Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good

I'm reading Jan Karon's newest novel Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good. What a lovely title...there's a comforting rhythm to it, don't you think?

It's been a delightful T-R-E-A-T to be back with Father Tim and Cynthia, and everyone else we've grown to love in Mitford.

I thought about waiting until Christmas -- you know, to ask the Christmas angel to put a copy of this new book under the tree for me. But the other day while Mr. Hubby and I were at the bookstore -- after my pointing out the pile so conveniently arranged near the front entrance, dearest hubby said, "Why don't you get it today?"

You can be sure I did not wait around for anyone to change his mind. With a copy of the book in hand we were at the checkout line in a nano-second. Heart-beat happy!

And I was pleased to see that it was a nice fat book... with 511 pages to savor as one might a favourite snack or pumpkin spice latte. One tiny bite or sip at a time.

Now I have to be honest, at the very first when I heard a new Mitford book was coming out, I thought it might be too much like the old Mitford books. Maybe even a little re hash? Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and often re-read all the books in the series (I have every one). But I did wonder if Father Tim and all his 'family' in Mitford really had anything new to share with us. I very much enjoyed traveling beyond the town limits to visit Holly Springs and Ireland.

Others must have wondered too, because Miss Jan responded by explaining why she returned to Mitford...

"My legions of readers wanted more, much more, from Mitford," she said in a statement. "Agatha Christie tried desperately to stop writing about Poirot, but her fans would not permit such heresy. She was doomed to write 60 novels and stories with this character about whom she later said, 'I never cared for that little man.' Well, I do care quite a lot for Tim Kavanagh, and that is why I have written 12 novels with this character." excerpt from usatoday.com 

But I am delighted to tell you that the gracious and gifted Jan Karon has once again given us her best. She does not let us down in the least. We're delighted, tickled, comforted and surprised in so many places. To me a 5-star book is a book where we slow down our reading so that we don't have to end the story for a very long time. This is a 5-star book, as all her previous books have been for me. 

Aside... I'll have you know my heart was glad to learn that Father Tim turned down one job offer... and thrilled to bits to have him take on an unexpected job in a spot I envied him being in. For me, it was as it should be.

So if you can...beg, borrow, or buy (you didn't think I was going to say the 's' word, did you?) a copy of this latest episode in the long-running Mitford story. I don't think a true Jan Karon and Mitford fan shall be disappointed. Oh, no!

I'm including a 7-minute youtube video of an interview with Miss Jan, should you be wanting to hear more about the book.  On that note.....

Here's wishing you somewhere safe*´¨)
> ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
> (¸.·´ (¸.·´ * with somebody good! *

Hugs,
Brenda
xox

Post updated to remove info no longer relevant