In the Company of Others (The Mitford Years)

First, let me note that I am writing this while looking out the window of my home onto Lough Arrow, the setting of the book. It was fun reading a novel set in an area where I live, and recognising it and other locations. The houses in the book are a composite, but I think I know them in spirit. The credits and thank you notes at the end offer clues to locals. Lough Arrow is home to several writers and artists; there is a well-known photographer and a more famous poet. The locals do not use the "stage-Irish" manner of speech Ms Karon employs, sparingly, thank you. Father Tim would have heard little Irish spoken, but more understood (it is taught in grade school.)In other words, it was familiar territory.Generally, everything rang true with a few small caveats. There are no salmon in Lough Arrow. The lake waters rise from an unknown limestone source deep underground and flow to the river Unshin then to the ocean. Salmon have been known to swim to the bridge at Ballyrush, but no further. The lough (pronounced "lock" for the culturally inept) has mainly brown trout and pike, and on occasion eels.There are swans, many other bird species, many wildflowers; mink are seen more frequently these days, a few badger and stoats. There are many cattle, horses, sheep and goats. This is farm country.There are only two police officers at Riverstown; the detectives would have been called out from Ballymote. Taking fingerprint evidence might have been a first for them.And for the baffled:Garda "guard" is a collective noun, (like police); the Gardaí [Gar-dee]; "guards", plural); or the Guards.An individual officer is also called a garda (plural gardaí), "officer" "Guard" is the most common form of address used by members of the public speaking to a garda on duty.I think people who read the book and weren't able to follow the story should try it again and pay attention to the 1860 journal which Tim reads and which contains clues to the story.This was my first Father Tim book. I found it enjoyable, but I'm not inclined to read another. For the country life genre I prefer Miss Read, though unfortunately she, at age 98, has no new books on offer.And should you want to read more stories about Lough Arrow, I suggest "Barnacle Soup: And Other Stories from the West of Ireland " by Josie Gray, (978-1597660365) 2008.

I really enjoy how this writer brings the Mitford townspeople to life. This book was in gently used condition, but still able to enjoy!

Good book, I enjoy this author.

The publisher's blurb set the scene: "Vacation. The very word has been foreign to Episcopal priest Tim Kavanagh, whohas traveled across the Pond but twice. As an unreformed workaholic, he's used everyexcuse out there to stay put and tend his earstwhile flock in the Village of Mitford. Now retired, he's making good on a promise to show his wife, Cynthia, the landof his Irish ancestors. Arriving at a Lough Arrow guest lodge in the midst of a torrential downpour, he soon counts this trip the reason he's loath to leave home. An intruder startles Cynthia, resulting in painful damage to her recentlyfractured ankle. A valuable and cherished painting vanishes without a trace. And theshocking wound at the center of a bitterly estranged Irish family is exposed. . . ." Why four stars: (1)The character Anna Conor explained the meaning of the book's title so well: " 'There's never any privacy, really, in keeping an Inn, even when one liesin one's own bed. Personal life and possessions are blended into the business, there'sno telling where one stops and the other begins. One is ever in the company of others." (2)I learned a bit of Gaelic, the meaning of "busking," and the history ofthe Mass Rock. (3)I loved the inclusion of poetry by Robert Frost and William Yeats and Irishsongs. (4)I got my Mitford Fix through e-mails from Emma, phone calls from Dooley,and even a joke from Uncle Billy. (5)In the end Karon's spirituality brought the story to a positive, prayerfulconclusion. Why not five stars: (1)At times the spirituality got in the way. Father Tim ("Reverend" in Ireland), was always the man of God with the answers, all of them. Even Cynthia, herhusband's Deacon, was always the friend to those in need. Nothing could be resolved without the help of the Kavanahs. In the following scene it is pondered and explainedto some degree: " 'I can't do it,' she said 'Can't do what?' 'I can't leave.' 'Can't leave?' 'Because these people mean something to me. They need us.' 'But we can't be Providence for other people, Kav'na' . . . . 'I'm not trying to be providence, I'm their friend. Bella needs someone, Timothy - someone who isn't her overworked mother or Maureen. It's not that I'm in any way better than these two good women, not at all, it's that I was once as frightened and frozen as she is.' " (2)Yes, a journal is discovered, and it provides answers to questions in the story. But, it is boring. I skipped parts. (3)The book's original title was to be A PARTY OF FOUR, I think. Butonly two showed up. What happened to Walter and Katherine? I hope we learn moreabout them in the next book.

Love it!

So good!

I own the complete series and I’m re reading them all. This is my least favorite I’ve grown comfortable with Mitford and it’s characters. I didn’t care for the style of the book nor it’s theme. I miss Mitford. IT was well written, just not enjoyable I skimmed thru it reading it the 2Nd time. There will not be a 3 rd time.

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leuk boek nu is de serie compleet

This is the most different of the Father Tim/Mitford novels largely because of its setting (though a couple of the Mitford novels are also set outside Mitford) but it's probably my favourite.

Jan Karon has written an amazing, gentle, and captivating series about Father Tim, his family, parishes, and friends. All of the books create the feeling of “being there”. Truly enjoyed the series.

Item as described and arrived promptly. This was a gift for a friend. I am sure she likes it.