In the Company of Others

Jan Karon

Oct 2010 · Penguin

About this ebook

Follow Father Tim and Cynthia on their journey to research his Kavanagh ancestry in the Irish countryside in this novel in the beloved Mitford series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon.
 
Vacation—the very word has been foreign to Episcopal priest Tim Kavanagh. Now retired from tending his flock in the village of Mitford, he is making good on a promise to show his wife, Cynthia, the charming land of his Irish ancestors. But after arriving at a Lough Arrow fishing lodge in the midst of a torrential downpour, the charm disappears.

They find their holiday upended by an intruder, a treasured painting is stolen from the lodge, and a family conflict dating back nearly a century turns even more bitter. As three generations struggle to find deliverance from the crucifying power of secrets, Tim and Cynthia stumble upon a faded journal that might just explain the crime—and offer a chance at redemption.

Ratings and reviews

ISBN: 978-0-670-02212-0 Viking Press Published October 30, 2010 Hardcover, 399 pages Reviewed by Sandra The unlikely protagonist is a 70-year-old retired Episcopalian priest named Tim. He and his 64-year-old wife of 8 years spend a vacation in Ireland, “getting in touch with his roots.” While staying at a seemingly charming family-run fishing lodge they encounter a variety of harmless characters…..an idyllic vacation lies ahead. But…. an intruder appears in a bedroom, a valuable painting is stolen, the fishing lodge loses its charm and a mystery begins. At the heart of the story is the dysfunctional family who own the lodge. Each one has their own secrets and intrigues. “Father” Tim is at the helm trying to help them deal with their issues. Cynthia, too, is sympathetic to their challenges and when she finds a journal dating back to the 1800’s, something in the journal helps to solve the mystery of the missing painting and more. The descriptions are creative. An example is “the water’s surface was golden now, hammered by the afternoon sun. Bees droned in the flower beds; the trunks of the beeches convened like patient elephants.” I could hear the Irish lilt in some of the dialogue and this made the story real for me. At one point someone says about prayer to God, “He wouldn’t be after hearin’ from me.” Someone was “overly fond of the table.” A nurse was “familiar with the backside of Gehenna.” Biblical references and Yeats’ poetry fill this bitter/sweet, slow-moving Irish tale that is essentially about the liberating power of confession, forgiveness, and redemption. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a story with a happy ending.

Very weak plot-poorly constructed, difficult to follow. Poorly drawn characters, confusing relationships. Often preachy, as though religious beliefs were the primary motive for writing the book.

Just finished this book...found it enthralling and Jan Karon's obvious research superb and love of the Eire contagious.

About the author

Jan Karon, born Janice Meredith Wilson in the foothills of North Carolina, was named after the title of a popular novel, Janice Meredith.

Jan wrote her first novel at the age of ten. "The manuscript was written on Blue Horse notebook paper, and was, for good reason, kept hidden from my sister. When she found it, she discovered the one curse word I had, with pounding heart, included in someone's speech. For Pete's sake, hadn't Rhett Butler used that very same word and gotten away with it? After my grandmother's exceedingly focused reproof, I've written books without cussin' ever since."

Several years ago, Karon left a successful career in advertising to move to the mountain village of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and write books. "I stepped out on faith to follow my lifelong dream of being an author," she says. "I made real sacrifices and took big risks. But living, it seems to me, is largely about risk."

Enthusiastic booksellers across the country have introduced readers of all ages to Karon's heartwarming books. At Home in Mitford, Karon's first book in the Mitford series, was nominated for an ABBY by the American Booksellers Association in 1996 and again in 1997. Bookstore owner, Shirley Sprinkle, says, "The Mitford Books have been our all-time fiction bestsellers since we went in business twenty-five years ago. We've sold 10,000 of Jan's books and don't see any end to the Mitford phenomenon."