There have been major problems with the site, and you will not have received notifications of the last few posts
After much work the wonderful admin have sorted this out Please enjoy and apologies for the breakdown in communication
01
Mar
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How extraordinary – I picked up The Bird in the Tree yesterday evening, wondered why there had been no communication from the E Goudge society!!
I had not read her for a while, and was just revelling in the magic of her prose and the depth of her insights into human beings. I always feel her parents’ presence strongly in this. Lucilla and her mother plus?
Congratulations on solving the problems. I cannot find enough time for my own musical work at the moment, so may not participate greatly, but please know of my warmest support and delight that this rare writer is being further promoted.
Thank you Penelope, I now have confirmation that the notification is working
Thankyou for sorting it.
I have a task ahead. Well, actually lots of them. We lost our home of 30 years in an explosion and fire on Dec. 29. They were putting in a new furnace. It is a total loss. It’s just stuff, and can be replaced or remembered. The important thing is that all four in the house got out alive. But, we had good insurance, and as soon as we find a new place, I’m recollecting all the Goudge books I had, and possibly a few new ones. Meanwhile I have a few Kindle editions. The stories are a ray of sunshine right now. I hope ‘21 is good to all of you!
I’m so sorry for your trouble but happy you see this in a good light and hiw wise to recollect Elizabeth’s books! Warm wishes.
Dear Joan,
I cannot begin to understand the shock and pain this experience must have caused you
We live by a river and have been flooded three times, so understand the stress the loss and damage to a home that you are suffering. As you say the main thing is that none of you were hurt or heaven forbid lost.
But it is the personal items such as irriplaceable photos, momentos that pulls at the heart strings
I think you are very brave and right minded to look to the future in this way.
All good thoughts and best wishes go out to you and your family
You posted this on my 79th birthday last year and I found this site by total accident today-scatter searching for a copy of the Scent of Water for my daughter who just spent 10 days with us. The time was largely spent in sorting through 8 or nine large boxes of memorabilia, scrapbook of my Birth Year in 1942, baby clothes, toys from my and my childrens childhood, many many children’s books-only the “favorites” of course. With my brisk practical Elizabeth, we and she, let go of a lot. I’m poring over the remainder on these days after her departure.- being so very very sensible- “let the 3rd little dress go”. “You only read them that 30 or 40 times-not 100-” Thank you so much for sharing with others your gallant plans to enshrine the memories, replace the books that will be re read, and build anew.
You will be in my thoughts from now on, and I will be sending my heartfelt prayers that you have come a long way back to a lovely life. Thank you again
Joan. Love, Margo
Thank you. I always look forward to any posts especially in these trying times.
I would like to echo Deborah’s sympathy for your traumatic loss, Joan. Let us know if you have trouble re-finding Elizabeth’s books and maybe we can look out for them in our own areas, once we are ‘out’ again.
Love and best wishes to you all.
So pleased that the problems are solved and you are ok.
Thank you so much! We do have digital forms of many pictures, but of course not all. And obviously the heirlooms are lost. But I keep reminding myself that I have now downsized and have to be careful to replace only what is really needed! I’ll pray that you are protected from further floods in the future! Thanks also for the offer of help finding books! If I come across extras, I’ll let everyone know!
I also missed my Elizabeth Goudge cohort – may we all weather floods and fires, and find comfort in the Pilgrims Inn – read for the 7th or 8th time – and the soul of this woman who speaks so dearly to mine! I just finished Linnets and Valerians for perhaps the 4th time, and bless these people and places, with their oh so human dilemmas, for being part of my life now in this time of turning. Does anyone have an extra copy of Scent of Water to sell or loan? I managed to lose mine while making a move from our big family home to a studio on a farm – in the old garage!
Thanks again for convening us Goudge Groupies!
I am so glad to be connected with you all again – I missed your comments, especially in the middle of the night – like right now!
Elizabeth Goudge remains by far my favourite author; my husband asked me the other day how many times I had read the book I was carrying around – it happened to be “A City of Bells”. I replied, “Probably four or five times” and he just smiled.
Yes, I missed the nice people who write on this site, too. Especially in our current situation.
I’ve been sorting books, but so glad I hung on to Elizabeth’s autobiography and other books of hers.
So glad to know that the website silence has been “only” from software issues. I was of course worried due to the pandemic. Glad to see all my “friends'” names again. Joan, I am so incredibly sorry about what you are going through. Your attitude about your misfortune is an inspiration!
My Goudge report is that I finally read “The Deans Watch” last autumn and was very moved by it–it will take another re-reading to decide if it becomes one of my favorites. 🙂
Then I started “My God and My All”, but I could not seem to get caught up with it and put it down for now. Perhaps the re-activation of this site will help me try again. Best wishes to all of you!
So pleased to see this message, and will eagerly look for posts I may have missed.
The pandemic/quarantine experience made it clearer than ever that no author is as profoundly nurturing for me as Elizabeth Goudge.
And it’s always such a joyful surprise to be reminded that i am not the only one left who reads or appreciates her.
Yes, indeed! Now more than ever, we need Elizabeth’s calm strength of Faith to sustain us in these uncertain and unstable times.
How sad I am to find how few audio sites carry any of her novels. As we get older and read less easily, those small, close printed pages of the books lovingly collected in our youth, I would love Audible to make them available. I have the feeling Penelope Wilton would read them really well!
Yes I agree. That would be lovely. Have a blessed Sunday everyone.
Sandy, you said “how few audio sites carry her novels”. I have searched for years without finding a single one!
I would love to hear about those few that you have found.
Years ago, the library in Oregon where we lived had several Elizabeth Goudge books delightfully read by Donada Peters, but they disappeared from there long ago, and I ave searched the internet in vain…
Hello Adelina
What a delightful and unusual name!
Copies of The Little White Horse seem to be available to buy and on Audible
I was also able to obtain one or two titles on the RNIB library website, as I am classed as ‘having difficulty reading easily and clearly.’
I was able to fill out the form myself as I can read a bit for a while, just nothing like I used to be able too! I have to use a Daisy disc player to play them. I don’t know if you know, but these are special kinds of players that are able to play more compressed material. The RNIB has a limited selection. Recently, I discovered some will play on an ordinary CD player, just a bit fast. Like Alvin and the chipmunks in some parts!!! It might be worth trying this out, perhaps?
Good luck and keep us updated on your progress and news, please!
Thanks for all the comments and the continuing link with E.G. – what a beautiful writer and whose writing has blessed so many people. I have enjoyed Christine Rawlins book on E.G entitled ‘Beyond the Snow’. She goes through her life and links her writing to what was going on in Elizabeth’s life at the time. Joan, all the best in re-building your home.
“Beyond the Snow” sounds fascinating, I am going to hunt down a copy. thank you for bringing it to our attention!
I often quote my sister, Georgia, an avid reader, who once told me, “I don’t like it when someone lends me a book. First of all, they expect me to read it, and then, they expect me to like it!”
A while ago my book club friend, after hearing me praise our heroine long enough, I guess, asked if she could borrow a book by Elizabeth Goudge. She’s a busy reader, but enjoys mostly contemporary fiction/adventures…
So I’m puzzled as to which of Goudge’s books to recommend. Any suggestions?
I would recommend The Scent of Water, as contemporary fiction, The White Witch as a good historical adventure, or maybe a short story collection like White Wings
Jessie Monroe told me about an explosion at Rose Cottage. A gas cylinder was left on the cooker and the heat accidentally turned on. It took about a year to complete the rebuilding and decorating.
Thank you for the information! Glad no one was hurt
Oh my goodness! You mean that unbeknownst to all of Ms. Goudge’s fans the future of Rose Cottage has been hanging in the balance for a whole year?! (maybe that was a wise decision because we might all have become hysterical and didn’t need THAT on top of COVID).
🙂
I’m so glad it was able to be repaired/restored. And of course, as Ms. Gaudin said, SO glad no one was hurt.
Think this was a historical event that occurred when Elizabeth lived there with Jessie Munroe.
Oh dear, I’m sorry, I should have realized that when I read Jessie Monroe’s name. Careless reading on my part. Thank you for the clarification!