The word is out--Father Tim is going to retire in 18 months. Bishop Stuart Cullen has made it official in a sermon in which he likened Father Tim’s retirement as an adventure equivalent to Abraham’s venture into Canaan. Suffused with goodwill from the sermon, at first the villagers congratulate Father Tim and wish him well. However, when reality sets in--there will be (unwelcome) change--the complaints start. No one wants to break in a new priest.But over riding all other concerns is the upcoming mayoral election. Esther Cunningham has been mayor since Before The Flood; her motto might as well be Mitford’s--”Mitford takes care of its own”--and her platform of no development has been a popular one. The people of Mitford are also aware that Cunningham, despite her low key approach, has done a great deal of good for Mitford, among which has been a new ambulance.But Mitch Stroupe is opposing Esther on a platform of change that will be good for Mitford--and he is spending a great deal of money. At first, all the old timers are opposed to Mitch. But then as time goes on, little by little, there’s a different sense--maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have a new mayor.And thus the drama of the fourth book, high drama indeed. but as always, life is ordinary, laced with the little things both good and frustrating, and always the real issues--life and death--are present. And questions--and prayers--are not always answered.This is a fine installment in the series, with all of Karon’s strengths: fine writing, great characters, and a strong and interesting presentation of Christian living.Highly recommended.
The 4th book in this beloved series. The fact that I have now read four books in the saga of Mitford and Father Tim Kavanagh is testament to the fact that I love these books. Father Tim is one of my all time favorite characters in literature. This loving servant of God tries so hard to be the good shepherd of his charming, lovable, sometimes exasperating "sheep". In this episode Father Tim is rapidly approaching retirement and he struggles to tie up some rather frustrating loose ends before he leaves his post. One of those "loose ends" is what to do with Fernwood,the crumbling estate left to him by one of his dearly departed parishioners. A real estate developer from Florida has made a very tempting offer to take the decaying structure off his hands, but Father Tim, in an attempt to live up to the dying wishes of it's previous owner, can't quite get comfortable with selling the property to this developer.With his reliance on God for guidance Father Tim finds answers to many vexing situations and in the process has his own faith strengthened. One of my favorite elements in the Mitford books are the quotes used by Father Tim to illustrate a concept or principle of faith. They have lead me to new sources of inspiration and authors of faith based literature. Decidedly a delightful reading experience.
What do You think about Out To Canaan (2005)?
I enjoyed this book as much as the rest of the Mitford series, so far...and yet, I found myself suffering with the same curse of plot drag as in the first book. I saw what you did there, Ms. Karon. You wanted the reader to feel the same dragged out sense of prolongued separation that Father Tim and Cynthia (and the rest of Mitford) feel when they prepare for the departure to their new congregation.I have to say, this book shows Jan Karon to be a masterful story teller. As a reader, you are immersed in some rather dramatic events. I was gripping the edges of my Kindle at points, and holding my breath.As the Father settles into his new congregation, I begin to feel my lapsed Episcopalian self fall more and more in love with the spiritual nature of these books. I pray along with Father Tim. I haven't believed in such a long time...
—Angela S. Blair
In this fourth volume of the Mitford series, the town finally learns that Father Tim will be retiring, and Mack Stroupe runs against Esther Cunningham for mayor. While much of the series focuses on the ups and downs of everyday life, there are several serious threads. One is the disease of alcoholism, which led to the dissolution of Dooley’s birth family and the scattering of his siblings; another is the concept of redemption and forgiveness. “Out to Canaan” shows the destruction and pain of alcoholism as well as the possibility and difficulties of recovery. While the dedication is realistic (“For all families who struggle to forgive and be forgiven”), the epitaph from the Bible is hopeful: “I will restore unto you the days the locusts have eaten...”
—Susan
I love Jan Karon's wit. Her characters are so real I feel like I know them, like I live in Mitford. The affable, bumbling goofball Father Tim delights me. "He wanted to say something to her, something to let her know that having her beside him meant the world to him, meant everything. 'I'm going to buy us a new frying pan today.' he said. . . . He hadn't meant to say that. He hadn't meant to say that at all!" (page 51) He ruined a romantic moment with unintended humor, just one example of his bumbling ways.In Out to Canaan it seems like everything that can go wrong in a small town is going wrong in Mitford, and the general peace of Mitford is disturbed. Good old Father Tim plays detective in many aspects of his life and calling, all the while praying the prayer that cannot fail: "Your will be done."How can someone not love the character-driven Mitford books? They're light-hearted, humorous, and captivating. If Mitford, NC were real, I'd move there. These are books worth reading especially if you desperately need a good laugh.
—Christian Singer
