Venture out of reading comfort zone

Ever notice how folks are much more eclectic about their musical tastes than their book preferences? I think it's the time investment that makes it so. After all, you can zoom through the entire dial of music stations in minutes, but once you've chosen a book, it can take days or weeks to get through it.

There were several years - it pains me to say it now - when I read only mysteries.

Sure, I read some good books during that time, but there were many others I missed out on, simply because they weren't a member of my favorite genre.

Joining a book club got me out of my mystery comfort zone. One of the first books I read as a member of the club was "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon. I hated the book.

Despised it. Could not understand why the other women in the club loved it so much.

Now hold on, Karon fans. Let me finish.

Several years later, after I'd truly, completely broken through my mystery chains, I revisited Karon's The Mitford Years series. And this time, I liked the series.

Karon's books plop readers into the quaint town of Mitford and the lives of its interesting inhabitants. There's a bit of mystery and a dose of intrigue in each Mitford book. But mostly there's just a big bucket of good, clean fun. That makes sense, since the books center around the life of Father Tim, Mitford's favorite pastor.

And because we're in the holiday season, I'm recommending readers pick up Karon's Christmas-themed "Shepherds Abiding." The book follows Father Tim as he works to repair a broken-down Nativity scene. But it's not just the Nativity he ends up repairing.

It's the spirit in his heart and the hearts around him. "Shepherds Abiding" embraces the spirit of giving and makes a terrific family read-aloud (though you may need to edit a word here and there for the younger-than-12 crowd). Put a box of tissue next to your reading chair for this one.

Alas, mysteries are still tops with me, but I do enjoy trying something new.

For a complete list of Karon's books, visit www.mitfordbooks.com.

CONTACT THE WRITER: Anita Miller, The Gazette's Book Groupie columnist, welcomes your suggestions for book-group fodder. You can reach her at anita.l.miller@worldnet.att.net.