The day is here! Have you been reading something by Elizabeth Goudge in honor of her birthday? Please let me know in the comments, and I’ll include your post in a wrap-up on Friday.
I posted my review of Towers in the Mist yesterday, an evocative exploration of Elizabethan Oxford; click the link for my thoughts. I also read Smoky House, a delightful early children’s book set in Elizabeth’s beloved West Country. It was marvelous to be transported to these two magical places.
Along with sharing your reviews, or visiting others’ posts, please don’t neglect to enter the giveaway sponsored by Hendrickson Publishers, which will be open through April 26. You can enter to win a new paperback edition of Towers in the Mist — international entries are welcome.
After three years I am planning to take a break from this particular event, but it’s been wonderful to connect with more Goudge fans and to perhaps encourage some readers to take up her books for the first time. Thanks to all who have participated — I hope you have enjoyed this event as much as I have!
The Emerald City Book Review Archive 
The Dean’s Watch is a gentle and inspiring story of finding one’s joy through the transforming power of sacrifice and courage. It is a beautiful, spiritual story that expounds the idea that “if you turn for your joy to the intractable and explosive stuff of human nature it’s in for a penny, in for a pound.” How often we let our own insecurities hold us back from helping or showing a real interest in others. The characters in this story teach us that when we do so, unexpected and remarkable things beyond our imaginings can happen. I didn’t find a weak element to Goudge’s writing. Her strongest was the sense of place. She managed to evoke an enchanting town with a fairytale quality, imbued with a sense of history and thoughtful detail. This book has secured a place in my top ten and in my heart.
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Goudge’s sense of place definitely stands out for me. Her places and people feel so real.
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Hello! I muddled up my days with the result that I had to write my review of The Joy of the Snow in a hurry yesterday! But it’s up here: http://gallimaufry.typepad.com/blog/2017/04/the-joy-of-the-snow-by-elizabeth-goudge.html
Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has read! Thank you for running this. 🙂
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Oh and now I’ve read your post more CAREFULLY (blush) I see that this is the last year you’ll be hosting Elizabeth Goudge Day. I’m sorry that you’re stopping, because I enjoy reading everyone else’s posts. But thank you for running it for so long!
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Just taking a break – maybe it will be back again after a year! But I’m thinking of some other authors I might want to focus on, and I have to limit the events I do (since unfortunately this is not my full time job). Anyway, thanks so much for your enthusiastic participation. It’s been a joy to share this with other Goudge fans.
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Here’s my review of Towers in the Mist, which I loved:
https://shereadsnovels.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/elizabeth-goudge-day-towers-in-the-mist/
I’m sorry you won’t be hosting this event again next year, but I’ve enjoyed taking part for the last three years and will certainly be reading more by Goudge anyway!
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Lovely, that is the best result I could hope for!
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Here’s my post on the Valley of Song. What a strange and lovely story! http://howlingfrog.blogspot.com/2017/04/elizabeth-goudge-day-valley-of-song.html
I too am sorry you won’t be doing this next year — are you looking for anyone to take it for a year or two or do you want to just give it a rest?
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I would be delighted if someone else wanted to take it on, so feel free if that would be a wish of yours. As I mentioned above to Helen, I’ve been thinking about perhaps featuring a different favorite author, and (alas) I just don’t have time to do everything I would like on the blog. But I’d be very happy if it continued in some form.
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Hallo, Hallo Jean!
I had the same thought as you which is why I just sent you a PM! Blessed you had your Contact details on your Profile! I wanted to convo you about this and it’s wicked timing as soon as I read Lory was stepping down, I thought, ooh no! And, here I was looking forward to next years. Reminds me of how I grieved the end of Roof Beam Reader hosting #AustenInAugust; I want to read more Austen this year, too, so I’ll resume celebrating that event but now I wonder if someone took that over… hmm.
Looking forward to your reply!
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I hope you guys will take it up! I would be an enthusiastic supporter, if not a host this time. (I miss Austen in August too!)
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Thanks for hosting this Lory! I was completely new to Goudge. Here is the link to my review of The Rosemary Tree. http://ruthiellareads.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-rosemary-tree-by-elizabeth-goudge.html
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Wonderful to have you join us, Ruthiella.
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I was not able to finish Green Dolphin Street in time to participate, I am only about a quarter of the way in, but thanks to you, I picked up the book in the first place! I think Goudge will be an author I will read more of, because I really like the way she gets into her character’s heads. That kind of psychological detail reminds me of Hawthorne and The House of the Seven Gables.
I look forward to reading everyone’s reviews and will post mine sometime in the future.
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That is a long book and took me quite some time to finish too! But as you say, I love how Goudge gets into the heads of her characters. I really felt I had made a life journey with them by the end.
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Thank you for doing this again. Life hasn’t given me much reading time recently but I am vey pleased that I picked up ‘The Little White Horse’ and my thoughts are here:
http://beyondedenrock.com/2017/04/24/a-book-for-elizabeth-goudges-birthday-the-little-white-horse-1946/
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Thank you, Jane. I’m glad that this book spoke to you at what must be quite a stressful time.
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I am still reading The Little White Horse ^^; But I am enjoying it so far! Like Jane said, I am very pleased that I picked it up. I hope to have a post up about it by Wednesday. Looking forward to reading more thoughts about it.
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I’ll not be doing the wrapup till the end of the week, so if you have something up by then I will certainly include it! I’m glad you’re enjoying the book, whatever happens.
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On Instagram, everyday is Elizabeth Goudge day! Though we also observe her birthday too ❤️ Love to have you all join in there with @elizabethgoudgebookclub ! We will be reading The Deans Watch together in March 2019.
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I’ve not gotten on instagram so far, but this is tempting me to check it out! The Dean’s Watch is one of my favorite books.
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