I was afraid that when Ms. Karon finished the Mitford books and decided to explore Father Tim's early life that I would not like it because she had left Mitford behind. I was mistaken in my presumption. I quickly learned that, as Father Tim says in this book: "Home is not Mitford. Home is not Holly Springs. Home is where Cynthia and family are." To me, home is where Father Tim is. Tim is his usual warm and wonderful self in this book. He never meets a stranger and always has a kind and loving word for everyone. When I read Karon's books, it makes me want to be a better Christian. I want to go to Father Tim's church, hear him preach and have him pray for me. Karon explores Father Tim's boyhood and growing up years. My heart cried for him when his father treated him so badly. I loved Father Tim's mother and I think he got his generous soul from her. I love how he handled the big reveal hinted at in the two word letter that sent him to Holly Springs. I don't think we have seen the last of Holly Springs. I laughed and cried and was blessed by this book, just as I was at all 9 Mitford books and the companion volumes. There is a lot of sadness and pain in this book, but there is also tremendous joy and great love. I would have like to have seen more of Cynthia and Dooley, but it was such a wonderful journey we take with Father Tim. There are great characters in Holly Springs, too. My favorite is Mitford, though, I must confess. I just returned today from Blowing Rock, NC, where Karon lived when writing many of the Mitford books and which is believed to be the town she modeled Mitford after. It is a lovely little village and I feel like I'm maybe feeling a little bit of Mitford when I visit as I have done on many occasions. This is simply a wonderful and charming book and I look forward to more of Father Tim's life. I only wish she wrote faster! I read the book and then I was disappointed because I was finished and would have to wait for another one!

After reading initial reviews of this book, I left it on my shelf for many months trying to avoid what I thought would be inevitable disappointment. I love the Mitford series - have read every book and listened to the excellent unabrided audio of each. I wanted so badly to return to these much-loved characters and watch their lives move away from Mitford and all that was familiar. I finally picked up the book with the intention of deciding for myself. Well, I liked it. Granted, it was slow going at times and the flashbacks were a little jarring at first (hence, my four stars). It also lacks the overt humor of the other books, but it's GOOD. It really is. The Mitford series built beautifully on the one thing that seemed to be an Achille's heel to Father Tim - his relationship with his father and HOME TO HOLLY SPRINGS provides many of the answers to nine books' worth of wondering. It's a quiet, thoughtful, deep novel and kudos to Jan Karon for braving the criticism to give fans of Mitford this book.

I stand in awe of the writing of Jan Karon. Just her description of a first fountain Coke took me back to my own childhood and a similar moment, "The fizz had entered his nasal passages and gone straight to his cerebrum, where it shivered and danced and burst like a Roman candle in his brain." And, as an Episcopal priest almost seventy, nearing retirement, and having just returned from my 50th high school reunion in Danville, Virginia, I felt this book was written just for me. I believe all readers will feel the same, regardless of age or religious affiliation. Jan draws us into the story of Father Tim Kavanagh, and, as all good stories can do, we become part of his story. In the process, we realize all of our stories are connected. And in the reading of Tim's story we connect our story to THE story of our loving creator.

I strongly recommend all of the Mitford books by Jan Karon. One of the nice things about failing memory is that I can now go back and read some of the early books of that series and enjoy them as though I am reading them for the first time. What a gift Jan has given to us all!

This is a wonderful book! It allowed us to see the bones on which Father Tim's character hangs and it was both an enjoyable and insightful read! My one hardship was having a new reader. I have listened to all the books on CD and John (the past reader) had become the voice of Father Tim, and all the other characters. John was FABULOUS and I can't imagine why they made the change. The new reader is very talented but, it was like a strangers voice coming from the lips of a close friend. Very disconcerting.

I just stayed up late and finished "Home to Holly Springs." I must confess that I checked it out from the library, for the first time NOT buying the latest Karon book as I've done in the past, because I just couldn't believe she could pull off another storyline as well as she's done in the past. But she did...I'll be buying my own copy soon.

The characters are refreshing and easy to relate to, the plot lines didn't seem at all like I've "been there, read that", like so many lengthy series can lapse into. And sure, everything gets tied up neatly by the end (yet not tritely), which is what I wanted and why I read, for an escape from the unsolvable trials of life.

This was an uplifting story about going home and discovering that lifetime hurts can be healed. Amen to that!

Although in some ways very different from her Mitford books, I found Home to Holly Springs to be an excellent work with profound depth. As an avid Mitford fan, I was at first afraid that this new novel would be too deeply sad for my taste. However, I found it immensely satisfying by the time I had finished the entire story. I can only say that those who were disappointed in the book should definitely take another look. They're missing a great deal. I believe Jan Karon is one of the finest writers I know in this century, and I am earnestly waiting for the next book in the series (or any other she'd care to write).

I loved this book. It is even better than the Mitford series and I loved those. I loved learning more about Father Tim's early life. I am really looking forward to the next book.

I have just begun to listen to the audito tape and so far I am enjoying it. I have missed "Father Tim" and the characters from Mitford. I have either read or listened to all of the Mitford Series books and feel that the characters are old friends. A more appropriate review will be written when I have finished the book. I am writing because of the extreme disappointment I felt when I put the first disc into the player looking forward to hearing John McDonough (who IS Father Tim) read and it was not him. Scott Sowers is a good reader, but not Father Tim!! Maybe I will adjust - but for now, the disappointment is tremendous.

Home to Holly Springs is a description of a trip that Father Tim & Barnabus made. In the Mitford Series by Jan Karon father Tim said he is from Holly Springs, Mississippi and he was a child there. In this book many of his boyhood adventures are remembered. Also his ministry started there.

Read the Mitford series of books by Jan Karon and much of this book will be understood. This book talks about his boyhood friends as he searches for the person who wrote him a letter asking that he return to Holly Springs, but did not sign the letter.

Jan Karon is a fine writer because all of her characters you can see in your mind as you read her wriring. The books I have read who are authoried by people who can do this are the ones I enjoy most.

I had TB before I was eight years old and my father hired a Lady to read to me, since I had to stay in bed all the time and I was only allowed to be up for meals and was allowed to walk to a corner Seven blocks away and back. From that I learned the joy of reading. I am now 79 years old.

If you enjoyed the Mitford Series, you will surely enjoy learning about Father Tim's childhood in Mississippi. Read it all in 24 hours!