Welcome to Litsy!

Very very sweet stories all variations on some themes: 1) a very poor family cannot afford anything for Christmas and something happens that means the family can have traditional Christmas food and the kids gifts, and 2) there‘s been some rift in the family (normally over inheritance of land) and something happens to heal the rift. I would have preferred some diversity in themes. Short and good for a low-anxiety read. ⬇️

Another heartwarming read today for #KindredSpiritsChristmas - The large, poor but happy Josephs family gets a nice Christmas surprise from some wealthy visitors on Christmas Eve night. 4⭐️ 80 points

#HolidayBookDragons
#WinterGames2024
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

Next up for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is set in a women‘s boarding house. 5 young women who are good friends & can‘t go home for Christmas decide to try to make a happy Christmas for a lonely lady who‘s been living there for 14 years & has no friends & no money. It‘s really sweet & fun & reminds me of Anne & her roommates while she was in college. 4⭐️ 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

A lovely listen tonight with this cuddle bug

#Christmasatoz #xmaschacha #wintergames @StayCurious #littenlisten @aperfectmjk

My next audiobook

#Christmasatoz #xmaschacha #wintergames @StayCurious #littenlisten @aperfectmjk

#wreath within a wreath for today's #ChristmasCheer prompt. 🎄
Tagged, the center piece book, as one of my first Christmas reads each year. A must for any L.M. Montgomery fan.
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Well, this starts off with a lengthy intro about how great Christmas is (that I‘m pretty sure was not written by LMM)—and if you want to skip ahead, you can start chapter one around the 7:45 mark! Not a whole lot of story yet in the first two chapters, but I‘m interested to hear the result of the snow fight tomorrow. #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead ⤵️

Here‘s the schedule for week three of our #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead!

A Merryvale Christmas is available as an audiobook on Hoopla, and the Dec. 18-20 stories are in the tagged collection and online (I‘ll post links in the comments). See my previous post for a little caveat about Merryvale Christmas, which we‘ll be reading over a few days (~15 audiobook minutes per day). Looking forward to another week of cozy stories!

Today‘s story for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is another good one. An absentminded teacher accidentally invites the wrong family to his landlady‘s house for Christmas dinner, but it‘s a happy mistake. Another reminder of what‘s really important this time of year. 4⭐️ 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#Christmas
#LMMontgomery

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas read is another sweet reminder of what‘s really important at Christmastime. 4⭐️ 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LMMontgomery
#Christmas
#novella

Up today for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is bittersweet & gives you all the feels. Nanny is worried everyone has forgotten about dear Miss Avis, who passed away during the previous year. One by one each member of the family visits the cemetery to talk to Avis while Nanny is hiding in the bushes. I‘m not crying, you‘re crying! 5⭐️

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LMMontgomery
#Christmas
#novella

80 points

I haven‘t kept up with the L.M. Montgomery stories this past week, but I listened to several today on a walk with Luthien and read a couple more once back at the house. I‘ve loved the new ones that I haven‘t read before just as much as those I have. Reading these is such a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit! I especially loved “Aunt Cyrilla‘s Christmas Basket” and “The Osbornes‘ Christmas.”

#KindredSpiritsChristmas #audiobook

repost for @BarbaraJean:

Here‘s the schedule for week two of the #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead! All of the stories for this week are in the tagged book, and with the exception of the Windy Poplars excerpt, they can also all be found on Hoopla as ebooks or audiobooks. I‘ll add links for reading online in the comments below. Looking forward to another week of delightful holiday stories!

#BuddyRead

Here‘s the schedule for week two of the #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead! All of the stories for this week are in the tagged book, and with the exception of the Windy Poplars excerpt, they can also all be found on Hoopla as ebooks or audiobooks. I‘ll add links for reading online in the comments below. Looking forward to another week of delightful holiday stories!

Got a little behind on posting. I read the tagged book a few years ago so I‘m familiar with most of these stories but I‘m enjoying this reread for #KindredSpiritsChristmas - this is another really good one. I so prefer LMM over others like Louisa May Alcott (although I do like her) because of the humor she injects into all of her stories. 4.5⭐️

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LMMontgomery
#Christmas

80 points

Repost for @BarbaraJean
Let‘s have a #KindredSpiritsChristmas! Here‘s the schedule for first week of December‘s story-a-day #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead! We‘ll enjoy these cozy stories & chat about them as we go. Let @BarbaraJean know if you‘re not tagged & you‘d like to be! All these (except Matthew Insists) are on Hoopla as ebooks & several as audio books. Dec 3-6 stories are in the tagged collection. See original post for links to reading online

Let‘s have a #KindredSpiritsChristmas! Here‘s the schedule for the first week of December‘s story-a-day #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. We‘ll enjoy these cozy stories and chat about them as we go. Let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be!

All of these (except “Matthew Insists”) are on Hoopla as ebooks (and several as audiobooks). The Dec. 3-6 stories are in the tagged collection. In the comments, I‘ll add links for reading online.

https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2803706
From @BarbaraJean

Let's have a #KindredSpiritsChristmas! Here's the schedule for December's story-a-day #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. A couple years ago, we read L.M. Montgomery's holiday stories together in December, and I loved it so much I want to do it again. Let's enjoy these cozy stories and chat about them as we go! Let her know if you want to join.

Repost for @BarbaraJean
Let‘s have a #KindredSpiritsChristmas! Here‘s the schedule for December‘s story-a-day #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead! A couple of years ago we read L M Montgomery‘s holiday stories together in December and I loved it so much I want to do it again. Let‘s enjoy these cosy stories and chat about them as we go. Some sources for where to find the stories are in the comments of the original post.

Let‘s have a #KindredSpiritsChristmas! Here‘s the schedule for December‘s story-a-day #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. A couple years ago, we read L.M. Montgomery‘s holiday stories together in December, and I loved it so much I want to do it again. Let‘s enjoy these cozy stories and chat about them as we go! Some sources for where to find the stories are posted in the comments. Let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be!

Still wrapping up December reviews. This was a collection of old fashioned short stories. Each one was uplifting and celebrated a time when it was most exciting to go to a “taffy pull”! Just the kind of warmth that I needed. #blameitonlitsy #kindredspiritschristmas

I finished reading these stories for the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead.
#KindredSpiritsChristmas @BarbaraJean

They were very enjoyable. The themes were somewhat repetitive, but who doesn't like stories about families reconciling and people helping the less fortunate at this time of the year?

#WinterReadathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

repost for @BarbaraJean:

Hello Kindred Spirits! I planned to put together a calendar for the 2023 #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead, but the month has gotten away from me. (It doesn't help that I keep finding more Anne retellings that sound really good… or that I‘m indecisive!)

So—I‘m planning on Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson for January, and will come up with the rest of 2023 later 😆

Thank you @Daisey for alerting me that this Christmas read was available on Hoopla! Starting immediately!

Finished up this seasonal #kindredspiritsbuddyread in bed last night. Lots of making amends and focus on helping those less fortunate, for some sweet (but not too saccharine) stories. I especially enjoyed the ones laced with humor, but could see revisiting many of these in future Yuletide seasons.

Finishing this collection with another sweet story of goodwill and giving at Christmas. These LMM Christmas stories had lots of repeated themes, and some were a bit heavy-handed, but overall: they‘re lovely, cozy, and filled with kindness. I loved the reminders to take joy in giving and in being with others during this season. Thank you so much to everyone who read along with the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead for a #KindredSpiritsChristmas!

Surely it can‘t be the same Josie Pye!

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “Ida‘s New Year Cake” - 12/17/22

I have to say, a fruitcake would not be such an attraction for me as to invite a whole boardinghouse over to make merry, but this story did make it sound enticing. And again, such a sweet gesture of kindness at the holidays… with a reminder to keep that kindness throughout the year. 💜
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I finished the L.M. Montgomery holiday stories today. Along with several at Christmas, there was a Thanksgiving story and a few set at the New Year. Most were in this collection along with a few more. I read almost all of them in print and listened to all of this collection on audio as well. Many express the same themes, but I enjoyed each of them in their own way.

#KindredStoriesBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas #ShortStories #Christmas

#BookReport

Kept up with the buddy reads of the tagged #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas and Jane Austen‘s Letters #PemberLittens. Hopefully both of these will be finished by tomorrow‘s weekly forecast.

I continued The Christmas Chronicles and I desember

I finished Girl‘s Story and reas Christmas stories by Prøysen.

I‘m currently reading The Christmas Oratorio

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “Uncle Richard‘s New Year‘s Dinner” - 12/16/22

I like Prissy Baker‘s New Year‘s plans! I love that she looks regretfully back at her book as she leaves the house… I felt that moment. 😁 And here we have another reconciliation story!
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “The Josephs‘ Christmas” - 12/15/22

Late post tonight—a busy week & I‘m getting stressed about all the Christmas things. 😩 This story was a lovely close to the day, once I could slow down & enjoy it. I especially loved this little note at the end, that even with all the wonderful gifts they could have desired—the little Josephs still appreciated the homemade gifts they‘d made for each other. 💜 #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I‘ve had a busy week at school, but I‘ve been continuing to enjoy these stories each day. Somewhere along the way I read a few in a different order and then revisited a few on audio again today. I think I just have the New Year‘s ones left, so this seemed a perfect time to share this quote about the spirit of Christmas. Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season!

#KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #Christmas #ShortStories

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - 12/14/22 - “A Christmas Inspiration”

LMM‘s Christmas stories seem to primarily focus on either a reconciliation between estranged friends/family, or on giving to the needy, forgotten, or left out. And I am here. for. it. Love, love, loved today‘s story. I feel like I got to know each of the characters more in this one than in the other stories so far. Such a sweet tale of giving at Christmas. ❤️ #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “The Falsoms‘ Christmas Dinner” - 12/13/22

As soon as the rich uncle said he was coming for Christmas dinner, I knew it would be all right, in spite of any mishaps along the way. 😆 Another sweet story of needs provided & quarrels reconciled. I‘m struck by how often LMM‘s characters say things they regret, but are too proud to admit they were wrong. A nice little moral of the story here! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - 12/12/22 - “The Christmas Surprise at Enderly Road”

It‘s lovely to finish out my Monday with this story of two boys taking it upon themselves to plan a Christmas surprise for a disappointed little girl—and by extension, building goodwill between two communities.🎄🥰
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - 12/11/22 - “A Christmas Mistake”

We‘re back to usual cozy LMM fare with today‘s story. As soon as I got to the description of the rift between Mrs. Grant and Cornelia Millar, I thought “Oh, yay—it‘s going to be a mistake-leads-to-reconciliation story!” Yes, these are predictable, but still sweet. And I loved the absent-minded schoolteacher… reminded me of Anne! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#WeeklyForecast

Continue with Jane Austen‘s Letters #PemberLittens and the tagged #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas

Continue with The Christmas Chronicles and I desember

I want to finish Girl‘s Story, read 3 Christmas stories by Alf Prøysen and start The Christmas Oratorio

This morning I found my copy of Anne of Windy Poplars to read “Katherine Brooke Comes to Green Gables” and enjoyed the positive change in Katherine.

This evening I read “The Red Room” and agree it‘s an interesting addition to a Christmas collection with the holiday having little impact on the story. The final climactic scene is later. That said, I did find this dark story fascinating as it‘s quite different from many of LMM‘s stories.

#BookReport

I kept up with the buddy reads; Villette and Jane Austen‘s Letters #PemberLittens and the tagged #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas
There‘s one two chapters left in Villette so hopefully I will finish that before tomorrow‘s weekly forecast.

I continued The Christmas Chronicles and I desember

I read the three remaining Christmas stories by Selma Lagerløf, read both Quartet in Autumn and Jolly Foul Play

#KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - 12/9/22

I love this section of Windy Poplars, and loved reading it by itself as a Christmas story. The descriptions of Green Gables and the Avonlea landscape in winter, seeing Katherine open up as she‘s welcomed by the Green Gables folk… I feel like it‘s a lovely Christmas story in its own right. Had you read it as part of Windy Poplars? Did it work for you outside the context of the novel? ⤵️

#KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - 12/8/22 - “Clorinda's Gifts“

I‘ve never liked Christmas lists. They always feel like grocery lists to me—and I used to think that a gift just bought off a list was less meaningful. If someone was buying me a gift, they should know me well enough to choose something I‘d like! Then I‘d be (perhaps unfairly) disappointed to receive a gift that showed the person didn‘t know me very well. ⤵️

“The Unforgotten One” wasn‘t one of my favorites, but I could appreciate the bittersweet sentiment of missing a loved one at Christmas.

“Clorinda‘s Gifts” was back to the theme of self-sacrificing. This one won‘t be a favorite either, but it was a good reminder to think of what we can do for others rather than just spending money on material gifts.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas #ShortStories #Christmas #CatsOfLitsy

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story was a bit too sentimental for me. I love the way LMM can sketch a character with just a few lines of dialogue or description, but these characters felt more generic. And I missed the usual touch of humor. But I‘ve had a bit of a Jonah day, so maybe it‘s just me! What did you think: too sentimental/saccharine? Or was it sweet and heartfelt for you? (Also: Ingleside with no Blythes?!) #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

“How much Christmas do you suppose those little Rolands down there in the hollow have? Or Sammy Abbott with his lame back? Or French Joe‘s family over the hill? If you have too much Christmas, why don‘t you give some to them?”

I just loved today‘s story—the best Christmas comes from giving it away. ❤️🎄❤️#KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I love today‘s story for #KindredSpiritsChristmas, and the way Aunt Cyrilla was able to bring a group of strangers together for a lovely improvised celebration, making the most of what they had. BUT, let‘s just take a moment to ponder the list of items in Aunt Cyrilla‘s Christmas basket. Never mind how big the basket was that she was able to fit it all in. HOW DID SHE CARRY IT?!? #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I have an artificial tree, but I love the scent of cedar, so this afternoon I took a walk & cut branches for my kitchen before reading today‘s story. These daily stories are perfect for the weeks leading up to Christmas. I enjoyed both “The End of the Young Family Feud” yesterday & “Aunt Cyrilla‘s Christmas Basket” today. They‘re such sweet stories with uplifting messages.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas #ShortStories #Christmas

We put the tree up today, and this was my view for my #KindredSpiritsChristmas reading tonight! Today‘s story was another sweet one, with mistakes turned to good in the end. LMM seems to use the theme of reconciliation frequently, and it‘s a theme I usually enjoy—I like how it plays out here. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#WeeklyForecast

Continue with Villette and Jane Austen‘s Letters #PemberLittens and with the tagged #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas

Continue with The Christmas Chronicles and I desember

I‘m just about to start Quartet in Autumn and want to read that. The box is 4 Christmas stories by Selma Lagerløf, I read one of these last night and want to read the other 3. I want to read as much as possible of Jolly Foul Play.

I read “Christmas at Red Butte” on my phone with a sleeping Luthien curled up beside me. I loved this one, and it reminded me of Louisa May Alcott‘s Christmas stories with the struggling family full of hope, a sacrifice to make sure Christmas happens for the children, and a happy ending.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas #Christmas #DogsOfLitsy