fiction 1. What character did you like the most,
and why? What character, if any, did you dislike at first, only to later come to appreciate or understand? What character(s) in the story react that way to someone new?
2. What role does Barnabas play in Father Tim's
life? What other characters invade Father Tim's busy life, only later to prove to be enriching elements? Are there any who are a permanent drag on his spirits? How does Father Tim come to terms with them?
3. Dooley
appears on the scene untamed and uninvited. What is it that makes Father Tim and Dooley aware that they need each other? How does Dooley contribute to Father Tim's life? Have you had Dooley's in your own life?
4.
Compare Miss Sadie and Miss Rose. They are very different characters, but both make a powerful contribution to the story. What makes them such vivid characters? What would Mitford be like without them? What unique
contribution do they make?
5. Priests and ministers seldom have people they can confide in. Who are Father Tim's confidants? What secrets does he entrust to them? What role does prayer play in giving Father Tim a
chance to truly vent his feelings?
6. Mitford takes care of its own, says Mayor Cunningham. How does this happen in the book? Is this limited only to small towns? What other types of communities can it take place in?
7. Minor characters are an important part of the Mitford books. Name some of the minor characters in this story. What do they contribute to the fabric of village life in Mitford?
8. Do Jan Karon's characters remind
you of people you know? Have you ever lived next door to a Mitford character? Are you kin to any Mitford characters?
9. Faith and obedience in God are both clearly significant parts of Father Tim's makeup. Discuss how
each is exemplified in his life; that is, describe the nature of his faith and obedience. What role does prayer play in Father Tim's faith?
10. Does your town have a Main Street Grill? What function does a place like
the Grill fill in a town? Where do you get your town news? Where are you likely to meet friends and neighbors?
11. Can you find Mitford anywhere, or do you feel that the story is too idyllic?
** Study Guide questions taken from the Viking/Penguin Reader's Guide to The Mitford Years
