Green Dolphin Street
When I finished Linnets and Valerians, I vowed I was not going to read any more Elizabeth Goudge. (I wrote about why here.) But now I’ve gone and read Green Dolphin Street.
What can I say? My Goudge ban is not the first impassioned vow I’ve broken, and it’s had very happy results. Green Dolphin Street is the most absorbing, most satisfying, most meaty book I’ve read in a very long time. It’s a tale epic in scope, one that follows the stories of three characters from childhood all the way through to their sixties, from the Channel Islands to New Zealand and back again. Goudge explores the redemption of personality through both divine and human love.
All of which probably sounds quite dull. But there is such rich, nourishing food for thought in this book that I was aware of its influence the whole time I was reading it. The three main characters — Marianne and Marguerite, two sisters, and William, the man they both love — are so well drawn that it was impossible not to see parts of myself reflected in each of them, for better or for worse. But the underlying story is captivating, full of adventure, evocative descriptions of places, and deep understanding of human nature. It was a transporting experience to read it.
8 Comments
GretchenJoanna
I loved this book – years ago my reading group (now defunct) read it alongside the more modern The Good Husband by Gail Godwin. The juxtaposition of the stories was fascinating! The movie of Green Dolphin Street I found awful.
Janet
Thanks for the tip! I made a quick search for the movie and didn’t locate a copy, but after your evaluation I won’t bother to keep looking for it.
Now I’m curious about the Gail Godwin book.
Polly
Thanks for sharing about this yesterday. I pulled my copy out last night and hope to start today. Just what I need I think….and there is something comforting- something of knowing and being known- in a good Goudge book :)
Janet
Yes, you hit the nail on the head.
I forgot to mention that the book was interesting on the subjects of prayer and meditation, too. It’s inspired me to pull out ‘Practicing the Presence of God’ again.
Mitch Teemley
I’d heard of this book, of course, but knew nothing about it. Sounds like a great read-aloud for my wife and me!
hopeinbrazil
This is one title I haven’t read yet. Your review reminded me of why I love Goudge. “Meaty and nourishing”
Amy @ Hope Is the Word
Lulu and I are still making our very slow way through The Little White Horse, and I have to say I’ve been captivated by Goudge. Her descriptions rival any author’s I’ve ever read. Thanks for the review of this book. I think I’d love it. And now I’m off to re-read your thoughts on Linnets and Valerians; I think of it sometimes when I see our copy, but I can’t remember what you found so off-putting about it.
Barbara H.
I hadn’t planned to read Goudge after reading your review of Linnets and Valerians.. I still probably won’t, I have so much stacked up to read already. But I just reread A Wrinkle In Time and thereafter some articles about and interviews with Madeleine L’Engle, and I have some of the same conflicting feelings about her.