Goudge reader: Jacqui Wakelam
A “Share your Goudge Collection” Interview
“Goudge’s stories at their core are consistently anchored in the power of homes, families and belonging and it’s these themes which draw me back to her time and time again.”
Jacqui Wakelam on why she reads Elizabeth Goudge
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 the past five years via Instagram, Jacqui Wakelam.
lives in a leafy suburb in Greater London with her family and dignified dog. She is a writer, book club host, photographer, life coach and work in ministry to mums with Mum Heart UK.Jacqui adds that: “On most days you’ll find me in a rhythm of reading, thinking deeply, doing laundry, baking, walking to get rid of the baking (and make room for more), writing, drinking coffee or tea in rotation, posing flowers and stuffed birds, doing a puzzle and exploring England’s many historical houses and gardens. I believe in the goodness of God’s presence in a broken world and dedicate my time and work to bringing that message into all I do and immerse myself in.”
Welcome, Jacqui!
Julie: When did you first find Goudge? Which Goudge book did you read first?
Jacqui: I came across my first EG title seven years ago while in my local village charity shop. While browsing the second hand books (of course), I was drawn to the aged blue spine of a book titled The Castle on The Hill, a 1961 reprint. I vaguely recognised the author’s name as one who author Sarah Clarkson had recommended. It didn’t have a dust jacket and was in a pretty sorry state (see pic below) but I snatched it up and read it right away. I was transported to a whole new world, in fact a whole new way of knowing the world and myself. This has been my most beloved comfort re-read ever since, I am an enthusiastic evangelist as it’s often a lesser known title. My second revisit of Castle was during Lockdown 2020 when I found it spoke quite potently into the issue of the loss of a pattern in the way we live and how we find ourselves again. This book is a great comfort when you’re navigating seasons of change, traumatic upheaval or loss. EG weaves beautifully throughout her narrative the presence of a Greater good at work, a sense of being held and known and all things working together for good.
Julie: Which Goudge book is your favorite vintage edition? What year and is it a UK or US edition?
Jacqui: Currently my favourite vintage EG title is The Scent of Water. I have a 1966 1st Edition by London publisher Hodder and Stoughton. The dust jacket is beautiful with its sweeping scene of the cottage and its gardens stretching front to back in delicate watercolours. You can definitely judge a book by its cover in this instance. The Castle on The Hill will always remain my favourite book purely because it was my first ever Goudge read and you cannot ever shake that first love feeling.
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?
Jacqui: After my recent first read of The Scent of Water, one scene in particular has struck a chord. In it, one of the characters is sitting quietly on their living room floor and unexpectedly experiences a wondrous moment of ‘unknown, invisible and terrible beauty’:
“. . . she sat with her hands in her lap, and gradually she became aware of a miracle.
Through the west window beside her the sunset shone into the room, through the flowers of the blossoming apple tree that grew close to the window. Their moving shadows lay upon the carpet, and their scent, and the twin scent of burning apple wood, faintly filled the room. The flames gave their light and through the vine leaves came the cool blue of the garden where the birds were singing. Time not so much passed as was lost, and with it her sense of possessing herself, yet she felt no sense of loss for in the centre of perfection there is nothing wanting.
Circle upon circle of unknown, invisible and terrible beauty stretched from her into infinity and yet it was all here in what now held her and filled her. She was in a state of happy shame.
She guessed that many restless men had been driven to the ends of the earth to find this - what should she call it - this golden heart, yet it was hers in this miracle of light. Why should she among millions of women, some of whom toiled in great cities or rotted in refugee camps, be given this? She knew her worldliness and lovelessness. Why she? It was one of the unanswerable questions and there was nothing she could do about it except be thankful.”
Jacqui continues: This startling awareness of the presence of something other-worldly in the midst of her everyday ordinary speaks of the mysterious goodness hidden in plain sight. It reminds me that grace is common and freely given to all, it's within reach for those who have eyes to see. Through the scent of a blossom, the way the light falls or the cadence of birdsong this echo of Eden calls to our wandering or wounded hearts. This is also a moment of resting on the edge of existence, the thin overlap between time-now and time-eternal and glimpsing the golden heart as she describes it. I believe this is a metaphor for the heart of God, and in this terrible presence she first experiences a sense of her own shortcomings. Powerless to resolve her sense of unworthiness the only natural response is one of surrender and acceptance with thanksgiving. This is a poetic and skilful metaphor in drawing out the Gospel message and also that of Theodicy, the vindication of God.
The Scent of Water contains a layering of narratives but one aspect I particularly appreciate is EG’s focus on mental illness and what that looks like to live with. Having my own wrestlings with mental health and within my family, it’s comforting to see a character which you can identify and journey with whose own story is one of hope.
Julie: What do you love most about Goudge’s writing?
Jacqui: As mentioned above I love the way EG portrays the goodness of God and her approach of drawing upon the natural world. Her descriptions of the home, garden or landscape and its woodlands are as threads drawing us in to the awareness of a Presence of goodness, a voice, of healing and love.
I also appreciate the depth of the characters and EG’s skill in getting us into the mind of the character, their motives, desires and even their demons. Through her ability to communicate the language of ‘human' we’re able to identify with the characters which in turn enables us to process our own inner wrestlings or, prepare us for how me might approach a situation in the future. I get quite emotionally invested in my EG characters and miss them when I’ve finished a book, therefore I’m a serial re-reader!
Goudge’s stories at their core are consistently anchored in the power of homes, families and belonging and it’s these themes which draw me back to her time and time again.
Julie: Which authors would you say are most similar to Elizabeth Goudge?
Jacqui: That’s a great question! Authors I feel the same gravitational pull with are Elizabeth von Arnim (The Enchanted April). L.M.Montgomery (The Blue Castle; Anne of Green Gables). Gene Stratton-Porter (Laddie, Freckles). Louisa May Alcott (Little Women). Wendell Berry (Hannah Coulter).
Julie: Where can we find out more about you and what you are reading these days?
Jacqui: I can be found at
where I publish a free monthly editorial with my musings and photography. I host a monthly Zoom bookclub called The Book & Armchair Society, plus lots more. I’m currently reading Fidelity: Five Stories by Wendell Berry as part of my book club, Trust by Dr. Henry Cloud as part of my coaching work, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Plough Magazine.
“Elizabeth Goudge weaves beautifully throughout her narrative the presence of a Greater good at work—a sense of being held and known and all things working together for good.”
Jacqui Wakelam
Do you have a favorite book in Jacqui’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.
Jacqui's descriptions of Goudge's writing are themselves beautifully written. Your lifestyle of healing and helping is greatly needed. Thank you to Jacqui and to Julie for sharing this.
I love that phone booth library!