I was crying with your re-tell and will be buying it to read to my kids. The first book that came to mind for me was Prince Caspian of the Chronicles of Narnia. In this book the kids and friends are on a mission to restore Old Narnia which has been take over by men who banished the magical creatures. In erasing the voices of the land they have controlled the narrative for their own purposes and it seems no one believes in the talking animals, fawns, and tree spirits..it’s a book about faith (and I would say, honoring the land and it intuition) when it seems foolish and costly. The beautiful scene that defines the book for me is when on their way to meet with other Narinians to fight to restore Narnia, Lucy is awakened to music, which she finds to be the dancing tree spirits. She joins their ecstatic dance and finds Aslan waiting for her. He tells her the others have been going the wrong way and that she must follow him and lead the others even tho they cannot see yet. She had seen him earlier on the trip and encouraged the others to follow, but they reasoned it away and hurt her sensibilities so much that all she could do was pout. Aslan calls her to courage, and it is a costly decision, equally painful and beautiful.
P.s. I’m so happy that you have created this substack and always feel such a kindred spirit when I read your work. I have been a listener of The Sacred Podcast and I really appreciate the integrity, joy, and encouragement you bring.
Oh Pam I LOVE this. I know the book well but had never read it like this and had totally forgotten the ecstatic dancing which so part of my experience of the divine and which I so rarely see expressed! The courage to trust that still small voice and our intuitive sense of where love is leading us, often when others deride us for it. Huge thanks for this comment.
Moomins for me, because the characters have feelings they can’t always explain or deal with. Dinosaurs And All That Rubbish is the one that makes me cry, though.
It’s the -beautifully drawn - vision of a restored paradise where all the creatures are crying out as one. Among it all is the pathetic figure of the man who just wants to possess a part of it, but he can’t: it already belongs to everyone. It’s a surprisingly big emotional hit for such a simple, short story.
This post lit a spark in me as I read it and I’ve been thinking about it all day. What a wonderful question to ask and ponder. I’m going to think on it for a bit - meditate on it.
Some books immediately spring to mind though- all the Narnia books and lots of E Nesbitt’s children’s books. They all have a quality that is hard to define but always created a sort of longing in me as child.
One scene that never fails to move me and make me cry is in The Silver Chair when they are underground with the witch and in a kind of trance, repeating the words ‘there is no other world but this one’ etc. Puddleglum sticks his hand into the fire to wake himself up and says (amongst many moving things) ‘I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can, even if there isn’t any Narnia’. That whole exchange between Jill, Eustace, Puddleglum and the witch and is pure gold.
I love that book! It makes me cry, too. But I think it's not so much that I want to be as heroic Old Tom, than that I want to be as compassionate as Mowzer is with the bullying storm cat...
Although now I am thinking about the gender stuff here, and the Beauty and the Beast archetype whereby the kindness of women tames the wild male. Can that be both a beautiful and noble part of femininity and also too often a trap for women? Discuss.
I wonder if it is possible to read beyond the gender construct here--does it have to be a motherly female who tames the savage male? Let’s say no, but it does have to be someone with compassion and patience and steadiness.
Just got a copy and read it for the first time. The bit that made *me* cry was the faith and honor that the townspeople (and townscats) showed by standing watch together and shining their lights to guide the heroes home (or see them to their rest, had it come to that).
Sure. What are you reliably interested in? What is bringing you joy? What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you want to grow into and out of? Who is your patron Saint? (broadly conceived). What is sacred to you? if they seem pretty fixed on talking about jobs: what is your favourite thing about your work? Least favourite thing?
James and the Giant Peach (Roald Dahl, 1961), Mary Poppins (P.L. Travers, 1934) and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (E.L. Konigsburg, 1967) are ones that I read over and over as a child. I think that what drew me then (and now), is that, in each book, magic is absolutely real and it mostly looks like paying very close attention. And bravery. xo
Mary Stewart’s “Ludo and the Star Horse”. Giving those old Greek myths their full, scary power again and showing how they can express truths beyond words - fear, courage, power, death.
That story seems so fine. Should a child nearby need a book, we will have to find a copy or two to have around.
My first lurch at the oldest favorite story was the Lorax. I did love that book so much, though before was Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. It is not an unambiguous tale from an animist perspective but it does so suit the theology of flotsam, redemption, and treasure hunting in the forsaken poetics of times past that I favor now. If some seed of mistrust in efficiency and speed was planted then I am grateful for it.
Just an hour ago my love was using the tractor we reluctantly keep for a few areas on the land that seem beyond our time resources to keep up with. She usually goes back and forth slowly to give all creatures time to move. It is really hot today. She circled, a quicker way about the task, and killed a snake we counted as a friend. The amount of grief and cries that would has seemed out of proportion to my ears just a few short years ago now seemed like the only sane response to the moment. I was ashamed that I felt so "understanding" of how these things happen in this world where speed and steel have taught us stories that make us numb. Salut the Mousehole Cat Option.
I was so struck by you buying a copy for friends with new babies. I have a handful of books (for children and bigger people) I’ve bought many, many times over - I replenish my own copy, then give it away over again, so the copy I’m passing on has always spent some time in my home first. My most gifted children’s book is ‘Oh, the places you’ll go!’ By Dr Suess. I didn’t receive my first copy until I was 26, but little Lydia was still delighted.
Hello Elizabeth, I think you will enjoy sharing with your children any picture book story by Max Velthuijs (eg. 'Frog is Frog', published in 1996) or Simon James (eg. 'Leon and Bob', published in 1997). Like others on this thread, I'm delighted to have found your Substack after being an admirer of your work with The Sacred podcast for some time.
I was crying with your re-tell and will be buying it to read to my kids. The first book that came to mind for me was Prince Caspian of the Chronicles of Narnia. In this book the kids and friends are on a mission to restore Old Narnia which has been take over by men who banished the magical creatures. In erasing the voices of the land they have controlled the narrative for their own purposes and it seems no one believes in the talking animals, fawns, and tree spirits..it’s a book about faith (and I would say, honoring the land and it intuition) when it seems foolish and costly. The beautiful scene that defines the book for me is when on their way to meet with other Narinians to fight to restore Narnia, Lucy is awakened to music, which she finds to be the dancing tree spirits. She joins their ecstatic dance and finds Aslan waiting for her. He tells her the others have been going the wrong way and that she must follow him and lead the others even tho they cannot see yet. She had seen him earlier on the trip and encouraged the others to follow, but they reasoned it away and hurt her sensibilities so much that all she could do was pout. Aslan calls her to courage, and it is a costly decision, equally painful and beautiful.
P.s. I’m so happy that you have created this substack and always feel such a kindred spirit when I read your work. I have been a listener of The Sacred Podcast and I really appreciate the integrity, joy, and encouragement you bring.
Oh Pam I LOVE this. I know the book well but had never read it like this and had totally forgotten the ecstatic dancing which so part of my experience of the divine and which I so rarely see expressed! The courage to trust that still small voice and our intuitive sense of where love is leading us, often when others deride us for it. Huge thanks for this comment.
Moomins for me, because the characters have feelings they can’t always explain or deal with. Dinosaurs And All That Rubbish is the one that makes me cry, though.
Do you know why?
It’s the -beautifully drawn - vision of a restored paradise where all the creatures are crying out as one. Among it all is the pathetic figure of the man who just wants to possess a part of it, but he can’t: it already belongs to everyone. It’s a surprisingly big emotional hit for such a simple, short story.
This post lit a spark in me as I read it and I’ve been thinking about it all day. What a wonderful question to ask and ponder. I’m going to think on it for a bit - meditate on it.
Some books immediately spring to mind though- all the Narnia books and lots of E Nesbitt’s children’s books. They all have a quality that is hard to define but always created a sort of longing in me as child.
One scene that never fails to move me and make me cry is in The Silver Chair when they are underground with the witch and in a kind of trance, repeating the words ‘there is no other world but this one’ etc. Puddleglum sticks his hand into the fire to wake himself up and says (amongst many moving things) ‘I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can, even if there isn’t any Narnia’. That whole exchange between Jill, Eustace, Puddleglum and the witch and is pure gold.
Wow
I love that book! It makes me cry, too. But I think it's not so much that I want to be as heroic Old Tom, than that I want to be as compassionate as Mowzer is with the bullying storm cat...
I am SO glad to find another fan. And yes, you are so right. The bit that makes me cry is when she starts singing and it calms the storm cat.
Although now I am thinking about the gender stuff here, and the Beauty and the Beast archetype whereby the kindness of women tames the wild male. Can that be both a beautiful and noble part of femininity and also too often a trap for women? Discuss.
I wonder if it is possible to read beyond the gender construct here--does it have to be a motherly female who tames the savage male? Let’s say no, but it does have to be someone with compassion and patience and steadiness.
Just got a copy and read it for the first time. The bit that made *me* cry was the faith and honor that the townspeople (and townscats) showed by standing watch together and shining their lights to guide the heroes home (or see them to their rest, had it come to that).
I TOO am terrible at small talk. I get bored and distracted when my group stays on bodily or fruitless political complaints - "
So will you share your stock of questions that might which accelerate actual human connection? THANK YOU!!
Sure. What are you reliably interested in? What is bringing you joy? What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you want to grow into and out of? Who is your patron Saint? (broadly conceived). What is sacred to you? if they seem pretty fixed on talking about jobs: what is your favourite thing about your work? Least favourite thing?
Oh, this absolutely sings to me. Thank you.
James and the Giant Peach (Roald Dahl, 1961), Mary Poppins (P.L. Travers, 1934) and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (E.L. Konigsburg, 1967) are ones that I read over and over as a child. I think that what drew me then (and now), is that, in each book, magic is absolutely real and it mostly looks like paying very close attention. And bravery. xo
Look at your lovely librarian referencing. Also yes and amen to attention and bravery.
Mary Stewart’s “Ludo and the Star Horse”. Giving those old Greek myths their full, scary power again and showing how they can express truths beyond words - fear, courage, power, death.
Hi Liz, This was so good! I just ordered a copy of my favourite childhood book , after reading this.
The Golden Book of Fairy Tales. One of our daughters still has the original.
A favorite to read to the girls was" Miss Rumphius"..do something to make the world more beautiful.
Do something to make the world more beautiful. Well now I must read that
That story seems so fine. Should a child nearby need a book, we will have to find a copy or two to have around.
My first lurch at the oldest favorite story was the Lorax. I did love that book so much, though before was Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. It is not an unambiguous tale from an animist perspective but it does so suit the theology of flotsam, redemption, and treasure hunting in the forsaken poetics of times past that I favor now. If some seed of mistrust in efficiency and speed was planted then I am grateful for it.
Just an hour ago my love was using the tractor we reluctantly keep for a few areas on the land that seem beyond our time resources to keep up with. She usually goes back and forth slowly to give all creatures time to move. It is really hot today. She circled, a quicker way about the task, and killed a snake we counted as a friend. The amount of grief and cries that would has seemed out of proportion to my ears just a few short years ago now seemed like the only sane response to the moment. I was ashamed that I felt so "understanding" of how these things happen in this world where speed and steel have taught us stories that make us numb. Salut the Mousehole Cat Option.
I was so struck by you buying a copy for friends with new babies. I have a handful of books (for children and bigger people) I’ve bought many, many times over - I replenish my own copy, then give it away over again, so the copy I’m passing on has always spent some time in my home first. My most gifted children’s book is ‘Oh, the places you’ll go!’ By Dr Suess. I didn’t receive my first copy until I was 26, but little Lydia was still delighted.
Hello Elizabeth, I think you will enjoy sharing with your children any picture book story by Max Velthuijs (eg. 'Frog is Frog', published in 1996) or Simon James (eg. 'Leon and Bob', published in 1997). Like others on this thread, I'm delighted to have found your Substack after being an admirer of your work with The Sacred podcast for some time.