An episode of sparrows Book

Whenever I read a book by Rumer Godden I'm reminded why I like her so much. She writes about ordinary life with the insight of a mystic. Her novels are the fictional counterpart of Caryll Houselander's inspirational prose.

An Episode for Sparrows took me a couple of tries to get into but I blame that on me rather than the book. I was mentally distracted at the time.

Sparrows may well be my favorite by Godden. It certainly contains one of the most memorable anti-heroines ever, impossible little Lovejoy, ironically named because she is unloved and without joy. Yet she is passionate and utterly endearing.

As her devoted Reader Lovejoy captured my heart as was undoubtedly Godden's intent. Perhaps I should qualify my statement about Lovejoy too. She has been left by her mother with a Mrs. Combie and her horrid sister, Cassie. Yet Mrs. Combie is not without some concern for her young charge, although the interest tends more toward economic than filial. Mrs. Combie's flighty husband, George/Vincent (which is real name?)'who leaves us constantly wondering at his sanity'a sometime restaurateur, shows the most genuine affection for Lovejoy but who knows if this is a good thing?

Some of the rest of the cast include: the spinster sisters, Angela and Olivia; the ever vigilant Sparkey (who watches everything happening on Catford Street) and his mother; Tip Malone and the large family of Irish Malones and Father Lambert, the local pastor. Tip also befriends Lovejoy, an even more unlikely association, yet how can this friendship do either miscreant any good, especially since their motives are at such cross-purposes?

The 'sparrows' in the title refer to the street children. As the story opens some 'earth' has been stolen. Can one 'steal' 'earth'? Well yes, if by 'earth' you mean the soil from the village green. The suspects are the village urchins or children. The Misses Angela and Oliva refer to the street children as 'sparrows' but mean very different things in their use of the term. To Miss Angela it is derogatory. When Miss Olivia thinks of it, she means as it is used by Jesus; each sparrow that falls to the earth is precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Rumer has done it again. The characters are vivid and real. The strength of the plot is its simplicity. Her An Episode for Sparrows will stay with me. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a story this much! I'd give it 5.5 stars if I could.

An added bonus was learning how Godden was inspired to write the story. It came about due to a minor misfortune in her own life, which is always one of the best inspirations. Oh! Then there is the significance of the cover, which is Lovejoy, of course. The full meaning will only be revealed if you read the story.