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The Good News From North Haven: A Year in the Life of a Small Town
This charming collection of slice-of-life stories about the Rev. David Battles and life in a mythical Midwest town caused a sensation when it was first released. With over 55,000 copies in print and a review in the New York Times, it remains a favorite for Christian readers.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 15, 2015
When I come across books about Minnesota, where mostly I grew up, I usually will buy or borrow them. I came across “The Good News from North Haven: A Year in the Life of a Small Town,” a 1991 novel by Michael L. Lindvall in one of my book catalogs and bought it. The book takes place in a fictional small town in southern Minnesota. “It takes about an hour to drive to Mankato, the nearest town of any size,” Lindvall explains in the introduction. During the late-1950s and early-1960s, I lived in St. Peter, a 10-minute drive north of Mankato.
The first-person narrator, David Battles, is the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in North Haven. The novel is a mixture of storytelling, essay, and sermon. The last item could be annoying if the narrator dispensed platitudes and/or dogma, but I found little sermonizing. The life lessons are subtle and instructive and the general tone of the writing lighthearted and funny.
Lindvall’s town has its own street system (north/south streets named for presidents, in order of tenure, and east-west streets named for states in alphabetical order). You can find a Red Owl grocery store, a Skelly gas station, a Woolworth’s, and the inevitable grain elevator. There is a mention of the late 1950s and early 1960s children’s TV show “Axel and His Dog” on WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities, called “Axel’s Tree House” in the book.
Pastor Battles gives us a strong sense of the weather and climate in the Upper Midwest. “I am most impressed by the sharp distinctness of the seasons. Each has a strong personality that dominates the mood of the place for the length of its stay.”
Working in newspapers for almost 45 years, I found Lindvall’s descriptions of the town’s weekly newspaper, the North Haven Herald, its editor Bud Jennerson, and the fine art of writing an obituary accurate. “With consummate skill, he weaves all the expected words together to say little, which pleases everyone. The interpersonal and political realities of small-town life counsel equal-length obituaries. Obits of varying length and content would be a potential source of wounded family pride that might last generations and bring ire upon the tenuous operation of a one-man newspaper. So Bud chooses his words with a studied deliberateness.” This is accurate but an anachronism. The first 40 years of my life, newspapers small and large printed free obituaries or at least brief notices about deaths and funerals in their pages. My experience in more recent years is that most U.S. newspapers publish only paid obits written by the family.
One of the characters in the novel is Carmen, whose childlike faith intrigues the pastor-narrator. He muses, “My life could never be portrayed in such dramatic chiaroscuro of lights and darks. It has known no sudden turns, no conversions. My faith never stops looking at itself. It trusts nothing fully. It suspects every emotion to be mere sentiment. It scrutinizes every whispered intimation of divine presence as a possible deceit of the subconscious. I don’t think I ever believed as Carmen does, not even when I was a child. I don’t know that I can, or that I should.”
Over the centuries, many Protestants have been wary of or downright opposed to dancing, and North Haven’s Presbyterian church is no exception. One chapter, “Learning to Dance,” deals with the church’s governing board being asked by the church’s youth group to have a “sock hop” at the church. The narrator says, “Never has there been dancing in Second Presbyterian Church, not even in the Fellowship Hall with its cinder block walls and well-stained suspended ceiling. Four and a half centuries of Calvinist inertia recoil at the idea of dancing anywhere in the house of the Lord.” The dance was voted down.
The often-scary events called high school reunions are the topic in another chapter, specifically the one scheduled at David Battle’s high school in suburban Philadelphia. He initially resists attending. He says, “The theory is that class reunions are guileless celebrations of the halcyon days of high school life. But I knew better; in fact, everybody knows better. High school reunions are inspections, tests. Everybody sees what everybody has or has not made of themselves.” The pastor, at the urging of his wife, Annie, finally decides to attend. The pastor’s view of reunions is one that many people believe, and I more or less believed it in my 20s and 30s. But as I got older, I came to see that it was more enjoyable and more fair to attendees to go to a reunion and indeed see how people have done in the years since graduation, but without judging or grading the participants. Who am I to judge anyone’s life? That’s my little sermon.
Having lived in small towns most of my life before I turned 32, I think that this book provides an accurate account of life in such towns (particularly those towns in the Upper Midwest), describing the moods of the holidays, the human drama often behind the scenes, as well as the joys and vicissitudes of being a pastor of a church. Lindvall should be good at painting an accurate picture of Minnesota and being a pastor, as he grew up in Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The book should be an enjoyable quick read for anyone, but I think those people who lived in small towns in Middle America as children and/or adults will find Lindvall’s effort especially satisfying and the details he writes about recognizable and memory-inducing.
The first-person narrator, David Battles, is the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in North Haven. The novel is a mixture of storytelling, essay, and sermon. The last item could be annoying if the narrator dispensed platitudes and/or dogma, but I found little sermonizing. The life lessons are subtle and instructive and the general tone of the writing lighthearted and funny.
Lindvall’s town has its own street system (north/south streets named for presidents, in order of tenure, and east-west streets named for states in alphabetical order). You can find a Red Owl grocery store, a Skelly gas station, a Woolworth’s, and the inevitable grain elevator. There is a mention of the late 1950s and early 1960s children’s TV show “Axel and His Dog” on WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities, called “Axel’s Tree House” in the book.
Pastor Battles gives us a strong sense of the weather and climate in the Upper Midwest. “I am most impressed by the sharp distinctness of the seasons. Each has a strong personality that dominates the mood of the place for the length of its stay.”
Working in newspapers for almost 45 years, I found Lindvall’s descriptions of the town’s weekly newspaper, the North Haven Herald, its editor Bud Jennerson, and the fine art of writing an obituary accurate. “With consummate skill, he weaves all the expected words together to say little, which pleases everyone. The interpersonal and political realities of small-town life counsel equal-length obituaries. Obits of varying length and content would be a potential source of wounded family pride that might last generations and bring ire upon the tenuous operation of a one-man newspaper. So Bud chooses his words with a studied deliberateness.” This is accurate but an anachronism. The first 40 years of my life, newspapers small and large printed free obituaries or at least brief notices about deaths and funerals in their pages. My experience in more recent years is that most U.S. newspapers publish only paid obits written by the family.
One of the characters in the novel is Carmen, whose childlike faith intrigues the pastor-narrator. He muses, “My life could never be portrayed in such dramatic chiaroscuro of lights and darks. It has known no sudden turns, no conversions. My faith never stops looking at itself. It trusts nothing fully. It suspects every emotion to be mere sentiment. It scrutinizes every whispered intimation of divine presence as a possible deceit of the subconscious. I don’t think I ever believed as Carmen does, not even when I was a child. I don’t know that I can, or that I should.”
Over the centuries, many Protestants have been wary of or downright opposed to dancing, and North Haven’s Presbyterian church is no exception. One chapter, “Learning to Dance,” deals with the church’s governing board being asked by the church’s youth group to have a “sock hop” at the church. The narrator says, “Never has there been dancing in Second Presbyterian Church, not even in the Fellowship Hall with its cinder block walls and well-stained suspended ceiling. Four and a half centuries of Calvinist inertia recoil at the idea of dancing anywhere in the house of the Lord.” The dance was voted down.
The often-scary events called high school reunions are the topic in another chapter, specifically the one scheduled at David Battle’s high school in suburban Philadelphia. He initially resists attending. He says, “The theory is that class reunions are guileless celebrations of the halcyon days of high school life. But I knew better; in fact, everybody knows better. High school reunions are inspections, tests. Everybody sees what everybody has or has not made of themselves.” The pastor, at the urging of his wife, Annie, finally decides to attend. The pastor’s view of reunions is one that many people believe, and I more or less believed it in my 20s and 30s. But as I got older, I came to see that it was more enjoyable and more fair to attendees to go to a reunion and indeed see how people have done in the years since graduation, but without judging or grading the participants. Who am I to judge anyone’s life? That’s my little sermon.
Having lived in small towns most of my life before I turned 32, I think that this book provides an accurate account of life in such towns (particularly those towns in the Upper Midwest), describing the moods of the holidays, the human drama often behind the scenes, as well as the joys and vicissitudes of being a pastor of a church. Lindvall should be good at painting an accurate picture of Minnesota and being a pastor, as he grew up in Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The book should be an enjoyable quick read for anyone, but I think those people who lived in small towns in Middle America as children and/or adults will find Lindvall’s effort especially satisfying and the details he writes about recognizable and memory-inducing.
January 19, 2013
The Good News from North Haven: A Year in the Life of a Small Town is a collection of fictional essays that encompass a year's worth of living in a small town, from the point of view of the Presbyterian minister and his interactions with his congregation.
After reading a series of books that seemed very heavy, I decided I wanted to read something light and uplifting. I had first read this book in my first year of seminary (2004) for my Nurturing the Moral Imagination in Adult Christian Education through Literature class. I enjoyed the book then and its charming depiction of small-town life and interactions with bumbling but loving people, which I have remembered and recalled when I was talking with a friend lately about her own church and recommended the book to her. She enjoyed the book and, when she returned it, I decided I wanted to read it again. What I forgot about the book is that each chapter/essay can be taken as a sermon. And in fact I believe the author (who is a Presbyterian minister) wrote these different chapters as sermons. Not in the traditional 3 point way, but in a lovely narrative way where one is captured in the story, gets to know the characters and then at the end is pointed to a very light touch of spiritual principles as the author wraps up the story.
After reading a series of books that seemed very heavy, I decided I wanted to read something light and uplifting. I had first read this book in my first year of seminary (2004) for my Nurturing the Moral Imagination in Adult Christian Education through Literature class. I enjoyed the book then and its charming depiction of small-town life and interactions with bumbling but loving people, which I have remembered and recalled when I was talking with a friend lately about her own church and recommended the book to her. She enjoyed the book and, when she returned it, I decided I wanted to read it again. What I forgot about the book is that each chapter/essay can be taken as a sermon. And in fact I believe the author (who is a Presbyterian minister) wrote these different chapters as sermons. Not in the traditional 3 point way, but in a lovely narrative way where one is captured in the story, gets to know the characters and then at the end is pointed to a very light touch of spiritual principles as the author wraps up the story.
February 5, 2018
This book is told by Pastor Dave, a Presbyterian minister of a church in North Haven, Minnesota. Stories throughout the year are told about the church and town. Reading these stories made me wish I lived in a small town where everyone seems friendly and knows one another. I especially enjoyed The Ocarina Band, when Pastor Dave was reading about the boys who played the ocarina instruments that looked like sweet potatoes back in the early 1900’s. Reunion, about Dave going to his high school’s reunion and realizing it’s not about the big jobs and perfect family pictures. The Treasure Hunt was a great way to spend time with his son even though they never found the treasure but came close. The Jefferson Street Leaf War was funny...hiring someone to mark the leaves on her tree so she would know what leaves to rake and the others to throw back in the neighbor’s yard...at night of course!
September 13, 2012
An uplifting book. Presbyterian minister tells stories about people in his congregation. I laughed out loud several times. He always ends with a short reflection. A mixture of Karon, Aesop and Fannie Flagg.
October 7, 2015
Liked it. Interesting - often funny - stories about people in a small town. Charming is the right word for it. Not a compulsive read, I took my time reading this one, lingering over and rereading several of the stories.
May 20, 2024
Reminiscent of Garrison Keillor's tales of Lake Wobegon. Very Midwest nice with a side of God.
I liked them, it's a collection of interrelated short stories that take you through the year.
I liked them, it's a collection of interrelated short stories that take you through the year.
November 30, 2019
This is the fictional story of a pastor in a very small northern Minnesota town. He is a transplant from the suburbs. It is written in the 60's and still has the feel of Andy Griffith but 60' 70's feel. People still care about each other, are slow paced, and knew everyone's business. This keeps each other in check. The over riding theme is love and how God works all things for good. A satisfying, cozy warm feeling for life returns. Highly recommended. Especially during the holidays!!
October 26, 2011
I was under the impression that this book was about small town Minnesota living and to an extent it was. However, stories were told by the town's Presbyterian minister and I don't feel like I knew any of the characters. It was mainly a book about the minister's experience from his point of view. It was ok, but I admit to skimming most of it!
January 1, 2013
Twelve stories about life in an idealized small Minnesota town as told by the pastor of the town's Presbyterian Church. The stories begin with a tale of the annual Christmas Pageant where things don't exactly go as expected, follow through the year, and end with a story about two Christmas baptisms. A nice, gentle way to begin my reading in 2013.
January 24, 2008
one of the funniest books I've read about the church. This could be non-fiction...
March 19, 2008
Charming collection of stories from a Midwestern small-town minister.
April 9, 2008
by my former minister in michigan, he now is in nyc. so fuuny, garrison keillor-like...he is a gifted man.
August 19, 2008
One of the most accurate and charming depictions of the small town local church I have ever seen. As a pastor, I can assure you that these things do in fact happen. A great read!
November 11, 2015
Very sweet book - and saying that in the nicest way. Lots of humor in his stories and a lot of wisdom. I'd be happy to attend the church where he preaches and I'm not a church goer.
May 23, 2016
A lovely book from a gentle author who captures small town life. Really like this and want to read more from him.
July 8, 2019
Outstanding book. Wonderful stories of a pastor's life in a small community. Don't miss this one and its sequel!
July 15, 2023
This book began as two Christmas stories published separately in Good Housekeeping magazine in 1989 then 1990. The stories delighted millions. Eventually the author wrote a book about the experiences of Rev. David Battles as pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in the small fictitious North Haven, Minnesota, population approximately 1800. It begins with the 1989 Christmas story, “The Christmas Pageant” and ends with the 1990 story “Christmas Baptism”.
Being a Methodist minister’s daughter, I know of similar parishioners and similar stories. My dad had some doozies that still make me chuckle when I think of them. Basically good-hearted well-intentioned small town country folks though there were also some mean ones here and there.
The stories contain universal lessons that also entertain. Delightful.
Being a Methodist minister’s daughter, I know of similar parishioners and similar stories. My dad had some doozies that still make me chuckle when I think of them. Basically good-hearted well-intentioned small town country folks though there were also some mean ones here and there.
The stories contain universal lessons that also entertain. Delightful.
January 6, 2026
As the wife of a Presbyterian minister in a small town (in the Midwest but not in Minnesota), I found this very interesting and enjoyable. He tells about people in a way that does not make fun of them even when he points out their shortcomings but rather shows how they are a part of a larger story of love and grace.
January 16, 2022
I read this the day before Lindvall was scheduled to preach at my church. I can't wait to ask him about a few of the stories to see if they really happened! Great snippets of religion without being heavy handed.
February 24, 2020
A sweet, gentle book about a church in a small town. If you like Jan Karon’s books, then you will enjoy this one.
March 2, 2020
I liked about half the stories. Nice smooth style.
March 3, 2022
A delightful little book about a small town in Minnesota. Definitely worth your time, a good book that combines slices of life with faith lessons
January 6, 2025
A sweet book of small town stories, deep grace, and a lot of hope.
January 24, 2010
The chapter titled "The Little Things:" The author's right. It's little things - little kindnesses that most people don't know about - that make the difference in individuals' lives.
I am reminded to "Be still and know that I am (He is) God."
My fav little story in here: "The Treasure Hunt." His 7-year old son enjoyed himself immensely in this hunt.
I am reminded to "Be still and know that I am (He is) God."
My fav little story in here: "The Treasure Hunt." His 7-year old son enjoyed himself immensely in this hunt.
September 14, 2010
Sweet view of small town life by a Presbyterian pastor. He covers a wide range of experiences as a pastor - from sweet and touching to honest, and bittersweet. I enjoyed this book. It was easy to pick up and put down without losing the thread because it is more of a series of essays or short stories.
September 28, 2012
A collection of folksy stories which are vehicles for unassuming spiritual reflection.
July 30, 2013
sweet little heartwarming book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews