Reviews
4 ★ - (really liked) Oh this book... I read it for the first time roughly several years ago and decided to read it again before watching the movie adaption I'd discovered. (Which, uh, I've since heard might be terribly inaccurate🥲) As it had been so long and I've read so many books since then, I couldn't really remember anything of the story, which wouldn't do if I was going to compare the movie's accuracy, and I had already wanted to reread it so it worked out nicely. I was slightly nervous I wouldn't like it nearly as much as I first did, but this dear old favorite held! The writing, the worldbuilding, the imagery... just as lovely and captivating as the first time I read it when I was eleven. An enchanting mix of history and fantasy full of twinkling stars, a world silvery and golden, blossoming flowers, celestial elements galore, animal companions, friendships old and new, splashes of vibrant colors in striking color schemes, descriptions of delicious food, pretty clothes and houses, hidden passageways, a beautiful landscape full of hills, valleys, and a bay of sparkling sea. With most books I can recall how I pictured it the first time as well as how I picture it now with new perspective. I had forgotten the majority of this book unfortunately but the more I read the more familiar the events seemed and I remembered how some of the plot twists ended... perhaps some of the imagery was the same, I felt that it was when she was describing the village houses, but I couldn't tell exactly what was new and old. I do however recall imagining Sir Benjamin - upon the first mention of his name before we're introduced - as a handsome, tall and broad shouldered man with red hair and beard.... and being surprised at the actual description of him which says that he had three double chins, a white wig, a big nose, and was bow-legged. And I faintly recall sticking to how I had originally imagined him, haha! A few characters are not very handsome/pretty in appearance but I didn't mind because too often there are books in which every character has perfect features and looks simply radiant which is really not realistic! I will say the author probably could have figured out some other unique features besides hooked noses for her characters though, there were probably three people with one lol. There were a handful of odd things sprinkled it but I've found it sometimes comes with the territory of older books. The characters were not my most favorite in the world... they definitely had their issues, and the villains didn't seem as incredibly wicked as the author made them out to be... though I suppose they weren't very friendly towards the children. But that was an afterthought. What I didn't love whilst I was reading was some of the religious aspects and that one outburst Robin had. In more detail: Some of the theology seemed incorrect surrounding Sir Wrolf sinning and his descendants having to fix things... and in other places some harshness towards atheists (the problem I have with that being that although atheists are wrong we're supposed to treat them with grace like we would anyone else) and some other things Old Parson said which I can't recall at the moment. I will acknowledge that this was looking back at an older time and a different denomination of Christianity I suppose, there just seems to be a lot of things that could be taken wrong and in some cases are wrong. And as for Robin... (view spoiler)[I think that the author's point was that he was so in love with her it made him jealous of anyone else in what should be an endearing way but... it just came off a bit possessive. You will marry me because I say so. I also think they married rather young even for the time... weren't they like 14 and 15?? (hide spoiler)] Overall, I liked it, mainly for the nostalgia, the pretty descriptions, and general feel. Maria wasn't a bad main character, though she had her faults, and I liked her well enough. The descriptions, though sometimes long as in a lot of old fashioned books, are quite pretty, and I actually like the long paragraphs because they really bring the picture to life. If you're not turned off by some of the aforementioned and following things I hope you give it a try, it really is a nice book :) CWs, or things that caught my attention: mentions/descriptions of jealousy, anger, arguing, trapping animals, being chased, fear, "witchery of the moon" is used a couple of times, indigestion, quarrels between lovers, stealing, deceased relatives, injury, men disliking women... just because they're women..., secrets, grief, supposed murder, vanity. 6/8/24
Originally read (many times) as a child and I remember adoring the book, it's premise & being utterly delighted when they announced a film adaptation (which subsequently frustrated me, as adaptions often do!). The setting of scenes and description of characters, rooms, the landscapes truly is second to none. You can't help but be drawn into the book & imagine the entire world coming to life. Nevertheless, yes upon rereading it as an adult, I'm mildly horrified by the realisation that all of these characters are close blood relations in one way or another and the constant reiteration about female ideals. However I'm also well aware this book was written 80-odd years ago and that Elizabeth Goudge was brought up by parents who were likely not in any way 'progressive', and I don't remember feeling as though I ought to be less curious or meeker and less argumentative as a result of reading this as a child as I was aware it wasn't set in the modern day. Overall, I love rereading it, I cried & was taken back to childhood and I will never stop gushing about how much I love this book.
