Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals
Maybe it‘s a bit late to post a review here, now that I‘m into volume 2—and also it seems strange to review an author‘s journals! But I think it‘s worth mentioning that this presentation of LMM‘s journals is fantastic—there are photos and other images reproduced throughout, along with LMM‘s captions/notes, to show the format in which LMM herself put together her journals. ⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) It‘s also extensively footnoted (sometimes too much so) to give further information on the people, books, and events LMM references. Especially after having read a few biographies, I really enjoyed reading LMM‘s own narration of the happenings of her life. 4mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

A few questions for the complete journals, volume 1:

In what ways do you see LMM's voice & outlook change from age 15 to age 26?
For you, what do you enjoy about reading an author‘s journals (or other biographical material)?
Throughout her journals, LMM writes about many of the books she's reading. Did any stand out to you as ones you want to read?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

Next week: Wordsworth & Sir Walter Scott for #LMMAdjacent!

CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean This first volume of her journals really shows her growing up! I was fascinated to see the same core voice & personality, but to see her grow & mature on the page--in life and in her writing. A few books that caught my eye: Poems of Passion (Ella Wheeler Wilcox), Quo Vadis, Vanity Fair, and The Last of the Mohicans--none of which I've read. If anyone is interested in any of these—or others!—maybe we can add some in as #LMMAdjacent reads sometime! (edited) 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement It is interesting to me to see what an author pulls from their own experiences and what they choose to alter. How much their created characters might be like themselves, or the people they experience along the way. 5mo

TheAromaofBooks I really enjoyed reading these journals more than I thought I would - I was afraid it would feel like we were going over the same ground, now that we've read a few different biographies. But getting LMM's personal perspective was engaging and intriguing. I loved seeing what she included and what she didn't. Her voice is warm, friendly, confiding, funny. This does feel more like an autobiography than journals at some level; you can tell that she ⬇ 5mo

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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) intended for them to be published, I think. I loved her descriptions of nature and her need to create a little “home space“ wherever she was. I thought it was interesting that you could already see seasonal depression seeping through - many references to winter being hard and spring and summer being a time when she felt good and happy. In one section where she was reflecting on her thoughts on religion when she as a child she talks about⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) only feeling guilty/sinful in the winter. But when she was describing how miserably cold it was, I could see why! Winter probably did feel like a divine punishment when your bedroom had snow blowing around inside! Anyway, I really did enjoy reading this and am looking forward to following her journey, even if it does get sadder as we go. 😕 5mo

TheAromaofBooks As for books - The ones you mentioned (especially The Last of Mohicans, which I've always meant to read anyway). I've already read Vanity Fair last year, so I really loved seeing LMM's thoughts, and the way they changed from her childhood reading to her adult one. I was also drawn to some of the “fluffier“ books she mentioned, like Mary Johnston's “To Have and to Hold“ and “The Prisoner of Zenda“ by Anthony Hope. I also wondered about the ⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) nonfiction account “Farthest North“ by Fridtjof Nansen, mostly because LMM mentions it being “so recent“ - published in 1900 about his 1897 exploration, so something that was actual news for her as well as a book she read later, if that makes sense haha 5mo

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I also took note of The Last of the Mohicans. I've always meant to read that. As for LMM's changes throughout this section of journals, I noticed there were far fewer descriptions of nature when she was away from Cavendish. I could see how similar she was to Pat and made several notes about that. And Emily. 5mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Here we are at the end of the first volume of LMM's complete journals! A few questions on this week's reading (another post will follow with questions for the whole book):

What are your thoughts on this week‘s reading?
What stood out to you?
What changes did you see in Maud as a result of her relationships with Edwin Simpson and Herman Leard?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

Reminder: next week we'll be reading some #LMMAdjacent poetry!

CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean I thought it was interesting how there were fewer, much longer entries in this week's section. She became much more introspective--there were fewer narrations of daily life & social events, and more reflection on her inner/emotional life (re: Ed & Herman). I think both relationships force her to turn the corner from a carefree girl/young woman to an adult. It‘s interesting that two very different relationships kind of revealed what she wanted ⬇ (edited) 5mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) in a romantic partner, by both positive & negative example: physical attraction/passion, and compatibility of mind & spirit. She had the first but not the second with Herman, and she had some connection with Ed intellectually, but the compatibility of spirit and certainly the passion was not there. It was so sad to see the anguish she went through over both men, and to see how it affected the whole tone of her writing. 5mo

lauraisntwilder I agree, she definitely did some growing up over those last years we read. I missed the details about day-to-day life, but I appreciated, as you said, the introspective aspect of the longer entries. I think Herman and Ed were highly influential, in the ways of shaping her heart, but also an awareness of the cost of a romantic relationship--hurting someone like Ed and nearly "ruining" herself with Herman. 5mo

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lauraisntwilder Another big factor in Maud's maturation in this section was the death--or marriage--of so many people she carried for. 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement I was surprised she got herself in such a bind with Ed and admit I have trouble understanding what made her procrastinate the break-up for so long. I felt bad for her that she had no confidant to encourage her to end it with Ed sooner - or rather to have never accepted him. 5mo

TheAromaofBooks @CogsOfEncouragement - I felt the same way! I realize that a broken engagement was a much bigger deal then than it is now (socially) - but their engagement was secret, not public, so it seemed strange to me that she would hold off so long and agonize over it so much. It makes me wonder what else she was considering, besides her personal feelings. Her future social position? The uncertainty of her current home life? The fear of being an “old maid“? 5mo

TheAromaofBooks I actually got The Gift of Wings back out and reread the section on Leard/Simpson, and realized that I did genuinely disagree with some of Rubio's interpretations. Rubio thinks that LMM rewrote this entire journal section to make herself seem more sympathetic and to imply that she rejected Leard when the opposite may have been true (since Leard was also courting a local girl at the time). But I never felt like LMM acted like either she or Leard ⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) expected something permanent from their affair. LMM was, frankly, a bit of a snob, and I think she genuinely did believe that the Montgomerys were a step above a family like the Leards, but while she does list this and Leard's lack of education as reasons for why they wouldn't be a good long-term match, I never felt like she was debasing or making a mockery of him. I think she recognized this lustful infatuation as something that ⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) wouldn't make a good foundation for a marriage, but it's hard to see that when you are in the throes of the situation. Rubio also acts like LMM's journals smudge the timeline to make it less obvious that she was engaged to Simpson during the Leard affair, but I felt like she was really straightforward about that, too.

Another thing in the Rubio account that didn't seem to jive with the journals was R's claim that at this time LMM was ⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) desperate to get out of teaching and start writing full time. While I definitely see LMM increasing her writing and getting serious about it during this period, I don't remember reading anything about her wanting to do that alone before her grandfather's death. She even talks about basically being “stuck“ with her grandmother now and unable to take another teaching position. What did you all think? 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement @TheAromaofBooks Wow, what an accusation. I think Maud told the truth in her own journal. She was bright, clever, and funny, of course she had suitors. Good grief. Also the fact she didn‘t have an engagement ring made me think it should have been easier to break it off. Leard was 27 and has a dad who boards young women. I hated how he came into her room. Very forward with no regard for her reputation ⬇️ 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement Stolen moments are one thing, but stay out of her room. Then Leard‘s willingness to risk a pregnancy ended all romance for me, and I felt he had probably ill-used other young women and I‘m not a fan. He didn‘t deserve a photo. 5mo

TheAromaofBooks @CogsOfEncouragement - I kind of felt the same way about Leard. I realize this is LMM's perspective, but it did feel like he put the moves/pressure on her at a time when she was emotionally vulnerable. I think her head told her that this was a bad idea & he was a bad match, but she was very drawn to him physically & emotionally. Living in the same house with him made it extra hard to follow her head. I felt like LMM was pretty raw in this section. 5mo

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lauraisntwilder

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

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So many thoughts! I was amazed at how beautiful her descriptions of nature were, even as a teen. Her friends played such an important role, growing up with seemingly joyless grandparents, an absentee father, & a dead mother. Her wit & charm come through so much better in her journals than they ever could in a biography. She seems like she would have been so fun to know. I'm looking forward to the next volume, even though it'll be sadder, I think.

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Oh, books, books what worlds of pleasure you open! What freedom you offer all prisoners! How do people live who never read or want to read? I cannot understand them—but I pity them.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

LeahBergen ❤️❤️ 5mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

I have no doubt that it is a wise ordinance of fate—or Providence?—that I cannot get all the books I want or I should certainly never accomplish much. I am simply a “book drunkard.” Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I *cannot* withstand them.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks I marked this quote, too! SAME, Maud, same!! 5mo

Daisey I‘ve saved this quote previously and have a can koozie with it as well! 5mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Kindred spirits!! @Daisey It's been so fun coming across some of these well-known Maud quotes in context! 5mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

“How I love trees! Often and often, when I am alone in the woods I will put my arms tenderly about some old, grey-lichened trunk and press my face to it, feeling its life and balm flowing through every vein in my body as if it and I were one. There are some trees down home that I love so well that I would almost as soon have one of my fingers cut off as see one of them cut down…”
(April 25, 1897)

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks LMM and I have always agreed about trees 😂 5mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks LMM would very much approve of the rising interest in “forest bathing“ 😂 5mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

This week, we read from March 3, 1895 - April 19, 1897, through the end of LMM‘s first journal (but not yet the end of volume 1!). We read more of LMM‘s teaching experiences in Bideford, then her year at Dalhousie and teaching in Belmont. There were some lovely nature descriptions, and finally—some direct mention of Christmas celebrations!

What were your thoughts on this week‘s reading? What stood out to you?
#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean It was interesting to see Edwin Simpson enter the scene, through his letters! And the various rejected suitors make me realize where LMM got her material for the various disappointed swains throughout the Anne books (and the Pat books, for that matter!). I was also struck by the contrasts LMM draws between Bideford and Belmont. She was SO harsh about the people in Belmont! Her observations and sense of humor really shone through in so many places. 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement I requested The Selected Journals of LM Montgomery from my library system (the best free copy I could find) and was stoked when it shipped the same day. Sadly, five days later it still shows the same status. I trust I‘ll have it soon though. 5mo

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement 😭 Library timing seems to always be different than my expected timing! The first volume of the complete journals is available on Internet Archive, if you don't mind reading digitally! https://archive.org/details/completejournals0000mont 5mo

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CogsOfEncouragement @BarbaraJean Oh, thanks. I appreciate it! 5mo

lauraisntwilder There were several things I noticed this week about the differences between the 1890s and today, most especially the illnesses. The entry where Maud describes having measles was interesting. Poor Fulton had one thing after another wrong with him. And poor Will! 5mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder There was a lot of illness in this one! With the measles, it made me laugh that she ended up quarantined/ill along with one of the girls she just didn't like--and they seemed to bond quite a bit, but went back to disliking each other afterwards! The back & forth with Fulton was kind of hilarious. I loved how LMM felt bad for him since he kept getting ill, but then would get frustrated & say it wasn't an excuse for his behavior! (edited) 5mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder And then Will-- 😭 😭 I still wonder how LMM's life would have been different if she had ended up with Will, had he lived. 5mo

TheAromaofBooks I found it interesting that she was rather dismissive of her two Belmont students who are trying to get ready for the next level of education, mostly complaining about how much more work they are rather than wanting to help them. I can't imagine trying to teach 50-60 students all at different levels all at the same time!

It seems strange/sad that LMM ends up married to someone so not good for her - she obviously has other opportunities and ⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) potential suitors. I wonder what made her choose Ewan in the end?? I honestly find that one of the absolute strangest things about her entire life, that she married a minister when other opportunities were available. I agree about Will - how different her life would have been if she had been able to marry someone who supported and encouraged her!

I can't get over how cold everyone is in this section! BRRRR. Remind me to not take ⬇ 5mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) central heating for granted!!!!

@lauraisntwilder 5mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

For downright stupidity these church socials “take the cake.” The main things to do seem to be,
1. Sit prim.
2. Look demure or disapproving according to your age.
3. Hang back and act cranky in any game other people try to get up.
4. Cram yourself with a lot of indigestible stuff, the effects of which will be ever present with you for a week.

😂 I wonder what the age cutoff is for looking disapproving?
#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

LeahBergen I‘m probably in that age group right now. 😆 5mo

lauraisntwilder I haven't looked demure for a couple decades! 😂 5mo

TheAromaofBooks I may have been born in the disapproving group 😂 5mo

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dabbe 😂😂😂 5mo

BarbaraJean @LeahBergen @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks 😂😂 Maybe we need a t-shirt: “Disapproving according to my age” 5mo

lauraisntwilder I would wear that!! 5mo

rubyslippersreads I‘ll bet LMM looked disapproving as often as she looked demure. 😏 5mo

TheAromaofBooks @rubyslippersreads @laurainstwilder @BarbaraJean - “Demure on the outside, disapproving on the inside“ 😂 5mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks 😂 I‘d wear that one, too! 5mo

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LitsyEvents

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

repost for @BarbaraJean

Here's the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead schedule for June & July! For two weeks, we'll return to the #LMMJournals, finishing V1. Then we'll have two weeks of #LMMAdjacent reads with some poems that were favorites/influential for LMM. If you're not tagged & you'd like to be—for some or all of the above—let me know!

original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2742834

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Here's the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead schedule for June & July! For two weeks, we'll return to the #LMMJournals, finishing Volume One. Then we'll have two weeks of #LMMAdjacent reads with some poems that were favorites/influential for LMM. In early July, we'll begin Volume Two of the journals, then we'll have our first #LMMReread with Anne of Green Gables in late July. If you're not tagged & you'd like to be—for some or all of the above—let me know!

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

Daisey Do you keep separate tag lists? If possible could you keep me on your list of announcements for upcoming reads like this post? I am not going to read the journals currently and don‘t know that I‘ll fit in the next adjacent reads, but I would like to keep up with the schedule, if that makes sense. I had hoped to get to Undine, but not enough time this month. 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement Please add me. I‘ve been looking for a reason to reread Anne. These other books you‘ve chosen look really worthwhile. Thanks for hosting! 5mo

BarbaraJean @Daisey I do and I will! I‘ll tag you for future schedule/announcement posts. If something pops up that you‘d like to be tagged for the discussion posts, just let me know. (edited) 5mo

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BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I‘ll add you to the tag list! I post weekly discussion posts for each week‘s reading, and can tag you for all or just specific reads—let me know if you only want to join for specific reads, or for all! We‘re partway through the first volume of L.M. Montgomery‘s complete journals—I‘ve interspersed adjacent reads and re-reads roughly chronologically where they are mentioned in the journals. 5mo

CogsOfEncouragement Count me in for all of them. Thank you! 5mo

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement Will do! Glad to have you on board! 🎉 5mo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! I need to hunt up Wordsworth and Scott!! 5mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Me too! I have the Wordsworth in a couple of anthologies, but am going to need to check out Lady of the Lake from the library. 5mo

lauraisntwilder I'm enjoying being back with Maud this week. 😊 5mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Me too. 😊 5mo

rubyslippersreads I‘m behind on the Journals. 😟 please tag me for everything else. I don‘t know if I‘ll reread AOGG, but I‘ve read it so many times, I‘m sure I can follow along. (edited) 5mo

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads Totally understand! I‘ll tag you for the re-reads and adjacents. Join in whenever you can! 5mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Happy Saturday, Kindred Spirits! Here's our weekly #LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead check-in!

What are your thoughts on this week's reading?
What stands out to you:
From LMM's year at Prince of Wales College?
From her time teaching in Bideford?
Any observations, favorite sections or quotes?

Reminder: Next week, we'll pause the journals & pick up our first #LMMAdjacent book: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. We'll discuss Chapters 1-15 on 5/25.

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

lauraisntwilder When Maud was in Charlottetown, I missed her beautiful descriptions of the countryside near Cavendish. We've gotten to see more of her personality in this section, I think. The trick involving Jack S. and Mary C. was funny and reminded me of how often gossip plays a role in her books, one way or another. 6mo

TheAromaofBooks I don't know why I'm surprised at how often LMM's journals sound like her heroines haha Reading these has made me realize that while I frequently get impatient with rhapsodic descriptions of the countryside in fiction, I've always enjoyed it in LMM's books, and I think it's because she isn't writing what she thinks someone who loves the countryside/nature would say - she's literally writing what she, the author, feels, and her genuine love for ⬇ 6mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) nature and ability to see beauty all around her really comes through. It always feels genuine, and her journals show that it really IS genuine - her description of the snow on Dec. 6,'84 - “Earth looked like a cold, chaste bride in her silver veil, waiting to be waked by her lover's kiss to warmth and love and passion.“ Even though it's a bit flowery, I still loved this whole passage. @lauraisntwilder 6mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I agree--we see more of her personality here. Her writing feels less self-conscious. I think she's both growing up and growing up as a writer. No doubt part of it is that she's older and having experiences away from home! And I hadn't thought about the connection to the gossip plot threads in her books, but it's definitely there! That episode, and much of her college year, reminded me of both Anne of the Island and Emily Climbs. 6mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks I agree with you both about her nature descriptions--she was criticized for her “purple prose“ in her fiction (and so was Anne!), but the descriptions in her journal feel so natural. She's not trying to be flowery, she's reveling in the beauty she sees and wants to capture it on the page. It really reminds me of Emily Starr!! 6mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Happy Weekend, Kindred Spirits! This week we read through June 30, 1893, including the later part of LMM‘s stay with her father, her journey back to Cavendish, and her studies and social doings back at home.

What are your thoughts so far?
Was there anything that surprised you in this section?
What glimpses do you see of LMM‘s future writing?
Any observations, favorite sections or quotes?

#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean I was surprised there wasn't more about her stepmother. From the bios, her time in Prince Albert seemed much harder than she portrays it. Same with her journey home; in the bios it sounded like she was left to fend for herself much of that journey, traveling alone for a while, which was scandalous/unsafe for a young girl at that time. Here, it sounded like she was accompanied the whole way, other than one overnight train. ⬇ 6mo

BarbaraJean It makes me wonder how much she left out at the time vs. how much she cut out later. It's been said that she “razored out“ pages—I wish there were notes in the text showing where those missing pages fall! @lauraisntwilder You noted how much this reads like one of her books—that rang true for so many scenes this week! The Mr. Mustard proposal & the cow escapades could have come right out of Anne. And she uses the Well & Dave memories in Story Girl. 6mo

lauraisntwilder I have been surprised by so many things. I agree that the step-mother seemed glossed over, but then, she barely mentions her harsh Grandfather Macneill and rarely mentions her grandmother at all. She hasn't mentioned Christmas at home, only concerts and school performances, then straight to New Year's. That feels telling to me--were all her friends occupied and she was alone with her grouchy grandparents? Surely they would go to Park Corner? 6mo

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lauraisntwilder Love the details about Austin, at school, which was very Gilbert/Anne. And the description of her Uncle John, who will later try to steal her house out from under her and his own mother, who "was not then, anymore than now, noted for his consideration of other people's rights or feelings." Scathing and prescient! 6mo

TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean - I may have missed it, but has she ever mentioned her own birthday at any point? That seems like the kind of thing she would make a fuss about, as someone who likes to assess where she is and where she's going. She definitely seems focused on the positives. In fairness, a lot of things/chores we would consider “drudgery“ were just a part of every day life there, and not worth describing, I suppose. I don't ⬇ 6mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) journal much about my daily chores either haha Like Barbara, I wonder where the missing entries are, and whether they had some harder/more complaining content. She glosses over her stepmother, but reading between the lines you can tell she has a hard time of it - just the simple fact that she had to give up school to stay home and do work speaks volumes for the kind of life she was living there, considering how important education is ⬇ 6mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) to her. I've really enjoyed all these random memories and stories - I don't know why I'm surprised to see what a storytelling knack she has, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how entertaining these have been. One gripe I actually have has been with the excessive amount of footnotes (not LMM's) - some explaining archaic words would be fine, but seriously a footnote to explain why they were hunting 4-leaf clovers just felt ⬇ 6mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) condescending 😂 And I feel like a glossary of characters would have been way more helpful than constant footnotes. Telling me how this person is related this one time doesn't actually help me remember them 15 pages later. But those are minor quibbles with the layout. I'm enjoying the journals themselves a great deal. 6mo

lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks You know, you're right, I don't think she has mentioned her birthday. If she has, definitely not every year. And yes, to your footnote gripe! ? I didn't need a note for every resident of Prince Albert, especially when I already know she's never going back! I did think the (unnecessary) footnote about the northern lights was pretty though, specifically the phrase "a curtain of light." 6mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks I just checked, and no, there aren't descriptions of Christmas or birthdays, at least through 1893. I agree, Sarah: she seems like the kind of person who likes to look back & kind of take stock (she does that several times in a New Year‘s entry), so it‘s curious that those events aren‘t narrated or reflected upon in her journals. It does make sense that she wouldn‘t detail daily chores, etc. ⬇ 6mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) the balance feels VERY tilted towards “gadding about” and social events, but naturally so. I think I just assumed there would be more grumbling about grumpy grandparents & awful stepmother! There was one point where she said that her grandparents seemed opposed to any kind of gathering of young people, which cracked me up—based on the events she recorded it seemed kind of like that‘s ALL she was doing: gathering with other young people.😂 6mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks YES about the footnotes!! Some are a delight. But I am so tired of footnotes with irrelevant details about people who just aren't important to LMM. I don't care how they're related to her, where they used to live, where they move later—if they're never/rarely mentioned again! I started ignoring the people footnotes for that reason, but then found it annoying to have to go back to find an earlier footnote when ⬇ 6mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...it became apparent that someone I overlooked turned out to be important. It would be so much more helpful for footnotes to fill in context about how/why the person is or becomes significant in her life. And leave out the footnote otherwise! I should have started making a character list like I do when reading Russian novels...😆 6mo

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder - I was actually thinking the same thing about a character list! 😂 For this book, a character glossary seems like it would be much more helpful than all these dadblamed footnotes LOL

I guess part of the reason I've been a little surprised about the lack of complaining has been because the biographies we've read have spoken with such confidence about how miserable she was living with her grandpa, how he was a ⬇ 6mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) terrible person, how he constantly held her back, etc. etc. If that information didn't come from her journals, then where did the biographers get it? At this point he just seems like a shadowy background character. Even when she was leaving for Charlottesville I don't remember her saying anything like “Grandpa doesn't want me to go,“ although she does mention that her Grandma was the one who drove her. Grandpa even has come to visit at ⬇ 6mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) least once? I'm not trying to say that he wasn't actually against her furthering her education, etc., but I definitely don't feel like it's been mentioned at all so far. 6mo

lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean I have to assume she talked about her grandparents in her letters. Rubio interviewed a lot of people for the bio, so maybe they told her the grandparents were hard to live with? It feels like she's writing down what she wants to remember and she wouldn't need to be reminded that Grandpa is a jerk. 6mo

lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean The absence of any good memories with her grandparents says a lot, too. Like Christmas and birthdays. If they were pleasant or she took a nice evening walk with her grandmother or something, I feel like it would've been mentioned. 6mo

TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder - It's true, all of her “good times“ are taking place NOT at home! 6mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder Yes, I've wondered the same about where Rubio & others got the info that her grandparents were so difficult & her grandfather was against her education. The only inkling I've seen is in this week's reading, when she says he won't take her to interview for schools or let her have a horse to go herself. I think Laura must be right that it's in her letters or from Rubio's interviews. It could be in later journals ⬇ 6mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...if she refers back to her growing-up years then. Didn't one of the bios suggest she exaggerated how bad things were? That exaggeration has to be somewhere! It would make sense if there are future journal entries where she reminisces/complains about the past. Regardless, you're both right that what's left out is very telling, when her best moments are NOT at home! And especially because home and family are such a focus in her books. 6mo

27 likes21 comments

BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

“How I do love books! Not merely to read once but over and over again. I enjoy the tenth reading of a book as much as the first. Books are a delightful world in themselves. Their characters seem as real to me as my friends of actual life.”
—L.M. Montgomery, January 12, 1893

#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks ❤ ❤ ❤ 6mo

MaGoose Yes, I agree. I don't know if I'd read a book 10 times, but I'll read some at least two or three times. The Scarlet Letter, for example: I first read it in school as required reading and liked it well enough. But I read it again in my late 40s or early 50s and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got much more out of the story. Some books are meant to be enjoyed and absorbed at certain times during our lives, I guess. #litsylove 6mo

32 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

“Dear old world you are very lovely and I love you. I am glad to be alive in you.”

I LOVE that what becomes a future Anne quote is taken almost directly from 17-year-old LMM‘s journal!

#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks ❤ ❤ ❤ 7mo

lauraisntwilder This diary reads like one of her books so far. 7mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder The cow escapades earlier this week felt so much like an Anne and Diana adventure! 6mo

42 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

“I had a charming time all through except for a scare I got with one of David Macneill‘s cows, and having to skulk about the woods for nearly an hour while the Baptists were going through the lane to Sunday School…”

The image of LMM “skulking about the woods” to avoid the Baptists just cracked me up. And the cow! I really want more detail in this entry!!

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean Clearly I posted too soon, as there is more detail about avoiding savage-looking cows in the October 22 entry. 😆 7mo

TheAromaofBooks I'm so surprised that a country girl like Maud has such a terror of cows! I marked the passage I was reading today because I was a bit horrified at her casual attitude towards fence breaking as well! 😂 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I know, right?! But it was both LMM and Lu! That comment: “I don‘t know how it is that we have got to be such cowards over strange cows.” 😂Partially in their defense as regards the fence-breaking: at least some of it was done because of their “deadly fear” of cows.🤣 Although THAT made me worry that the cows would get out!! 7mo

34 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Weekly check-in for #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - our first with the #LMMJournals!

I have to apologize for breaking up the reading so oddly—it wasn't until I finished up my own reading that I saw I'd completely missed a natural break at the end of 1890 and kept us going into 1891 for a grand total of 2 pages. 😂

How is your reading going?
What are your thoughts on this week's reading?
Any observations, favorite sections, or quotes?

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean I loved the superstition of counting 9 stars over 9 nights, and the questions with Nate over which boy/girl they liked best—such drama! Then this quote from July 26, 1890: “The fact is, Nate is absurdly sentimental these days—or would be if I would allow it. I hate that sort of thing. He has just spoiled our lovely, old comradeship completely. He is so nice when he is sensible and so horrid when he isn't!“ SO much like Anne's words about Gilbert! 7mo

BarbaraJean I was also struck by the fact that LMM calls Bulwer-Lytton her favorite author at one point (July 31, 1890), since there's a contest for BAD writing named after him! “Since 1982 the Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest has challenged participants to write an atrocious opening sentence to the worst novel never written.“ https://www.bulwer-lytton.com/

Maybe we should add a Bulwer-Lytton book to our #LMMAdjacent list? 😂 7mo

TheAromaofBooks I also saw similarities between Maud/Nate and Anne/Gilbert. It made me wonder if Maud ever looked back at that relationship and wished she had allowed it to grow into something more. I feel so bad for her being so homesick!! 7mo

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TheAromaofBooks We talked a little on the other post about whether or not (or how much) editing LMM did of her own journals when she recopied them. Like you said, so much of this genuinely sounds like a girl in her teens, being silly and dramatic, convinced that everything that happens is SO IMPORTANT. it's amazing how perspective is something you literally just have to earn with age! As you get older, waiting a year for something doesn't feel as crazy. 7mo

TheAromaofBooks However, some of what I wondered were small things, like when she was getting ready to leave for the west and saying that's she determined to absolutely love her step mother and get along wonderfully - more small sentences that cast herself as the mature, reasonable person in a situation. Not necessarily big scene edits, but small insight edits. Personally, I don't think I could bear to go through and copy out by hand my numerous teen/20s ⬇ 7mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) journals! Oh the horrors! 😂

Overall, I'm finding this so readable and engaging. I'm very glad that we've already covered a couple of biographies to give me a background/overview of her life and some of the major characters, though. That framework is helping me just be able to read these as they come instead of being confused about the background. 7mo

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean I think “9 stars over 9 nights” is mentioned in Emily of New Moon. Nate also reminds me a bit of Perry, in that Emily only wants him as a chum, but Perry feels quite different. (edited) 7mo

rubyslippersreads @TheAromaofBooks Having read the biographies helps me too, as does having read the YA novel

Maud: A Novel Inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery

7mo

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean He was her favorite author when she was 15; I wonder how long that lasted? 😏 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I wonder that about Nate as well! YES, having read those biographies has definitely been helpful, and also Maud, as @rubyslippersreads mentioned (which I think you skipped--there's lots of Nate and Will in that one!). It‘s fascinating to see what feels emphasized here vs. what has been emphasized elsewhere, both in the biogs and fictionally. I'm waiting for the VERY SIGNIFICANT absence of Edwin Simpson in later volumes. 😏😂 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I hadn‘t thought about little insertions like that, but that sounds VERY plausible!! Kind of a self-justification for some of her other comments about her stepmother—LMM could be emphasizing that it wasn't her fault; she really did intend to make that relationship work. I agree with you, I could NOT bear to copy out my teenage journals. I don‘t know if I could manage to even re-read mine! It is a credit to LMM‘s skill as a writer⬇ 7mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) that these are so engaging and entertaining, especially coming from a 15/16-year-old. LMM knows how to recount a good story, and I can't just chalk it all up to later revisions! 7mo

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads I had forgotten the “9 stars” in Emily of New Moon! I remembered it from reading Maud, but now that you mention Emily, I vaguely remember it there as well. LMM weaves in SO many little pieces from her own life into her fiction. I like that comparison of Nate to Perry. I‘m really curious about how LMM writes about both Nate and Will, and like @TheAromaofBooks, if there may have been later editing with her descriptions ⬇ 7mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) of both of them and her assertion that she thought of them as just good comrades.

When I skimmed through the footnotes in Vol. 1, looking for what books and authors she referenced, I noticed that she mentioned Bulwer-Lytton several times! But yes, I do have a feeling her taste grew a bit as she got older… 7mo

lauraisntwilder I'm a little bit, since I traveled out of state (and I drove) for my nephew's college graduation. I've been enjoying the entries so far and I agree, reading the other bios first was helpful. 7mo

TheAromaofBooks I definitely think that even if she edited/added tiny bits to these later, it was just that - tiny bits. The bulk of this feels authentically her age, and it's obvious that she already has a real knack for writing, sketching characters, descriptions, storytelling, etc. I know that she honed her skills over time and worked very hard on every book, but it's also obvious that she has an inborn talent for writing. 7mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Thanks for checking in! Hope you had a great trip for your nephew's graduation. 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I agree--the tone throughout is far too teenage girl for it to have been wholly rewritten (although that's exactly what my urge would be in copying out old journals with an eye towards posterity!). It definitely demonstrates her skill with descriptions and storytelling, from a young age. It was certainly her prerogative to curate, but I'm SO curious about what she might have left out, with all the talk of “razored out“ pages! 7mo

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks For me, her descriptions of the natural world seem too perfect for a teenager, BUT she was reading Sir Walter Scott and Undine, etc. And she was also starting to get published at this point. I think you're right--she was just a natural. 7mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

“I love books. I hope when I grow up to be able to have lots of them.”

💜📚💜 Kindred spirit, indeed!! I started this tonight and it‘s delightful so far—and I LOVE all the pictures included! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yes!! All the photographs are a wonderful bonus! I love it when photos like that are interspersed with the text instead of in random bunches of several pages at a time like many nonfiction do. 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Me too--I think it was the Rubio biography that had them in bunches like that. I'd much rather have them like this. I really appreciate the way they're approximating how LMM would paste pictures and the like into her journals. 7mo

TheAromaofBooks As I'm reading, I find myself wondering how much editing LMM did when she recopied these journals and how much of it is actually what she wrote at this age. I don't know why I'm surprised that this has been so readable, considering I enjoy her fiction writing so much haha 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Haha—me too! If it were me, I would find it really difficult to refrain from trimming embarrassing sections, bad writing, etc. I was struck by several sections that sound VERY much like a girl of 15/16, though. I marked down the New Year‘s entry on Dec. 31, 1899, and the concert description on July 1, 1890 as she waxes poetic about the future nostalgia they will all feel when looking back. 😂 @lauraisntwilder, @rubyslippersreads ⬇ (edited) 7mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) Both of those passages read to me like things I wrote in my journal as a teen, thinking my words would sound so terribly prescient and wise in future years. I had to laugh at both of these—they sounded so affected, with such an over-self-consciousness of future readers. But I remember doing the same thing! (edited) 7mo

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BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Hello, Kindred Spirits! Here is an UPDATED schedule for May/June. Since the #CHILDRENSCLASSICREAD2024 with @TheBookHippie will be reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm in MAY, I shuffled our schedule around so we can join in the excitement and read it together.

We'll start the Complete Journals on May 1 - which is next week!! 😱 I'll post a weekly check-in/discussion post on Saturdays.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals #LMMAdjacent #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, sblbooks, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean Preview of coming attractions: We'll start Volume 2 of the Complete Journals in July/August, and will also re-read Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. 7mo

julieclair Yay! Very excited for all the LMM-adjacent reads! 😃 7mo

TheAromaofBooks Thank you for the update!! This looks great. I can't believe May is next week...!!!!! 7mo

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LitsyEvents

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Repost for @BarbaraJean

May 1 begins the next #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead iteration! We‘ll read the Complete Journals interspersed with LMM-adjacent books & LMM rereads. The pace is ~100 pages per week, with Saturday check-ins to chat about the week's reading.

#LMMJournals #LMMAdjacent #LMMRereads

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2725037

BarbaraJean Thank you for sharing!! 7mo

27 likes1 comment

BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Just a reminder: May 1 begins the next #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead iteration! We‘ll read the Complete Journals interspersed with LMM-adjacent books & LMM rereads. The pace is ~100 pages per week, with Saturday check-ins to chat about the week's reading.

I‘ve tagged those who were interested, but all are welcome! Comment if you'd like to join—for some or all! Re-reads will pop up in Vol. 2 of the journals. #LMMJournals #LMMAdjacent #LMMRereads

rubyslippersreads, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, LitsyEvents

BarbaraJean @sblbooks I have you down for Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm once we get to it in June! 7mo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! I'm really stoked about this!!! 7mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Meeeee toooo!!! 7mo

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julieclair Yay! I would like to be tagged for the Adjacents and Rereads, please. If it‘s easier, feel free to tag me for the journals as well. 7mo

BarbaraJean @julieclair I can definitely tag you just for the adjacents and rereads! Looking forward to having you join in! 7mo

julieclair Thanks! Looking forward to it! 7mo

lauraisntwilder I just got my copy of the Complete Journals Vol. 1 and it's beautiful! Whatever editorializing Rubio did in her bio is partially forgiven (by me, at least!) because of the obvious amount of care that went into this. 7mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I know, right?! The photos and all the notes look fantastic. I looked at Vol. 1 of the complete journals on Internet Archive and that glimpse convinced me that I wanted to read the complete journals instead of the selected, and it made up my mind that I wanted to buy each copy as we go! 7mo

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean Exactly! I haven't even started it yet and I'm already so impressed. 7mo

23 likes9 comments

BarbaraJean

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Here's a weekly schedule for the next #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead iteration! This includes the Complete Journals with LMM-adjacent books & LMM rereads slotted in roughly chronologically. The pace is ~100 pages per week, and I'll post Saturday check-ins to chat about the week's reading. Those who were interested are tagged, but anyone is welcome! Comment if you'd like to join—for some or all! (Cont'd) ⬇
#LMMJournals #LMMAdjacent #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, LeahBergen, Prairiegirl_reading, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, sblbooks, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair, willaful

BarbaraJean This May/June schedule goes to the end of the Complete Journals Vol. 1, and includes adjacent books that LMM mentions or that may have been influential for her during this time (no rereads yet—AoGG pops up in Vol. 2). LMM mentions a TON of books she was reading, from poetry to novels and more, so if something stands out to you that‘s not on the schedule, please bring it up! It would be fun to add in more adjacent reads if people are interested. ⬇ (edited) 8mo

BarbaraJean Also, I came across this and thought it was interesting—the L.M. Montgomery Bookshelf: https://kindredspaces.ca/bookshelf. It collects “some of Montgomery's most-loved or most interesting reads.“ It includes scans of relevant pages or the full text of various books that were important to LMM, along with notes on each. There are only 20 titles there, but it's fascinating to look through! 8mo

TheAromaofBooks Wow!!! This is fantastic!!!! Thank you so much for pulling it together. I am definitely in for this!! 8mo

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rubyslippersreads I‘m excited about this! 8mo

sblbooks I'm in for Rebecca of Sunnybrook. 8mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @rubyslippersreads 🎉 🎉 I'm so looking forward to reading along with you both! @sblbooks Yaaaay! I'll be sure to tag you for those weeks. 8mo

TheAromaofBooks My library has Volume 1, so I am going to check it out and that will let me see if I want to make the financial investment of slowly purchasing all these journals as we read them 😂 8mo

rubyslippersreads @sblbooks I have the Shirley Temple edition. 😄 (Although the movie has very little to do with the book, since book Rebecca doesn‘t go on the radio.) 8mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Totally understand!! There are no copies of any of the journals in either of the library systems I have cards for! 😩 I could get a card at yet another library that‘s not terribly far, but that would mean driving 30-40 minutes there to get the card and the book and then driving back to return it… so I broke down and bought the first two volumes online. But, for what it‘s worth, I also discovered that Vol. 1 is on Internet Archive! (edited) 8mo

sblbooks @rubyslippersreads I didn't even know there was a Shirley Temple movie for this book. I'll have to see if I can find it 8mo

lauraisntwilder I haven't been online much lately, so I missed this. I'm definitely in though! Thank you! 8mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder No worries--knowing that this schedule is more complicated and the journals aren't as readily available, I wanted to give plenty of advance notice! Glad to have you along for the ride again!! 8mo

27 likes12 comments

rubyslippersreads

Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900 | Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Since I'm currently reading Maud, my #comfortreading today is going to consist of dipping into these LMM journals and drinking tea from my new kitty mug. #FunFridayPhoto

Liberty

rubyslippersreads

Maud: A Novel Inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery

LeahBergen 💗💗💗 8y

BekahB I love your mug! 💕 8y

See All 10 Comments

Centique I love your mug too! I'd be so interested to hear if these journals make interesting reading. 8y

Laura317 I've heard from the #ModernMrsDarcy podcast that they are good! 8y

GlitteryOtters I loved those journals so much! I hope they provide the needed comfort! 8y

Bette Wonderful pic! ❤️👍 8y

Jinjer I own all of them. Hardcover. Have read them at least 3 times. What that woman endured. Lordy!! Wish she could be alive today and have all the books she desires at her fingertips like we all do. Love ya, Maud. 8y

rubyslippersreads @BekahB @LeahBergen @Bette Thanks! I'm sure the mug will make an appearance in future posts because it features several different cats. 😸 8y

rubyslippersreads @Centique @laura317 @GlitteryOtters @Jinjer I'm really enjoying them so far. 8y

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