Goudge reader: Jeana Quigley
A “Share your Goudge Collection” Interview
“I fell in love with the vintage artwork and then decided to read A City of Bells. I loved it so much I haven’t stopped reading her books since.”
—Jeana Quigley on 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 many years on Instagram, Jeana Quigley.
Jeana lives in Utah with her husband, daughter, and two cats. She has a wonderful book-based account on Instagram as HotCocoaReads. (Instagram has a large sub-culture known as “Bookstagram” to many book-reading social media users.) Jeana is a music mom, animal and nature lover, bibliophile, and writer.
Julie: When did you first find Goudge? Which Goudge book did you read first?
Jeana: Long before I realized who Goudge was, a friend I worked with at a magazine (we were editors) told me about her favorite Christmas book. It was I Saw Three Ships. I bought it right away and very much enjoyed it, but I didn’t think about Goudge again until I joined Bookstagram. That’s when I saw some of her books being posted and I bought some vintage copies at a local bookshop. I fell in love with the vintage artwork and then decided to read A City of Bells. I loved it so much I haven’t stopped reading her books since.
Julie: Which Goudge book is your favorite vintage edition? What year and is it a UK or US edition?
Jeana: Probably either A City of Bells (1936 US edition) or Green Dolphin Street (1944 US edition). I love all the I Saw Three Ship editions I’ve seen (I have 3 copies)!
Julie: Is there a scene from one of Elizabeth Goudge’s books that sticks with you? What moments in life makes you think of it? And which book is it from?
Jeana: Actually, the scene of The Little White Horse when Maria gets to stay in a room that’s too small for an adult. A beautiful, magical room. I think that’s what I always wanted as a child (from a large family who had to share a room with two sisters), a room all to myself that adults couldn’t enter! It seemed so wonderful to read about that enchanting room.
Julie: What do you love most about Goudge’s writing?
Jeana: I love the sweetness of so many of the characters, their outlook on life and how right usually prevails.
Julie: Where can we find out more about you and what you are reading these days?
Jeana: I’m on Instagram as HotCocoaReads. I love hot cocoa and drink it every morning, like a coffee lover drinks coffee. I like to read a combination of new fiction, classics, and modern classics each month. I’ve always got a book in my bag or my hand!
I'm very new to Elizabeth Goudge. I have just ordered Green Dolphin Street and God So Loved the World from ThriftBooks. I've heard for a while about Elizabeth Goudge's books. I'm excited about finding a new author and series to read.
I also love the scene when Maria sees her bedroom for the first time It sounds like a room I want to sleep in!