Thank you for this. I too am in a waiting room. I may just get the Master and Marguerite. I so want a good read, with beautiful language. Thank you for the recommendation.
Thanks for reading, I hope your waiting room experience isn't too dreadful. And do pick up the M+M, I think it's wonderful and I would love to hear your view.
Very much enjoyed this list as my New Year's Eve reading! For waiting room I think I would choose what you had - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - haven't read it, but very much want to and the Arthurian world is so intriguing that perhaps it could make me forget the surroundings, even in a hospital. But if I wanted to be sure, Harry Potter would be the safe choice, always a joy to reread, especially when ill or on a sleepless at night.
More generally, I've been wanting to read more George MacDonald - have only read The Princess and the Goblin so far and couldn't really connect to it. Perhaps one of the directions to explore next year.
Hoping you have happy celebrations and a fast recovery!
Well I'm privileged that you chose my list for your new year's eve read! I agree HP is a warm hug of a read!
Definitely read SGGK, and it also has an Ascend podcast which is really excellent.
Just on GM, I would say The Princess and the Goblin is accessible but doesn't have the wow factor of the the other two I mentioned (I didn't get on with the golden key). The light princess is shorter than at the back of the north wind, so maybe give that a go and see if you like it any better. I definitely recognise your experience of not connecting with his work. I've found them all a bit of a chore until I've finished them and realised what I was reading! I did write a bit more about At The Back of the North Wind earlier in the month, if that's of interest.
Thank you for this. I too am in a waiting room. I may just get the Master and Marguerite. I so want a good read, with beautiful language. Thank you for the recommendation.
Thanks for reading, I hope your waiting room experience isn't too dreadful. And do pick up the M+M, I think it's wonderful and I would love to hear your view.
Waiting room was long is all. Well maybe I will pick it up…sure looks good
I’m hoping to read some George MacDonald this year.
Here’s what I’m currently reading: https://open.substack.com/pub/andrew756864/p/what-im-reading-and-why-january-2026?r=fx017&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay
Very much enjoyed this list as my New Year's Eve reading! For waiting room I think I would choose what you had - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - haven't read it, but very much want to and the Arthurian world is so intriguing that perhaps it could make me forget the surroundings, even in a hospital. But if I wanted to be sure, Harry Potter would be the safe choice, always a joy to reread, especially when ill or on a sleepless at night.
More generally, I've been wanting to read more George MacDonald - have only read The Princess and the Goblin so far and couldn't really connect to it. Perhaps one of the directions to explore next year.
Hoping you have happy celebrations and a fast recovery!
Well I'm privileged that you chose my list for your new year's eve read! I agree HP is a warm hug of a read!
Definitely read SGGK, and it also has an Ascend podcast which is really excellent.
Just on GM, I would say The Princess and the Goblin is accessible but doesn't have the wow factor of the the other two I mentioned (I didn't get on with the golden key). The light princess is shorter than at the back of the north wind, so maybe give that a go and see if you like it any better. I definitely recognise your experience of not connecting with his work. I've found them all a bit of a chore until I've finished them and realised what I was reading! I did write a bit more about At The Back of the North Wind earlier in the month, if that's of interest.