Tuesday, 15 June 2010

• Home to Holly Springs:Karon

  Better late than never works as an adage when headlining Jan Karon's latest Mitford book, Home to Holly Springs.  It's the first in the Father Tim series and since the second in the series in scheduled to be released this Fall, it was time for me to finish reading it.

   

  Relationships between family members, especially fathers and sons, drive the storyline and make Home to Holly Springs especially appropriate for June reading.  Father Tim continues to live up to his charming and brave self even as he drives off (into the sunset?) in search of answers.  Red mustang and Irish wolfhound to boot!

   

  After not visiting his hometown for thirty years, Father Tim responds to an unexpected and anonymous request to appear.  Author Karon weaves a believable plot introducing a host of characters (most intriguing was Peggy) and a cadre of sensitive issues (mixed race and stem cell transplants) that will all need at least one follow-up novel to flesh out.

   

  The cover art doesnt really do justice to the story which reads more like a mystery novel. I'm thinking Barnabas and that red mustang should be featured!  Fathers, cars, and dogs oh my!!  In short, dont judge this book by its dust jacket. 

   

   

  I thoroughly enjoyed Home to Holly Springs, identifying with the genealogic hunt and appreciating the Christian approach to problem solving.  My favorite quote falls at the end (pg 333) as Cynthia is declaring her loyalty to husband, Father Tim, who is still in the hospital after donating stem cells to his half-brother.

  "I'm happy with you," she said, "We could be happy always if we always trusted God."

  "There's the rub," Tim replied, "Remember the quote from Elizabeth Goudge that stayed pinned over your drawing board for an eon?"

  She had long accepted the fact that happiness is like swallows in spring.  It may come and nest under your eaves or it may not.  You cannot command it.  When you expect to be happy, you are not and when you don't expect to be happy, there is suddenly Easter in your soul, though it be mid-winter. 

   

  In the end, our dependable rector successfully navigated some turbulent water that had been bubbling beneath the surface of his peacful existence for many years.   I was impressed with his courage in both addressing and responding to life's unexpected events.  Father Tim is happy because he trusts God.

  Better late than never.

  It's good advice.

   

   

  Currently Home to Holly Springs (Father Tim, Book 1) By Jan Karon see related

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