kindredspiritsbuddyread

Emily's Quest | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion - 4/4

“‘The Murray pride,‘ whispered Mrs. Kent, staring at her.
‘After all, Emily Starr, I believe pride is a stronger passion with you than love.‘
‘Perhaps,‘ said Emily, smiling.”

What role do you see Emily‘s pride playing in her relationships with Teddy and Ilse?
Do you agree with Mrs. Kent, that pride is a stronger passion for Emily than love?

#LMMReread

lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks

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BarbaraJean

Emily's Quest | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion 3/4:

Emily‘s writing is a key theme (if not THE key theme) in the Emily books. What did you think of how LMM chose to flesh out Emily‘s writing career in this final book of the trilogy?

Do you think Emily‘s writing was overshadowed by the themes of romance and the back-and-forth with Teddy and Dean in this book?

#LMMReread

lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks

lauraisntwilder I think I might think the writing part was overshadowed by the romance, if Anne had ever gotten anywhere with her writing. Just in comparison to Anne, Emily's writing seems so important. 3h

11 likes1 comment

BarbaraJean

Emily's Quest | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion 2/4:

LMM‘s comments in her journals about Emily‘s Quest indicate she found it difficult to write, and thought it was “no good.”

Do you think her writing difficulties show in the novel? If so, in what ways?
Do you agree with her assessment that it‘s “no good”? What do you see as the book‘s weaknesses?

#LMMReread

lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean I'll drop a little reminder here for @TheAromaofBooks and @lauraisntwilder that we'll be finishing up Vol. 6 of the journals this week! 6h

lauraisntwilder I don't think it's "no good," but I can see why she saw it as a decline in quality. But also, she didn't want to write it, so how could she love it? 3h

11 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily's Quest | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest Discussion 1/4

What is your impression of the book overall? How does it compare to the other Emily books—in tone, theme, quality? How does it compare to LMM‘s novels overall, so far?

If you‘re reading the journals, what do you see in Emily‘s Quest that mirrors LMM‘s own life? Do you see qualities in Emily that reflect LMM?

#LMMReread

lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks

lauraisntwilder I think this one is the weakest of the Emily books, but it's still better than Kilmeny, I think, and so of her others that we haven't gotten to yet in this round of rereads. 3h

lauraisntwilder The section of Emily reading reviews reminded me of LMM's similar reactions in her journals. 3h

10 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily's Quest | Lucy Maud Montgomery

My reactions as I re-read the first half of Emily‘s Quest this week:
Tearing up over Mr. Carpenter
Pleading with Emily to NOT show her book to Dean
LOATHING DEAN
Pleading with Emily to send her book to Miss Royal in NYC for another opinion
LOATHING DEAN
Thinking that buying the Disappointed House may be the only thing Dean has done that I approve of
And some agonizing about Teddy

How is your reading going? 😆
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks

Ruthiella But how do you feel about Dean? 😂😂😂 1w

kwmg40 I'm only a quarter of the way through, but I'm already loathing Dean! 1w

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella I probably should have been clearer about my emotions. 😂 😂 😂 @kwmg40 Right?!? Chapter 6 is the absolute WORST. 1w

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lauraisntwilder My library card expired, so I couldn't check out the audio book as planned. I fixed it today, so I'll catch up this week! (I already hate Dean though. 7d

TheAromaofBooks I just started this one yesterday, and am NOT looking forward to Creepy Dean!! 7d

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Oh no! Glad you got it sorted out… and sorry about Dean 😆 @TheAromaofBooks Every time I read this, I hate him more. 6d

32 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

The Ladies of Missalonghi | Colleen McCullough

pan

My sole reason for reading this was the accusation that McCullough plagiarized L.M. Montgomery‘s “The Blue Castle.” And yep, there are an uncanny number of similarities between the two books. Personally, I don‘t think this one holds its own. I told a friend that it went beyond “discount Blue Castle” and became “Temu Blue Castle.” The parts that mirror Blue Castle do it worse—the way McCullough changes certain details of the plot weaken ⤵️

rubyslippersreads, DrSabrinaMoldenReads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …both the characters and the story. There are a couple of unique plot threads where Missalonghi differs from Blue Castle, and those were interesting…but overall, I was not a fan. Especially not a fan of the coarse, manipulative “romance” or the preposterous, nonsensical ending. I did want to know how everything turned out in the end, so it did keep me reading—but mostly in a “can‘t take my eyes off the train wreck” sort of way. ⤵️ 2w

BarbaraJean Thank you to the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead-ers who I subjected to this mess. I‘m sorry. Thanks for hanging in there and ranting about it with me! #LMMAdjacent 2w

TheAromaofBooks I'm still not over how bad this one was!! I ranted about it on Goodreads a little the other day 😂 In the process of doing that, part of what I realized was just how much I love Valancy and how taking control of her own life means doing things on her own terms - like actually helping a childhood friend. Missy just started telling people they were ugly and stupid and, literally in her own words, dressing like a whore. Just. Ugh. 2w

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julieclair @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Yes yes yes! Having just moved into a new house, I haven‘t been spending time on Litsy, so haven‘t participated in the discussion, but your comments above mirror my thoughts exactly! 💯 2w

TheAromaofBooks @julieclair - Oh did you move?? Would you be okay with emailing me your new address? itsthegoodlife15 at gmail 😁 2w

rubyslippersreads Temu Blue Castle! 🤣 2w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Your Goodreads review is 💯 😂 It's interesting: taking control of your life manifests in SUCH different ways in both novels. Valancy's diagnosis prompts such wonderful actions. She doesn't just remove all filters & act selfishly. She simply stops feeling obligated to conform to others' expectations. Missy gets mean & awful. Plus, Missy's motivations (Una?!?) don't even make sense! GAH. The more I think about it, the madder I get! 1w

TheAromaofBooks I just... Una's like “here, read some borderline-porno 'romance' stories to get you in the mood, then go seduce my used-to-be husband because as long as you let him shag you as much as he wants, he'll totally be good to you, but if you don't, he'll neglect you and get pissy, so obvs he's perfect!! PS even though I'm a ghost, I can sign critical legal paperwork for you!!“ MAKE IT MAKE SENSE 😂 1w

36 likes8 comments

BarbaraJean

L. M. Montgomery's Complete Journals, the Ontario Years: 1926-1929 | Jen Rubio

This week we‘ve been reading LMM‘s journals from 1927—and the quote above seems apt! What stands out to you from this week‘s reading? (Other than the convos we‘ve already been having this week!) #LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

TheKidUpstairs I really should try the Ontario years diaries. I live just down the way from Leaskdale! They have a wonderful LM Montgomery Society and a museum which runs lovely events and afternoon teas through the summer :) 2w

BarbaraJean @TheKidUpstairs How lovely!! It would be so interesting to read these having all the places nearby! 2w

BarbaraJean So often, LMM‘s critiques of religion (or specific sermons!) really resonate with me. I loved her take on Rev. Jackson on p. 152, and her account of the church with the mean usher who threatened to call the police because she stood in the aisle for a bit! (“Oh, no, it wasn‘t dull; but neither was it religion” p. 183-4) ⬇ (edited) 2w

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BarbaraJean “We went up to church tonight & heard the Rev Jackson display the mastery of the art of saying nothing in a sermon fifty minutes long. But I bothered myself very little about the Rev. J. The window was open and a soft rain was falling in the twilight and I thought of many things & felt very near God—but not the Rev. Jackson's God—who, according to the Rev. J.'s report, went into tantrums if anyone took a motor drive for pleasure on Sunday!“ (p152) 2w

BarbaraJean Also, the episode with the poor kitten made me ill, just as it did LMM. I was so glad to read later that she reported the boy to the Humane Society. Reminded me of Beautiful Joe! 2w

TheAromaofBooks I was also glad for the follow up on the kitten story - so horrific! I was also intrigued by the story of the lost item/heirloom that then reappeared later. Overall 1927 did seem much less stressful - still very busy, but not as many nagging worries, plus Ewan must have been well all year as she doesn't talk about his mental health really at all, which is a big change of pace. 2w

TheAromaofBooks I couldn't believe that the reason the church treasurer was on their side was because he had been embezzling money!! 😐 2w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Yes, the “reamer“! I was surprised how she said it was even more meaningful to her than the Woolner jug. I'm continually intrigued/puzzled by the way she talks about/doesn't talk about Ewan. He's such a background character in her journals, unless his mental health is unstable. The only appearance of note here was him being petty about her getting roses from the youth at church! 🙄 And YES, the treasurer—😳 And here I'd been ⬇ 2w

BarbaraJean (Cont'd)... thinking he was just a decent person who saw right through Marshall Pickering. I couldn't believe LMM & Ewan loaned him the money to cover it up!! 2w

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks It really feels like Ewan is her roommate. They even go on separate vacations. 2w

lauraisntwilder I'm interested in Marigold showing up. I had already read the Anne, Emily, and Pat books (and Tangled Web) before starting the journals. I've noted things along the way that reminded me of one or the other of those. It's been interesting now to have the perspective flipped -- starting with The Blue Castle, I'm reading the novels and noticing her real life coming through, instead of seeing hints of the novels in her journals. 2w

TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder - I agree with the roommate assessment. There are times where they seem like they are comradely (when she talks about them traveling together or someone visiting that they both like), but most of the time it just seems like they are more along the lines of business partners than friends, which is sad. 2w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks The roommate description feels so accurate! The separate vacations thing puzzles me--I wonder if that was more common at the time? I suppose business partner/roommate-type marriages were certainly more common. 1w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I knew Marigold was written first as short stories, but I hadn't realized the stories were written “to order“ and then rejected! It'll be interesting re-reading it with that context. That flip in your reading will be fascinating—having the books remind you of the journals/her life rather than the other way around. I've loved re-reading with the context of her life—there are so many connections I was never aware of! 1w

TheAromaofBooks They definitely did travel together sometimes (Mammoth Cave, Manitoba, etc), but it seems like they never went to PEI together that I remember. Ewan went without her a couple of times, and she's been without him. It seems strange that that specific vacation destination isn't one they share. 1w

24 likes15 comments

LitsyEvents

Christmas with Anne: And Other Holiday Stories | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Join us for a #KindredSpiritsChristmas as the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead reads L.M. Montgomery's cozy holiday stories, one per day, Dec. 6-25.
Almost all the stories are available online (I'll post links as applicable), and all but the first four are in the tagged book.
(Dec. 10 is ch. 25 in Green Gables and Dec. 17 is chs. 5-6 in the “Second Year“ of Windy Poplars.)
All are welcome!
Via @BarbaraJean

31 likes

LitsyEvents

Emily's Quest | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Via @BarbaraJean

Next up in the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead:
✍🏻One week of LMM's journals
📓Two weeks reading Emily's Quest
✍🏻One more week to finish volume SIX of LMM's journals
🎄THEN: #KindredSpiritsChristmas! (schedule will be posted separately)

28 likes

BarbaraJean

Christmas with Anne: And Other Holiday Stories | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Join us for a #KindredSpiritsChristmas as the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead reads L.M. Montgomery‘s cozy holiday stories, one per day, Dec. 6-25.

Almost all the stories are available online (I‘ll post links as applicable), and all but the first four are in the tagged book. (Dec. 10 is ch. 25 in Green Gables and Dec. 17 is chs. 5-6 in the “Second Year” of Windy Poplars.)

All are welcome! Some past participants are tagged—comment if you‘d like to join!

BarbaraJean @AvidReader25, @rubyslippersreads, @quietjenn, @Daisey, @JenLovesJT47, @CogsOfEncouragement, @Prairiegirl_reading, @lauraisntwilder, @sblbooks, @TheAromaofBooks, @julieclair, @kwmg40, @LeahBergen, @Roary47, @LitsyEvents 3w

monalyisha Aw! Count this mood reader who can‘t be counted on “in!” Maybe. Please tag me, anyway. 😜 3w

BarbaraJean @monalyisha 😂 I‘ll add you to the no-pressure (but daily) tag list! 😁 3w

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monalyisha @BarbaraJean You‘re the best! 3w

Jerdencon I like this idea - I‘ll try to find the stories and join too! 3w

JenlovesJT47 Yay I so enjoyed this last year ❤️💚❤️ 3w

sblbooks I'm glad you're doing this again. I've really enjoyed this tradition the past few years. I'm in. 3w

Daisey Thanks for the tag, but I think I will be skipping this year. 3w

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! I tend to bounce in and out of these now that I've read all of them at least once, but keep me on the list for sure!! 3w

BarbaraJean @Jerdencon @JenlovesJT47 @sblbooks Yay! Glad to have you all reading along this year! 🎄 3w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks In past years, I didn‘t remember which stories went with which titles (for the most part—I always remember Aunt Cyrilla and her basket!!), but now they‘re starting to look familiar! Also, I added a couple “new” ones this year (not that weird Merryvale one from last year, but a couple others I hadn‘t seen before)—so keep an eye out on Dec. 8 & 9 😁 3w

BarbaraJean @monalyisha ☺️🤗 3w

AnneCecilie I might join in. It was very cozy reading these stories the first year 3w

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie I'll tag you! Feel free to pop in and out or whatever works for you. 3w

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