Book Review: In the Company of Others by Jan Karon
In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel by Jan Karon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Own. I own most of Jan Karon’s books.
I really enjoyed this beautiful book. It did take a while to get “into” it, but it was worth the while.
Father Tim and Cynthia travel to Ireland for a needed vacation in this lovely book. They stay in a small, family run inn and become involved with the family and its intricacies.
The story is a bit slow to move along, but Karon is building ideas into the story that will be needed later. Cynthia finds a journal from the 1800s written by the builder of the “Big House” up the hill. I’m a terrible summarizer, Tim and Cynthia solve a mystery, love the people, and grow in their faith. There is redemption, forgiveness, and a hope of renewal. Beautiful.
The dust jacket claims Karon considers this her favorite of the series. Despite the lethargic plot, I think I agree. I have to admit to not liking writing in brogue, more work to read sounding it out and translating it in my head. I do like the journaling device and Karon does it well, however extra characters is more difficult to follow.
Some quotes:
“Goethe said, ‘One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'” [pg 83]
“‘It’s not the sort of thing romantics wish to hear, but I found that in the end, love must be a kind of discipline. If we love only with our feelings, we’re sunk — we may feel love one day and something quite other the next. Soon after [Dooley] came to live with me — he was eleven years old at the time — I realized I must learn to love with my will, not my feelings. I had to love him when he threw his shoe at the wall and cussed my dog, love him when he called me names I won’t repeat, love him when he refused to eat what I’d cooked after celebrating and preaching at three Sunday services … you get the idea. … I learned after a long period of trial and error to see in him what God made him to be.'” [pg 239]
From the journal discussing the land, “I do not know its Badgers & Weasels, its Oaks & Ashes, its Berries & Brambles, nor even its mite of Bogland — not least, I have failed to put the place under watch for Poachers & have no idea what occurs within its neglected borders … I have not sought different vantage points for pleasurable views nor often observed the Lough in its many changes of mood & spirit. I have but twice lifted a trout from its waters & not once explored the several Islands therein as I once thought to do. The Improvement of this demesne — however modest — coupled with our practice among the people, has greatly wearied me. I feel my mind at times full of mist, but would confess this anywhere save in these mute pages.” [pg 265]
“Wherever I am, [God] supplies a parish.” [pg 301]
“With God’s help, we shall see a nasty thing fixed back to a good thing.” [pg 334]
“There’s something my husband often quotes: Love is an endless act of forgiveness. Over and over again, we need forgiveness from others, just as we need to forgive others — over and over again.” [pg 363]