A Common Life (Mitford)

by Jan Karon

Paperback, 2002

Call number

813.54

Publication

Penguin Books (2002), Edition: Illustrated, 186 pages

Description

Fiction. Literature. Romance. Christian Fiction. HTML:Laughter and wedding bells ring as #1 New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon takes her millions of fans behind the scenes of the most cherished event in Mitford history.Mitford�??s Lord�??s Chapel is the home to the most joyful event in years: the wedding of Father Tim Kavanagh and Cynthia Coppersmith. Here at last is A Common Life, and the long-awaited answers to these deeply probing questions: Will Father Tim fall apart when he takes his vows? Will Cynthia make it to the church on time? Who will arrange the flowers and bake the wedding cake? And will Uncle Billy�??s prayers for a great joke be answered in time for the reception? From Dooley Barlowe, to Miss Sadie and Louella, to Emma Newland, the mayor, everybody who�??s anybody will be there celebrating in the little town with the big heart. A Common Life is the perfect gift for Mother�??s Day, Christmas, anniversaries, and for a bride or groom to give to his or her beloved. In truth, it�??s perfect for anyone who believes in laughter, relies on hope, an… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member karriethelibrarian

Finally! The details of Cynthia and Father Tim's wedding. The whole cast of characters is here: Miss Sadie, Louella, Uncle Billy, and the old geezers in the diner. Charming and sweet.

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LibraryThing member seoulful

The wedding of Father Tim and Cynthia takes place with the full cast of characters in review. Each of the well-loved characters gives short glimpses of his own past romance as he ponders the coming wedding of his beloved priest. As usual after reading one of the Mitford series, one wants to somehow

improve upon his own life and create some of the warmth and caring that exists in the fictional town of Mitford.

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LibraryThing member MrsLee

One would think, with this book filling in the details of the wedding story, that I would love this book, but actually, it was my least favorite. But even at that, it's still worth the read and it may strike others differently.

LibraryThing member meyben

Father Tim and Cynthia get married. Among the wedding plans, the feelings of the union come out. We follow through the whole process including the wedding and the honeymoon.

LibraryThing member SABC

This story if perfect for anyone who believes in laughter, relies on hope, and celebrates love. This 6th book answers..will Father Tim fall apart when he takes his vows, Will Cynthia make ti to church on time? All the characters will be there.......

LibraryThing member cbl_tn

A Common Life is a step back chronologically in the Mitford series. It tells the story of Father Tim and Cynthia's wedding, from the proposal to the honeymoon. Now that the series is complete, readers have a choice between reading in chronological order and in publication order. I'm glad I'm

reading in publication order, since this book allowed me to spend time with characters who passed away later in the series, and to remember just how much Dooley Barlowe has matured over the course of the series. If you're new to the series, this isn't the place to start. First get to know Father Tim, Cynthia, and the residents of Mitford in other books in the series, and then you'll be ready to celebrate with them.

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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna

This short novel tells the story of Tim & Cynthia's wedding. From the proposal to the honeymoon, there are little glimpses of how the significant events occurred - Tim asking Cynthia to marry him, how they shared the news, who helped them celebrate. I liked that some of the chapters were from other

points of view - I particularly enjoyed Cynthia's reflections of how they met and how she fell in love.

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LibraryThing member foggidawn

The story of Fr. Tim and Cynthia's wedding and the events leading up to it. Told from multiple points of view, it also touches on the backstories of several supporting characters as they recall their own romances. This book was written after the fifth book in the series, but falls third

chronologically. Because it was written out of order, there are a few minor continuity issues, but nothing that really messes with the integrity of the story. This is not the strongest book in the series, but since it is the shortest, it makes for a pleasant interlude between A Light in the Window and These High, Green Hills.

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LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge

I enjoyed the book, although it was confusing because I did not read the others in the series. I wish it had stopped after the second to last chapter, as I felt the last chapter detracted from the wedding theme in the book.

LibraryThing member lkernagh

A delightful short read - almost a novella in size - Karon takes a step back with this sixth installment to provide details of the wedding between Father Tim and Cynthia. If following story trajectory order, this book would probably have appeared between installments 3 and 4, but no matter. For me

the favorite take-aways are the snapshots Karon provides of the various Mitford community members as news of the engagement and the wedding day play out. Karon obviously appreciates that people can get "territorial" about involvement in wedding planning activities, and that wedding guests can be prone to mind-wandering while all the "official" stuff takes place. Yes, the story does get a little sappy and does get a bit preachy but overall, it is all about the wedding, community and how even the best laid plans can encounter some unexpected hiccups. You just need to roll with them when they happen.

Overall, a delightful and quick read with a focus on the importance of the simple things in life.

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LibraryThing member judyg54

This book looks back at Father Tim Kavanagh and Cynthia Coppersmith's life leading up to their wedding. Each chapter (the proposal, the joke, the preamble, the wedding, the beginning; to name a few), gives you a closer glimpse into the folks you have learned to love as they all learn of and

anticipate the wedding. This story may seem out of order to some, but I enjoyed myself nonetheless. This was a quick read for me, but very enjoyable.

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LibraryThing member TustinRanchSA

Jan Karon's Mitford Series books are all just delightful reading. She has created a community of amazingly interesting characters and a town setting that is warm and welcoming to the reader. Finally the star character, Father Tim is about to tie the knot. Will the artist bride, Cynthia, make it to

the alter in time? Oh there are so many little details of conversations, thoughts of character and descriptive actions and settings that make this a memorable book and well worth reading again and again.

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LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels

The small town of Mitford prepares for one of the most important events in the townsfolk's memory when sixty-two-year-old Father Timothy Kavanagh announces his upcoming nuptials in A Common Life: The Wedding Story by author Jan Karon.

Although this is Book Six in the Mitford Years series, I would

have read it after Book Two if I'd known it's a look back at a wedding that already took place but wasn't previously written about. No big deal though, since this short ChristFic novel (a novella?) was just the uplifting interlude I needed.

It isn't only a bride and groom story but a significant glimpse into the varied and layered lives of several people integral to the fabric of Mitford and to Father Tim's life. I expected some laugh-out-loud humor, folksy quirks, and a little matrimonial chaos—and there is! But knowing this author, I should have been better prepared for all the different perspectives and emotions that come so effortlessly yet profoundly off the page.

Not to mention the love story. Ah! Newness and worries and joys, wonderings and sheer wonder... Timothy and Cynthia have one of the most natural, believable, and intensely romantic relationships I've encountered in fiction. Their mature stage in life makes it all the more refreshing.

And honestly, lovey-dovey wedding scenes in novels tend to make me roll my eyes. So when I've instead got tears standing in my eyes during the exchanging of wedding vows in a story, the author's got a gift.

Yes, do read at least Books One and Two first to fully appreciate this substantive and beautiful tale. It's one of my favorite books of the series so far, so I'm glad the author "went back" and wrote it.

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LibraryThing member salem.colorado

Jan Karon is known for writing a number of books about a small town and it’s beloved Episcopal church and Father Tim. A Common Life is the sixth book in the Mitford Years series and is the story about Father Tim’s wedding and all the fun and lovable things that happen. It is found on the

library shelves under the number F/KAR.

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