Retro Reads discussion

Group read for the middle grade chapter book I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge. Begins sometime around Dec. 20, though Carol's calendaring for our group shows the start date as Dec. 17. So if you want to start it now, go for it!

It sounds delightful, but this is the one non-freebie among our December short fiction reads, and I didn't buy it. Who has it?

I bought a pretty and inexpensive little copy on eBay to add to my Goudge collection. I look forward to reading it.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Group read for the middle grade chapter book I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge. Begins sometime around Dec. 20, though Carol's calendaring for our group shows the start date as D..."

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Group read for the middle grade chapter book I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge. Begins sometime around Dec. 20, though Carol's calendaring for our group shows the start date as D..."

I also didn't buy - I just have too much unread Goudge to justify buying another. But I'm looking forward to reading everyone's comments!

None(!!) of the libraries around me have it. I had to do an ILL request for a copy out of state. I might get it in time for the discussion, but it is more likely it will show up around Valentine's Day.
I do have a copy of the Dylan Thomas book and am reading that now. It is an absolutely lovely illustrated edition. So I am ready for that one.

Just got to this quote, which made me laugh out loud:

"Don't talk nonsense, child," said Dorcas impatiently. "And there are no wise men. I have never met a man yet who was not foolish."

I am really enjoying the playful writing.

Playful is a good description, Critterbee! Does your copy have the Margot Tomes illustrations? They make me laugh, such perfect accompaniments!

"The Hat" cracks me up.

Karlyne wrote: "Playful is a good description, Critterbee! Does your copy have the Margot Tomes illustrations? They make me laugh, such perfect accompaniments!"


Yes! And they are beautiful. I am really enjoying this book. It is def a keeper.

I was thinking that at first glance Goudge seems to rely on "coincidences" to drive her plots. but, really, her recurring theme is pattern. Her characters have to have the threads of their lives woven into everyone else's, whether they like it or not! The fortunate ones are those who come to see it and appreciate it and actually embrace the whole concept of... well, eternity and their place in it.

And this nugget of personality wisdom: " 'Men are strange," thought Tom, looking at the fire. "Now I could not have taken the word of another, even the best friend that I had... But then I am slow to accept bad news. This man would be quick to the point of despair.' "

Beautifully articulated, Karlyne! Thanks for that.

You ladies are making this sound so tempting! I may have to splurge and get a copy of this book sometime.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "You ladies are making this sound so tempting! I may have to splurge and get a copy of this book sometime."

Throw it on your next Amazon order; you can get a copy for $3.99!

Karlyne wrote: "Throw it on your next Amazon order; you can get a copy for $3.99!"

Dang! I should have ordered it when I was buying Christmas presents last week!

Karlyne wrote: "I was thinking that at first glance Goudge seems to rely on "coincidences" to drive her plots. but, really, her recurring theme is pattern. Her characters have to have the threads of their lives wo..."

Well put, Karlyne. That bit about the accepting bad news readily stuck with me, too.

❇Critterbee wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "I was thinking that at first glance Goudge seems to rely on "coincidences" to drive her plots. but, really, her recurring theme is pattern. Her characters have to have the threads o..."

I have to "prove" everything myself, but I have an awful lot of family that will jump on the disaster bandwagon at the drop of a hat. I love them, but....!

I loved this! I'm sure I've never read it before, but the setting and characters seemed familiar. Do they appear in another Goudge book?

Peggy wrote: "I loved this! I'm sure I've never read it before, but the setting and characters seemed familiar. Do they appear in another Goudge book?"

The setting reminds me of the town in Island Magic, although she did set a lot of books in coastal towns in the south/southwest of England. I was thinking The Little White Horse had a similar surname? Merryweathers and... maybe Flowerdews? No, wait, the other family was something to do with Coq. Maybe.

Island Magic was the first thing I thought of too. And as you said earlier, Goudge is fond of coincidences and the return of long-lost people. I'm wondering if I read this in one of her books of short stories from the library, maybe The Golden Skylark and Other Stories, which is now too expensive for me to buy my own copy and satisfy my curiosity.

Karlyne wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I loved this! I'm sure I've never read it before, but the setting and characters seemed familiar. Do they appear in another Goudge book?"

The setting reminds me of the town in Island..."

I have re-read all of the Goudge I own, but never in order of publication, which might be a good thing to do this year! I think I've read The Golden Skylark, but it must have been a library book, alas. I think it and The Blue Hills are the only novels I don't own. Obviously, I NEED them...

Sigh, the cheapest copy of The Blue Hills on Amazon appears to be $22.95: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...

Abigail, have you checked on Abebooks.com or Alibris.com? Abebooks in particular often has used books far cheaper than Amazon. It's my go-to website now for used books.

ETA: Blue Hills is $15.91 on Abebooks (including shipping), so it's better but not great. Alibris is a little more when you factor in shipping cost. Oh well!

My birthday is not until June, but I think I can get around that...

Thanks for the tip, Tadiana!

According to Goodreads, The Blue Hills is the same book as Henrietta's House, and there are several inexpensive (approximately $5 including shipping) paperback copies of the latter on Abebooks.

Abigail wrote: "Sigh, the cheapest copy of The Blue Hills on Amazon appears to be $22.95: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no..."

Peggy wrote: "According to Goodreads, The Blue Hills is the same book as Henrietta's House, and there are several inexpensive (approximately $5 including shipping) paperback copies ..."

Well there you go. Thanks!

Aha! I'll have to give abebooks a try!

Karlyne wrote: "Aha! I'll have to give abebooks a try!"

I've been there often enough that they automatically sign me right in. :/

Oh, here I am, better late than never, I guess. Well, I was a bit off in guessing how long it would take ILL to get this book to me (see message 4).
Got the book today, read it immediately, ate supper, then read it again. Sigh... what a lovely story! I loved everything about it. (I had the edition with the illustrations by Margot Tomes). I may just have to buy my own copy.

True, better late than never! It is a lovely book.

Where did the book come from? I love seeing where the books are sent from when I do ILLs at work.

Barb, I'm so glad you loved everything about it - I did, too.

❇Critterbee wrote: "True, better late than never! It is a lovely book.

Where did the book come from? I love seeing where the books are sent from when I do ILLs at work."

This copy came from Williamsburg, VA. ILL is wonderful! And, for the most part, my library system does not charge a fee for ILL.

So I realize now that I read the wrong "Three Ships." I'll try to track down Ms. Goudge's work. Maybe it will extend my fading Christmas spirit.

Allegra wrote: "So I realize now that I read the wrong "Three Ships." I'll try to track down Ms. Goudge's work. Maybe it will extend my fading Christmas spirit."

Oh no! How was the book you actually read?

Not a favorite for me. Pouty ingenue and stilted/dated language took some effort, but the plot wasn't bad. And it was set over Christmas.
My brain sometimes takes more "coffee breaks" than the rest of me around the holidays. Oh, well--at least there wasn't an exam.

Elizabeth Goudge is a great author - this one by her is a middle grade book so I gave it a pass, but I've read two others by her (The Dean's Watch and The Scent of Water) that were both 5 star books for me. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Allegra wrote: "Not a favorite for me. Pouty ingenue and stilted/dated language took some effort, but the plot wasn't bad. And it was set over Christmas.
My brain sometimes takes more "coffee breaks" than the res..."

I didn't see your earlier comments, so I thought, "Really? Polly was pouty?" Which made me laugh... Sorry you got hold of the wrong book!