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The sequel to The Story Girl, this novel has much of the charm and the light humour of the Anne books but it is also very melancholy, with the narrator Bev looking back at his childhood with his friends.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

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BarbaraJean

The Golden Road | L. M. Montgomery

LMM called The Story Girl “my own favourite among my books” and “the best piece of work I have yet done.” Of writing it, she said: “I was sorry to finish it. Never…had I laid down my pen and taken farewell of my characters with more regret…I have written it from sheer love of it.”
Her comments above about The Golden Road were quite different.
What are your feelings about each book?
Do you think the difference LMM felt is apparent in her writing?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair

BarbaraJean #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread Golden Road Discussion 3/3 4w

Roary47 I think she genuinely loved these characters, and to feel rushed in writing characters I grew to love too from the attention she paid to their development I would have hated it too. These characters I grew to love more than her other books and I am sad there was not more. I think if she did have the time that she wanted she could have made more of an epilogue to finalize their stories than just predictions. 4w

julieclair It makes me sad to think she did not enjoy writing this book. But it also amazes me that even so, she was able to create such a feeling of warmth among her characters, that radiates out to us, the readers. 4w

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TheAromaofBooks I don't feel like The Golden Road is a weaker book than The Story Girl - to me, it picks up right where the first book left off. Like @julieclair and @Roary47 I'm amazed at how her inner turmoil and stress doesn't feel reflected in the writing, which is warm and happy. 4w

lauraisntwilder @julieclair I completely agree! 4w

kwmg40 Her comment about Chester suggests she was a typical overworked and tired mom. I can believe that the writing process was arduous with an infant around! 4w

BarbaraJean @Roary47 Definitely! In some ways, I wish there had been a reunion-type scene, where they all gather at the King farm again and reminisce about the old days and we get to see where they are now and how they are as adults, both as a group and as individuals. But then again, I also like the way there are just hints so that the reader can imagine for themselves. 4w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair I didn‘t see this as weaker than SG, either—actually, I think I like this one better because it builds on the foundation LMM had already set up with these characters in SG. The Story Girl‘s stories felt a little like filler in the first book, and “Our Magazine” does a little of that here, but all the little sarcastic side comments really bring the magazine excerpts to life and make them part of the story! 4w

BarbaraJean @kwmg40 Yes, her journal comments really show her struggling to figure out how to continue her work while balancing it with her new life as a wife and mother! Like others have said, it‘s amazing to me how she was able to deepen these characters and their stories—in such a warm, nostalgic way—while she was having to steal moments here and there to write, feeling such pressure and “little pleasure in writing” because of it. (edited) 4w

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BarbaraJean

The Golden Road | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread Golden Road Discussion: 2/3

Which of the characters did you relate to the most? Who would you have most enjoyed having as a childhood friend?

What did you think of the Story Girl‘s “prophecies”—and of the way the book ends?
What would you imagine for these characters‘ futures?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair

julieclair I think of the “prophecies” as LMM‘s way of letting us know what happened with each of the characters, kind of like an epilogue. The ending of the book was so bittersweet, with the characters separating and moving on to the next phase of their lives. This was so reminiscent, for me, of leaving high school and everyone scattering to different colleges. 4w

julieclair I think I would have loved to have Cecily as a childhood friend. She was so kind, and calming, and just plain good. 💙 4w

TheAromaofBooks I agree with @julieclair that this was kind of an unofficial epilogue. I thought it was interesting that she gave us so much foreshadowing of Cecily's early death, and found myself wondering why she decided to sort of secondhand kill her off. But I loved the references that Bev makes throughout the narration of still seeing everyone later in life, receiving letters from them, etc. 4w

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lauraisntwilder Weirdly, I think I related most to Bev, who, as narrator, has the least personality. But, he feels so strongly about them all and creates this record, so to speak, and I think I'm often the one paying attention and writing things down, rather than being the center of attention. I would have loved a friend like Cecily. 4w

lauraisntwilder I have asked my husband for the DVDs of the Road to Avonlea TV show for Christmas. 🤞 The epilogue section made me think so much of the show, almost like it is filling in the blanks. I haven't seen it since I was the age of the Story Girl, but I loved it then. 4w

kwmg40 I liked the narrator Bev. I sometimes wished we could have learned more about him. 4w

BarbaraJean @julieclair @lauraisntwilder I agree about having Cecily for a friend! I loved how loyal she was to Sara Ray, (even though Sara Ray annoyed me as a character!), and how she so often played the role of peacemaker, wanting the others to be kind to each other and stop their bickering and baiting. I also loved the friendship between Bev and the Story Girl, the way they had little side jokes or shared secrets/knowledge. ⬇ 4w

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) Their walk to the schoolhouse in the middle of the night and their “ramble” with Uncle Blair are two of my favorite parts of the book. I can see myself being part of that kind of friendship within this group, with their shared humor and appreciation of beauty. 4w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I loved that, too—Bev‘s comments showing they still kept in touch & talked about the old days! I love how he writes to the Story Girl to ask about the Awkward Man‘s story so many years down the road. @kwmg40 As the observer, Bev does kind of disappear into the narrative! Like @lauraisntwilder, I relate to that a bit as well. And the little glimpses of him that we do get make me want to know more about him as a character, too. 4w

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BarbaraJean

The Golden Road | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread Golden Road Discussion: 1/3

What did you think of the book overall?
Are there any specific quotes or particular sections that stand out to you?

Do you see any common themes or parallels between this book and others you‘ve read by LMM? Or with LMM‘s life and her writing in her journals?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair

Roary47 I really enjoyed this short series. The Story girl‘s stories at the end when she predicted their futures I‘m still thinking about. Especially, when Cecily was mentioned to “never leave the Golden Road” 😭 I also really liked that Peter‘s dad came back so he could go to school. Even if it wasn‘t everyone‘s else‘s school. 4w

julieclair The scene where Paddy died was a real tearjerker. And the scene where Peg came to church was hysterical! And the scene where Felicity cried because The Story Girl was moving away was so surprising to me. Lots of emotional ups and downs in this book, which gave it such depth. 4w

TheAromaofBooks I enjoyed this more than I remember doing so in the past. I think I've always been sad that the book ends with everyone going their separate ways, but this time I just tried to enjoy the book without thinking about the ending haha One thing that struck me this time was that I definitely feel like the Story Girl's father was based on LMM's father, with an ending for the SG that LMM wished she had had. 4w

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TheAromaofBooks This kind of felt like a homesick book to me in a way. This is LMM's first novel she writes after moving away from PEI, and there were things like her going off on raptures about mayflowers and just overall descriptions of nature and the farming community that felt nostalgic - especially combined with the fact that the story is being narrated by someone reminiscing about his childhood. 4w

lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks I thought about LMM's father, too, when the Story Girl's father returns, but also Peter's father, who seemed like even more of a lost cause. And then Bev and Felix's father returned, too! It was sad for the group to be broken up, but that was what made their time together so special. I loved Dan in this one, called Felicity a sweet name to mask an insult. 😆 4w

lauraisntwilder Overall, I thought this was a sweet follow up. These two feel different from her others. Maybe because I just read Chronicles of Avonlea, which recycles a lot of themes/situations from her other work, but the King cousins feel real and more like AoGG in terms of originality and style. 4w

kwmg40 This book definitely felt more melancholy than other LMM books I've read. I think it's mostly because of how Bev looks back on the events nostalgically. 4w

BarbaraJean @Roary47 Yes, all the foreshadowings of Cecily‘s future are so heartbreaking! The predictions are such a wonderful, prescient glimpse of their futures… and then the way the Story Girl avoids telling Cecily‘s. 😭 4w

BarbaraJean @julieclair SO much emotion!! And the adults were so callous about Paddy (except Uncle Blair!). I was surprised at Felicity‘s tears, too—even though I‘d read this before!! But it also made sense—it felt like SUCH a sibling thing. Underneath all the bickering there‘s still fondness and love. 4w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Like you, I enjoyed it more this time! I agree about the “homesick” feel. It‘s really poignant to think Story Girl was the last book she wrote in her beloved room in PEI and this is the first novel she writes in her new home in Leaskdale. Of COURSE this would have homesick vibes, and no wonder it‘s so nostalgic! @kwmg40 Yes, Bev‘s narration as he looks back on the events automatically gives it that sense of longing for childhood. 4w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder I had the same thought about the Story Girl‘s father. It definitely seemed like what LMM wished for with her father. I also see that parallel with Emily and her father—I think there are a lot of father/daughter parallels for LMM in her work! Also, Felicity and Peter reminded me SO much of Ilse and Perry in the Emily books! 4w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder These two feel so different to me because of the ensemble cast, instead of a focus on one main heroine (Rainbow Valley feels similar because of its group of siblings/friends). But YES—the cousins/friends and their adventures here feel so much more real than LMM's short story characters and scenarios! Both of these books are so episodic, but the characters and their relationships with each other grow so strongly across both books. 4w

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BarbaraJean

The Golden Road | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

Checking in at the midpoint of The Golden Road! Thoughts on the first half of the book?

Which events and adventures stand out to you? What do you think of “Our Magazine”?

In comparing it to The Story Girl, do you see growth and change in the characters?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair

lauraisntwilder I went rogue and decided to squeeze in Chronicles of Avonlea before starting this one. I'll catch up for next week. 😊 1mo

TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder - I'm reading the Chronicles, too! 😂 1mo

TheAromaofBooks I'm also reading The Golden Road, although I'm not quite to the halfway point yet. I'm actually really enjoying this except Felicity seems way more unlikable in this one. She's so smug and condescending. I just wanted to smack her when they were all making their New Year's resolutions. This one doesn't seem to have as many of the Story Girl's stories, which is okay with me as I enjoy the adventures of the gang more, I think. Staying in Peg's ⬇ 1mo

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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) house was pretty exciting!!

On the whole, I don't feel like anyone has changed much since the last book (other than Felicity being worse lol) but I also think that not much time has supposedly past since the conclusion of The Story Girl, either. 1mo

julieclair The chapter where they stayed in Peg‘s house was a hoot! My favorite chapter, I think. And I agree with @TheAromaofBooks about Felicity. She‘s on my last nerve. 😂 1mo

julieclair I‘m really enjoying all the juicy, and sometimes snarky, tidbits in Our Magazine. 1mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks I love that you're both reading Chronicles! I support the going rogue. 😁 1mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair Yes about Felicity—ugh!! I did love the comment about the New Year's resolutions in “Our Magazine,“ basically saying that Felicity claims to have thought a beautiful thought every morning but won't tell them what any of the thoughts were 😂 And I'm enjoying Dan's method of dealing with her, with all his snarky “dear sis“ and “darling“ tacked on to his comments! 😂 ⬇ 1mo

BarbaraJean The adventures here feel more memorable than in Story Girl—they're doing more than sitting around telling stories & making up games. The Peg chapter is a favorite, for sure—especially after their desperate & scared pilgrimage to ask for her help over poor Paddy! Not that much time has passed, but it seems like they're discussing “older“ subjects and at least Cecily seems less little-girl-ish. Maybe that's just all the drama over Cyrus Brisk!! 1mo

kwmg40 As others have mentioned, the chapter at Peg's house was the best one so far. In fact, I'd been finding the pace a bit slow up until then, but now I'm wondering if/how all her predictions will come true! 1mo

kwmg40 Coincidentally, I'm reading at the same time Terry Pratchett's The Truth with the #OokBOokClub, which is about a group of Discworld characters trying to set up and run a newspaper. The parallels are fun to consider, though the settings couldn't be more different from each other. 1mo

BarbaraJean @kwmg40 There are some great Peg moments in the second half, too! So funny about parallels to The Truth—I still need to get started on that one. Very different publications, I‘m sure 😂 1mo

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LitsyEvents

The Golden Road | L. M. Montgomery

Repost for @BarbaraJean
For those following along with the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReRead or #LMMJounals, in November we‘re starting Vol 3 of the Complete Journals and also reading The Golden Road.
Then in December we‘ll read LMM‘s Christmas stories. @BarbaraJean will assemble a #KindredSpiritsChristmas story-a-day schedule for reading these cosy holidays stories together. All are welcome. If you‘d like to join in for December let her know.

BarbaraJean Thanks for the re-post! 2mo

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BarbaraJean

The Golden Road | L. M. Montgomery

For those following along with #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread or #LMMJournals, in November we‘re starting Vol. 3 of the Complete Journals and also reading The Golden Road.

Then in December we‘ll read LMM‘s Christmas stories! I‘ll assemble a #KindredSpiritsChristmas story-a-day schedule for us to read these cozy holiday stories together. All are welcome—if you‘d like to join in just for December, let me know and I‘ll add you to the tag list!

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

Seabreeze_Reader Enjoy your reading. 🙂Unfortunately I won't have time in my schedule to join in. 2mo

BarbaraJean @Seabreeze_Reader Thank you! Maybe we‘ll catch you another time 😊 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I actually read the “Haunted“ short story this week! Still plowing my way through Seven Gables 😅 My copy of the journals should be here this weekend. I'm looking forward/also somewhat apprehensive to read about LMM's early marriage years and leaving PEI. Are the Christmas stories going to a specific book of collected stories, or just random ones from here and there? 2mo

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BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Seven Gables turned out to be quite a slog! 😬 I‘ll see how this volume of the journals feels—I‘m a bit apprehensive as well! There are more of LMM‘s books to break things up with at this point, though, and I‘m going to go through the notes and jot down adjacent titles to work into the schedule also. The Christmas stories are random—I have a list compiled from a few different Christmas collections (minus that weird Red Room one!) 2mo

Roary47 The golden road looks enchanting. I‘m going to read the first book really quick to be on track. 🥰 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Yeah, The Red Room, randomly depressing and not remotely Christmasy haha That story was a disappointment! 😂 2mo

julieclair @TheAromaofBooks I actually read the haunted story too! I‘m so proud of us! 😀 2mo

julieclair I will skip the journals, but join in for The Golden Road. And December sounds delightful! 2mo

BarbaraJean @Roary47 Yay! Glad to have you join in, and I hope you enjoy both books! 😊 2mo

BarbaraJean @julieclair Looking forward to reading Golden Road and Christmas stories with you! And good job reading the ghost story—LMM loved ghost stories, but it sounds like it‘s not in any of our wheelhouses, so good job to all of us! 2mo

Daisey I‘d like to try to join in for the Christmas stories. Please add me to that list. 2mo

BarbaraJean @Daisey Will do! Glad to have you along for the Christmas stories! 2mo

CogsOfEncouragement Christmas story-a-day sounds delightful, please count me in. 1mo

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I've added you to the tag list! Glad to have you along! 1mo

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LitsyEvents

Elizabeth and Her German Garden | Elizabeth Von Arnim

Here's the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead schedule for October & November! We've got three #LMMAdjacent reads in October, then in November, we'll start Volume 3 of the complete #LMMJournals, with an #LMMReread of The Golden Road in the middle. I have separate tag lists for each, so (if you haven't already) let me know if you'd like to be tagged for any of the above! Discussions are on Saturdays, and all are welcome.

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BarbaraJean

Elizabeth and Her German Garden | Elizabeth Von Arnim

Here‘s the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead schedule for October & November! We‘ve got three #LMMAdjacent reads in October, then in November, we‘ll start Volume 3 of the complete #LMMJournals, with an #LMMReread of The Golden Road in the middle. I have separate tag lists for each, so (if you haven‘t already) let me know if you‘d like to be tagged for any of the above! Discussions are on Saturdays, and all are welcome.

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

TheAromaofBooks I\'m looking forward to starting Elizabeth and Her German Garden today. I was surprised to find it as a Penguin English Library Edition - maybe more popular in Britain than here? I heartily disliked the only other Hawthorne I\'ve read (The Scarlet Letter) so I\'m interested to see if I like Seven Gables any better 😂 3mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks My county library system has exactly ONE print copy of Elizabeth, which I\'ve put on hold because I\'m SUPER interested to get hold of it: the library catalog says it was published in 1913! I\'ve also only read Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne—I thought it was interesting, but not amazing—so I\'m also interested to see what I think of Seven Gables. The main criticism I\'ve seen is that it\'s not scary enough (which is a plus in my book!) 3mo

TheAromaofBooks The pretty Penguin edition was only $11 on Blackwell\'s website, so I splurged 😂 https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Elizabeth-and-Her-German-Garden-by-Eli... 3mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks The Penguin one is such a pretty edition! All the ebook covers on Hoopla are either generic or just terrible. 😂 3mo

24 likes4 comments

BarbaraJean

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread Belated discussion questions for Story Girl! I found this in my photos—somehow I missed posting it last week!

Do you agree with LMM‘s own assessment of The Story Girl, that from a literary standpoint it is “far ahead” of Anne? Why/why not?

If you‘re reading the journals, how have the additional details LMM included there impacted your reading? (Story Girl is mentioned in Vol. 2 p. 316 & pp. 404-408)

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks I don\'t agree, but I can\'t tell if it\'s because I just simply like Anne so much better than SG. To me, the character development and story progression in Anne is stronger. SG does have a sense of place and nostalgia, but it feels like you are sitting on the porch with an elderly Bev listening to him reminisce vs more of an \“in the story\“ feeling with Anne. So maybe some of it is what kind of storytelling you prefer? 3mo

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