kindredspiritsbuddyread

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

WE KNOW. You‘ve mentioned it probably 80 times now. Let it go, Jen. Let it go.

I wish I‘d kept track of the number of footnotes that explain how Myrtle Webb was born out of wedlock. Little did I know…

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BookishMarginalia 🤣🤣🤣 3d

TheAromaofBooks Poor Myrtle, all these years later and it's the only thing the biographers can find worth mentioning! 😂 3d

lauraisntwilder We get it, Jen! 😂 3d

29 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

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

TheAromaofBooks I completely think pride is Emily's primary characteristic. But I actually think it may have been LMM's as well, so it checks out. Emily does and says so many things based on “what people will think.“ I can somewhat understand her interactions with Teddy - fearing that her feelings are more serious than his - but she still allows pride to override her desire to be with him. 1w

TheAromaofBooks As a side note, I was also disappointed in the way that Ilse and Emily's friendship just sort of disappeared here. I understand that it's part of growing up, but it felt like Emily purposefully refused to say anything of her true feelings to Ilse - again, because of pride - and it felt strange that they could be the best friends in the world!!! and neither of them even knew that the other liked either of the boys that they also were close to?? 1w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Oh, I hadn't thought about that pride connection with LMM! But YES, that rings true in so many ways. And I agree about Emily and Ilse's friendship. Ilse is so clueless as to what's going on with Emily, I think partly because she's kind of oblivious to emotional nuances... but also, Emily withholds SO much out of pride. Plot-wise, the withholding is necessary since the resulting misunderstanding is central to the conflict here ⬇ 5d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...but it's so sad to me that their friendship becomes just this surface shell of what it was when they were younger. All four were such chums growing up... I really liked their little group. They seemed so well-matched. And the way they all withhold their true feelings breaks that up on all sides. Except for Perry. Good old Perry. 5d

kwmg40 Emily's pride is definitely a hinderance, and as @TheAromaofBooks said in a comment to another post, it's the real reason her writing career had been interrupted. 3d

26 likes5 comments

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. 1w

TheAromaofBooks If anything, I think Emily's writing is held back by her own pride and ambitions. She doesn't sacrifice her writing for Dean - she does so because she thinks it's not good enough. And I actually don't get the impression that she is going to stop writing after she marries Teddy, because he understands how important it is to her. (Unlike Dean, ironically.) However, I think the STORY somewhat gets overshadowed by focusing on Emily's romance instead ⬇ 1w

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) of her writing - I feel like the main plot of Emily would be summarized by her choose between two men rather than her spending her time writing. And maybe part of the problem is that LMM wanted to write about a woman who wants to write, but her publishers/readers want to read about a woman finding love? And consequently this book feels a little compromise-y. 1w

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BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Yeah, Emily's writing is so central to who she is, while writing never seems central to Anne. Emily can't NOT write! That still comes across even though there's so much romance drama in this book. @TheAromaofBooks I think you're right that the story in this book specifically shifts its focus to the romance. This book overall is super uneven, and I agree--it feels like a compromise between who LMM envisioned Emily to be ⬇ 5d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...and what her publisher/readers wanted the book to be. In her journals, when she was discussing the first or second Emily book, she mentioned something about how she couldn't write the romance the way she wanted to, either. I'm SO curious what these three books would have been like if LMM had been able to free herself from the “what would people think“ inhibitions! 5d

kwmg40 Everyone else has summarized quite well what I thought of the writing vs romance themes, so I don't have anything more to add. @BarbaraJean, I too would be curious to find out how LMM would have written this book had she the full freedom to do so. 3d

22 likes6 comments

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! 1w

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? 1w

TheAromaofBooks I'm obviously not a fan of this book, so I tried to think about it a little more objectively, as a piece of writing and not just a story. I wouldn't say that it's “no good“ but I can see why LMM felt frustrated by it. Like @lauraisntwilder pointed out, she didn't particularly want to write this book, and I wonder if, perhaps subconsciously, some of her resentment comes through, by giving Emily a hard time and a somewhat ambiguous ending. 1w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks Right?! It had to be frustrating to write a book she didn't want to write. In her journals she talks about hating having to write “to order,“ and she doesn't mean these books specifically, but I think that feeling shows in some of her sequels (especially the later add-on Anne books, like Anne of Ingleside). I agree, I don't think it's “no good,“ but I can understand why she felt that way. And it's not AS good! 5d

kwmg40 My assessment of the book is not as harsh as LMM's own, but there were definitely weaknesses. The ending wrapped up too tidily to be believable. I wonder if LMM was thinking, “OK, I've reached the required word count. Let's finish this off quickly!“ 3d

21 likes5 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. 1w

lauraisntwilder The section of Emily reading reviews reminded me of LMM's similar reactions in her journals. 1w

TheAromaofBooks I agree with @lauraisntwilder - this definitely felt like the weakest of the three books to me, but not her overall weakest book. There just isn't much “drive“ to this book - I never really got behind Teddy or Dean as love interests. The side story with Ilse and Teddy/Perry also feels kind of awkward. It's an okay story, but I think it lacks some of the “sparkle“ that her other books have - maybe because there isn't as strong of cast of ⬇ 1w

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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) background/secondary characters? Everyone abandons Emily and heads off to start new lives. Hearing that eventually Emily's cousin is going to inherit (and basically destroy) New Moon made me wonder anew why Emily chose to stay there instead of pursuing opportunities elsewhere. When Anne postponed dreams to stay at GG, it was because doing so saved her home. I still feel like Emily stayed because she was scared to take a jump. The other ⬇ 1w

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) weird thing about this book is how much time it covers, especially at the very end, where apparently YEARS go by before Teddy comes back!? It just doesn't jive for me. 1w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks It's definitely my least favorite of the Emily books, even though I was completely on board with Teddy as the love interest! I think the Emily/Teddy/Ilse/Perry love quadrangle is one of the worst parts of the book. The Ilse & Teddy pairing seems so contrived and I hate the way LMM distances Emily & Ilse in order for it to happen. And Sarah, I felt the same way about the timing at the end. The pacing is WAY off. ⬇ 5d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) Also, I'd forgotten that Andrew was going to inherit New Moon, and I DEFINITELY saw parallels with LMM and her awful uncle!! As well as parallels between Emily staying at New Moon and the way LMM stays in Cavendish and feels left behind...her childhood friends have all left or changed dramatically. Emily's decision to stay makes sense at the end of Emily Climbs, but LMM kind of drops that reasoning here, in favor of the Dean subplot. 5d

kwmg40 This is my least favourite of the LMM books I've read, but I still enjoyed it. The romantic quadrangle took up so much of the book, in contrast to other LMM books that featured more fascinating side characters and interesting subplots. 3d

20 likes8 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? 😂😂😂 2w

kwmg40 I'm only a quarter of the way through, but I'm already loathing Dean! 2w

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella I probably should have been clearer about my emotions. 😂 😂 😂 @kwmg40 Right?!? Chapter 6 is the absolute WORST. 2w

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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. 2w

TheAromaofBooks I just started this one yesterday, and am NOT looking forward to Creepy Dean!! 2w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Oh no! Glad you got it sorted out… and sorry about Dean 😆 @TheAromaofBooks Every time I read this, I hate him more. 2w

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. ⤵️ 3w

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 3w

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. 3w

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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! 💯 3w

TheAromaofBooks @julieclair - Oh did you move?? Would you be okay with emailing me your new address? itsthegoodlife15 at gmail 😁 3w

rubyslippersreads Temu Blue Castle! 🤣 3w

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! 3w

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 😂 3w

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 :) 3w

BarbaraJean @TheKidUpstairs How lovely!! It would be so interesting to read these having all the places nearby! 3w

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) 3w

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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) 3w

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! 3w

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. 3w

TheAromaofBooks I couldn't believe that the reason the church treasurer was on their side was because he had been embezzling money!! 😐 3w

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 ⬇ 3w

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!! 3w

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks It really feels like Ewan is her roommate. They even go on separate vacations. 3w

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. 3w

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. 3w

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. 3w

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! 3w

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. 3w

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)

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