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krisis86's review against another edition
3.0
I've suddenly realized just why the first Mitford book seems so slow. It's because the "action" is contained over the course of several novels and it's going to take a LONG time to get to the point. Ah HA. Unfortunately, this is not a good way to write a series. People, in my experience, are just not patient enough to slog through mundane (albeit charming) details in order to eventually get to a good story.
That said, this book was better than book 1 because more happened. A LOT more. I did think it was kind of juvenile in the love department, but maybe that's because Tim himself is juvenile. I can see why it worked out the way it did, even if it had me rolling my eyes.
I still don't like the stupid dog or his magical response to Bible verses.
Dooley grew on me a lot in this book though.
And cousin Meg, oh. She will give you someone to hate. I do wish there had been more butt-kicking for her, and I am a little sad because her part in this story felt unfinished and random.
Still not great writing, but for someone who is looking to just chillax and read the slowest series in the history of mankind, you might enjoy this one.
That said, this book was better than book 1 because more happened. A LOT more. I did think it was kind of juvenile in the love department, but maybe that's because Tim himself is juvenile. I can see why it worked out the way it did, even if it had me rolling my eyes.
I still don't like the stupid dog or his magical response to Bible verses.
Dooley grew on me a lot in this book though.
And cousin Meg, oh. She will give you someone to hate. I do wish there had been more butt-kicking for her, and I am a little sad because her part in this story felt unfinished and random.
Still not great writing, but for someone who is looking to just chillax and read the slowest series in the history of mankind, you might enjoy this one.
steviec's review
4.0
Lovely
Again, probably biased due to my early attachment to this series but I found it delightful. Whimsical, quaint, eccentric. All things wonderful.
Again, probably biased due to my early attachment to this series but I found it delightful. Whimsical, quaint, eccentric. All things wonderful.
thepurplegiraffe's review against another edition
3.0
But perhaps what he was feeling most deeply of all was this strange, new sense of family as he moved through the line with Cynthia and Dooley. He felt a connection between them that was beyond his understanding, as if the three of them were bound together by the links of a chain.
This book took me a ridiculous amount of time to get through. Granted, it's huge, but still. I got through the first one a lot faster.
I... have mixed feelings about this book. It was Mitford, so it had that sense of comfort that only this kind of book can bring. But it just seemed kind of... dull, I guess? We jump from scene to scene with little in between and don't seem to get anywhere. I didn't like the storyline with Tim and the lady who was creepy and kind of disgusting imo, the drama between Cynthia and Tim in their relationship (can you PLEASE just TALK to each other. it's not hard).
but on the other hand we have the relationship between Tim and Dooley coming fully grown. we have the sweetness that is the lady at the top of the hill whose name escapes me at the moment (there are so many names in this book ugh) (but I love this lady despite not remembering her name) (it'll probably come to me when I don't need it). We have the whole town rallying around Percy and the diner, and Buck Leeper and that whole situation.
one thing I think Jan Karon does so well is making me care about all of the characters. Despite having forgotten their names now that I'm done with the book, while I was reading I had no problem distinguishing between the different Mitford residents. They're all great. (Aside from the aforementioned creepy-and-slightly-disgusting rich old lady). But I can't say I'm the biggest fan of her writing style. The way the book is laid out bothered me by the end. The little snippets were... idk, unnecessary? It just felt like we were spinning our wheels and not getting anywhere.
I went into this assuming I would love it. I didn't love the first... 3/4ths of the book. The ending, I adored. I don't know if I'm going to continue with the series because I have so many other things I want to read and I feel like my time in Mitford may be at a close. Idk.
3.5 stars for this one.
This book took me a ridiculous amount of time to get through. Granted, it's huge, but still. I got through the first one a lot faster.
I... have mixed feelings about this book. It was Mitford, so it had that sense of comfort that only this kind of book can bring. But it just seemed kind of... dull, I guess? We jump from scene to scene with little in between and don't seem to get anywhere. I didn't like the storyline with Tim and the lady who was creepy and kind of disgusting imo, the drama between Cynthia and Tim in their relationship (can you PLEASE just TALK to each other. it's not hard).
but on the other hand we have the relationship between Tim and Dooley coming fully grown. we have the sweetness that is the lady at the top of the hill whose name escapes me at the moment (there are so many names in this book ugh) (but I love this lady despite not remembering her name) (it'll probably come to me when I don't need it). We have the whole town rallying around Percy and the diner, and Buck Leeper and that whole situation.
one thing I think Jan Karon does so well is making me care about all of the characters. Despite having forgotten their names now that I'm done with the book, while I was reading I had no problem distinguishing between the different Mitford residents. They're all great. (Aside from the aforementioned creepy-and-slightly-disgusting rich old lady). But I can't say I'm the biggest fan of her writing style. The way the book is laid out bothered me by the end. The little snippets were... idk, unnecessary? It just felt like we were spinning our wheels and not getting anywhere.
I went into this assuming I would love it. I didn't love the first... 3/4ths of the book. The ending, I adored. I don't know if I'm going to continue with the series because I have so many other things I want to read and I feel like my time in Mitford may be at a close. Idk.
3.5 stars for this one.
bookzealots's review against another edition
4.0
the beginning has a lot of letters between Timothy and Cynthia and as Dooley would say, MUSH!
But the author includes some gut punches that makes up for all of the previous fluff.
(this book had a lot of editorial errors that were annoying, but I still recommend the book)
But the author includes some gut punches that makes up for all of the previous fluff.
(this book had a lot of editorial errors that were annoying, but I still recommend the book)
mimima's review against another edition
2.0
Good grief, it took me 11 days to read this (slow moving) yet relatively short novel. I enjoyed the way that it was in snippets, but yet found the perspective odd enough that several times I had to go back to figure out who was speaking and to whom.
Clearly, it didn't grab me, though I didn't find myself dreading the read.
Clearly, it didn't grab me, though I didn't find myself dreading the read.
nferre's review against another edition
3.0
A very sweet, very quiet and peaceful read, with great plot and character development -- just no drama or scintillating romance.
wingedpotato's review against another edition
4.0
Even better than the first in this series of "gentle fiction." If the first book was a drink of cool water, this one felt more like a mug of hot chocolate--more emotional intensity, but still easy to swallow.