The Mitford Bedside Companion: A Treasury of Favorite Mitford Moments, Author Reflections on the Bestselling Series, and More. Much More.

by Jan Karon, Brenda Furman (Editor)

A must-have companion to the bestselling series

Jan Karon’s Mitford Years series is a publishing phenomenon that, since 1996, has sold more than twenty-five million books and attracted millions of devoted readers around the world. With the series now complete, Karon’s fans have raced through nine novels—and then sat down and read them again and again. For all those who love returning to Mitford, this gorgeously packaged companion will be the perfect book to curl up with. What was that Uncle Billy joke about the census taker? Where was that beautiful prayer Father Tim offered? The Mitford Bedside Companion will make it easy to find the greatest of the countless gems that grace each of Karon’s novels. Featuring favorite scenes, casts of characters, Mitford crossword puzzles, plus a hilarious read- aloud scene and lots of trivia questions for fan gatherings and family get-togethers, and much, much more, The Mitford Bedside Companion is an enchanting collection. Here, too, are new essays from Karon on everything from the life of a writer to her grandmother’s secret to good health. Beautifully packaged and filled with eye-catching art, The Mitford Bedside Companion is a book that any fan will cherish, relishing favorite scenes from each book and, in one volume, fondly reliving the best times spent in the little town with the big heart.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Adult Fiction, Reference, Contemporary, Inspirational

487 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Born Janice Meredith Wilson in 1937, Jan Karon was raised on a farm near Lenoir, North Carolina. Karon knew at a very early age that she wanted to be a writer. She penned her first novel when she was 10 years old, the same year she won a short-story contest organized by the local high school. Karon married as a teenager and had a daughter, Candace.

At 18, Karon began working as a receptionist for a Charlotte, N.C. advertising agency. She advanced in the company after leaving samples of her writing on the desk of her boss, who eventually noticed her talent. Karon went on to have a highly successful career in the field, winning awards for ad agencies from Charlotte to San Francisco. In time, she became a creative vice president at the high-profile McKinney & Silver, in Raleigh. While there, she won the prestigious Stephen Kelly Award, with which the Magazine Publishers of America honor the year's best print campaign.

During her years in advertising, Karon 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, Karon awoke one night with a mental image of an Episcopal priest walking down a village street. She grew curious about him, and started writing. Soon, Karon was publishing weekly installments about Father Tim in her local newspaper, The Blowing Rocket, which saw its circulation double as a result. "It certainly worked for Mr. Dickens", says Karon.

The Father Tim stories became Karon's first Mitford novel, At Home in Mitford. That book has since been 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, and the only book ever nominated for three consecutive years. The fourth Mitford novel, A New Song, won both the Christy and Gold Medallion awards for outstanding contemporary fiction in 2000. A Common Life, In This Mountain, and Shepherds Abiding have also won Gold Medallion awards. Out to Canaan was the first Mitford novel to hit the New York Times bestseller list; subsequent novels have debuted on the New York Times list, often landing the #1 spot.

Karon 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: Father Tim's Favorite Quotes, a compilation of wit and wisdom, and A Continual Feast: Words of Comfort and Celebration, Collected by Father Tim. In addition, Karon 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.

Karon says her character-driven work seeks to give readers a large, extended family they can call their own. Though Light From Heaven is officially the final novel in the series, there's yet another Mitford book in this prolific author. Karon urges her millions of ardent fans to look for the Mitford Bedside Companion, releasing in the Fall of 2006. "It has everything in it but the kitchen sink", says Karon.

Reviews

[Anne White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to dip into if you've read the books.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly 500 pages of sheer Mitford bliss! Each chapter collects various scenes from all the Mitford books around a common theme, with reflections from Jan herself on the topic. Far from formulaic in design, The Mitford Bedside Companion reads much more like an intimate conversation with the author and her characters.

I recently re-read the entire Mitford series to get ready for the release of Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good, and I was feeling a little withdrawal from the cozy town. This book is the perfect antidote! In it you'll find all your favorite scenes with all your favorite characters. Miss Sadie and Uncle Billy are once again alive and well, Dooley is a teen again, and Percy is back behind the counter at the Main Street Grill. Just a few of the topics covered include the turkey club at Main Street Grill, Father Tim's sermons, and Uncle Billy's jokes. Yes! There's a whole chapter that's a collection of Uncle Billy's finest! I think this was my favorite chapter. A close second: the chapter that collects the love letters between Father Tim and Cynthia.

There were two unexpected (to me) bonuses to The Mitford Bedside Companion: a very short section of Mitford bloopers and a fairly thorough character glossary. The bloopers section was only about a page long, but there were a few details that I guess other readers caught that I didn't. In case you'd also noticed that Miss Lottie has two different last names in various books, Jan answers that in this book. (Don't look at me for an explanation! Go get a copy of this book! You know I don't do spoilers.) The character glossary is much longer. Jan estimates that over 700 individually named characters have made appearances in the series. Do not fear: she doesn't list all of them! This book would have to be published in multiple volumes for that to work. But she does list a lot of them. There were a few that even I had forgotten! But as soon as I saw the names, a smile stole across my face as though I were greeting an old friend.

Thanks to someone awesome (shout out to my mom!), I've met Jan Karon. So I could totally hear her voice in my head as I read her reflections. (I hope that statement doesn't sound stalkerish. I promise I'm sane.) I loved "hearing" her talk about her experiences in Mitford, and how the various characters and situations came to be.

This book is so easily digestible. You could read it all in one go, as I did, or savor sections of it at a time, since it's written as a collection of essays and quotes from the books.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and delightful trip down memory lane in reading "The Mitford Bedside Companion: A Treasury of Favorite Mitford Moments, Author Reflections on the Best Selling Series," by Jan Karon.

I loved all the first books I read so much. Was introduced by really good friends and family members, and we shared books, thoughts and laughs together. Think I've read them all but two, so will get that taken care of.

Some of the characters were specially fun to meet up with again. Been many years since doing so and as before, I enjoyed a "hardy har har" laugh again and again. I enjoyed the tender moments too. From some of the senior village members, to some of the children and loving animals, having a blessed Christian Home where they felt the Lord and Savior were with them. Ahhh, so nice.

I often found my self starving after reading chapters about lunches, cafe's, home cooked meals, and good food everywhere. There was a lot of talent, and people with health issues too. Diabetes reared its ugly head from time to time. Discipline was not the easiest thing to each town members.

It's been called a Coffee Table Book, and it is ideal for that! If I had my own, I probably would do that quite frequently, but my library copy was just fine. There is one more to check out. Will get that soon too.

I found a cute book in the Library about Violet, written by Cynthia Coppersmith, really written by Jan Karon. It is a sweet short little book about Violet one of three kitties born to their cat, and how they grew up and went on their own together. Recommend. I found there are more, encourage you to enjoy them as well. Would be good for the younger folk too!!

I've touched on areas that have tapped into my heart again and brought back great memories. You don't lose when this series is in your life. It keeps the spirits high and joy nearby. Highly recommend. Hope you greatly enjoy. Rate 5.0 stars.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Mitford novels, even though I don't follow organized religion. I felt that they were full of grace, forgivness, and examined life carefully and with good heart. I would even read them again. However I'm not a book worshipper, and this Companion is for those who would fall into the class of those who wrote letters to Sherlock Holmes asking for help. At the top of these worshippers is Karon herself, which comes out so strongly in the book that it turned me off. She loves her books, likens herself to Dickens, and has set herself up as a preacher and voice of God without having to do all the hard stuff that vocation endures. She admits several times to picking up her own novels when she needs a good read. Would I be more humble, less self-satisfied and self-praising if I wrote books with the success that Karon has had? I hope so! Many other novelists have. So I gave this book only two stars because it is a collection of information about the Mitford novels heavily enfolded in Karon's worship of her own creation. How Godly is that, in her philosophy?

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful compilation to read, even when you OWN all the Mitford books! There are some bits of new material/essays and comments from Jan Karon, as well as some photos, and even a crossword puzzle and "bloopers." Excerpts are pulled from all the books along themes, such as meals, prayer, special events, letters, sermons, and Uncle Billy's Jokes. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and you read it in very small chunks.

[Lane Burday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the whole Mitford series and there's nothing like these books! Just sweet stories with wonderful characters. I'll probably go and read them all again!

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful walk though the Mitford Series that can be relived one memory or page at a time.

[MaryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful recap of many of the Mitford Books, including Uncle Billy’s jokes, Father Tim’s sermons and the crazy weather in Mitford. Wonderful!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Mitford, how do I love thee, let me count the ways!

This is a book that explains some of the behind the scenes of how the Mitford series came about, but more importantly, it is full of great segments that come from the series. Reading this is like reminiscing with friends. Oh, do you remember when...

This is a good book to have nearby when you are between books. Just read here and there and relish the wonderful tone, philosophy, and nature of The people of Mitford.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for Christmas and spent four months reading it at bedtime. For the lover of Mitford, it is a delightful way to revisit the novels without rereading them, and the impact of the incidents in the story is hightened by clustering them together in categories--a whole chapter of Uncle Billy's jokes, all the food events, Father Tim's sermons, love stories, and so forth.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of the books I like to open at random, when in the mood and be able to laugh, be inspired, or recall the Mitford novels I so love. I'm often reading it over many years.

[LAMONT D · Rating 5 out of 5]

THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK AS IT RELATES TO THE BESTSELLING MITFORD YEARS NOVELS. FOR ONE IT ACTS LIKE A REFERENCE BOOK OR GUIDE TO THE SERIES. YOU HAVE MANY DIFFERENT EXCERPTS FROM SOME OF THE MOST FAMILIAR PARTS OF EACH BOOK. YOU HAVE A TRIVIA AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE SECTION AT THE END JUST FOR FUN. PLUS, THE CAST OF CHARACTERS SECTION AT THE VERY END GIVES YOU ALL THE DETAIL YOU NEED ABOUT EACH CHARACTER IN THE SERIES. I LIKE THE NEW ESSAYS BY THE AUTHOR THAT RELATE TO THE VARIOUS CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK. MY FAVORITES SECTIONS THOUGH INCLUDE UNCLE BILLY'S JOKES, ALL ABOUT THE FOOD AND RECIPES, AND THE VARIOUS PRAYERS AND SCRIPTURES THAT WERE MEANINGFUL IN THE SERIES. THOUGH I HAVE NOT READ THE ENTIRE SERIES I KNOW ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS (WELL MAYBE NOT EVEN THAT DANGEROUS) AND I ENJOYED GETTING A TASTE OF THE ENTIRE COLLECTION WITH THESE SELECTIONS BROUGHT BY THE AUTHOR AND HER SISTER WHO WAS THE EDITOR OF THIS BOOK. WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE TOWN AND PEOPLE OF MITFORD? A PERFECT BOOK TO KEPT BY YOUR BEDSIDE AS I DO MYSELF. AND WHY NOT PRACTICE READING IT ALOUD TO A LOVED ONE AS THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS. IT MIGHT EVEN PUT YOU TO SLEEP WITH IS FINE WITH JAN KARON.

[Donna]

If you liked (loved! :) ) the Mitford Years series by Jan Karon, you will enjoy this compilation. I enjoyed learning the inspirations for the stories, the progression of Father Tim's story line, and Karon's personal history and how she became a writer (it is second career). There is a nice serving of Jan Karon's family history in the volume. Her sister was the editor and you are introduced to Jan's family, including her grandmother who, like the fictional Miss Sadie, lived to be 100. Recipes for Mitford's renowned culinary treats such as Esther's Orange Marmalade Cake and Louella's Deviled Eggs are included in the book.

I admit that I didn't read most of the excerpts from the novels which comprise the bulk of the book, but I really enjoyed all the additional materials that give shape to the wonderful Mitford series.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bits and pieces of The Mitford Years series books are presented in general themes - meals, prayers, scriptures, letters, sermons, even Uncle Billy jokes - and they drew me right back into that little North Carolina town I have known so well and loved so much. Makes me want to reread the series.

I remember first hearing about these books while driving two of my coworkers to a library conference being held in a hotel near the airport, Bev in the front seat beside me, Diva - now gone to heaven - in the back. They'd both read the first book and urged me to read it. That was a lucky day.

[Mikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very much a dip into now and again book, dealing as it does with the whole Mitford series and additional information about the author and her family, plus why she wrote the series. A refresher of the memory about the myriad characters and numerous happenings over the course of the series. I was sorry the story line ended but, as with everything, all good things come to an end eventually. The Bedside Companion will keep me happy for as long as it takes for me to finish my dipping.

[Cissy Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bedside Companion”

I have read several other reviews and I’m not sure if people understand this is a bedside companion and not a new book. I’m sorry I’m not trying to be rude but I use it to help remember parts of the books that I had read a year ago and refresh my memory since there are several books. It is very helpful when used as a bedside companion...

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been quite a few years since I read the the Mitford books. I loved them and this book served to remind of many of my favorite parts of the book. It begins by using snippets from her books to describe the characters and the shops in Mitford. It goes on to special events, etc. Enjoyable enough to make me want to reread the series.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the gentle writing of all the Mitford books and eagerly grabbed this off the Library shelf in hopes of finding some excerpts suitable for reading aloud to some Nursing Home residents. I didn’t find what I had hoped, although it was enjoyable to recall the characters who have provided entertainment over a span of time.

[Leila Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I just love this series! And, I love the stand alone books, such as this one! Very simple although the townspeople’s lives can get complicated. This book is a keeper! In fact, I have moved this series of books from my “back bookshelves” to my “ front bookshelves” where I can see them daily and read when I am in need of comfort.

[Brenda Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved the Mitford Series , you will love revisiting it in this book!
I used it as a devotional somewhat. I read it off and on to revisit the wonderful characters of Mitford.
Along with excerpts from the books, there are interesting facts about the author, about how the town and characters came to be, and the rejection and final acceptance of the first book.

[Stephanie Ziebarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perfect for Mitford fans (among whom I count myself). How wonderful to have bite-sized, heartwarming highlights from the series available for enjoyment before bed (or whenever one has time for a minute or two of reading about some favorite characters). I also appreciated the "insider information" included within. I will place this by my bedside again in the future.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did like the several essays that Karon included in this about the Mitford books, the bulk of this contains excerpts from the novels, compiled in chapters on specific subjects. While I loved the Mitford books, I'd rather just re-read them instead of having excerpts. I would have preferred to have simply a companion book only with all of her essays in them.

[JLS10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the longest of all the books and contains snipers of the first 9 books, arranged by catergoty. There’s a section on food, weather, prayers, Uncle Billy jokes, etc. The very end has a crossword puzzle and a character list too.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel. I really enjoyed reading this novel very much and i 💘 reading this author too. Shelley Ma

[Jane Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan Karon is one of my all-time favorite authors and I have read through the Mitford series multiple times. This includes bits of pieces from the series, but also fresh narrative from the author. It is a beautifully written book and warm and cozy as a hug from the author herself!

[Joan Osborne]

If you enjoy Jan Karons books this is an interesting book. It includes a list of characters from all the books, some insights to how she wrote them, passages from the books, some recipes, a fun crossword puzzle and quiz, and some exclusive information not included in the other books.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely compilation of excerpts from the series. Short enough to remind you of what happened but not too long.

[Rebecca Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highlights from the first 9 Mitford Novels, background information and delightful quotes. I wonderful guide to all things Mitford.

[Jeanne M Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mitford series is the best

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delight from cover to cover!