MrsK Books: Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

Friday, July 1, 2016

Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

Come Rain or Come Shine (Mitford Years, #11)

ISBN: 9780399167454

Publisher's Synopsis:

Over the course of twelve Mitford novels, fans have kept a special place in their hearts for Dooley Kavanagh, first seen in At Home in Mitford as a barefoot, freckle-faced boy in filthy overalls.

Now, Father Tim Kavanagh's adopted son has graduated from vet school and opened his own animal clinic. Since money will be tight for a while, maybe he and Lace Harper, his once and future soul mate, should keep their wedding simple.

So the plan is to eliminate the cost of catering and do potluck. Ought to be fun. An old friend offers to bring his well-known country band. Gratis. And once mucked out, the barn works as a perfect venue for seating family and friends. Piece of cake, right?

In Come Rain or Come Shine, Jan Karon delivers the wedding that millions of Mitford fans have waited for. It's a June day in the mountains, with more than a few creatures great and small, and you're invited--because you're family.

By the way, it's a pretty casual affair, so come as you are and remember to bring a tissue or two. After all, what's a good wedding without a good cry?

MrsK's Review:

Dooley and Lace are getting married! Where has the time gone? When a series becomes a blessed place of retreat, characters become family. As a reviewer, I was honored to receive the newest Mitford novel. It was my first pick as 2016 rolled in. As an educator, every break becomes a mini vacation in which your personal reading choice is joyfully awaiting your arrival. During this season of my life, I no longer have a childhood home for the holidays... as a Grandmother I'm creating a home for others to come to! So, going home to Mitford is my destination. What I discovered was incredibly comforting and delicious, no box of chocolates could compare with the delight I received during my journeys home in Mitford. Most of us know what it means to travel home, you anticipate the reunion with family and friends. You laugh, enjoy good meals, and cry. Saying goodbye is accepted because you know it won't be long until your return. It was not my intention for months to pass before I ended this journey home. Yet, savoring every moment brought such joy!

Lace is embracing Dooley's new career, their new business, their new home, as well as the planning of their wedding. Are they taking on too much at one time?

"She felt her heart thump, something like a book dropped to the floor."

During the two week preparation, Dooley and Lace will have so many decisions. Each conversation is an invitation into their plans for their new life. Whether you are sitting with them on the wicker glider "talking against the night," or you are engaged in every one's insight about all things happening before the wedding begins. On top of the list is the "Weather Anxiety", closely followed by the "Potluck Paranoia," and then there is "The Dress" decision.

"Redemption...was everywhere if we're awake to see it."

Father Timothy is antsy over all the items on his to do list. Even winkles bring a state of angst, especially when the vitamin D oil does nothing to stop the "trenching." He always bakes a ham for weddings therefore two should do it. Will it matter that fresh bread will be coming out of the oven, or that three hundred cheese wafers will be baking? What about the cakes, ice, guestbook, vestments, and the Local coverage? Here's to hoping his new planner will keep all things in order.

"I want to...live. Just that."

Cynthia is content with helping "the kids" get ready for the wedding. She is feeling contentment whether it is on the glider with her husband, making bow ties for dogs, listening to the rain on a tin roof, thinking about a RV trip, or knitting in the passenger seat. During the final days before the wedding will contentment continue to "reign?"

"We're asked not to fret about the future and to take no thought for tomorrow.

We must try to live in the present or we shall miss it entirely."

When Dooley gets the call that one, very young, Jack Tyler was arriving... well everything begins picking up speed towards the wedding day. Cynthia and Olivia are jumping for joy at being "Granny's." Fr. Timothy is popping-button proud to be a grandpa. Sammy gets to be an uncle with all the adventures they can muster. Dooley and Cynthia are embracing the reality that Jack Tyler one day could be their legal son.

"A chord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:12

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I caution you to sit very still.

Please do not turn around at this time or make

any sudden movement..."

With a son, a new eight-month-old golden retriever, Choo-Choo a crazy mean bull, the after-math of a low-pressure system, Henry's arrival, cans tied to the bumper of the truck, casseroles-fried chicken-cornbread-corn on the cob-Miss Louella's biscuits-baked beans-home made pickles-syrupy peaches-and... Esther's Orange-Marmalade Layer cake!

Come home to Mitford... there's a wedding a happen',
MrsK

"It will be a great day... Come rain or come shine."

Meet the Author:

During her years in advertising, Jan kept alive her childhood ambition to be an author. At the age of 50, she left her career in advertising and moved to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, to pursue that dream. After struggling—and failing—to get a novel underway, Jan awoke one night with a mental image of an Episcopal priest walking down a village street. She grew curious and started writing about a character she named Father Tim Kavanagh. Soon, Jan was publishing weekly installments about Father Tim in her local newspaper, The Blowing Rocket, which saw its circulation double as a result. “The installment plan certainly worked for Mr. Dickens”, says Jan.
The installments became Jan’s first Mitford novel, At Home in Mitford. That book has since been reprinted more than eighty times and was nominated three times (1996, 1997, and 1998) for an ABBY (American Booksellers Book of the Year Award), which honors titles that bookstore owners most enjoy recommending to customers. A New Song won the Christy and Gold Medallion awards for outstanding contemporary fiction in 2000. A Common Life, In This Mountain, and Shepherd’s Abiding have also won Gold Medallion awards. Since the publication of Out to Canaan, Jan’s books have ridden high atop the New York Times bestseller list, frequently landing at #1.
Jan has also published two Christmas-themed books based on the Mitford series, The Mitford Snowmen and Esther’s Gift, as well as Jan Karon’s Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. Other Mitford books include Patches of Godlight: A Compilation of Wit and Wisdom and A Continual Feast: Words of Comfort and Celebration. In addition, Jan has written two children’s books, Miss Fannie’s Hat and Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny, and an illustrated book for all ages, The Trellis and the Seed. For readers interested in Cynthia’s legendary cat books, Jan presents Violet Comes to Stay and Violet Goes to the Country.

Books by Jan

"I received this book for this review from G.P. Putnam's Sons."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)