Goudge reader: Carla Brown
A “Share your Goudge Collection” Interview
“I love the beautifully descriptive writing most about Goudge’s books…
She is also one of the few authors whose books I re-read, despite having so many new books I want to read. This must surely be testament to her writing!”
🌿 Carla Brown about Elizabeth Goudge
Goudge reader interview
Today we are continuing with our series of interviews with readers about their own Elizabeth Goudge collections. I’m very excited to share this wonderful interview with a Goudge reader I’ve known for years on Instagram, Carla Brown.
Carla lives in a small town at the side of Lochleven in the centre of Scotland. She is very much a home body. Carla loves nature and growing things, along with walking her dogs, art, crafting and of course book reading and collecting—especially Elizabeth’s books.
Welcome Carla! Glad you can join us here today.
Julie: When did you first find Goudge?
Carla: I first found Elizabeth Goudge in what is now a rather poignant way. My mum gave a copy of The Little White Horse to my daughter for her 8th birthday in 2009, I read it to her and loved it so much I had to buy another copy for myself.
My mum passed away in 2014 and it was that year that I really started to read more Goudge books, I found her autobiography The Joy of the Snow and that led on to my hunting down as many more as I could find. My first three fiction books of hers were The Little White Horse, A City of Bells and The Deans Watch and, in that same order they have become my favourites—but The Little White Horse will always be my first and most special read for its association and memories of my mum.
Julie: Which Goudge book is your favorite vintage edition? What year and is it a UK or US edition?
Carla: I have managed to collect nearly all Elizabeth’s books and some nice vintage editions over the years, a recent and favourite edition is The Joy of the Snow, which is a 1976 Quality Bookclub London edition. I just love the pretty cover.
Julie: Is there a scene from one of Elizabeth Goudge’s books that sticks with you? What moments in life make you think of it? And which book is it from?
Carla: There are a few memorable scenes/quotes that I love—one being Loveday’s love for pink geraniums in The Little White Horse. I have grown and loved geraniums ever since first reading this.
A few quotes I particularly love, which are both from A City Of Bells:
"Very lovely, he thought, are the sudden moments of relief that come in the midst of strain, those moments of forgetfulness when we are 'teased out of thought' by a bird or a flower or the sight of old roofs in the sun; lovely though so transient, the reversal of those brief moments of misery that visit us even in the midst of joy."
"In my experience when people once begin to read they go on. They begin because they think they ought to and they go on because they must. Yes. They find it widens life. We're all greed for life, you know, and our short span of existence can't give us all that we hunger for, the time is too short and our capacity not large enough. But in books we experience all life vicariously.”
Julie: What do you love most about Goudge’s writing?
Carla: I think I love the beautifully descriptive writing most about Goudges books, that paired with the comforting nostalgia of a time that no longer can be found in real life. She is also one of the few authors whose books I re-read, despite having so many new books I want to read, this must surely be testament to her writing!
Julie: Where can we find out more about you and what you are reading these days?
Carla: You can find me on Instagram as C.brown685 and on Goodreads my profile is Carla Brown
“I have grown and loved geraniums ever since...”
🌿Carla about The Little White Horse by Goudge
Do you have a favorite book in Carla’s collection? Love to hear!
And if you would be interested in sharing your collection, or even just one of your favorite editions, let me know! I am looking for more Goudge readers to feature here in our Goudge community.
Thankyou for sharing my love of Elizabeth Goudge!💗📚📚📚
I loved this insight into your beautiful Goudge collection. Wow! your edition of The Joy of Snow is gorgeous. Reading your favourite quotes and about your personal connection to Elizabeth Goudge’s work was a real afternoon treat for me. Thank you.