And I did…the first 36 hours. But last night I had three hours open and three hours left of reading. Turn the light off at 10:00? C’est impossible!
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good
Laughter plays peek-a-boo throughout the text. Last night I read a section to my husband that required a working knowledge of both The Cat in the Hat
There are three scenes that sing to the deep recesses of my soul. They, alone, are why I know I will be reading this book again and again. And, perhaps, again.
Jan Karon nourishes. Literary quotes to ponder, authors and titles to explore, music to review, idioms to delight in. And a bookstore—Happy Endings—that plays a big part in the plot. There are also problems that can’t be fixed, people that fail, people that never fail to irritate.
If you’ve read certain kinds of Christian fiction, you are familiar with what I call the two-dimensional didactic. The pasted-on-the-end moral message, the perfect hero and wicked villain, the thin patina of plot splashed on the important main point. Gag. No. Thank. You.
When you read Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good
I love the map of Mitford. I love these phrases:
the benediction of her father’s deep tenderness /
a selfish view that masquerades as noble /
that they would be shielded in their joy /
his favorite tryst for plain talk /
under the stairs, a good place to have a cry /
My favorite phrase describes this book: a plenitude of grace.
A Living Pencil 
This book is on my bookshelf. Now I’m going to dig into it!! This is high praise and thanks for the great review!
When I started reading this I realized I had never read the previous Father Tim book, In The Company of Others. And so I surgically removed myself from SSWSG and went back to read ITCOO. Now I am salivating. I better read fast (-:
Your favorite phrases are beautiful.
The time that Jan Karon spent away from Mitford seems to have enriched the narrative. Like a good marinade or the steeping of a favorite beverage, sometimes the magic happens in the waiting time.
SO happy to read this review.
DI
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I started it today. Savoring it. But a niggling thought that I should go back and reread the last three books just hangs around the margins… I wonder if I should. It’s already so terribly beautiful.
I was going to just read the library copy, but after your review I must buy a copy to savor!
love and prayers, jep
What a perfectly tantalizing review! I can’t wait to read this.
Your review reminded me of this new release. I bought one as a gift and downloaded the Kindle version for myself. I, too, am savoring the words and scenes ~ like *let’s have a rest stop before the next fanfare.*
Blessings from GA,
Dana
Can you believe I only read the first Mitford book? I MUST remedy this!
Hello, I stumbled upon you while looking for a cover photo of Elizabeth Goudge’s book The Bird in the Tree (loved your review of that BTW) and decided to stay a while and look around here. I have read all the Jan Karon books, devouring each one as soon as it came out. Loved them all except, for some reason, the last one about Fr. Tim’s trip to Ireland. That one disappointed. However, I have been hearing great things about this new book and look forward to delving into it sometime soon. I’ll be attempting to get it on loan from the library I think. Oh, also wanted to say Elizabeth Goudge is my favorite author and I have managed to collect almost all of her books over the past 30 years or so. She’s a real treasure. I am re-reading The Bird in the Tree right now. It has been lovely finding you. Hope to visit again.
Hi Sara (waving across the miles)!
I’m glad you stopped to visit. One of my favorite scenes from Goudge is in Linnets and Valerians. Uncle Ambrose will have to take up the education of the four siblings and quizzes them to see what they know. When he asks the youngest what she knew of Greece (she thought it was grease) she replied, “A bright light,” and Uncle Ambrose was smitten. It’s warm and charming and funny.
Come back when you have time!
Carol