Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

Reviewed by Vicki Carver

The newest Mitford Years novel is now available and is titled Shepherds Abiding. Author Jan Karon has written another heartwarming story about Father Tim Kavanagh and his beloved wife Cynthia.

Reading the newest Jan Karon novel is like spending time is a real-life ceramic Christmas village. Father Tim discovers a plaster nativity set which is in a sorry state and needs to be repaired and repainted. He decides to buy the set, refurbish it and give it to Cynthia for Christmas. Every chapter in Shepherds Abiding pertains to a specific figure in the nativity set as Father Tim brings each one back to life.

As in the other Mitford novels there are several story lines occurring simultaneously. Hope Winchester, who operates the “Happy Endings” bookstore is wishing for some very special Christmas gifts. Percy and Velma Mosely are anxiously planning to retire and close their restaurant, "The Grill”, which has been a favorite breakfast spot for Father Tim and friends for many years. Uncle Billy Watson is trying to figure out what to give his eccentric wife Rose for Christmas. Lew Boyd is struggling with the absence of his new wife Earlene as she takes care of her ailing mother in another town. Karon’s writing style pulls the reader into the unfolding plot and keeps the momentum building until the book’s conclusion.

For those who are interested in Jan Karon’s future writing plans, here is some information about her upcoming titles. Next year The Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader will be published by Viking. Then in 2005 the final book in the Mitford series, Light From Heaven, will be published. Also, Karon has several children’s books presently available such as Miss Fannie’s Hat and Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny. There are other titles as well which are all written in Karon’s warm, easy-to-read style.

For anyone who would like to visit Mitford for a visit with old friends who the reader can really care about, Shepherds Abiding is a great new book to read.