In This MountainIn This Mountain
Score Modern
What it's about
Father Tim Kavanagh, a retired Episcopal priest in the small mountain town of Mitford, North Carolina, is restless and short-tempered. He and his wife Cynthia plan a year in the mountains, but before they go, something happens that sends Father Tim into a deep depression, and he has to learn to accept the help he's always offered others.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. The Mitford books are beloved for their warmth, faith and small-town humor, and this one is more serious than most.
You'll love it if you liked
Winter Solstice
Have a Little Faith: A True Story
A Man Called PeterGood to know
It's the seventh Mitford book; the series is best started with At Home in Mitford. It deals with depression and a serious accident.
By the numbers
- Readers93 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #103 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #451 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #870 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Jan Karon
If you like this, read next
All the Light We Cannot See
Americanah
A Little Life
The Help
Pachinko
Shuggie BainExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is In This Mountain worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It ranks #870 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is In This Mountain about?
Father Tim Kavanagh, a retired Episcopal priest in the small mountain town of Mitford, North Carolina, is restless and short-tempered. He and his wife Cynthia plan a year in the mountains, but before they go, something happens that sends Father Tim into a deep depression, and he has to learn to accept the help he's always offered others.
How long does it take to read In This Mountain?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after In This Mountain?
If you liked it, try Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom or A Man Called Peter by Catherine Marshall.