Marilynne Robinson and gardens – welcome to episode 89!
We are scraping the barrel a little in our first half, and arguably repeating ourselves, but please enjoy our musings on gardens. In the second half, after answering a question from Jen, we talk about Marilynne Robinson’s novels Gilead and Home. Finally, after talking about it for years!
You can listen above, at Spotify, at Apple Podcast, or via any podcast app you use. Reviews and ratings very welcome – they apparently help people find us. If you have any questions or suggestions, do get in touch at teaorbooks@gmail.com. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. What a lot of options!
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Random Commentary by Dorothy Whipple
The New Magdalen by Wilkie Collins
O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith
Expiation by Elizabeth von Arnim
Father by Elizabeth von Arnim
Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham
Flesh and Blood by Michael Cunningham
Letters of Tove Jansson
Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce
A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz
Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink
On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior
Faces of Justice by Sybille Bedford
Not at Home by Doris Langley Moore
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
Down the Garden Path by Beverley Nichols
Merry Hall by Beverley Nichols
Dear Friend and Gardener by Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd
A.A. Milne
A Thatched Roof by Beverley Nichols
Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim
The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Virginia Woolf’s Garden by Caroline Zoob
The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkley
Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay
Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay
A Scream in Soho by John Brandon
The Lake District Murder by John Bude
Agatha Christie
Quick Curtain by Alan Melville
Death of Anton by Alan Melville
The Secret of High Eldersham by Miles Burton
Mystery in White by J Jefferson Farjeon
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Home by Marilynne Robinson
Lila by Marilynne Robinson
Jack by Marilynne Robinson
O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith
Miss Plum and Miss Penny by Dorothy Evelyn Smith
I’m in the minority, but Gilead made me think of my Great-Uncles droning on and on at family dinners, lol.
Ah shame – we did have one person in book group who would vehemently agree with you!
On gardens, one author who loved gardens was L. M. Montgomery. I don’t think you have to know much about them to enjoy that aspect of her novels. I’m thinking in particular of Anne of Avonlea, Pat of Silver Bush, and Jane of Lantern Hill. Her novels mostly feature orphans who feel lost without a home, and gardens help them to establish a home and feel at one with the beauty of the earth.
I’m currently re-reading Marilynne Robinson’s novels; I’ve finished Gilead and Home and am now on Lila. I would have a difficult time choosing between Gilead and Home, but I think I’d have to go with Home. There’s so much about forgiveness in that book, of yourself, of others, and from God, and living in God’s time. The ending was one of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read Jack.
Home is SO good on forgiveness, isn’t it? Robinson is amazing at subtly working in the influence of her knowledge as a theologian.
I love A Jane Austen Education and On Reading Well. I’ve read On Reading Well twice and it’s still a book I think about often. Sounds like a great birthday book haul!
For gardens, I was thinking about Rosamunde Pilcher and how her two matriarchs Penelope and Violet in Shellseekers and September are both avid gardeners. I agree with Rachel that characters who like gardens very often seem to be good. Or perhaps it’s that they have hope. I do love gardens and reading about them, though my personal gardens have always been small.
Great conversation about Home and Gilead. I would have to re-read both to choose, but I did love Gilead most on a first read. I am reading Jack now and it’s wonderful. Here’s my vote for a Lila v. Jack episode!
Ah good to know they come recommended, Elizabeth! My friends did well – with some heavy hints from me.
I have somehow never read any Pilcher – must do so.
And thanks for what you say about Robinson section – definitely tempting to do another ep. So much to say about her!
I like the idea of gardens but find myself always putting off doing the work! My mother is an avid garden and she is constantly working, she’d be outside every day if the weather permitted (difficult during a Michigan winter). I do love garden descriptions and I know some flower names, though I admit I am one of those people who gets irritated about the wrong flowers in season! I was just reading one of the Blandings Castle books and Lord Emsworth mentioned flowers that were definitely wrong for that time of year. But I just shrug it off.
Other literary gardens I remember are the dahlias mentioned in A Fortnight in September, though I think it’s just an aside. I did love a childhood book by Julie Andrews (yes, the actress/singer) called Mandy, which is sort of a Secret Garden retelling. I know Persephone books has a couple of nonfiction gardening books, I own Gardener’s Nightcap which was a freebie around Mother’s Day. Still haven’t read it though. I’ve heard the illustrations by Evelyn Dunbar Gardener’s Choice are beautiful.
I’ve also been a bit disappointed by the BL Crime Classics, I grew up reading Agatha Christie so everything else pales in comparison. I’ve only read three but so far the only one I liked was The 12:30 From Croyden by Freeman Willis Crofts. It’s unconventional in that the murderer is revealed almost immediately, but it’s so well written that I found myself breathlessly waiting to find out if he’d get away with it.
Oo these are great examples. I haven’t bothered with the Persephone gardening books, though I do enjoy illustrations. I just want other people to do the actual work in the kitchens.
I read a bit about those books that tell you the murdered the outset in Martin Edwards’ book – sounds really interesting.
Like others, I do love the idea of a perfect garden, but I am just too lazy and unfocused – so ours is kind of like nature made it…. I love reading about them, though, which is why Beverley is such a favourite!
Yes, I treat mine with a policy of benign neglect!
I’m listening to this as I wander the Aberdeenshire lanes, and I’m enjoying it very much.
I’ve just got to the bit where you say a gripping plot isn’t often found alongside beautiful writing. I have recently discovered Edith Wharton and I have to say the descriptions in Ethan Frome are shatteringly evocative – and yet the story is, for me, a real page turner too.
I did however see some comments from American readers who loathed the very sight of this book because it was forced down their throats at school. Set books are the curse of good reading.
I’m listening on now, looking forward to the bit about gardens!
Lovely to imagine you wandering those lanes! And I have had mixed success with Edith Wharton, though did like Ethan Frome.