The #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead is taking a break in December, but we‘ll pick up again in the new year with The Story Girl & The Golden Road. I‘ve tagged those who were interested, but all are welcome—comment if you‘d like to be tagged!

Both of these have roughly 30 chapters—we could continue chapter-a-day, but it seems most of us have a hard time keeping to daily chapters! How about one book per month, with a discussion at the end of the month?

“I am simply a ‘book drunkard.‘ Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them.”
—L.M. Montgomery

Not sure where this LMM quote is from, but I love it, and it‘s a perfect way to say “Happy Birthday, L.M. Montgomery!”‘here on Litsy. 🎉📚🎂🥳

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: Chronicles/Further Chronicles of Avonlea discussion:

What do you think of LMM‘s short stories in general?

Have you read any of her short stories before?

Would you seek out more of her short fiction, or do you prefer her novels?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: Chronicles/Further Chronicles discussion:
Several stories have problematic themes & content. How do you respond when a work reflects attitudes of its time such as racist stereotypes & terms that are (at best) problematic through a modern lens?
Do you skim/overlook the problem content, looking for something worthwhile in the rest of the work? Or do you skip the work completely?
What, if any, value is there in such works?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: Chronicles/Further Chronicles of Avonlea discussion:

Most collections of short stories will have at least a few misses.
Which stories did you dislike in Chronicles?
Which did you dislike in Further Chronicles?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: Chronicles/Further Chronicles of Avonlea discussion:

What did you think of the reappearance of Anne, Diana, and other characters from the Anne series?

Did the inclusion of these characters work for you or was it distracting?

Starting out our #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead with a couple basic intro questions: What were your favorite stories or favorite moments from Chronicles?
What were your favorite stories or moments in Further Chronicles?

December #BookSpin list! I have a “clear the decks” approach, with lots of series I‘d like to make progress in/finish (plus my usual poetry & book club picks). I usually try to weight the list toward TBRs on my physical shelves, but I‘ll be out of town the last half of the month, so I have maybe half the list as eBooks I can grab from the library. I‘ll see which series the BookSpin fairy picks for me…and whether I‘ll get an elusive #BookSpinBingo!

I enjoyed seeing the Anne & Diana story (and its Miss Lavendar name-drop!), even though Anne & Diana felt like little more than name-drops themselves. But I loved “The Brother Who Failed”… it might be my favorite in this collection. 💜 #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I‘m *almost* caught up with my story-a-day reading, which means this discussion must be coming soon! 😆 Join us on Sunday to discuss Chronicles of Avonlea and Further Chronicles of Avonlea! I‘ll post some questions mid-day Pacific Time; feel free to jump in when you‘re able. AND… be thinking about whether you‘d like to continue with more #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead-ing. I‘d love to read more L.M. Montgomery together if people are interested.

“One can be happy in eternal solitude. A book, a cup of tea, and no company: that was Cecilia‘s idea of heaven. Having spent the past week surrounded by people and thwarted at every turn in her efforts to locate a library, she was now feeling as if she had endured an upper circle of Hell.”

“…part of what he saw was his own shame and horror, the sight of his own folly, the judgment one can imagine he found even harder to bear than God‘s, which was his own judgment on himself, because whereas God is merciful, we are none of us very good at showing mercy on ourselves.”

I can‘t wait to dig into this #NewYearWhoDis list from @Blaire in January! About half were already on my TBR—some I don‘t even remember adding to my Goodreads TBR, so I‘m glad for the excuse to actually pick them up! I loved Ted Chiang‘s Stories of Your Life so I‘ve been wanting to read Exhalation, and I put Crying in H Mart on my Christmas list, so I may start there… but I‘ll see where my mood (and my library holds) take me in January. 😁

This was a lovely #MGBuddyRead pick. 12-year-old Edie begins to explore her past when she finds a box of letters & photos in her attic and realizes there may be more to discover about her heritage than she knew. I liked the portrayal of the parents & Edie‘s struggle to ask for answers. There was a friendship thread that needed more resolution, but overall I was really impressed by how the author handled the difficult realities of Native adoption.

Belated review, since I‘m now several stories into Further Chronicles! I hadn‘t realized just how much I would enjoy these tales set in and around Avonlea, sprinkled with little references to Anne or other characters from the Anne series. These light, sweet, and often humorous stories were a nice little reading dessert to dip into and indulge in during a busy couple of weeks. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I enjoyed this 2nd Lord Peter Wimsey mystery just as much as the first, but for different reasons. The dialogue felt wittier, and the character descriptions at the beginning were🔥 But one too many false trails made the solution feel like more of a stretch than an “aha!” Even so, it was a satisfying classic “manor house” murder mystery & I‘ll keep on with the series. Also, how great is this battered old hand-me-down copy from my friend‘s grandma?!

Today‘s story was a sweet tale of reconciliation, but I‘m a little tired of this repeated motif of the person who plans to forgive eventually… but not yet. “Of course I wouldn‘t forgive him the first time, but he was too stubborn to ask for forgiveness a second time, and I was too proud to go back on my word, so instead we just pined after each other for twenty years…” 🙄

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

“There‘s different kinds of ministers, and each must talk to men in his own tongue if he‘s going to do ‘em any real good,” said old Abel meditatively. “YOUR tongue is music.”

This might be my favorite story from Chronicles of Avonlea—the way it broadens the view of what “ministry” is & how it shows redemption through music rather than sermonizing. There are some issues with the story, but it‘s a lovely picture of grace. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

“It was really over a question of syntax that we quarreled. Peter told me I‘d have to take him as he was, grammar and all, or go without him. I went without him.”

I mean, I don‘t find this a completely inadequate reason for ending a relationship. 🤣

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I got off to a confusing start with this one. Based on the cover art & a comparison to The Westing Game, I assumed it was MG or at least YA. Nope. I came across two main characters in their 30s…and as one of them met his boyfriend at a bar, wondering if he was going to be proposed to or get dumped, I realized I needed to re-evaluate. 😂 Once I figured out the intended audience, I really enjoyed it! ⤵️

These first two stories in Further Chronicles of Avonlea were such a delight. From the escapades of Aunt Cynthia‘s Persian cat to the outlandish coincidence of Cecil Fenwick… I‘m loving these short stories. (Well, apart from that one fleeting racist comment at the end of the Cecil Fenwick story… 😩) And how about that Anne Shirley name-drop in the first story? 😂
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

1. Clariel (Garth Nix), Further Chronicles of Avonlea (L.M. Montgomery), Lifting the Veil (Malcom Guite), Theology (David Ford), and David‘s Crown (Malcom Guite)

2. Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts (Kate Racculia)

3. Under the Whispering Door, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, The True Queen, Terciel & Elinor

…I had more books on hold than I thought!

#WeekendReads

Further Chronicles of Avonlea story-a-day starts tomorrow! Here‘s the schedule for the rest of this part of our #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. I‘m caught up and ready to dive in with these further short stories tomorrow. 😊

Thanks for the tag, @sblbooks —it‘s not Tuesday now, but I‘ll play #Two4Tuesday!
1. I‘d love to return to this bookstore I didn‘t get nearly enough time in on a brief visit in 2018 (my poor tired husband & friends couldn‘t stay on their feet any longer; I only had time for a quick browse & a picture with the cathedral seen through the window). 💜
2. Usually I have a few books in mind, but that doesn‘t stop me from browsing the rest of the shelves!

So, I had grand plans for this book in the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. I was going to keep up with the schedule, post about each story… then the 2nd story was a lot longer than anticipated, I had a really busy week, and here we are on story 10 out of 12 & I‘ve only just caught up with the schedule. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It was fun seeing another glimpse of Anne in today‘s story, though! How‘s everyone else‘s reading going?! What‘s been your favorite story so far?

November #BookSpinBingo card is all set up! I‘m excited about both #BookSpin picks (tagged is my BookSpin), and am enjoying the parallel structure of the titles: Lifting the Veil and Telling the Truth. I may have to also read Practicing Resurrection, Reading the OED, and Teaching a Stone to Talk, just for comprehensiveness. 😆

Here are my results for October‘s #BookSpinBingo: I completed my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin (and also belatedly finished September‘s BookSpin and DoubleSpin!), but came up just short of a bingo. (I‘m so close—halfway through Clouds of Witness, which would have accomplished a bingo!)

Favorites:
🎓The Last Graduate
🚪The Door on Half-Bald Hill
🐉 Dragonsong

Did anyone else get “Single Ladies” stuck in their head while reading today‘s #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead story or was it just me? 😂💍 Apparently we didn‘t get enough of Anne‘s matchmaking in the series proper, so Montgomery‘s gotta throw another matchmaker tale in here…😂 It was nice to see a little Anne again, though… and the reference to Echo Lodge!

The #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead will start Chronicles of Avonlea tomorrow—and here‘s the schedule if you‘d like to follow along with one story each day. All are welcome!

I‘ve loved re-reading the Emily books for the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead. This third book was more muddled & problematic than I remembered, and I do think in the end Montgomery wasn‘t quite able to reconcile Emily‘s writing & her love story. But Emily is still my favorite L.M. Montgomery heroine, and I‘ll return to New Moon and Shrewsbury with her again… even if she breaks my heart along the way like she always does.

I bought this heavily-stickered library discard copy at a library book sale on my honeymoon almost 8 years ago… and I wish I‘d read it sooner! This little 1970s YA fantasy is such a gem. It tackles traditions & gender roles and the effects of emotional abuse without being an “issues” novel—the themes are so naturally woven into the story. And, I mean: singing fire lizards (i.e. mini dragons). Loved this. Can‘t wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

This gorgeously-written Irish-influenced fantasy was a perfect October read, with its growing sense of fear and foreboding. Under the Bloodmoon, the land of Balilean is plagued by bitter water and a growing poison in the earth… and in the hearts of its people. Idris, Bard of Blackthorn, seeks the Sacred Word and a hope for the future of the land. This is definitely slow-paced, but it‘s also beautiful and sad and hopeful and I loved it.

I‘ve been hearing wonderful things about Dorothy Sayers‘ Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries for years, and I finally picked up this first one. It was an intriguing setup, and although I sensed where the clues were going, the details of the mystery still kept me curious. I loved the intro to Lord Peter and his faithful valet Bunter (and his mother, the Duchess of Denver!). Looking forward to more in this series.

Presenting my November #BookSpin list!! I‘ve included my usual book club picks and a poetry selection, but the majority of the list is nonfiction from my TBR shelves, in anticipation of Nonfiction November. This includes two that have been lingering on my shelves since they were optional reading for my study abroad semester in Florence, Italy. In 1996. 🤣 I randomized the numbers this time for maximum serendipity. 😁

This week completely got away from me—how is it November on Monday?!? 😱

But since November starts on Monday, our #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead of Chronicles of Avonlea also starts on Monday! I‘m tagging those who wanted to be tagged, but if you‘d like to be added to the list, just let me know. Anyone is welcome to join. 😊

Looking forward to diving into these short stories with all of you!

I am reminded of the solstice, of the light, the force, that stopped my descent into darkness. That light is older than Death. I know it without knowing how. And Death will not outlast it. Of that, too, I am sure. I take comfort. I carry that light within me. I wear it like a garment.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion part 6:

There are some lighter moments in the book, as well as some triumphs for Emily. What were some of the high points of this book for you?

What are your thoughts on the series as a whole? Which book was your favorite, and why?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion part 5:

This book is far darker than the previous two novels, with Emily‘s sleepless nights, her illness and giving up her writing, the emptiness after she ends her engagement, and her anguish over Teddy.

Do you see Emily grow through these times of sadness and despair?

Were they worth it, in light of how things come together by the end—or does this time feel wasted to you?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion part 4:

How did you feel about Emily‘s friendships with Perry and Ilse in this book? (How frustrated were you with Ilse and/or Emily?!?)

What did you make of Emily‘s friendship with Mrs. Kent?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion part 3:

Let‘s just rant about Dean and how awful he is. Go ahead; get it all out.

Or does he have any redeeming qualities? Do you find anything sympathetic about him?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily‘s Quest discussion part 2:

Emily has episodes of “second sight” in each of the three books—here, when she “calls” to Teddy to prevent him from boarding the Flavian.

What did you think about this episode, especially in comparison to the other two times we see this uncanny ability of hers?

#KindredSpiritsBuddy read discussion for Emily‘s Quest - part 1

What‘s your interpretation of the title? Do you see Emily‘s quest as one for career or for love? Or something else?

Are love and career mutually exclusive pursuits for Emily?

How do you think Emily‘s writing would have been impacted if she and Teddy had sorted things out sooner (or if they never had)?

Just a reminder for all you #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead-ers out there: Monday will be our wrap-up discussion for Emily‘s Quest. I‘ll post discussion questions around mid-day Pacific Time.

And anyone who‘s interested is welcome to join us for Chronicles of Avonlea story-a-day, starting November 1st! (If you haven‘t already, let me know if you‘d like to be tagged for the Chronicles buddy read)

Well, it‘s been a long day and this is the first chance I‘ve had to sit down with a book. So much for the #BirthdayBash readathon. 😕 BUT, I will be spending the next hour with these two, rather appropriately: #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead & my October #BookSpin pick! Sarah, thank you for all you contribute to Litsy—I hope you had a simply wonderful birthday with so many people reading in celebration! I hope you got some reading in today as well. 😊

As our #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead is finishing up the Emily books, would anyone like to head back to Avonlea in November with these two collections of short stories? In the versions I have, there are 12 stories in Chronicles and 15 in Further Chronicles, so if we continued our same format, we could do a story a day from Nov. 1st - 27th, with a book-end discussion on the 28th. I'm tagging current & past buddy readers--comment if you're interested!

I tore through this sequel to A Deadly Education, and am now bereft. I enjoyed getting to see a full year of the Scholomance, and loved El‘s gradual, grudging growth in connection with those around her. That ending, though. This was literally my reaction to the last line: 😦🤭 Book 3 can‘t come fast enough!

I haven‘t really enjoyed Christie‘s short stories in the past (too much Hastings), but I really enjoyed this collection of short mysteries featuring Mr. Satterthwaite and the mysterious Mr. Quin, who seems to appear just when a “drama” is unfolding. Mr. Satterthwaite grows a bit through each successive story, and the mystery of Mr. Quin is nicely handled as just a little quirk of Mr. Satterthwaite‘s life. (Also I just like saying Satterthwaite.)

This is a solid MG historical mystery set in Pittsburgh in the 1920s. I loved how the plot didn‘t take a back seat to the historical setting and related issues of racism and the Great Migration. Rather, those related issues are woven into the plot quite naturally. And the historical context was fascinating and made me want to read more about the time period. ⤵️ #MGBuddyRead

I loved this conclusion to the King Raven trilogy. Lawhead is such a great storyteller, and his reimagining of the Robin Hood legend set in Wales works so well. This last book, told mainly through the eyes of Friar Tuck (naturally), brings out some interesting themes of redemption and justice and brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. This was my September #BookSpin—another TBR completed and a series completed as well!

Here‘s the final section of the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead Emily chapter-a-day! I needed the schedule reminder today… somehow I‘m two chapters ahead. And eager to keep reading ahead, because this part of the book just begs you to finish it!! Looking forward to discussing with everyone in a little over a week!