Litsy

L.M. Montgomery's Complete Journals: The Ontario Years: 1918-1921 | Jen Rubio L.M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

I‘ve enjoyed being back into LMM‘s journals this week, even though it can be difficult to read about her struggles with Ewan‘s illness and the lawsuit with Page.

How‘s your reading going? What stood out to you from this week‘s section?

JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean I thought her comments on religion were SO interesting—both her description of what she believes (p. 244), as well as her response to this Oliver Wendell Holmes quote: “There is a genius for religion just as there is for painting and sculpture”—and her comments about being too narrow in how we define being “religious.” (p. 238) That whole Jan. 31, 1920 entry was fascinating, as she responded to various quotations she‘d copied down! ⬇ 6d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) I especially loved her “what I like” section, responding to Ruskin's quote of “Tell me what you *like* and I'll tell you what you *are.*“ That whole entry had me jotting down potential #LMMAdjacent books 😆 6d

lauraisntwilder I'm so behind! I do plan to get caught up this week though and finish with the rest of you. 6d

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BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder In retrospect, I think I should have built in a catch-up week after The Last of the Mohicans! 6d

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean I just finished it on Thursday! I haven't gone back to look at your questions yet. I'm hoping I'll have a quiet moment tomorrow to do that and catch up on posting reviews. 6d

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Ugggh, I‘m SO far behind on my Litsy reviews!! I have a list going back to early March 🤦🏻‍♀️ 5d

TheAromaofBooks I am not done with this week's section yet (and still somehow have two chapters left of Mohicans haha) but it has been good to get back into the journals again. Somehow, they've become almost like reading a letter from a friend. LMM is such a good writer - I generally find even fictional journals to be a bit tedious, but I find hers so genuinely engaging. A couple of things that have struck me so far - that she has started copying out her old ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) journals, which seems like kind of a random thing to do. She states that she is going to “be faithful“to copy it as written - do you think she did? I feel like I would be so tempted to maybe gently edit a smidge!! But I have also wondered all along how there were so many photos in even her earlier journals, and here is the answer! That she added the pictures during the copying, which I found interesting. In a TIL moment, I also didn't ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) know that “bloody“ was a corruption of “by our Lady“ and have also always wondered why it was considered such a bad word! And finally, I thought it was kind of hilarious when she wrote, over a hundred years ago, “I never yet have liked any film I have seen that was reproduced from a book I had read.“ Apparently some things never change 😂

It's sooo hard to read about everything going on with Ewan and how she is still struggling with ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) Frede's death - when she said she was so relieved to pass the one-year anniversary, I felt that. But it's so sad how lonely and isolated she is. Why do you think she is SO terrified of other people finding out about Ewan's mental health? Is it just pride/worrying about “what people will say“? She really has a phobia of mental illness. 5d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Yes!! She‘s witty, and such a good storyteller—I feel like I‘m enjoying her company as I read the journals. With her copying out her journals, I think she initially *intended* to copy it as written, but I suspect she began making some excisions and edits as she got further along. I wouldn‘t be able to refrain from “gentle editing” myself!! That info about “bloody” was completely new to me, too! I‘d always assumed it was ⤵️ 4d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …something to do with Christ‘s blood and that‘s why it was considered so bad (honestly that seems more blasphemous to me than “by our Lady”?!?). I love her opinion on book to film adaptations!!! I wonder what she‘d have thought of the Megan Follows version of Anne. I do love those versions so, with the exception of that travesty “The Continuing Story” where Gilbert goes off to war right after they get married. 🙄 ⤵️ (edited) 4d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) I feel confident she‘d have HATED it as much as I did!

My heart goes out to her over Frede. It‘s heartbreaking how she longs for a real confidant & friend and seems to have no kindred spirits close enough for the depth of friendship she needs. It makes House of Dreams even more poignant to me with all the kindred spirits Anne finds at Four Winds. I wonder if that lack of a close friend contributes to LMM‘s fear of people “finding out”⤵️ 4d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …about Ewan. Fears of what others will think seem MUCH bigger when there‘s no balancing perspective from an understanding friend. I wonder also if part of it is her fears over his career? If people found out their minister suffered from mental illness—especially “religious melancholia”—he‘d probably have been finished as a minister. The opinions she‘s worried about are the ones paying his salary 😬 I agree that it seems like a phobia! 4d

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Daisey

Last of the Mohicans | James Fenimore Cooper

so-so

I had a hard time with this book. It did not hold my attention well through long sections, then something rather bizarre or violent would happen and I‘d get caught up in the story again for a while. It also took a long time to get the characters straight.

When I finished, I did listen to a podcast episode that discussed a few aspects and gave me a bit more to think about. (Link in comments)

#audiobook #LMMAdjacent #1001books

BarbaraJean

Daisey Overdue podcast episode 🔗 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5eRT6tYHYJmoA1QUDF9fhU?si=DfJntIVpS1-4nzXXblkYV... 2w

BarbaraJean This was underwhelming to me, for the same reasons you mention. Thanks for sharing that podcast episode--I'll have to check it out. 2w

48 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Rilla of Ingleside | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Here's the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead schedule for the next six weeks, with #LMMJournals, #LMMReread and #LMMAdjacent choices. We'll read the last section of Volume 4 of LMM's Complete Journals over the next two weeks, then Rilla of Ingleside, then Pollyanna.

I've tagged the schedule/announcements list for the group, but all are welcome. If you'd like to be tagged for any/all of the above, please comment!

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, LitsyEvents, julieclair

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! I'm still plowing through The Last of the Mohicans!! I'm really looking forward to rereading Rilla, and Pollyanna with the group!! 2w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I‘m interested to hear what you think once the plowing is done! I don‘t regret reading it, but it was disappointing. I‘m glad to be back into the journals this week and looking forward to the next several picks! 2w

28 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

For our #LMMJournals readers (and those interested in the L.M. Montgomery connection!):

LMM mentions having read the book “in schooldays” and discussing it with Nate Lockhart. What did you notice in the book that might have attracted LMM as a schoolgirl? What characters and incidents do you imagine she might have discussed with Nate so enthusiastically?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent - Last of the Mohicans discussion (5/5)

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads, @Daisey, @DieAReader, @JenlovesJT47, @lauraisntwilder, @TheAromaofBooks, @julieclair 2w

BarbaraJean I have to admit that I'm puzzled that LMM was enthusiastic about this book! I thought maybe she would have resonated with the nature descriptions, but honestly, I didn't find them that compelling. I guess it was just the action and adventure she was so excited to discuss with Nate?! And perhaps Cora would have been a compelling figure to her? 2w

Daisey I‘m not sure what to think of this connection to LMM either. It does have some interesting scenes to discuss, but it doesn‘t resonate with me in any way that her writing does. 2w

22 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent - Last of the Mohicans Discussion (4/5)

In general, did you like or dislike the book? What did you enjoy or not enjoy?
Do you feel this is a classic that‘s worth reading?

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, DieAReader, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean Honestly, I didn't enjoy this. I didn't find it engaging, for all its action. The characters initially held promise, but weren't developed at all. Cooper sacrifices character development for horrific action sequences and scenic descriptions that fell flat for me. I'm torn about whether it's worth reading for how it's shaped other writing over the years. I think it has some value as a biased but illuminating portrayal of a specific time and place ⬇ 2w

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...in history, but I don't think I'd recommend it unless someone was specifically studying this time period and they were also seeking out supplementary sources to contextualize and balance the perspective here. 2w

Daisey I didn‘t particularly enjoy this. There were short sections at a time that were really interesting, but there were long sections between where I struggled to stay focused. 2w

21 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent - Last of the Mohicans Discussion (3/5)

What do you think about the way the book portrays its Native characters (and the different tribes they belong to)?
What about the way it portrays the English and French characters?

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, DieAReader, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean I mentioned this an earlier question, but I was bracing myself for far worse racial stereotypes. There was a bit too much “noble savage“ to the descriptions of Uncas and Chingachgook and the Delaware village. Then basically all Huron/Mingos were portrayed as bad/scheming/backward, but their French allies were largely let off the hook. But I also appreciated how there was SOME nuance in the way Magua was characterized, when he revealed ⬇ 2w

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) his treatment at the hands of the English. And Cora early on makes a remark about not judging someone based on the color of their skin (ironic that she makes that comment about the person who basically becomes the villain, though!). There were plenty of problematic racial stereotypes, but overall I was impressed by the complexity we did get. 2w

16 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent - Last of the Mohicans Discussion (2/5)
How much knowledge of the French & Indian War/Fort William Henry conflict did you have prior to reading this book? Did you seek out more info?
What do you think of how Cooper dramatized these events?
What responsibility does an author of historical fiction have in representing historical events? What do you think are appropriate or inappropriate changes or exaggerations?

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, DieAReader, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean I didn't have much knowledge about the historical context, and so I looked up the Fort William Henry conflict after reading the section on the betrayal/massacre. I was frustrated by what I found. Cooper has been criticized for his “lurid“ and inaccurate characterization of the massacre--it was bad, but it seems it was not nearly as horrific as described, and the inciting event with the mother & baby seems like it was completely invented. ⬇ 2w

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) I do think a writer of historical fiction has a responsibility to present the backdrop of history and historical events as accurately as possible--dramatizing within the “spirit“ of what happened, so to speak. ESPECIALLY when it comes to war--attributing particular types of cruel violence that DID NOT happen, to one side or the other, is irresponsible, to me. 2w

Daisey I have some basic knowledge of the French & Indian War, and I did not look anything up while reading. 2w

16 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent - The Last of the Mohicans Discussion (1/5)

What expectations did you have going into the book?
How did it compare to your expectations? Was there anything that surprised you?

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, DieAReader, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

Daisey I‘ve got two hours of audio left . . . Every few days I listen to a bit more, but I‘ve never felt fully invested. I‘ll come back to the discussion once I‘m done. 2w

BarbaraJean @Daisey Look forward to your thoughts when you finish! This was a bit of a slog for me. 2w

BarbaraJean I did NOT expect the ending. (I haven't seen the movie, and I'm curious--does it end the same way?!) I expected that the portrayal of the Native characters would be far more problematic. I cringed at some of the verbiage/stereotypes, but there was a LOT more nuance and complexity to the portrayal of Native characters and cultures than I expected there'd be, given when this was written. Also, I expected that it would be more engaging than it was!! 2w

19 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

Posting our check-in for #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent a little early since I‘ll be out of town visiting friends on Saturday & Sunday.

I got caught up this week—and wow, lots of action, lots to talk about. But I‘ll save that for next week‘s end-of-book discussion!

How is everyone‘s reading coming along? What are you enjoying and/or not enjoying in what you‘ve read so far? Which characters are you most curious about?

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, DieAReader, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

TheAromaofBooks I'm a couple chapters behind, but overall enjoying this story even if it's a bit slow in spots. The betrayal/massacre as everyone left the fort was just horrific. 3w

lauraisntwilder I'm not loving this one. It feels like a lot of wandering around in the woods, occasionally interrupted by horrible violence. 3w

Daisey I‘m playing catch up today. I just got through the chapter @TheAromaofBooks mentioned. It‘s holding my attention better than it was thanks to the action, but I‘m still not loving it. 3w

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BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks SO horrific. The violence has been hard to read. @lauraisntwilder Yeah, unfortunately that's a very apt description! @Daisey I've had a similar experience this week: finding it more engaging now, but not really enjoyable. I'm curious about Hawkeye and want to know more about his past as well as Uncas and Chingachgook's past. I feel like Cooper is trading character backstory & development for action & description--not my favorite. 3w

TheAromaofBooks In fairness, this is technically the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales - I think book one is about Hawkeye's origin story. 2w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Yes! When adding it on GR, I saw it was marked as book two! I had no idea it was part of a series, so looked it up (I hate starting in the middle of a series). The Hawkeye one was written later, as a prequel (1841 vs. 1826 for Mohicans)--so I guess others wanted to know more about him as well! 2w

julieclair @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean I have always thought of this as a stand-alone book. It‘s interesting to learn it is Book 2. I‘m tempted to read a summary of book 1, just to quickly learn more about Hawkeye. 2w

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean so there goes my attempt to make excuses for Cooper's pathetic character development - apparently he only did so under duress over ten years later! 😂 2w

BarbaraJean @julieclair I always thought it was standalone, too! I don't know if I'm interested enough to read any of the others, though! @TheAromaofBooks 😂 😂 The rest of the series was a retcon... 😆 2w

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BarbaraJean

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 | James Fenimore Cooper

It‘s been an over-full reading week and I‘m only just now sitting down to read this week‘s section of Last of the Mohicans for #LMMAdjacent #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. 🙃 How‘s everyone else‘s reading coming along? Are you enjoying the book so far?

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, DieAReader, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

Bookwomble Nice bookmark 🔖🙂 4w

DieAReader Behind in all my readings this week🤦🏻‍♀️ 4w

lauraisntwilder I've read this week's chapters, but I'm finding it easy to zone out on this one and not realize it. 4w

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TheAromaofBooks I'm finding this one interesting, but a chapter a day is definitely easier for me than large chunks, especially when there is fighting. 4w

Daisey I‘m with @lauraisntwilder on this one. I find some parts interesting, but then I‘ll completely lose the thread. Maybe it would be better if I was focused on print instead of listening, but there‘s no way I can currently fit that in my schedule. 4w

BarbaraJean @Bookwomble Thanks! I like to use a bookmark that matches the book. In this case I love the red leather with the vintage book—even though the Fitzwilliam Museum doesn‘t match thematically😆 4w

BarbaraJean @DieAReader I know the feeling!! This was one of those weeks for me. 4w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @Daisey Similar for me—I find my attention wandering. @TheAromaofBooks I‘m too behind to parcel it out in short chunks now ☹️ 4w

julieclair Need to catch up… it‘s been a crazy week. 4w

julieclair I‘m now on Chapter 14 - listening on audio and really enjoying it. It‘s action-packed for sure! 3w

BarbaraJean @julieclair I've been wondering whether I'd like this more or less on audio! Glad you're enjoying it. I think I'd prefer audio for the action parts but would probably find myself zoning out in some of the wordiness. 3w

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