My intent was to read the first of this series. Not sure how I managed to get the most recently published--but I didn't feel lost. At least not lost in the sense of not knowing who people were. I did feel a bit lost at times with the style of writing. It's a style somewhat dependent on the visual cues of print--the breaks between paragraphs with pretty squiggly lines that tell you that while this isn't a chapter break, there's been a transition of scenes, characters, or time. There's not a lot of "Cynthia said" type introductions to communications between characters, so you just have to be aware that at any moment we could suddenly be in a new conversation between different characters, or describing the activities of a different group than we were just engaged in. Never-the-less, I loved this book. It reminded me of the old TV series, Mayberry RFD. But instead of a wise and friendly Sheriff named Andy, there's a wise and friendly (retired) Episcopalian priest. I was already thinking this quite early on, when about 14 hours into the book one of the characters actually mentions Mayberry and Sheriff Andy, so I guess it's no accident that I was reminded of it prior to that.
It's a great inspiring book--full of love and grace. ( )

57833

Fourteenth in Jan Karon's 'Mitford' series featuring Father Tim, and I'm pretty sure the last that's going to be written. Tim is over 70 in this. He still eads a busy and active life, including taking on an extra job he hadn't planned for. But much of the focus of the book is on his adopted son Dooley, married just a few months ago, starting out as a farm vet.

Lots of characters from earlier books are around, some of them with new problems, some of them coming more into focus, one of them dying. There are moving sections, some humour, and lots of gentle conversation and activity. I found it quite compulsive reading at times, even though I found the large cast quite confusing - and that's having re-read all the series over the past couple of years.

It's a very good finale to the series, tying up many threads, and leaving the future hopeful for all the main characters. But would not be good as an introduction to Jan Karon. If you want to read about Mitford, start with 'At home in Mitford' and continue from there. While all the books stand alone, it's much best to read them all, in order.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/09/to-be-where-you-are-by-jan-karon.ht... ( )

This was my first time to read the final Mitford book. I am so happy that I hadn't read it yet and that it could be a special thing to end my rereading of the entire series this year. I love the way it ended. ( )

Another winner by Jan Karon. Her Mitford series is one that you keep and read again. I finally got To Be Where You Are, and I loved returning to these wonderful characters. Now I'm wanting to reread the entire series again!

After twelve years of wrestling with the conflicts of retirement, Father Tim Kavanagh realizes he doesn't need a steady job to prove himself. Then he's given one. As for what it proves, heaven only knows.

Millions of Karon fans will be thrilled that it's life as usual in the wildly popular Mitford series: A beloved town character lands a front-page obituary, but who was it, exactly, who died? And what about the former mayor, born the year Lindbergh landed in Paris, who's still running for office? All this, of course, is but a feather on the wind compared to Muse editor J.C. Hogan's desperate attempts to find a cure for his marital woes. Will it be high-def TV or his pork-chop marinade? In fiction, as in real life, there are no guarantees.

Twenty minutes from Mitford at Meadowgate Farm, newlyweds Dooley and Lace Kavanagh face a crisis that devastates their bank account and impacts their family vet practice. But there is still a lot to celebrate, as their adopted son, Jack, looks forward to the most important day of his life--with great cooking, country music, and lots of people who love him. Happily, it will also be a day when the terrible wound in Dooley's biological family begins to heal because of a game--let's just call it a miracle--that breaks all the rules.

Delightful! ( )