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256th out of 1,115 books
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1,882 voters
The Scent of Water
Mary Lindsay met her little cousin and namesake only once, but she saw in the quiet, imaginative child a kindred spirit to inherit her ancient house. Fifty years later Mary inherited the house with no knowledge of it beyond her indelible childhood memories, and no experience at all of living in the country.
Hardcover, 285 pages
Published
1963
by Hodder and Stoughton
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Recommended by my friend Deborah.
I liked this book for several reasons. It was set in England and felt like something I might see on PBS starring Judi Dench. But more than that, the book was very contemplative. It was filled with scenes where the characters--especially the main character but others too-- stopped in the midst of everyday life and really paid attention to the moment—the light, smells, colors of their natural surroundings, etc. It reminded me of “haiku mind”—a frame of mind that i...more
I liked this book for several reasons. It was set in England and felt like something I might see on PBS starring Judi Dench. But more than that, the book was very contemplative. It was filled with scenes where the characters--especially the main character but others too-- stopped in the midst of everyday life and really paid attention to the moment—the light, smells, colors of their natural surroundings, etc. It reminded me of “haiku mind”—a frame of mind that i...more
Mary Lindsey inherits a house in Appleshaw, England from her cousin, Mary Lindsey. She leaves her life and job in the city and takes up residence in this little country village. As she comes to know the house, the land, her neighbors and her cousin through reading her diary she finds peace and renewal.
I love this book. I love the imagery of water and the renewal it brings both literally and spiritually. I love the quiet wisdom of the novel's characters. An old man, who has come to visit Cousin...more
I love this book. I love the imagery of water and the renewal it brings both literally and spiritually. I love the quiet wisdom of the novel's characters. An old man, who has come to visit Cousin...more
I enjoyed the exploration of faith and virtue, and the theme of redemption. It is so nice to read something hopeful that isn't overly romantic. I liked that although love was very much a central theme, the novel did not rely on a typical love story to give it structure and purchase. She succeedes in melding a (spiritual and religious) message with the medium because she has thought deeply about the nature of faith and presents her reflections in a real way.
Her idea of redemption covers personal...more
Her idea of redemption covers personal...more
I will buy this book. It was lovely. A woman who has lived her whole life in London learns that her father's cousin has left her a cottage in the country. She retires from her job and moves to the cottage. She gradually gets to know the people of the village where her cottage is and learns to love them (or most of them). I think if I were studying characterization, this book would be very valuable. The book is so beautifully and naturally written that I hardly noticed it was about finding God. G...more
I read Child from the Sea by Elizabeth Goudge a long time ago and fell in love with her style of writing and depth of characters. Her books were out of print and I ordered most of them, which are back in print, from Amazon.
The Scent of Water brought me back to the days of the brilliant, thought-provoking writing from the past. (Not that the "present" writing is less brilliant and thought-provoking, but there are styles of classics that I have missed in my recent reading). Elizabeth Goudge writes...more
The Scent of Water brought me back to the days of the brilliant, thought-provoking writing from the past. (Not that the "present" writing is less brilliant and thought-provoking, but there are styles of classics that I have missed in my recent reading). Elizabeth Goudge writes...more
This was a book I picked up off a shelf while farm sitting. The first US edition copy I read was published in early 1960's (the paper is so thick!), it takes place in the 1950's in the tiny English hamlet of Appleshaw. What is very funny/prescient is that the protagonist moves to this small, real, hamlet a few hours southwest of London, to experience rural-England before its simplicity and charm is lost. And so, it becomes a time capsule for us today. Many in the village don't have cars, most ri...more
I read this back in '76 and enjoyed it as I have all of her books. Hers are the books to read when you feel irritable or nasty. This story centres on the relationships of people in a small isolated village in England. The whole settlement has been built within the land of a medieval monastery, now vanished save for the church, a small building in the forest and pathways. This settlement is the perfect home for some people, who recognize it as soon as they come within its influence. Mary, who has...more
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I am very sorry for this to end. It was really wonderful. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to. It is very sweet and old fashioned with a spiritual atmosphere, but it really touched me. Elizabeth Goudge has some great insights and several quotes that I don't want to forget. I read an old library copy and actually liked some of the notations that were written by a previous borrower. I may need to own this one.
I see the paperback reprint has the subtitle... "A Captivating Story Filled With E...more
I see the paperback reprint has the subtitle... "A Captivating Story Filled With E...more
Excellent wordsmithing,beautiful descriptions that transport into a special time and place. It is rare to find writing that can so effectively create a locale I think I would recogize if I went for a walk and saw it, and that was very enjoyable. Unfortunately, I didn't realize from descriptions I read that it was so pointedly and heavy-handedly 'spiritual' in a way that I suspect only makes sense or is believable or inspirational if one is already thusly inclined. The religious overtones are far...more
This is a sweet, slow moving book. It took me about 60 pages to get into it and I had trouble keeping the characters straight at first, but then it gently took me in. I enjoyed the images of the English countryside circa 1950. It reminded me of some BBC tv shows from the 90s, particularly Ballykissangel--I realize this show is is set in Ireland, but Goudge's book has the same sort of feel as that show. The overt Christian references did not bother me as some other reviewers have complained. In f...more
I found this book slow moving. A lot of characters to keep straight--some seemed to be more caricatures. I enjoyed the description of the village of Appleshaw and how scenes/nature are vividly described. The protagonist is particularly likeable. There are some beautiful quotes and sentiments. One favorite: “...this blessing of loneliness was not really loneliness. Real loneliness was something unendurable. What one wanted when exhausted by the noise and impact of physical bodies was not no peopl...more
Goudge’s storytelling is richly descriptive without being flowery:
“The old-fashioned room was filled with the quietness of the deep country and the light of a marvelous sunset. Mrs. Baker, who had loved the dead woman, was touched to awe by the tide of gold.”
The book is filled with refreshing wisdom and insight:
“If anyone had asked her what she meant by integrity she would not have been able to tell them but she had seen it once like a picture in her mind, a root going down into the earth a...more
“The old-fashioned room was filled with the quietness of the deep country and the light of a marvelous sunset. Mrs. Baker, who had loved the dead woman, was touched to awe by the tide of gold.”
The book is filled with refreshing wisdom and insight:
“If anyone had asked her what she meant by integrity she would not have been able to tell them but she had seen it once like a picture in her mind, a root going down into the earth a...more
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This narrative is filled with English charm and moves along slowly. Book begins with a death & ends with a birth in the tiny village of Appleshaw. The author weaves the lives of the people in the village and the respective paths their lives have taken. The main character, Mary moves to Appleshaw to experience 'country life' and in the process discovers her maternal side, friendship, respect, and love along with a sweet & strong Faith in God, who she had long forgotten about, but who NEVE...more
The Scent of Water
by Elizabeth Goudge
When I was younger I really didn’t like this book. I liked almost every other Elizabeth Goudge book out there. But not this one. I think that Cousin Mary scared me. Anyway, my grandmother gave me her copy when they moved, about five years ago, I think. Eventually I thought, well I should really read it to make sure I don’t like it before I sell it. I read it and I loved it. Which is all to say, sometimes there is a right time and a wrong time to read books.
I...more
by Elizabeth Goudge
When I was younger I really didn’t like this book. I liked almost every other Elizabeth Goudge book out there. But not this one. I think that Cousin Mary scared me. Anyway, my grandmother gave me her copy when they moved, about five years ago, I think. Eventually I thought, well I should really read it to make sure I don’t like it before I sell it. I read it and I loved it. Which is all to say, sometimes there is a right time and a wrong time to read books.
I...more
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It sounded to me like a poem, yet the story lines were interesting and engaging, the characters brilliantly alive. Plenty of lovely motifs and lasting wisdom. My favorite story line presented Cousin Mary's diary: her realizations and detailed observations.
The characters were intimately linked even if they had not known one another well. The sense of connectedness and hope I found in this novel made it memorable and wise. I also enjoyed how The Laurels home was a character in itself, nurtured and...more
The characters were intimately linked even if they had not known one another well. The sense of connectedness and hope I found in this novel made it memorable and wise. I also enjoyed how The Laurels home was a character in itself, nurtured and...more
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I was surprised at how much spiritual wisdom there is in this book. I was expecting nostalgia and gentleness, and those things are certainly present, but there's also a lot that is surprisingly contemporary. For instance, Ms. Goudge was very concerned for the specific culture in the English "deep country" being overtaken by corporate growth and for the environment. I found the pace of the story to be a little slow at times, but that's really my only criticism.
I'm going to be honest: what turned me off this book wasn't poor writing or uninteresting characters, but the fact that the cover advertised it as a love story when it was actually a tale of Christian morality. Sure, hard-hearted village folk learn to love again, but it's all through the healing power of Jesus, and frankly, I'm not into that sort of thing. Thus, I'm SO disappointed in The Scent of Water, because Goudge created a setting and cast of characters that could have gone in so many more...more
this book is very soothing. mary lindsay retires to the country after learning that an elderly cousin, whom she only met once, has died and left her home to mary. the small village is full of fascinating and realistic characters, and while i was reading it i just wanted to move in and go to the dog & duck for a pint. goudge does tend to ramble a good bit, and the book on the whole is slow and character driven. sometimes this style just fits the bill for me.
Given to me by a dear friend who said, "it's my favorite of her books, I think you'll enjoy." I did very much. A quiet story, and as my lovely friend Deb said, it's not action packed, just covers Mary Lindsay settling into the house she inherited from her elderly cousin, and learning to know those around her in the village. Faith, love, and beauty were woven into the story in surprising and beautiful ways. Just delightful.
Though this book started slowly, the writing was lovely. I miss reading about "little things", but things that make up life. This book was one of those that made me long for a little English cottage, and 10 close neighbors. I loved reading the authors thoughts on life and people... It was absolutely charming. My only complaint is that it should continue. I didn't get enough.
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One of my favorite writers, Elizabeth Goudge has a very spiritual nature but can have an acerbic view of human nature and foibles. Lots of people have to face the truth about themselves in this story but it is told lovingly and I have reread this with pleasure.
She also writes quite well for children, The Little White Horse,
and Linnets and Valerians
She also writes quite well for children, The Little White Horse,
and Linnets and Valerians
Another "comfort" book I come back to every few years. A very wise book, also, though it's imparted through the characters as they discover things for themselves, not as a lecture from the author. Her characters learn and develop, and sometimes have to fight, figuratively, not literally, for the insight and wisdom they gain.
Understanding is a creative act in a dimension we do not see. That is a quote from The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. There are many paragraphs worthy of quoting, worthy of memorizing, worthy. She draws our connection as humans and magnifies the difference one life can make. I fell in love with the people. Beautiful story.
Re-read. I love this book with my whole heart. It's not at all the sort of thing you'd think I'd adore, inasmuch as it's not only steeped in Christianity, it's actually a proselytizing vehicle. Still, it's one of my all-time favorites.
The writing is stellar, the characters are compelling, the setting (a small English village) is my dream home. Even the religion is tolerable as it's not the Christianity with which I'm familiar, rather it's a luminous love that transforms everything into a distill...more
The writing is stellar, the characters are compelling, the setting (a small English village) is my dream home. Even the religion is tolerable as it's not the Christianity with which I'm familiar, rather it's a luminous love that transforms everything into a distill...more
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My all time favorite book - with Jane Austen, I have read Elizabeth Goudge more times than I can count. Ms. Goudge explores the deeper meanings of faith, love and duty. Her characters and descriptions will enrich your life.
I've just read it again (March 2012) - loved it as much as the first time I read it.
I've just read it again (March 2012) - loved it as much as the first time I read it.
Just finished re-reading this book. Elizabeth Goudge is a special kind of writer--a beloved author. There's no one else quite like her. I needed a nurturing story, which is why I chose Goudge. This book is lovely. Her stories are always about God, people, and place, and the powerful interplay of all three.
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This is a book I have reread several times and quoted from countless times. I love the layers of history and experience and the timeless truths it contains. I do not buy or keep books unless I know I will want to read them again. I got a dated paperback of this on one of my trips to England and treasure it.
Alas for the necessity of weeding. This is one of my old favorites, by Elizabeth Goudge. I just happened to hold it out to re-read with pleasure.
Each of the inhabitants of the small English village has a brokenness that can only find its healing in another of the characters. The arrival of Mary to the village is the catalyst required to set all the healings in motion.
The novel is carefully designed around a verse from Job: "At least there is hope for a tree: "If it is cut down, it will sprout ag...more
Each of the inhabitants of the small English village has a brokenness that can only find its healing in another of the characters. The arrival of Mary to the village is the catalyst required to set all the healings in motion.
The novel is carefully designed around a verse from Job: "At least there is hope for a tree: "If it is cut down, it will sprout ag...more
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Elizabeth Goudge is a prolific writer with a variety of styles. This book focuses on relationships in a small English town, 1940'ish. It considers love and the many forms of love within a marriage. I read this one kind of fast, it is well written, a little flowery, so not my favorite.
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up at a school library where the selection in English was slim. I chose it just because of the cover - the greenish colour and the script on the spine. The title also intrigued me and as a theme carried throughout the novel it was lovely. Halfway throught I was pretty sure this could be added to my list of favourites and I'm glad the ending did not disappoint me.
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Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge was an English author of novels, short stories and children's books.
Born in Wells, she moved with her family to Ely when her father, a clergyman, was transferred there. When her father, Henry Leighton Goudge, was made Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford, the family left Ely and went to Christ Church, Oxford.
Goudge's first book, The Fairies' Baby and Other Stories (...more
More about Elizabeth Goudge...
Born in Wells, she moved with her family to Ely when her father, a clergyman, was transferred there. When her father, Henry Leighton Goudge, was made Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford, the family left Ely and went to Christ Church, Oxford.
Goudge's first book, The Fairies' Baby and Other Stories (...more
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“What is the scent of water?"
"Renewal. The goodness of God coming down like dew.”
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10 people liked it
"Renewal. The goodness of God coming down like dew.”
“Most of us tend to belittle all suffering except our own," said Mary. "I think it's fear. We don't want to come too near in case we're sucked in and have to share it.”
—
6 people liked it
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