Chapter Books

Linnets and Valerians

*Edited to add: See my revised view of this book.

It’s Read-Aloud Thursday, and none of the shorter books we’ve read this week seem post-worthy. But we’re a few chapters into Elizabeth Goudge’s Linnets and Valerians, an ALA Notable Book for Children published in 1964.

We are having a blast with it.

For one thing, I’m getting a chance to introduce the girls to a recently-discovered author, my favorite discovery from 2010. Elizabeth Goudge has a knack for writing descriptions that capture the essence of a place, and the places are invariably appealing to me. This book is no exception. It concerns four children who run away from their grandmother, steal a pony and cart, eat all the groceries stashed therein, and are taken by said pony to the delightful rambling home of a retired schoolmaster who happens to be a distant relation they’ve never met. (So if you insist on “good role models,” I suppose there’s no argument to be made for these children — at least not yet.) That’s all we really know at this point, but I’m looking forward to listening in as he educates the children in the classical style.

Goudge’s descriptions seem to be inspiring lots of belly-laughs. Here’s an example, from a scene where the retired schoolmaster is leading his just-discovered charges and their dog, Absalom, through his study:

The children followed in single file, Absalom bringing up the rear with his tail between his legs. Then he caught sight of the owl, barked joyously, and leapt up into the elderly gentleman’s chair. The owl took off and floated to the top of a large oil painting of some ruins and a thunderstorm that hung over the fireplace. Then he opened his beak, said “Hick,” and a pellet shaped like a plum stone shot out of it and hit Absalom on the nose. Glancing off onto the carpet, the pellet broke into a collection of small beaks and claws and a threepenny bit. “Do not do that again,” said the elderly gentleman to Absalom. “If Hector is annoyed he shoots out undigested matter in this unpleasant fashion. You, boy, what’s your name? Speak up. What? Timothy? Shovel up the beaks and claws and put them in the fire. You may keep the threepenny bit. Sit down. Do not touch my books or my papers. In twenty minutes I shall for my sins be with you again. Merciful heavens, here’s a pretty kettle of fish!

In the other Goudge books I’ve read (all but one of which I’ve reviewed), I’ve found the children a bit irritating. These are thus far the least annoying, but as in the other books they exist in a gentler world of adults who have time for them and take them seriously, even when they do trying things. This is part of the appeal of Elizabeth Goudge for me. It’s a rather nostalgic vision, but one that I find inspiring — one of the pleasantest fictional “elsewheres” I know. The vocabulary and lifestyle are a few steps removed from us, but this book is just one more example of what a non-issue these things are when the basic sympathy between author and audience is strong enough. It’s a real treat to be experiencing this story with my children.

7 Comments

  • Page Turner / Heather

    I have just discovered Elizabeth Goudge myself and am in the midst of The Scent of Water. I love her descriptions and sense of place, as you said, and I’m just amazed at the sheer beauty of words in this novel! I’m glad to know she wrote for children also, and I’ll be interested in hearing your thoughts after you’ve finished this one.

    I appreciate your comments on the nostalgic vision and the sympathy between author and audience. I think we found that in our reading of The Railway Children, too, though it took us so long to finish that book that some of that was lost for lack of continuity.

  • Amy @ Hope Is the Word

    Arrrgh!!! I have this one in my van right now; it’s but one more casualty of my month of nothing-is-appealing-to-me-now-so-I’ll-just-bounce-from-book-to-book. It sounds delightful. I shall take it up again, but maybe this time I’ll give it a go as a read aloud!

  • Janet

    Amy, I so agree with you on reading seasons, and needing the right season to try a certain book. Hope you find the perfect book!

    Heather, The Scent of Water was my first Elizabeth Goudge read. I absolutely loved it and couldn’t believe I’d never even heard of her before!

  • Beth

    I went to add this book to my TBR list a couple of weeks ago and found out I had already read it, though for some reason I can’t even remember what it was about. Obviously, this story didn’t stick with me as well as The Little White Horse which I read several years ago and have a great fondness for. I think I’ll look for The Scent of Water.

    I wanted to thank you for your review of The Ordinary Princess from last week. I got the book for my daughter and she has read it and gone back and re-read her favorite parts several times. This is a book that will soon be added to our bookshelves.