Gentian Hill is a book that is based partly on history and partly on legend. Anthony, a fifteen year old orphan, became a midshipman in the British Navy after the unexpected death of his grandmother who had brought him up after both his parents died. The British were fighting Napoleon and Anthony, only two months … Continue reading Gentian Hill by Elizabeth Goudge (1949)
Many of Elizabeth Goudge’s books have historical settings. The White Witch takes place during the English Civil War, Green Dolphin Country and The Dean’s Watch are set in the 19th Century. I expected The Castle on the Hill to be set at some remote period of time and was surprised when I started reading it … Continue reading The Castle on the Hill by Elizabeth Goudge (1941)
Elizabeth Goudge is an author whose stories linger with you long afterwards. Somehow she manages to explore character, spirituality, and heavy themes with grace and perspective. She is never black and white, which is a quality I didn’t understand when I was younger. Life is so much easier if you can separate people and … Continue reading The White Witch by Elizabeth Goudge (1958)
Pilgrim’s Inn (also published as The Herb of Grace) is the second book in the Eliot Family Trilogy. Its best to read it after The Bird in the Tree as most of the characters are introduced in the first book and the central theme continues into the second book. I read both books one after the … Continue reading Pilgrim’s Inn by Elizabeth Goudge (1948)
‘At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil,yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.’ … Continue reading The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge (1963)
Earlier this year I was introduced to Elizabeth Goudge through her book The Rosemary Tree and after reading that I knew that I’d read more by her. I ordered Green Dolphin Country because a good friend recommended it but I was surprised when it arrived that it contained 743 pages. I don’t usually … Continue reading Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge (1944)
I had a mixed reaction to Linnets & Valerians, a children’s book by Elizabeth Goudge which was published in 1964. On the one hand, most of the characters in this book are attractive, well portrayed, and interesting. The storyline is involved and has plenty of appeal also but I was uncomfortable with how Goudge … Continue reading Back to the Classics: Linnets & Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge (1964)
The Rosemary Tree is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Goudge, although she’s been on my radar for many years, but I doubt it will be my last as I found her writing to be descriptive and multi-layered; her characters warm and interesting.The Rosemary Tree not only has an engaging plot, it also … Continue reading The Rosemary Tree by Elizabeth Goudge (1956)
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita written by Rumer Godden (1907-1998) is partly autobiographical. When her first marriage ended in divorce and she later remarried, there were difficulties between her two daughters and her second husband. This situation was fictionalised in The Battle of the Villa Fiorita. In this book, the two children of Fanny … Continue reading The Battle of the Villa Fiorita by Rumer Godden (1963)
This week I’m featuring some Nature Journal/Nature Notebooks done by the Feldman family. The page below is from a 6 year old boy’s nature notebook. Lucila writes, ‘Not much to show here yet! I added the black pen line to show him how it would stand out, and to demonstrate that the veins didn’t actually … Continue reading Notebook Showcase #3
journey & destination 