Faith, Hope, and Charity in North Carolina

BOOK OF THE WEEK

New novels by Michael Morris—whose first novel, A Place Called Wiregrass, was a word-of-mouth hit—and Jan Karon, who continues her beloved Mitford saga.

Reviewed by Betty Smartt Carter | posted 11/17/2003

2 of 3

Which brings me to a question: how can two books both be set in North Carolina, both portray "ordinary" lives, and even handle similar themes (faith, aging, reconciliation) yet be as different as Shepherds Abiding and Slow Way Home? The simplistic answer is that their writers differ in aims. Both writers aim to move us emotionally, but Jan Karon moves in order to soothe while Michael Morris moves in order to challenge.

Readers who love one kind of book may scorn the other, and certainly the super-popularity of Karon's work will raise arty eyebrows. It's good to remember, though, that we don't have to pronounce every book a success or failure right out of the gate. There have always been different kinds of novels: given a decent chance, the best of any genre will outlast the fame or obscurity of its author. The reader's first task is not to judge but to empathize, and both these book give plenty of opportunity for that.

Betty Carter is the author two novels. Her new book, Home Is Always the Place You Just Left: A Memoir of Restless Longing and Persistent Grace, is published by Paraclete Press.

Related Elsewhere:

Slow Way Home is available from Christianbook.com and other book retailers.

The publisher has more information about the author, and so does the author's web site.

Shepherds Abiding is available from Christianbook.com and other book retailers.

More on Shepherds Abiding and the Mitford series is available from the series web site.

Books & Culture Corner appears every Monday. Earlier editions of Books & Culture Corner and Book of the Week include:

Remember Afghanistan? | Two inside reports. (Nov. 10, 2003)

The Troubled Conscience of a Founding Father | An Imperfect God examines George Washington and slavery. (Oct. 27, 2003)

The Year of the Fish | The 2003 baseball season concludes with a bang—and 2004 is just around the corner. (Oct. 27, 2003)

I Shop, Therefore I Am | Critics of "consumer culture" are all wet, Virginia Postrel says. The riot of choices available to us resonates with our deepest aesthetic instincts (Oct. 20, 2003)

Back to the Future | A sprawling new novel by the author of Snowcrash and Cryptonomicon goes to the 17th century to investigate the birth of the modern world. (You won't be surprised to learn that the Puritans are among the Bad Guys.) (Oct. 13, 2003)

Poetry, Prayer, and Parable | The playful provocations of Scott Cairns (Oct. 06, 2003)

Terrorists on Trial | How the nation responded to an earlier attack. (Sept. 29, 2003)

The Contemplative Christian | Eugene Peterson calls believers to a life lived with "wholeness, honesty, without contrivance"-against the grain of much that's currently driving the church in America. (Sept. 29, 2003)

Recalling California | Want to understand what's going on in the Golden State? Toss your newsmagazines and pick up Joan Didion's new book (Sept. 22, 2003)

The Ph.D. Octopus, 100 Years On | How Christians can make a difference in the upside-down world of graduate school (Sept. 15, 2003)

The Difference Between Conservatives and Prolifers | William Saletan unspins, and respins, the abortion debate (Sept. 8, 2003)

next page... |

2 of 3

share this page