Over the last couple of weeks I've acquired a pile of fantastic books - a mix of some good charity shop finds, review copies, moments of weakness in Waterstones, and a last ditch amazon order. There's a lot of great reading to look forward to but nothing I'm as excited by at the moment as these Virago reprints of Rumer Godden's novels.
Long before I knew about Godden as a writer 'Black Narcissus' was one of my favourite films, it's terrific if you haven't seen it, and one of those rare occasions when the film is as good as the book. Can you imagine the excitement of discovering it was a book too? Unfortunately not long after that happy moment Godden's books promptly fell out of print - but now they're back. My manky old second hand copies have gone back to the charity shop for somebody else to discover (they have a treat in store) and I have shiny lovely new books.
Virago very kindly sent me 'Black Narcissus', 'Breakfast With The Nikolides' and 'Kingfishers Catch Fire', the rest came from amazon because in a rare-these-days-fail none of my local Waterstones are stocking them which is disappointing because they're great books (and on a totally selfish level because it meant dealing with a courier and a bizarre argument about how many times said courier had called - he contended twice, but I hold that if you don't leave a note to say you called you can't expect to be contacted). 
I couldn't resist a few of these too. ITHOB, BN & CC. I've read Brede before & I'm very fond of the 1970s movie with Diana Rigg (although Godden hated it). I've seen the movie of BN but never read the book. I wonder if Virago plan to reprint the autobiographies? I enjoyed those very much.
ReplyDeleteI'm always surprised by how much she wrote and how varied it is. I'm enjoying 'A Fugue In Time' at the moment and am looking forward to trying one of the Indian books as I've yet to read any of those.
DeleteMy name is Ruth and I am a Rumerholique. My first exposure, at a young age in the early 1960s was on the radio via a BBC Home Service readin of An Episode of Sparrows. The pictures in my head were so vivid thanks to RG's writing.
ReplyDeleteShe's a wonderful writer, it's quite exciting to realise how many books there are to search out and read. I'm delighted she's getting a bit of a reprint, she deserves to be much more widely read and hopefully this will help.
DeleteI know Godden best through her books for young adults, which were always part of my Children's Literature courses, especially 'The Greengage Summer'. I haven't read nay of the books in your pile and having just visited her page on Fantastic Fiction, I can see how much I've been missing. When am I going to find the time?
ReplyDeleteTime... I wish I could find a couple of months of it to just hole up with some books at the moment. I read and loved 'The Greengage Summer' a few years ago (I still hanker after a greengage tree) but stupidly hadn't thought of it as a young adult novel at all. Now you mention it it seems so obvious.
DeleteI saw the news about the new covers a few weeks ago and have been putting these copies on my wishlist. Of course, a book store hunt in the Netherlands led to nothing. I have now borrowed two books from the library, and if I like them I guess it's Amazon for me too :) They look so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty. She's an interesting writer, but of the books I've read Black Narcissus is the one I'd say to start with. I don't know if it's her best yet, but I think it certainly shows her at her best.
DeleteI love the film of Black Narcissus and only recently became aware of the book. I was so surprised to find out that it was written by the same person who wrote one of my favorite childhood Christmas books--The Story of Holly and Ivy. I have yet to read any of Godden's other books, but so many people I know love her work that I know I want to try them.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great film isn't it! She's well worth investigating as a writer. I've read about 4 so far and been impressed with all of them. Go on, you know you want to...
DeleteSoooooooooooooooo envious -- I adore Godden's books (save for Pippa Passes, which offended me) -- I can't decide which of hers is my favorite. Love that gorgeous stack!
ReplyDeleteHad a look at Pippa Passes on amazon, wasn't particularly tempted by it, but if it ever comes my way I will probably read it... I really love Black Narcissus but haven't read enough to consider which might be my favourite yet. They are beautiful books and I'm really disappointed with my local bookshop for ignoring them.
DeleteI entered the Virago competition to win copies of the new Godden's and needless to say, didn't, so I'm going to order them. Waterstones told me they wouldn't stock them unless ordered. Charming!
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