Welcome to Litsy!

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

I might say this about (almost) all of these Christmas stories, but: what a sweet story! The struggling family, the hopeful children, the sacrifices made to ensure a happy Christmas, and the Christmas Day happy ending. ❤️🎄I loved the children‘s confidence that Santa would come because they wrote him a letter and “threw it up the chimney.” No doubt the best method to communicate with Santa! 😂
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas

#BookReport

I continued Villette and Jane Austen‘s Letters #PemberLittens and started reading Christmas stories by L. M. Montgomery #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas

I continued The Christmas Chronicles and have started I desember

I finished The Lives of Other and read Matrix.

#KindredSpiritsChristmas day 2 takes us back to Green Gables! I just love Matthew. His determination to get Anne a pretty dress, in spite of his shyness, is just the sweetest. I loved seeing the romantic gesture from Gilbert at the concert, and Anne‘s “lofty” comment: “I simply never waste a thought on him, Diana.” 😂 Then Marilla‘s reluctantly expressed but heartfelt affection for Anne. 💜 Such beloved characters! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I‘m not really feeling the Christmas spirit yet this year, but I started my day by listening to “Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves” while getting ready and uplifting Christmas music on my way to school. I definitely think these daily stories will help. For this buddy read, I‘m going to do a combination of audio (on Hoopla) and print.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #KindredSpiritsChristmas #audiobook #ShortStories

December 2nd
Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves

I loved being back at Green Gables with Anne, Matthew and Marilla. Who can ever forget Anne‘s talk and wish for puffed sleeves and how happy she was when Matthew bought her a dress with them for Christmas.

And to quote Anne: “Merry Christmas, Marilla! Merry Christmas, Matthew! Isn‘t it a lovely Christmas? I‘m so glad it‘s white. Any other kind of Christmas doesn‘t seem real, does it?”

December 1st
From “Aunt Susanna‘s Thanksgiving Dinner”

Not the first time I‘ve encountered these kind of believes lately in books.

“I‘ve invited Mr and Mrs Gilbert to dinner today” and me instantly thinking about Anne and Gilbert, but I don‘t think it was actually them

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#WeeklyForecast

Keep up with the buddy reads with #PemberLittens; Villette and Jane Austen‘s Letters.

I‘m going to keep up with my reading of The Christmas Chronicles.

In December 1st I‘ll start two new books; the buddy read of the tagged with #KinderedSpiritsBuddyRead and I Desember.

I want to finish The Lives of Others and start Matrix.

The #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead will be starting #KindredSpiritsChristmas in December! Find the stories wherever you like, skip days or binge several stories at once—you do you! We‘ll enjoy these cozy holiday stories & chat about them as we go. I‘ll try for a daily post & will tag the group. You can comment on my posts, do your own posts on each story, whatever works for you. All are welcome—comment if you're not tagged and you'd like to be!

Repost for @BarbaraJean

Join us for a #KindredSpiritsChristmas as the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead enjoys LMM‘s Christmas stories in December! There are several different collections out there, so I‘ve made a story-a-day schedule—including two Anne excerpts & a Thanksgiving story. Find the stories wherever you like, skip days if you can‘t find the story, binge several stories at once—you do you!
More info on their page

Join us for a #KindredSpiritsChristmas as the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead enjoys LMM‘s Christmas stories in December! There are several different collections out there, so I‘ve made a story-a-day schedule—including two Anne excerpts & a Thanksgiving story. Find the stories wherever you like, skip days if you can‘t find the story, binge several stories at once—you do you! The goal is to enjoy these cozy holiday stories & chat about them as we go. ⤵️

I was a bit disappointed by this. Only two stories included Anne, and they were both retreaded excerpts from the novel series. The other stories became quite redundant. Too many of the other tales involved a family struggling at Christmas time and another family stepping in to give them a big holiday meal and/or estranged relatives coming together at Christmas time. A bit more variety would have helped!

This was a fun read!😊🎄📚 #merryreaders #wintergames @Clwojick

12 delightful holiday stories featuring characters from Anne of Green Gables along with some new characters.

#wintergames #teamreadnosedreindeer

This also fits the #12colorsofdecember

This collection of 15 short stories was really sweet. They‘re all based around the characters from Anne of Green Gables.
+576 #WinterGames2020 #MerryReaders #FestiveFlicksBingo #Cosyathon #TistheSeasonathon #CYOHolidayAdventure #Winterathon #MerryBookmas #LittenListen #CrushtheRush #ReadYourWay

This was a lovely read. While there were two, I believe, with Anne Shirley, the rest were stand alone short stories with new characters. Every single one had a happy ending. ❤️😊

⭐⭐⭐⭐
14 Short Stories finished #holidayreads
2 excerpts from Anne of Green Gables I'm not sure if they count, as a story or not.
#WinterGames #teamelectricsex @LibrarianRyan @StayCurious @Clwojick

This was delightful! Full of characters from Montgomery's books, some I knew already. The stories focus on acts of kindness and community, and it was just so lovely and just what I needed this holiday season! #WinterGames @Clwojick @StayCurious #SlayBells #HolidayRead (21 pts)

Such sweet stories about some of my favorite childhood characters. My favorite story was probably the one where Anne gets her new dress with the puffy sleeves.

#HolidayReads #TeamFestivus @wanderinglynn #wintergames @StayCurious @Clwojick (21pts)

🌲 Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood, Child Soldier by Michel Chikwanine, Silent Steppe by Mukhamet Shayakhmetov
🌲marzipan
🌲Nope, not until December 22nd
🌲 The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder
🌲my mom and I always breakfast in town on the 23rd (keep in mind that I come from a tiny hamlet, so as a kid, breakfast in town felt very exotic 😉)

I can't wait for December to begin!!!😍😃
#Christmas2018 @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks