Underfoot

Goodbye to Mitford!

Revisado: 03-07-24

I first visited Mitford many years ago. I read each book as it was published in, yes, hardback. I loved Mitford so much that I revisited on audible. Now, at age 72, I have come home to Mitford again. In this book, as in all the others, there is laughter and tears: sorrow and joy: the ups and downs of Father Tim and Cynthia, Dooly and Lace. their new son Jack Kavanaugh and all the familiar folks of Mitford. New friends and family are introduced and emphasis is placed on different and new folks we meet. I am not going to ruin your last trip to the mountains by telling you the story or The ending . The only criticism I have is that I feel that perhaps too much emphasis is placed on little Jack Kavanaugh. More emphasis on other friends would have balanced the story better.Kudos to the reader. It is important to the story to have the same wonderful voice of North Carolina warmth throughout most of the books. The wonderful warmth of everything that Jan Karon says to you has left you always in Mitford. Go back and start at book one. And finally there is Father Timothy. He will always be there for me and for you.

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One of the best historical mysteries.

Revisado: 10-11-23

This second mystery of Brother Cadfael continues, in a time period of great poverty and riches, civil war between two mediocre would be monarchs, diseases which would horrify us and a true picture of the Medieval World and the tug between Church,State, and Secular worlds. Brother Cadfael, a monk who came late to the Religious life, solves mysteries, brings together two sets of lovers, and introduces us to the Middle Ages. What more could one ask? If this review sounds dry, the book is not. I have heard it many times and am never bored. The reader is great.

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London and Paris: Charles Dickens’ tale of winds of change: A Tale of Two Cities

Revisado: 03-12-20

The book begins with one of the famous lines of literature “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times” and ends with Sydney Carton’s brave truth that “It is a far, far better death that I go to”. Between these two lines we have the surging story of the French Revolution. Sydney Carton, a man fallen in everything but a hidden honor and love. Dr. Manet , whose life has been ruined by the French Aristocracy,his loving and lovely daughter whose marriage to Charles Darnay, a man who has denounced his French title and the banker Mr. Lorry, a man of business. It is Dr. Manet’s past as a Physician and his ties to the St. Evremond family, Charles, that pull them all into the whirlwind of the increasingly violent and bloody French Civil War. There is incredible tragedy and betrayal and then there is Jerry Cruncher, doorman at Tillman’s Bank and a “ressurectionist”. There is so much in this book of the human state that I can only say read it and love and hate the men and women struggling within.

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Mitford will live forever in your heart.

Revisado: 11-27-19

Though fiction, the Mitford books are some of the most profound and loving books you will ever read. They would give life to a stone. I have gradually learned to love all of the people beginning with Father Tim. He is the person around whom all the books, all the stories and all the people revolve. After about 58 years as a a kind,understanding, but lonely Episcopalian bachelor priest, he finds love thrust on him by a dog ,Barnabus, a boy coming from a family of alcoholism and abuse, Dolly, and finally a writer and illustrator of books, 56 year old Cynthia.after adopting the first two and marrying the third, the members of Mitford and the surrounding area and the lives of all begin. There are too many people to mention by name, you will learn to know and love them as you read. Most importantly,a deep and abiding faith runs through the books guided by Father Timothy. It is so real that I found my own faith,dormant for many years now regrowing and my hunger for the Lord and the need of a church and fellowship becoming something that must be addressed in my life.
The Narrator is the best I have heard in well over 300 spoken books. Dozens of characters have their own. Voices and characters.He even sings Hymns where they appear in the books. Marvelous.
Go to Mitford. Rejoice and see if you also feel changed and want to change more of this increasingly sad and confusing world we live in, after living in Mitford and knowing its people and Father Timothy.

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Things are not what they used to be

Revisado: 09-11-18

The good Brother Eadulf persuades Sister Fidelma now entered in to a trial marriage together, although this is never made clear to visit his childhood home in Seaxmund’s Ham. Things have changed. The country has reverted to its pagan Gods,leaving one Christian Monastery run by a mad monk and limited to men only. The story is a little improbable,but is made really interesting by the increased role of Brother Eadulf,, which I really liked. Eventually Fidelma solves the riddle at great risk of their lives and they are off to the adventure. Oh, there is a surprise ending! As always the narration was superb.

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Caught in the Web

Revisado: 07-30-18

Sister Fidelma and Brother Eodulf are sent to a small town to solve a mystery. The mysteries and the murders multiply until it is hard to keep track of the story, which is both sad and evil. Many old Irish names become bewildering. Never fear: all turns out lawfully, but not quite as comforting in the end. One of the lesser Fidelma mysteries. If you want to read them in order, as I do. Go ahead. Otherwise,you can skip this one.

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One of Brother Cadfael’s most touching and exciting mysteries

Revisado: 03-06-18

As in most Brother Cadfael ‘s books there are the star crossed young lovers; the evil guardians,and overbearing proud followers of King Stephen:all set in a Benedictine Abbey,the surrounding area, and in the sad setting of a small Leper colony.. Leprosy,probably brought back from the First Crusade, was one of the most feared diseases of the Middle Ages and lepers were shunned and left to the Monks of various religious orders to care for. Against this background is played out a dramatic story of love, jealousy and murder: all discovered and resolved to the happiness of the truthful characters and the villains. But who is who? To discover this, the reader must carefully follow several plots and a touching moment of Cadfael’s past as he Joins the Great First Crusade. One of the best of the series and well. read.

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Fascinating

Revisado: 02-19-18

What did I like? The book’s buildup. It’s feeling of putting a jigsaw puzzle together. The characters-once they get sorted out and you know which woman’s name belongs to who, not easy. The groups’ gradual bonding that endures for 50 years. The parts their men play. The way the plot plays out, right up to the end. Two characters sit at the center of this story: the twins. Follow them carefully. Don’t forget them. The ending is dazzling, unsuspected, And best of all, no strings left hanging.
WhaI didn’t like. Sorting out the women is almost impossible in the beginning, and does not improve until we get to know each one and where they fit into the story; about one third through the book.
The narration: to loud, to many heavy accents from many characters. They do not invite you into the book. Finally the voice coaches woke up, made corrections and each character had her or his own voice and accent. All became clear. For one reader to adopt many characters’ accents, nuances, and emotions was impressive.
A book worth the time spent listening to it. The happiness,the sadness, the love, the differences, the injustices, and in the end, the well deserved justice meted out for the ultimate betrayal of one of their group 50 years earlier.

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