Home to Holly Springs: The First of the Father Tim Novels

The book was good, like everything in this series has been. Karon is a wonderful writer, and this book has new and interesting information about things that have been mentioned or alluded to in previous volumes.

BUT..... I hate to say it, but it was positively painful for me to listen to the narration of this new addition to the Mitford series. I realize that John McDonough would be a hard act to follow. However, it wasn't simply that I was wasn't hearing the kind, wise voice of Father Tim I was used to. I was prepared to hear a different voice and I really tried to like it. But although Scott Sowers is a good narrator using a nice mix of voice changes for the various characters, the overall feel of it was disconcerting. So many of the things Father Tim 'said' in Sowers voice came off sounding faintly smart-alecky instead of thoughtful. That probably wasn't the intent, but that's how it sounded to me. I'm resolved to having to hear a different narrator. I'm just not sure that Sowers was the best choice.

The book is great (as Ms. Karon's books are). However, I was disappointed in the narration. Not that it is not good narriation, but this is a character that has already been fully developed for audio and is unrecognizable in this narration. Fr Tim does not even come across as the same character.

Just when we were afraid we had seen the last of Jan Karon's "At Home in Mitford" series she continues on with a Father Tim series. Karon brings it all together with Father Tim's return to his birth place we have heard snippets about. Our longing to hear more about the Mitford characters is fed once again and in the end we feel we know Farther Tim better than ever. We travel with the whole Mitford series in the car; but this time we felt like we were traveling with Father Tim back to Holly Springs. It made time pass quickly as we happily enjoying the whole Father Tim Saga. This book has more of an adult theme, but still no sex, violence or bad language. Once again the author gives us something to take away from those bumps in our past that we can use today.

Though accustomed to the other wonderful narrator who has done all of the Mitford books, I still found this recording quite nice. I recommend both the book and the recorded performance.

I was so disappointed when I heard the first few words in this audiobook. I'm sure Scott Sowers is a fine narrator but not for Father Tim. He sounds sarcastic and cold compared to John McDonough. I will buy the book and read it, hearing McDonough's soft tones in my mind.

A new narrator was a good idea. I've listened to all the Mitford series and absolutely love John McDonough's voice. I wasn't sure I'd like the change. However, I soon realized that much of the voicing in the Holly Springs book is YOUNG Timothy and the southern voices of his childhood, therefore a change in narrator makes perfect sense. Scott Sowers is excellent!

As all of the books about Fr. Tim, I enjoyed this one very much however it was very disapointing at first because the familiar voices of the characters were not the same. This different reader did not do justice to the people we thought we knew so well from all the previous books.

Having listened to, and loved, the entire Mitford series, I was thrilled when "Home to Holly Springs" came out. The fact is though that I could not get past the first 5 minutes. The original narrator of the Mitford books, John McDonough, set the standard for who Father Tim was. He became Father Tim for me. Why they decided to change that is beyond me. Scott Sowers is a terrible choice. He sounds like he is in his 20's or 30's, not an elderly gentleman of 70 plus years.
On the bright side...I purchased the book and it was absolutely wonderful! I loved it. Now if Jan Karon came to her senses and allowed it to be rerecorded with Mr. McDonough!

This was my first Jan Karon story. I am hooked! I listen to my audiobooks while I drive and I found myself sitting in parking lots and even in my garage still listening.
The characters are so alive and fascinating. More more more please.

The story was excellent. The narrator's (Scott Sowers) voice was too young for a 70 year old man and it was very distracting.