A writer friend told me that publishers of fiction today don’t want much descriptive language. In today’s soul there is no time or patience for the poetic or anything that makes the reader slow down to reflect on beauty or really see the setting vividly. It an author can’t cut to the chase, forget it.
Much of today’s fiction reflects society. It’s coarse, violent, irreverent, and ironic. Gradually, libraries are putting the old fiction on the book sale tables and replacing it with the new vulgarity. There are some libraries in our system that I don’t bother to visit anymore. After realizing that the old books I have loved are gone or dwindling, I wander the aisles pulling book after unfamiliar book down, only to replace them on the shelf. The fly leaves say it all. Postmodern despair. I simply refuse to fill my mind with that. It isn’t the reality of sin and trouble in books that turns me off. It’s how the author handles the realities of life that matters. An author will either leave you with hope or despair, depending on their view of life and truth.
I find used books where I can as I’ve noted in other posts. There isn’t a lot of time for reading in my life, but in that I don’t watch much TV (unless it’s the odd special on PBS), reading is my favorite pastime. A couple of nights ago, I took down a book from my shelf by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Goudge. The book is The Scent of Water, published in 1963.
Reading before bed, I found myself again in the lanes of rural England where a middle-aged, single career woman travels to find the house left her by her elderly Aunt Mary. She has given up her life and job in London for a life in a small village.
The characters are immediately interesting. The former Oxford academic and now vicar in the village and his sister who lives with him are two of the compelling characters. I loved the vicar’s sister, Jean, best in this book. In many ways, I can identify with that sister. Also in the story are the blind writer and his wife who is resentful at the way her life has treated her. No character remains unchanged in this story, and this couple is no exception.
Two of my other favorite characters are the elderly retired military man, Colonel Tom Adams and his wife. Despite tragically losing three of their four sons in the war, these two are the picture of love and contentment, even with their straightened circumstances financially. One of my favorite paragraphs is when Tom’s wife shares a surprise with her husband as they sit in front of the small fire in their cottage.
“Tom,” she whispered, her face alight with the joy of divulging a secret she had been keeping for this moment, “there’s a fowl for lunch tomorrow, plucked and ready for me to cook. Gladys from the Vicarage brought it this morning while you were in the garden.”
Those words might not seem like much, but they describe the pleasure these two take from simple gifts like having a chicken to cook, the kindness of neighbors who help them with household chores they can no longer do, and the love of each other’s company. What happens with their remaining, troubled son makes up an important part of the story.
If you would like a beautiful, heartwarming story, The Scent of Water will give you delight. How mercy, goodness, forgiveness and hope overcome failure, shattered dreams and fear is the heart of this book. It is only one of the many treasures given to the book world by Goudge.
By contrast, I picked up a book on a library table that initially looked attractive. It shall remain unnamed. Published in 1949, the book was also about life in England between the world wars.
There was no hope in this book. Every character you began to like and champion ended up being a letdown. There was no moral center to the story, even when you thought that one was developing. Shallow, stupid, unloving people injured each other again and again. The book is a classic, and I really have to wonder why. There was nobody to like in the story, no redeeming qualities emerged, the characters got worse and worse. I threw the book aside.
Am I just looking for happy endings? Literary white bread and Miracle Whip? No. I love happy endings, but some books I have read have had a powerful message without them. It’s the worldview of the author that comes through, and for me, even in death, or sorrow or hurt, there has to be hope and there has to be love somewhere in the story.
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February 21, 2013 at 18:46
Lisa Green Kentala
Very, very true. The “worldview” of the author may be the most important component to a good book. I would go even farther to say the character of the author infuses the book. Many years ago I read the Angelique series by a French author Anne Golon. This is an epic series taking place in 16th century France and is sometimes wrongly relegated to the “romance” section, though it is indeed excellent historical fiction. I was so struck by the writing that I spent years trying to track down the author. With the advent of the internet I met other fans and we traveled to France back in 2000 to meet her. Though she spoke no English she radiated kindness – and I could see the character behind the books. I have also read books that rubbed me the wrong way, and later found out unsavory things about the authors.
February 21, 2013 at 18:50
richardcrompton
You might not name the novel but based on the description I would have guessed Brideshead Revisited – except it was published in 45. So perhaps it was Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford?
February 21, 2013 at 18:56
Ingrid Schlueter
(My blog automatically posts my comments under my username unless I change it! I am Traveler.) Mitford is the culprit. You nailed it! I had heard someone rave about her witty dialog, etc. They were all gross.
February 21, 2013 at 20:40
Yvonne
Thanks for that recommendation. Unfortunately, our little, country library does not have that one, so I’ll put it on my Amazon wish list.
My favorite author is E.D.E.N. Southworth. She wrote ‘The Hidden Hand’, ‘Ishmael’ and it’s follow-up ‘Self-Raised’. They are the best stories I have ever read!!
February 21, 2013 at 21:32
Lisa Green Kentala
Recommendations of authors to avoid are also appreciated
February 22, 2013 at 15:15
Ingrid Schlueter
A quote from the book.
“My dear,” he said, “love, your God, is a Trinity. There are three necessary prayers and they have three words each. They are these, “Lord have mercy. Thee I adore. Into Thy Hands.” Not difficult to remember. If in times of distress you hold to these you will do well.”
~ Elizabeth Goudge, The Scent of Water
I remembered those words I first read many years ago. The prayer sums it up when each day and on days when we face very difficult situations. We need your mercy, We worship you, Into your hands we commit ourselves. Amen.
February 22, 2013 at 16:23
Jeanne Bourgeois
I go to the library less and less so much trash and I mean trash hard to find a good book and for children even more disgusting thanks Ingrid
February 22, 2013 at 19:27
Janet
Ingrid, Have you read Castle on the Hill? Even Elizabeth Goudge got a bit bleak during the war, although there are still some luminous passages. I don’t think that Brideshead fits that negative description at all.
AMDG
February 22, 2013 at 19:44
Ingrid Schlueter
I haven’t read Castle on the Hill, surprised I haven’t found that one yet. And I agree Brideshead doesn’t fit the negative I found in the Nancy Mitford book that I read. It’s been a while since I read those. I remember when that whole series was on PBS a long time ago.
February 22, 2013 at 19:49
Janet
Castle on the Hill is really sad. It reminded me a little bit of Mrs. Miniver. I have been reading EG for probably 30 years, and I only found it a couple of years ago. I didn’t find a book, but a set of well-worn audiotapes.
I think I may have seen one episode of the BBC Mitford series and then given up on it.
AMDG,
Janet
February 22, 2013 at 19:50
Janet
Sometimes I hate html tags.
AMDG,
Janet
February 22, 2013 at 20:07
Margaret L. Been
I have that book, and also love it. What a beautiful author. Also, I’ve enjoyed THE ROSEMARY TREE by her.
February 22, 2013 at 21:23
Carol
I have really enjoyed all of Francine Rivers’ Christian themed books.
February 23, 2013 at 20:04
Cindy O.
I did not read this as you were actually talking about a literal book. Instead, and I quote, “and for me, even in death, or sorrow or hurt, there has to be hope and there has to be love somewhere in the story.” and thus may it be with your own “book” / your life…hope and love…. (that’s how I read it!)
March 18, 2013 at 05:41
Pilgrim
The best book in this genre that I’ve had the pleasure of reading is “The Basket of Flowers” by Christoph Von Schmid. I wrote a blurb about it a few years ago: http://defendingcontending.com/2009/06/26/book-review-the-basket-of-flowers-by-christoph-von-schmid/
April 15, 2013 at 02:36
Cindy
Ingrid, I just wanted you to know that I just finished “Scent of Water.” What an enjoyable book! As you said, very descriptive in language/descriptions. I felt hopeful reading it, unlike today’s books, where I usually feel down or anxious. Thank you for letting us know about this book. Do you have any other authors/recommendations?