Mr. McFadden’s Hallowe’en by Rumer Godden

Last updated on: November 7, 2013 at 11:28 am by Julie Davis

Mr. McFadden’s Hallowe’en by Rumer Godden 2013-11-07T11:28:42-06:00 Julie Davis

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mr. Mc Fadden’s Hallowe’en by Rumer Godden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Mr. McFadden, would you give us each a turnip?”

“What on airth would ye be da’en wi’ a neep?”

“I think you know,” said Selina. “You know it’s Hallowe’en.”

“Hallowe’en,” echoed Tim. His eyes were bright as he thought of it.

“Never heard of it,” said Mr. McFadden.

“You have,” Selina was unperturbed. “There’s no one in Scotland who hasn’t and you know what we do with the turnips.” Tim could not be expected to know. “Because he hasn’t been here,” said Selina. “We hollow them out,” she told Tim. “Hollow and scoop them out–that’s hard work; then we cut holes for eyes and a mouth, little ones for nostrils if we can. Some people give them paper teeth and red rag tongue. On Hallowe’en night we put a lit candle in them or a night light and carry them as a lantern or put them on gateposts. They look horrible,” said Selina with a shudder of pleasure, and she told Mr. McFadden. “I’m sure you did that when you were a boy.”

“Certainly not. Neeps were for eating not nonsense.”

“It isn’t nonsense; they frighten witches and ghosts away.”

“And spunkies,” said Tim. “Didn’t you dress up like Selina says,” he asked Mr. McFadden, “dress up as a witch or a ghost or a cat, something frightening? Selina says when it’s dark we’ll go round to people’s houses and they have to let you in–even me,” said Tim. “Then we sing a song or ask a riddle. Selina’s going to teach me one day and I’ll get nuts and tablet,” Tim said that reverently.

Tablet is homemade fudge.

I have to thank Melanie Bettinelli at The Wine Dark Sea for bringing this book to my attention. Hers is one of the very few “mom blogs” I read because she consistently brings books and literature into her posts, always with intelligent and interesting commentary. Her commentary on this story is mingled with observations of her oldest daughter’s reactions and reflections on children’s literature. Be sure you check it out.

Like Melanie, I also love Rumer Godden’s children’s books just as much as her novels for adults. Godden has a knack for incorporating local culture, awkward and unappreciated people, and interesting plot with a lovely prose style. She is unafraid to have her characters behave naturally which means that a story’s crisis points will often leave readers feeling very uncomfortable because they recognize the behavior so well and dread the consequences thereof. Godden also is good at avoiding the “nice” sentimentality which can pervade children’s books. Her world is always very real.

The plot, briefly, is that Selina lives in a small Scottish village where Hallowe’en is celebrated the old way, which leads to some fascinating details. She is awkward and so is her pony, Haggis, who she chose precisely because she recognized their similarities. It is Haggis who always drags her during daily rides to stand in the middle of local curmudgeon Mr. McFadden’s turnip field. The story takes off from there.

Adults won’t be as surprised by a lot of the plot turns in this books because they have seen it before, naturally, but I admit to surprise and worry over the Hallowe’en trick that is played on Selina.

The animals in this book become characters we also care about. Lady the dog, Wully the fierce gander and his wives, and Haggis the pony all have their own contributions to the plot as we learn their ways and understand what their reactions mean when they occur. Just as in real life.

I haven’t made this story sound nearly as fascinating as it is so please just believe me and give it a try. I picked it up from the library last night, intending to give it a brief look over. I wound up getting sucked in and reading the whole thing.

I’m going to have to add this to my used store book list so that I can have a copy to go on the shelf next to The Diddakoi and The Kitchen Madonna. As it is, my local library branch is going to wonder what’s going on when they receive the big stack of children’s books by Rumer Godden that I requested last night. Who knew she wrote so many? And I want to read them all.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 6, 2013

God's Bucket List: Heaven's Surefire Way to Happiness in This Life and Beyond

Next Post

November 7, 2013 P.G. Wodehouse, Free books!, Amazon, and Hats-in-Church

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Bible Study Bulletin Board Catholic Church Excerpt Faith-y Stuff Funny Stuff Good Deals Listening Now Patheos Book Club Personal Reading Challenge Podcast Alert Random Bookishness Resources Review Uncategorized Well Said What I'm Reading

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz