. No foul language, obscene scences or violence. It was very uplifting. A blend of seriousness and humor. I laughed out loud!

A friend from California sent me all four books while I was recovering from ankle surgery. I couldn't stop reading! All four books are a delight, and I can't wait for the fifth (I've heard it is on the way!) to be available. The characters are all so well-developed, they feel like old friends. I've started 3 friends on the series, and they're all hooked. Thanks Jan Karon for bringing the wonderful village of Mitford to print!

Just wonderful, all four books. Hope the 5th one is on the way soon. I have shared my copies with about 15 different people and they all agree Karon is a must read.

The four Mitford books would be good at any time of year. The preacher, young boy, dog, and community members could be found in many towns. Meeting the characters, becoming their friends, participating in their lives, and experiencing their joys and problems touches the reader's life in an unforgettable way. It's difficult to realize that the books are fiction. These are the best books I have found in years.

FATHER TIM, CYNTHIA,AND DOOLEY, et.al., BRING THE CRESCENDO THAT IS THE MITFORD SERIES TO A JOYOUS AND HEARTWARMING CONCLUSION. SAY IT ISN'T SO, JAN!! SURELY, THERE IS MORE TO TELL REGARDING THIS TOWN OF DELIGHTFUL C HARACTERS, WHOM WE HAVE ALL COME TO KNOW AND LOVE!

The Mitford series was so great to read, I am anxiously awaiting for the 5th book to come out. I will be buying it the minute it hits the bookstore. The interaction between the people of the town is so wonderful. I passed the entire series on to my family who also enjoyed the series very much. Jan Karon is a very creative writer.

I love The Mitford series, this one in particular. Ms. Karon brings life into the day to day activities of Father Tim and the people in the village of Mitford. Don't miss this continuation of the wonderful southern small town story. I sincerely hope that Ms. Karon will continue this delightful series as Father Tim and Cynthia enter retirement.

The Mitford books entertain us with small town life. But more important than that, when Father Tim is driving down the road and begins to count his blessings, I put the book down and started to count mine. And you know what? I have quite a lot to be thankful for. It doesn't matter if my battery went dead this morning - the sun was shining and the crocus and forsythia were blooming all around the statue of St. Francis. What a good morning !

The author tells the story of a small-town American way of life which doesn't exist and never did, peopled by angelic, humbling, loving citizens, where the alcoholic, violent, criminal are all reformed by a prayer, where evil people conveniently die or leave town, where a destitute boy, whose mother has disappeared, becomes a millionaire. Very pleasant reading, but all the time the reader is aware that it is just a fable. These books are the latest in a long line of standard books about English village life, centered around the vicar, the church, and the women's organizations.

There is no letdown in this fourth Mitford book. Those who have read the others will love this one. However, if you have not read the others, I highly recommend that you get the first, "At Home in Mitford," and read them all in sequence. If anyone thinks that Karon's novels are strictly women's literature, I disagree. As a male myself, I find the masculine characters and their dialogue completely believable. The overall tone of the series is warm and uplifting, with a delightful understated humor, but the writing is not unrealistically syrupy. There is a strong religious undertone, since the main character is a priest, but the style is never preachy. The author has a finely balanced approach to every situation that the plots touch. I am hoping that there is another Mitford novel in progress.

A girl at our local public library recommended the Mitford books to me as she knows my taste in reading. After I read the first book in the series I was hooked! They are some of the best books I have ever read. I hope Jan Karon keeps writing about Father Tim, Cynthia, Dooley and the rest of the Mitford people for a long time.

I had seen the packaged set of "The Mitford Years" in the stores at Christmas time. I vowed I would find the time to read them sometime soon. I borrowed them from the library but had to start with the 3rd book. I loved it and immediately read the 4th. As soon as possible I got books 1 and 2 and just finished them. I love these books! They are warm, funny, real, and a boost to my spirit. I am recommending them to many people. Fr. Tim is such a gentle but strong character who is so REAL and Cynthia is a great match for him, a strong woman in her own right. I anxiously await book 5. If these books ever make it to the big screen, I recommend John Lithgow for Fr. Tim's character.