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These High, Green Hills (The Mitford Years)…
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These High, Green Hills (The Mitford Years) (original 1995; edition 1997)

by Jan Karon (Author)

Series: Mitford Years (3)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3,634363,450 (4.08)56
Timothy Kavanaugh, Father Tim, is a newlywed, and he's in for plenty more newness besides. His bride is all ready to redo his kitchen walls that have been the same since... The boy Timothy loves as his own makes a heartbreaking choice. What does Father Tim's church need a (baffling) new computer system for anyway? And a certain camping trip turns out to be so much more than a camping trip in These High, Green Hills by author Jan Karon.

In a way, I flew through this third book in The Mitford Years series. It's pretty remarkable how this author takes the everyday goings-on in Timothy's town and brings out such a humorous, homey quality. Homey enough so that when the unfortunate, stinging, and even tragic moments hit, they matter all the more. The townsfolk matter. And I appreciate how Father Tim, a rector in his sixties, is still learning, growing, and experiencing new adventures.

It could be so easy for rather easy reading to be simplistic, corny, predictable, likely oversweet fare instead of this warm, funny, touching, sprightly-paced stuff that weaves in clever and unexpected bits all along the way. I'll certainly be going on to read Book Four. ( )
  NadineC.Keels | Dec 14, 2019 |
Showing 1-25 of 36 (next | show all)
After being reminded by a friend that this series is delightfully like "curling up with a cup of tea," I realized that the whole series is missing from my Goodreads list. It's been quite a while since I've read this book, so I'm just guessing on the date. I won't rate it, because the details are fuzzy, but I loved this series. Don't pick it up if you're looking for something exceptionally deep or literary. It's just a warm-hearted and good series with characters striving to learn and do what it right.
  CarolHicksCase | Mar 12, 2023 |
Even with the familiar Grille characters and the rector's predictable inactions,
the plot falls flat with the boring cave episode and too many unresolved loopholes:

Why didn't Tim and Cynthia immediately tell the doctor and Buck to go to Lace and her mother?
Buck would have stopped the father from any future beatings or worse
and Hoppy would have taken the mother to a hospital and on to a nursing home.

Why didn't Louella, Tim, and the Constable simply disable the car
to prevent Sadie from killing someone?

Why does Tim keep calling his wife Kavanaugh when it just sounds phony and
would not be something Cynthia would actually permit...?

Why didn't everyone immediately go get Poobaw?

And why is there no mention at all of Pauline's 4 year old daughter Jessie?
And the missing kid in Oregon - no search there either.

Tim and Cynthia don't care as they go romping away to another scenic picnic.
while there is no response from Dooley before he leaves...or from any adult. ( )
  m.belljackson | Feb 26, 2023 |
51058
  WBCLIB | Feb 19, 2023 |
not a book club book ( )
  PatLibrary123 | Aug 9, 2022 |
When my soul needs soothing, I return to Mitford. Somehow I always find what I need in these novels. Perhaps it is because, like Father Tim, I am recently married later in life. This novel has themes of what marriage means. Perhaps it is because I have faced loss recently, as have so many during this pandemic. These High, Green Hills explores profound, unimaginable loss and mourning. Perhaps it is because of the joy in the fellowship of friends. I needed this book now.

Released in 1996, I believe the setting is earlier in the 1980s when home computers were still relatively new, and word processing was in its infancy. While there are serious moments and sad, they are leavened by humor that is always kind.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Mitford. Do start at the beginning of the series so you can watch the characters evolve. The series is highly recommended. ( )
  Jean_Sexton | Jul 10, 2022 |
At last, Mitford's rector and lifelong bachelor, Father Tim, has married his talented and vivacious neighbor, Cynthia. Now, of course, they must face love's challenges: new sleeping arrangements for Father Tim's sofa-sized dog, Cynthia's urge to decorate the rectory Italian-villa-style, and the growing pains of the thrown-away boy who's become like a son to the rector.
  BLTSbraille | Oct 8, 2021 |
Enjoy the easy simple life in these books and the loving relationship between Father Tim and his new wife Cynthia especially with learning to live with another person. Missed the humor of Dooley with him being away at school, also not as much humor from Miss Sadie but that was explained by the end. Enjoyed reading about the camping/cave experience, liked the men at the Grill and their interest in J.C.'s love life. Will be interested to see what happens to Lacey and the new nursing home. ( )
  kshydog | Dec 13, 2020 |
As the back cover says it so well: "we're once again in Mitford, a southern village of local character so hearwarming and hilarious you'll wish you lived right next door." In this book you will find Father Tim and his next door neighbor, Cynthia, married. They face a few challenges but they are for the most part lighthearted and fun to see how this relationship continues to grow. There will be a camping trip that goes from bad to worse, and the church will acquire a computer for the first time, which was very enjoyable to see how that was dealt with. These are just delightful stories about the small town of Mitford and the people who live there. I am enjoying my visits there. ( )
  judyg54 | Apr 24, 2020 |
Timothy Kavanaugh, Father Tim, is a newlywed, and he's in for plenty more newness besides. His bride is all ready to redo his kitchen walls that have been the same since... The boy Timothy loves as his own makes a heartbreaking choice. What does Father Tim's church need a (baffling) new computer system for anyway? And a certain camping trip turns out to be so much more than a camping trip in These High, Green Hills by author Jan Karon.

In a way, I flew through this third book in The Mitford Years series. It's pretty remarkable how this author takes the everyday goings-on in Timothy's town and brings out such a humorous, homey quality. Homey enough so that when the unfortunate, stinging, and even tragic moments hit, they matter all the more. The townsfolk matter. And I appreciate how Father Tim, a rector in his sixties, is still learning, growing, and experiencing new adventures.

It could be so easy for rather easy reading to be simplistic, corny, predictable, likely oversweet fare instead of this warm, funny, touching, sprightly-paced stuff that weaves in clever and unexpected bits all along the way. I'll certainly be going on to read Book Four. ( )
  NadineC.Keels | Dec 14, 2019 |
Lovely, as always! I have never been disappointed by Jan Karon! ( )
  SarahGraceGrzy | Oct 2, 2018 |
This is the 3rd in the Mitford Series. In this southern village, Father Tim has married his talented vivacious neighbor, Cynthia and the challenges of new married life give us a delightful funny read!
  Indiancreek | Dec 13, 2017 |
It took me a bit of time to re-acquaint myself with the town folk of Mitford as three years have past since my last visit to Mitford via A Light in the Window, Book 2 in Karon’s The Mitford Years series. Even with that time gap, my memory was able to place most of the characters easily, Karon’s characters are that memorable! While some of the circumstances come across as a bit contrived – I am thinking about the cave scene and Father Tim’s on-going ability to control his dog Barnabas by quoting scripture to the dog – the story does an wonderful job capturing the overall quaintness of small town life. Definitely a slow-paced story, which works well when dealing with routine activities of town and parish life but seems a bit out of step in the sections where Father Tim has to face urgent social services issues or a medical crisis and the story maintains that same sedate pace.

Overall, another quaint home style read I found to be a soothing balm as it hearkens back to a less complicated way of life. A life with no social media, flashy gadgets and where computers were big black boxes of mystery that were used, grudgingly, for only basic office functions like managing parish accounts and creating mailing labels. ( )
  lkernagh | Mar 19, 2017 |
This was the third of Jan Karon's Mitford books to be written, but the fourth chronologically. It begins shortly after Father Timothy and Cynthia have been married, and focuses on their first year of marriage. As with the other books there's plenty of interaction with friends and parishioners, but there's also an increased development of Father Tim's character and more glimpses of his past.

There are also forays into the 'Creek' community of forgotten, impoverished families, and a surprise for Dooley, the boy Tim has been looking after. A little light humour as the parish office struggles to learn to use a new computer, and sadness too as much-loved characters grow older.

I like all the books in the series, but this is one of my favourites: it focuses on forgiveness, acceptance of the past, and hope. Father Tim faces some of his fears and insecurities in a surprising way when temporarily lost in a cave, and finds himself able to look forward to the future.

This could probably be read as a stand-alone, but it's much easier having read the earlier books. There's quite a cast of characters, and knowing a little of their history makes it less overwhelming. Reading it directly after the previous books makes it more enjoyable even than having read them a year or so apart, as I did the first time.

Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/03/those-high-green-hills-by-jan-karon... ( )
  SueinCyprus | Jan 26, 2016 |
This book follows Fr. Tim and Cynthia in their newlywed days. This book is very similar to its predecessors, full of cozy small-town hijinks. Recommended for readers who enjoyed the earlier books in the series. ( )
  foggidawn | Jul 18, 2014 |
Again, if you liked the first books, this will be just as pleasurable - like a weekend in the country with good friends and nit having to do anything but be mellow. ( )
  NellieMc | Jul 8, 2014 |
Loving this series. sentimental and wholesome small town stories. Great brain candy ( )
  ewillse | Mar 23, 2014 |
Loving this series. sentimental and wholesome small town stories. Great brain candy ( )
  PatienceFortitude | Mar 6, 2014 |
Loving this series. sentimental and wholesome small town stories. Great brain candy ( )
  PatienceFortitude | Mar 6, 2014 |
Loving this series. sentimental and wholesome small town stories. Great brain candy ( )
  PatienceFortitude | Mar 6, 2014 |
This series of books is good comfort "food". There is action, but no violence or explicit sex. I like the characters and the way they develop in the story. ( )
  jlapac | Aug 14, 2013 |
Father Tim is settling into marriage and dealing with some harsher realities of life in his community. This book is maybe not as funny as the first two but some of the overarching stories in the series are advanced, though not resolved (much like life where endings sometimes take a long time to arrive and aren't always happy). ( )
  tjsjohanna | Dec 21, 2012 |
Book 1 in the endless series. Beach reading. Rainy day reading. Hardly thought-provoking, but it will kill an afternoon. ( )
  Georgia.Bets | Jun 23, 2012 |
We're again in Midford with Father Tim who has married his talented and vivacious neighbor, Cynthia. New challenges await the new couple.
  SABC | Mar 30, 2011 |
I love these books! Cynthia and Timothy Kavanaugh are settling down to married life, the retirement home project continues, Emma takes on the computer while Timothy prefers his typewriter, and much more. I'm looking forward to reading more. I just realized that I would love to have a pastor like Father Timothy, perhaps because I have a younger pastor now. ( )
  eliorajoy | Feb 8, 2010 |
The Mitford Series of Jan Karon is one set of books that I read over and over, about once a year. I love the characters, the small town and the basic humanity of the stories. ( )
  ShawnMarie | Sep 1, 2009 |
Showing 1-25 of 36 (next | show all)

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