Welcome to Litsy!

It feels like cheating that this was my December #DoubleSpin, but I can‘t argue with the #BookSpin fates! I loved reading these cozy stories for #KindredSpiritsChristmas—a delightful respite from the busy-ness of the season.

Oof. This line stood out to me—how easily can “sharpness” become a habit? Also: I love how deftly LMM draws even her side characters with just a few lines like this!

Our final #KindredSpiritsChristmas story this year is “Bertie's New Year,” from “Christmas with Anne.” It‘s also on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/5/

Thank you all for reading along with me this year! A cozy, merry holiday to you all!

Another sweet story of a holiday mishap & giving to others! Also, an appearance from Josie Pye…but not THAT Josie Pye 😆 This story was published pre-Anne, before LMM wrote the familiar disagreeable Pyes! I wonder if she remembered using the name here?

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Ida's New Year Cake,” from “Christmas with Anne.” It can also be found on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/11/

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is a New Year‘s one, and it‘s short and sweet. “Uncle Richard's New Year's Dinner” is in “Christmas with Anne,” and it can also be found on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1909-1922/26/

I do love these stories of long-held grudges and quarrels being overcome at the holidays! And I loved the little references to Prissy longing for her book.

“The month before Christmas was always the most exciting and mysterious time in the Joseph household. Such scheming and planning, such putting of curly heads together in corners, such counting of small hoards, such hiding and smuggling of things out of sight, as went on among the little Josephs!”

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “The Josephs‘ Christmas,” from “Christmas with Anne” (or on Hoopla, or at the link below) ⤵️

Delightful stories! One of which is when Matthew surprises Anne with a new dress with the popular puffy sleeves 👗

#Read2025 #LitsyAtoZ

@DieAReader @Texreader

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is another sweet tale of giving to others at Christmas.💚❤️

“A Christmas Inspiration” is from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. You can also find it on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1896-1901/2/

Tomorrow‘s story is “The Josephs‘ Christmas,” which can be found in “Christmas with Anne,” on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1902-1903/13/

This sweet story combines several of LMM‘s favorite Christmas-story tropes: a Christmas mishap, a rich relative saves the day, and a misunderstanding comes right. (Also: I kind of want to read the tramp‘s side of the story…)

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “The Falsoms‘ Christmas Dinner,” from “Christmas with Anne.” You can also find today‘s story on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/19/

“Our basket was full of mottoes made from letters cut out of cardboard and covered with lissome sprays of fir. They were, moreover, adorned with gorgeous pink and red tissue roses…”

I‘m always curious how these Christmas decorations would have looked!

Another sweet story today for #KindredSpiritsChristmas: “The Christmas Surprise at Enderly Road,” from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. ⤵️

“The little Grants stood with open mouths & horrified eyes. No turkey for Christmas! Was the world coming to an end? Wouldn't the government interfere if anyone ventured to dispense with a Christmas celebration?”

Ha! Well. Not so much, little Grants. Not then or now.

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “A Christmas Mistake.” It‘s in the tagged collection, on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1896-1901/3/

I love Rebecca Dew! Now I want to re-read Windy Poplars!

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Katherine Brooke Comes to Green Gables,” which is in the “Christmas with Anne” collection. The story is an excerpt from Anne of Windy Poplars (2nd Year, chs. 5-6), and the full text of the book is available here: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20100608

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently,
“nor the best, either.”

This story is one of my favorites, even if it‘s very “moral-of-the-story.” And I needed this reminder on a day when I‘ve been stressed about Christmas shopping!

Today‘s story is “Clorinda‘s Gifts” from “Christmas with Anne.” You can also find it on Hoopla or here: https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20150144/html.php#Clorindas_G...

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “The Unforgotten One”

This felt a bit too maudlin, a bit too contrived for me this time around…also, what jerks are the family for “unconsciously” leaving Nanny out of reunions because she‘s “only the little orphan ‘help‘ girl”?!

Today‘s story is from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. You can also find it on Hoopla, or in this collection: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24876/24876-h/24876-h.htm

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “The Osbornes‘ Christmas”

“You've had too much Christmas, you Osbornes,“ she said seriously. “It has palled on your taste, as all good things will if you overdo them. Did you ever try giving Christmas to somebody else?”

Today‘s story is “The Osbornes‘ Christmas,” from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. You can also find it on Hoopla, or online here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1902-1903/17/

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “Aunt Cyrilla‘s Christmas Basket”

Every time I read this, I am staggered by the capacity of Aunt Cyrilla‘s basket (and of her muscle to carry it). This year it occurs to me that the Chinese takeout restaurant my husband and I frequent—where we are convinced they regularly bend the laws of physics by the sheer volume of food they pack into those styrofoam containers—may have received training from Aunt Cyrilla. 😆 ⤵️

Another sweet story about a Christmas mishap that comes right! (One year I really do need to figure out a bingo game for these recurring cozy Christmas tropes.)

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “The End of the Young Family Feud,” from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. It‘s also on Hoopla, or online in these collections:
https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20150145
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24877/24877-h/24877-h.htm

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Christmas at Red Butte,” from the tagged collection. It‘s also on Hoopla, or online in these collections:
https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20150146
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24878/24878-h/24878-h.htm

One of the things that struck me in this story was how $4 could buy ice skates, 2 dolls, nuts & candy, and “a nice plump turkey.” AND…the above brought abundant Christmas joy. ❤️

“Oh, I was so nervous, Diana…Then I thought of my lovely puffed sleeves and took courage. I knew that I must live up to those sleeves, Diana.”

I love Matthew more every time I read this!

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves,” from the tagged collection. You can also find it online in this collection: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20150145 (or it‘s chapter 25 in Anne of Green Gables). ⤵️

“When I first got a glimpse of you,” said Morris with a smile, “I thought I had come on ahead of myself and got here first.”

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Ted‘s Double: A Christmas Folly”—like yesterday‘s tale, this one is new to me! You can find it here: https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20161232/html.php. This is the last of the stories that aren‘t in the tagged collection. ⤵️

“…it‘s the spirit of Christmas that counts. It must be a spirit of goodwill and kindness and joy and love. We must never forget the real meaning of Christmas—never let it be dimmed by any false meanings…”

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “A Christmas of Long Ago”—this one is new to me! Short and sweet. You can find it here: https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20171105/html.php (we‘re still not yet into the tagged collection). Enjoy!

Finally got our tree up today! The dog is clearly bothered by the change in his environment. He‘s so high-strung.

“Everything went so smoothly that we soon forgot to be nervous. When the turkey was done, we took it out, set it on the back of the range to keep warm and put the mince pies in… everything was going as merrily as a marriage bell. Then, all at once, things happened.”

“Things happened”—such an understatement! 😂

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Aunt Susanna‘s Thanksgiving Dinner,” which can be found at the link in the comments ⤵️

#KindredSpiritsChristmas buddy read starts today!

“…you can't preach much good into a boy if he‘s got an aching void in his stomach. Fill *that* up with tasty victuals, and then you can do something with his spiritual nature. If a boy is well stuffed with good things and then won‘t listen to advice, you might as well stop wasting your breath on him, because there is something radically wrong with him. Probably his grandfather had dyspepsia.” ⤵️

We‘re starting the #KindredSpiritsChristmas buddy read on Saturday! I‘ll post daily with quotes or thoughts about each story, and links to read online when applicable. If you‘re not tagged but you‘d like to be, just let me know. 😊

The first story is “The Genesis of the Doughnut Club,” a Thanksgiving tale that‘s actually NOT in the tagged collection. It can be found here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1907-1908/17/

#KindredSpiritsChristmas will begin in ONE week! Join us to read a daily cozy holiday story from L.M. Montgomery.
The schedule is above. Most (but not all) of the stories are available in the tagged book, and as we go, I'll post links to where you can read stories online. All are welcome!
Comment if you're not tagged and you'd like to be on @BarbaraJean post just follow the hashtag.

A #KindredSpiritsChristmas will begin in ONE week! Join us to read a daily cozy holiday story from L.M. Montgomery. The schedule is above. Most (but not all) of the stories are available in the tagged book, and as we go, I‘ll post links to where you can read stories online. All are welcome! Comment if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be.

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

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

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

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

These short stories are a delight.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

Today‘s story, “Bertie‘s New Year,” is available on Hoopla, in the tagged collection, and here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/5/

Thank you all for joining me for #KindredSpiritsChristmas this year! These sweet stories have been a delight & I‘ve really enjoyed reading them with each of you. I hope you have a wonderful, meaningful holiday full of the grateful & giving spirit of these stories. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

There are a lot of repeated themes and plot devices in these stories, but I think that's forgivable, since LM Montgomery didn't write them to be read together, but instead as freelance writing for various publications. Overall, it's a sweet collection and perfect for a cold night on a warm couch.

The last read for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is another cozy feel-good read from the queen of cozy. I‘ve really enjoyed reading these stories every day. Thanks so much for hosting @BarbaraJean ! 🤗 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LucyMaudMontgomery

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas read is a good reminder to reach out to people who are lonely around the holidays & doing what we can to make a difference. 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#Christmas
#LucyMaudMontgomery

Next up for #KindredSpritsChristmas is Uncle Richard‘s New Year‘s Dinner. Another family feud is ended when Prissy secretly goes to her estranged uncle‘s house & cooks his New Year‘s dinner while he is at work. Classic LMM. 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LucyMaudMontgomery
#Christmas

Very very sweet stories all variations on some themes: 1) a very poor family cannot afford anything for Christmas and something happens that means the family can have traditional Christmas food and the kids gifts, and 2) there‘s been some rift in the family (normally over inheritance of land) and something happens to heal the rift. I would have preferred some diversity in themes. Short and good for a low-anxiety read. ⬇️

Another heartwarming read today for #KindredSpiritsChristmas - The large, poor but happy Josephs family gets a nice Christmas surprise from some wealthy visitors on Christmas Eve night. 4⭐️ 80 points

#HolidayBookDragons
#WinterGames2024
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

Next up for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is set in a women‘s boarding house. 5 young women who are good friends & can‘t go home for Christmas decide to try to make a happy Christmas for a lonely lady who‘s been living there for 14 years & has no friends & no money. It‘s really sweet & fun & reminds me of Anne & her roommates while she was in college. 4⭐️ 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

A lovely listen tonight with this cuddle bug

#Christmasatoz #xmaschacha #wintergames @StayCurious #littenlisten @aperfectmjk

My next audiobook

#Christmasatoz #xmaschacha #wintergames @StayCurious #littenlisten @aperfectmjk

#wreath within a wreath for today's #ChristmasCheer prompt. 🎄
Tagged, the center piece book, as one of my first Christmas reads each year. A must for any L.M. Montgomery fan.
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Yesterday was so busy that I missed both reading and posting! I finished listening to “A Merryvale Christmas” this morning. It‘s a fun story, with kids longing for gifts, a snowball fight, sleigh rides & sledding, and bringing Christmas to the less-fortunate. But especially for a longer story, it felt a bit lacking. I‘m still puzzled by this little Hoopla audiobook and I have notes! ⤵️
#KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

Well, this starts off with a lengthy intro about how great Christmas is (that I‘m pretty sure was not written by LMM)—and if you want to skip ahead, you can start chapter one around the 7:45 mark! Not a whole lot of story yet in the first two chapters, but I‘m interested to hear the result of the snow fight tomorrow. #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead ⤵️

Here‘s the schedule for week three of our #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead!

A Merryvale Christmas is available as an audiobook on Hoopla, and the Dec. 18-20 stories are in the tagged collection and online (I‘ll post links in the comments). See my previous post for a little caveat about Merryvale Christmas, which we‘ll be reading over a few days (~15 audiobook minutes per day). Looking forward to another week of cozy stories!

Today‘s story for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is another good one. An absentminded teacher accidentally invites the wrong family to his landlady‘s house for Christmas dinner, but it‘s a happy mistake. Another reminder of what‘s really important this time of year. 4⭐️ 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#Christmas
#LMMontgomery

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas read is another sweet reminder of what‘s really important at Christmastime. 4⭐️ 80 points

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LMMontgomery
#Christmas
#novella

Up today for #KindredSpiritsChristmas is bittersweet & gives you all the feels. Nanny is worried everyone has forgotten about dear Miss Avis, who passed away during the previous year. One by one each member of the family visits the cemetery to talk to Avis while Nanny is hiding in the bushes. I‘m not crying, you‘re crying! 5⭐️

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LMMontgomery
#Christmas
#novella

80 points

I haven‘t kept up with the L.M. Montgomery stories this past week, but I listened to several today on a walk with Luthien and read a couple more once back at the house. I‘ve loved the new ones that I haven‘t read before just as much as those I have. Reading these is such a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit! I especially loved “Aunt Cyrilla‘s Christmas Basket” and “The Osbornes‘ Christmas.”

#KindredSpiritsChristmas #audiobook

repost for @BarbaraJean:

Here‘s the schedule for week two of the #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead! All of the stories for this week are in the tagged book, and with the exception of the Windy Poplars excerpt, they can also all be found on Hoopla as ebooks or audiobooks. I‘ll add links for reading online in the comments below. Looking forward to another week of delightful holiday stories!

#BuddyRead

Here‘s the schedule for week two of the #KindredSpiritsChristmas #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead! All of the stories for this week are in the tagged book, and with the exception of the Windy Poplars excerpt, they can also all be found on Hoopla as ebooks or audiobooks. I‘ll add links for reading online in the comments below. Looking forward to another week of delightful holiday stories!

Got a little behind on posting. I read the tagged book a few years ago so I‘m familiar with most of these stories but I‘m enjoying this reread for #KindredSpiritsChristmas - this is another really good one. I so prefer LMM over others like Louisa May Alcott (although I do like her) because of the humor she injects into all of her stories. 4.5⭐️

#WinterGames2024
#HolidayBookDragons
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
#LMMontgomery
#Christmas

80 points