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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - Story Girl discussion (3/3)

What were your favorite happenings and stories in the second half of the book? Which stories stand out to you the most from across the book?

Is there anything else you‘d like to talk about from The Story Girl?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

TheAromaofBooks Peter almost dying is a very realistic chapter to me. When I was growing up, a kid I knew from 4-H died from cancer. I didn\'t know him or his family very well, but I remember really for the first time thinking about how death could actually happen to people I know, and not just old people. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I have to say that I can\'t stand Uncle Roger, and his bullying, teasing ways really got to me in this read through. Times when the children were genuinely scared or confused about something, he just tormented them instead of helping them. He\'s so cruel. The other adults felt like they were just not cognizant of various concerns the children had, but Roger would go out of his way to make things worse for them. What a jerk. 2mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Uncle Roger was infuriating. He\'s an adult who either doesn\'t remember what it was like to be a kid, or doesn\'t care to treat them with respect. His interactions with them are about his own amusement at their expense. I hated those kinds of adults, and I think LMM did, too—like her story about the man who called her Johnny (which shows up here, but not from Uncle Roger!). It surprises me he\'s not painted less sympathetically! 2mo

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - Story Girl discussion (2/3)

What did you think of the writing itself: the decision to use a first-person narrator reflecting back on childhood, including letters to show each character‘s voice, including family stories along with folk tales & legends?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

lauraisntwilder I can understand why Maud loved this book. It feels so personal, almost intimate. It feels like she packed in all her memories from Park Corner of being with her cousins. Knowing her frame of mind at the time she wrote it, the nostalgic tone makes sense. 2mo

lauraisntwilder (Cont'd) I mentioned before that I grew up watching the Road to Avonlea TV show. It was a big surprise to me that the narrator was a character they cut for the show. There were lots of changes, of course, but that seems like an especially big one! I liked the narration. I thought it worked well. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I\'ve never been a huge fan of Bev\'s \“ah those were the days\“ attitude, which feels a little cloying at times, but it does make sense and give the book some framework. Although it felt suspicious that he copied everyone\'s letters to Peter except his own 😂 @lauraisntwilder 2mo

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BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder It does feel personal! I kept thinking about her journal, where she talks about the games & adventures she got up to with the Nelson boys, as well as her cousins. Writing it probably felt like spending time in those idyllic childhood days for her. I feel like Bev is kind of a stand-in for LMM, in a way—it makes sense she\'d use a narrator who\'s looking back on childhood days, because that\'s what she\'s doing! @TheAromaofBooks 2mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I\'d read Story Girl & Chronicles of Avonlea before seeing Road to Avonlea, so my surprise was how Anne-adjacent it was, with Marilla & Mrs. Lynde as characters! Leaving out Bev & reframing the story with Sara as the outsider gives it such a different flavor—lifts the nostalgia right out. @TheAromaofBooks Yes, the omission of his letter to Peter was a lil sus 😂 Doesn\'t he still have his dream book? But also doesn\'t quote from it! 2mo

kwmg40 I liked the narrative choices in this novel. I might not have appreciated the sense of nostalgia if I\'d read this book when I was much younger, but it resonates with me now. 1mo

24 likes6 comments

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - StoryGirl discussion (1/3)

The Story Girl is a very episodic book, but there are some common themes running throughout the book: faith and religion, family, and the nostalgia of looking back on childhood.

What did you think of the depiction of religion?

What did you think of how LMM described childhood?

What other themes stood out to you?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

Seabreeze_Reader This is just a personal opinion but overall the theme of religion started to feel too dominant and heavy handed. I was relieved there were a couple of chapters that didn\'t focus too much on religion, such as when they were picking apples. 2mo

lauraisntwilder I think it's realistic depiction of children growing up in a religious home, at least at that time. They seem to know so much -- all the things they've learned for Sunday School -- but they often don't understand the implications of anything. The Methodist vs. Presbyterian conversations were funny. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I think church was a major social/cultural aspect of life at that time, so it seemed natural that they would talk about it and try to understand as they went along. This never felt like a preachy book in the sense that LMM was trying to \“convert\“ her readers - it felt more like a realistic part of the King children\'s lives. I thought things like Dan\'s skepticism regarding prayer vs Cecily\'s implicit faith helped give their characters depth. 2mo

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BarbaraJean @Seabreeze_Reader It really is everywhere, isn\'t it?! I agree with @lauraisntwilder & @The AromaofBooks—church was so central to the life of a family/community like this at that time, so it felt realistic to me. The kid-discussions of prayer and Methodist vs. Presbyterian also felt so realistic, and I found the partial understanding of those topics really funny. And the different perspectives, like Dan\'s skepticism, kept it from feeling preachy—⬇ 2mo

BarbaraJean (Cont\'d) instead, it was just a part of life that kids wondered a lot about. What struck me about all the church/God elements is how those might have been viewed at the time. There are a lot of unflattering anecdotes about ministers, and conversations that might have been seen as irreverent at that time—and LMM was engaged to a minister! I kind of love reading it with that in mind, knowing that LMM wasn\'t afraid to poke fun at the institution! 2mo

Seabreeze_Reader I was partially viewing it in comparison to Anne of Green Gables which ended up being a more popular book. In Anne religious beliefs were also integral to the story but it just seemed more balanced. Yes, it\'s probably not fair to compare books but one cannot help it sometimes. 🙂 2mo

BarbaraJean @Seabreeze_Reader Haha, as I was typing my comment that it was realistic for the time, I actually thought to myself: \“but it\'s not all over the place in Anne like it is in Story Girl...\“ 😂 I love the way Anne talks about faith, too--her comments on wanting to \“just FEEL a prayer\“ out among the trees, and her very on-point critiques about people whose prayers sound like they don\'t actually mean it. With Anne those comments flow more naturally. 2mo

kwmg40 As I non-religious person, I did not find the depiction of religion heavy handed. In fact, I thought LMM was good at showing different interpretations of and reactions to religious beliefs, including skepticism of traditional teachings. Also, as others had mentioned, this novel seemed very much a product of its time and I felt I should read it in that context. 1mo

24 likes8 comments

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

The Story Girl Discussion, Chapters 1-16
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

This is a very episodic book, with an ensemble cast rather than a central character (despite the title!)—which episodes, stories, or characters have you particularly enjoyed so far?

What connections do you see between this and LMM‘s other work (or connections to her life)?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

rubyslippersreads I reread this a couple of years ago, and what I liked were the family stories, because they reminded me of Emily of New Moon, with all the legends about the Murrays. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Once again, LMM's passion for places/home comes through in this story. While it's definitely about the children and their adventures, in some ways the “old King homestead“ is the center of story. The descriptions of the orchard, the barn, the house, and the way the Story Girl's stories weave around it are what make this book work for me. 2mo

lauraisntwilder LMM got a lot of mileage out of that blue trunk! 2mo

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BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads Yes, the family lore is such a strong connection here & in Emily of New Moon. It's fascinating to me how many family stories from LMM's own family were used in her fiction. And what great stories they are! @lauraisntwilder She repurposes so many stories/objects from her life! @TheAromaofBooks Yes, definitely. Reading this after reading how she modeled Carlisle after Cavendish really emphasized to me how much she loved her home. 2mo

kwmg40 While the Story Girl is quite different from Anne in many ways, I felt that they both recognized the power of imagination. The Story Girl used it to mesmerize her friends while Anne used it to reshape her own life. 2mo

BarbaraJean @kwmg40 I love that idea of Anne using imagination to reshape her own life! And the Story Girl really does bring so much joy and comfort to the group of friends and family through the way she tells her stories. 2mo

25 likes6 comments

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

The Story Girl Discussion, Chapters 1-16
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

Have you read The Story Girl before, or is this your first read?

What are your initial impressions of the book? What do you like or not like?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

Seabreeze_Reader In years past I read part of The Story Girl but I don't recall why I didn't complete the book.
As with Anne of Green Gables, I found some of the descriptive passages about nature and the seasons to be absolutely enchanting.
One of the aspects of the story that started to get on my nerves was all the bickering and competiveness between the children, especially Dan eating more of those potentially poisonous berries out of spite for a 2nd time. (edited) 2mo

BarbaraJean @Seabreeze_Reader Haha! All that bickering felt so true to life as far as sibling dynamics! And I seriously could have slapped Dan over that second time eating the berries out of spite. I totally understood the emotion behind it, though--Felicity was infuriatingly condescending to him. (I had to laugh at Uncle Roger's comment that if she wasn't careful she'd grow up to be a woman who drove her husband to drink 😂) 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I've always felt rather ambivalent towards The Story Girl. I read it every few years, but it's not one of my favorites. There's a sort of bittersweet/nostalgic undertone, I think because Bev is theoretically now an old man narrating about his past. However, the characters always feel realistic to me. I always feel bad for Sara Ray, but honestly I've also known people just like her 😂 2mo

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lauraisntwilder This is my first time reading it. My first impression, I hate to admit, has a lot to do with how different it is from "The Road to Avonlea" TV show. I grew up on that show and hoped this would feel like revisiting those characters. It took me a while to adjust! 2mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I feel the same--so many of the children's antics are funny and endearing, but I can kind of take it or leave it. I think this one falls into that pattern we identified of being vs. doing. Story Girl is so episodic, like Anne of Avonlea or Rainbow Valley, and the characters are realistic but pretty static. Poor Sara Ray!! 😂 2mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Hahaha! I didn't know about the Road to Avonlea show until people mentioned it on our first Kindred Spirits read a couple years ago, so I experienced them in the opposite order. I checked out some of the Road to Avonlea DVDs from the library and was distracted by how many of the stories were re-contextualized to include Marilla and Mrs. Lynde! I should go back and watch the rest one of these days. 2mo

lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean Yes! Imagine my surprise when I finally read all the Anne books and Marilla and Rachel stop being mentioned less than halfway through the series. 2mo

kwmg40 I'd not read this one before and it felt quite different from the Anne stories. At first, I found the characters not as likeable as the Avonlea characters but later appreciated that they seemed much more realistic. The nostalgic voice of the narrator also gave the novel a melancholy but sweet tone. 2mo

BarbaraJean @kwmg40 I feel the same way about these characters--Anne and the other Avonlea characters are much more likable! The first time I read this, I was much more annoyed with the sibling squabbles and Sara Ray\'s tears... but this time, like you, I appreciated the realism there. The Dan/Felicity fights were so relatable, honestly!! 2mo

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

Things I have recently googled while reading The Story Girl:
👒Leghorn hat
🍷Wine-glass pulpit
❓Drugget

The last one of these reminds me of an idea I came across recently: having a fabric sample glossary at the back of the book!

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

“He never goes anywhere except to church. He just stays home and reads books when he isn‘t working. Mother says he is a perfect hermit.”
—Felicity King, discussing the Awkward Man

I knew I liked the Awkward Man.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

rubyslippersreads A kindred spirit indeed. 2mo

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

A reminder that we‘ll be discussing the first half of The Story Girl (chapters 1-16) on Saturday. I‘m excited to revisit this book that L.M. Montgomery found such delight in writing!

All are welcome—let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Seabreeze_Reader

28 likes

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Story Girl Discussion # 6

Is there anything else you‘d like to talk about from The Story Girl? Comparisons with the Road to Avonlea series? 😊

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Bkwrm7 I remember watching some of Road to Avonlea as a kid, but it has been a long time. When I looked it up, i had no idea it ran for so many seasons! I'm hoping to borrow some from my library at some point to rewatch probably after re-reading The Golden Road. 3y

TheAromaofBooks I actually never watched Road to Avonlea! I think the other big area of this story for me this time around was how the adults interacted in the children's lives. Like so many of Montgomery's stories, many of the important adults are just missing, and others are pragmatic and unsympathetic at times. I thought Uncle Roger was basically a bully and he angered me almost every time he showed up on the page. I was a bit in love with Uncle Alec, though! 3y

Jerdencon The adults really didn‘t add much to the story - almost felt like the parents in Snoopy - 3y

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sblbooks I've never seen The Road to Avonlea. I'm going to try to find it on Prime. 3y

BarbaraJean @Jerdencon It was interesting to observe the interactions (or lack of!) between the children & the adults. The adults were mostly in the background - much more so than in the Anne or Emily books. @sblbooks @TheAromaofBooks As you mentioned, it was frustrating to me as well to see the adults brush the kids off. As funny as the Judgment Day thing was, I wished the adults would have taken the kids' fears seriously! 3y

StayCurious I love Road to Avonlea (of course I do, I‘m Canadian!) reading The Story Girl brought me right back to the show even though there are several differences. It was such a charming and calming show, just like Montgomerys stories 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Story Girl Discussion # 5

The kids talk a lot about topics of faith and religion, with many discussions around prayer—what should or shouldn‘t be the subject of prayer, and even whether praying does any good. What do you think of the way Montgomery draws out these topics throughout the book? What did you think about the way the kids talk about faith and religion?

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Bkwrm7 I thought it was interesting how much religious talk there was in this book, because I remember some, but not nearly as much from the Anne and Emily books. A lot of it is problematic; I would like to think most have moved beyond the way they talk about "heathens" for example, but Montgomery does a good job I think of capturing children's imperfect understanding of such matters. 3y

TheAromaofBooks This book was definitely written at a time where “good“ people go to church and anyone who doesn't is “bad,“ and consequently church and school were the two big social circles. I think Montgomery does a good job showing the children's view of “adult“ topics that aren't well explained. I was frustrated at times by the way adults in their lives kind of blew them off when the children had sincere concerns or fears, especially Uncle Roger. 3y

Jerdencon I felt that the religious party was a product of the times Montgomery was writing in and that religion was a part of life. 3y

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jewright I have to laugh about how they wait for judgment day. 3y

sblbooks Well said @TheAromaofBooks I couldn't agree more! I was really surprised the adults didn't take their questions more seriously. @jewright the Judgment Sunday was a great chapter. 3y

BarbaraJean @Jerdencon Definitely, church was an expectation and a big part of community life at that time, so it's natural that it figured prominently in the kids' conversations. @TheAromaofBooks @Bkwrm7 Absolutely - Montgomery does so well at portraying the little quirks of how kids (mis)understand weighty topics and how that plays out in big and small ways (like the drama over “Judgment Day“ and the picture of God!). 3y

BarbaraJean I was fascinated by the discussions of prayer - the kids wondering whether it was appropriate to pray for the cat, the whole “praying against“ each other thing between Felix and Peter, and some very deep questions about how God does or doesn't respond to prayer. I loved the honest perspective of kids trying to figure it all out. It made me think a lot about what I believed when I was a kid, and how/why that understanding changed over time. 3y

TheAromaofBooks I also liked how Montgomery portrayed an array of beliefs just within their circle - with Cecily's sincerity and simplicity, Dan's skepticism, Peter's pragmatism, etc. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Story Girl Discussion # 4

Most of the book is narrated as if in the moment, but at other times, Bev reminisces, commenting on the events of the story as an adult. Did those moments work for you? Do they add to or detract from this story of childhood?

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Bkwrm7 I think the distance works in those moments and reminds readers that there is a narrator at work. 3y

TheAromaofBooks I think these moments work for the most part, mainly because there aren't so many of them that they get distracting. They do serve to let the reader know how Bev remembers conversations and such so clearly, which lends authenticity to his voice. 3y

Jerdencon I think they work also - I like how it pulls back the story a bit. 3y

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jewright I love them because childhood is definitely different as we look back on our memories. It‘s almost like we got a epilogue throughout the book. 3y

BarbaraJean At first they pulled me out of the story—because they hadn‘t been consistent throughout, I found it distracting when they first popped up. I wanted either more of them or fewer! But what‘s there does flesh out Bev as a character a bit more. And I liked seeing a glimpse of what he‘d kept from that time—the dream book and the letters everyone writes to Peter. 3y

sblbooks I'm kind of neutral on this topic. They didn't bother me, but it didn't add that much either. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Story Girl Discussion # 3

What did you think of the choice to have Bev King as the narrator? What does his perspective add to the story? (Or does it add anything?)
If you could choose a different POV character, who would you pick?

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Bkwrm7 The problem with Beverly as the narrator is that he basically disappears into the story. At one point, I even had to look up his name because I had completely forgotten it. I guess that works as a neutral perspective, but maybe an omniscient narrator could have worked just as well. Either that or Bev needed more personality. 3y

TheAromaofBooks I think having Bev narrate does give more depth to how the group felt as a whole during certain events, like Peter being sick or Judgment Day, but like @Bkwrm7 said, he doesn't really stand out as an individual most of the time. I think Dan would also have been a great narrator as he wouldn't have tried to soften his opinions at all 😂 3y

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7 I felt that way, too. For most of the book, Bev could've been switched out with a 3rd person omniscient narrator & I wouldn't have noticed. I'm used to 1st person narrators who tell a story centered on themselves! In that way, it's refreshing that Bev doesn't make himself the focus. @TheAromaofBooks It would be hilarious to read this from Dan's perspective! I love to think about how the Story Girl would've written it...or poor Sara Ray. 😂 3y

Jerdencon I agree with @Bkwrm7 I wanted to know about Bev although I did think he was a good narrator and liked the boy perspective in this story. 3y

sblbooks Like others have said Bev does tend to disappear... I think it would have been interesting to hear from the story girl's perspective. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Story Girl Discussion # 2

There‘s an ensemble cast here, much like in Rainbow Valley. Which character is most vivid for you? Who is your favorite?

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Bkwrm7 For most vivid, I feel like Sara Ray, The Story Girl, Felicity and Peter are the most well-drawn. Felix's whole character seems to be that he is fat which doesn't make for much of a character really. The Story Girl is my favorite I think, although Peter is a close second! 3y

TheAromaofBooks I always think Montgomery has a knack for sketching a person even in just a few lines. The Story Girl is probably the most vivid, but that's part of who she is. I feel like we learn just as much about Cecily, but she's a quieter character and doesn't stick out in the mind as much. I have a soft spot for Beverley himself, recorder of all the adventures! 3y

BarbaraJean @bkwrm7 I agree - the characters you list as most vivid really feel like the “core“ group of the book; the others kind of fade into the background. Sometimes I forgot about Dan completely. 😂 And I'm with you on favorites. It's hard to choose between the Story Girl and Peter. @TheAromaofBooks She really does have a gift for quick character sketches... it's funny, I think of that as Emily Starr's talent, but I guess she gets it from her author. 😆 3y

Jerdencon Story Girl definitely - and I did like Sara Ray too - I would have like to know more about Beverley 3y

sblbooks Peter with my favorite. I liked the boys in this novel, better than the girls for some reason. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Story Girl Discussion #1

What are some of your favorite adventures that the kids get up to in the book?
Do you have a favorite story told by the Story Girl?

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Bkwrm7 I enjoyed the story with the two sisters where the one suitor got the other drunk. But the story that has stuck in my mind the most since I was a kid is the one where they go canvassing and the Story Girl is asked to recite the multiplication tables! Which, now that I think about it, I think those are from the same chapter! 😆 3y

TheAromaofBooks @Bkwrm7 - I agree, that story is quite fantastic! I also really enjoyed the chapter about the sermon contest - that definitely sounds like something my siblings and I would have gotten up to when we were kids haha 3y

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7 Clearly, that was a great chapter! 😄 @TheAromaofBooks I loved the sermon contest, too--especially the way they were trying to come up with “appropriate“ games to play on a Sunday! I loved the “Awkward Man“ and how the Story Girl befriended him... and the “ghost“ ringing a bell in the house... and the way they all started eating rich food before bed so they'd have more vivid dreams for their dream books. 😂 3y

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Jerdencon Loved all of those and the dream journals too! 3y

sblbooks I liked how Betty Sherman won a husband. 3y

jewright I love the part about the blue trunk. 3y

StayCurious I liked the silliness of buying a portrait of God 3y

quietjenn I am very begging y in my reading is this one, but will come back to check out all the comments when I finish! Will be back in the swing of things with the next one, I hope. 3y

BarbaraJean @quietjenn No worries! Pop back in when you‘re ready! 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#BookReport

Finished the tagged #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead and continued reading Wuthering Heights #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights #PemberLittens

Finished The Yips and Mantel Pieces.

I read Death on the Nile and Pinocchio.

GarethSouthwell How did you find The Yips? Tempted by it - sample I've read suggests she's got a wonderful comic style. 3y

AnneCecilie @GarethSouthwell I loved it. Based mainly on dialogues and some of them I hope I never have with anyone. 3y

GarethSouthwell @AnneCecilie Ha! I shall investigate further. Thank you. 3y

Cinfhen Excellent progress this week!!! Wonderful 🧡 3y

Brimful Will definitely consider The Yips. I always think Barker will be a tough read but whilst she is wacky once I get started I always find she is remarkably accessible. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

pick

I‘d never read this before, and it was a delightful comfort read! Sweet adventures of a summer (and on into fall and winter), with stories, escapades, quarrels, and games among siblings & cousins & friends. For me, it captured well all the weighty & petty & fraught concerns of a group of kids. It doesn‘t have the depth of Anne or Emily (or my fave, The Blue Castle), but it was still a lovely escape. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead discussion tomorrow!

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

JenlovesJT47 I loved this book! I might have asked you already but have you seen the show Road To Avonlea? It‘s based on The Story Girl series and is directed by Kevin Sullivan, who did the AOGG movies. I‘ve never read The Blue Castle. Are we going to do a buddy read? 🙃 3y

BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 I haven‘t seen Road to Avonlea! I‘ve heard of it, but somehow I thought it was based on Chronicles of Avonlea,🤷🏻‍♀️ And now that I know it was directed by Kevin Sullivan…I HAVE to track it down! I was thinking about Blue Castle for March if people are up for it. 😁 3y

Jerdencon Loved this book! I will have to check out the show @JenlovesJT47 3y

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TheAromaofBooks The Blue Castle is my favorite, too! I've read that one sooo many times and love it so hard. 3y

JenlovesJT47 Would love a buddy read of The Blue Castle! @Jerdencon the show is so good! Gilbert makes an appearance at one point and Marilla and Rachel Lynde are on there as well. He incorporates stories from AOGG and The Chronicles of Avonlea as well. When Marilla and Rachel adopt Davy and Dora it is so funny! 😅 3y

BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 Now I'm really excited about checking out Road to Avonlea - Davy & Dora were one of the things I really wished they'd included in the Sullivan AOGG series. I just checked and my library has the DVDs... I know what I'll be doing after we finish Golden Road next month! 3y

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TheAromaofBooks

The Story Girl | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

I finished this one yesterday in a big gulp, after being true to my chapter-a-day for most of the month haha I hadn't read this one in probably 15 years so it was lovely to visit these characters again. A fun little story about a group of cousins/siblings/neighbors. I can remember always wishing I had an amazing orchard with such a rich family history. Looking forward to discussing this one for January's #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead !!

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean
#JumpStart2022 - @Lizpixie @Clwojick
#Booked2022 - Set in a Canadian province @Cifhen @4thhouseontheleft @barbarathebibliophage
#SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView
#Fourfoursin22 - Familiar @lauredhel
#OWLs #Charms - Favorite author
#TheShelfieChronicles - Author name starts with 2 initials
#BookSpinBingo 3y

TheSpineView Excellant! 3y

Clwojick Great job! ❤️ 3y

BarbaraJean There‘s that beautiful vintage edition! 😊 Looking forward to discussing this one tomorrow! 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

Just a reminder: the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead discussion of The Story Girl will be on Saturday! I‘ll post questions around mid-day Pacific Time, and feel free to jump into the discussion when you are able!

quietjenn, Daisey, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, StayCurious, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Jerdencon Really enjoying this one! 3y

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#WeeklyForecast

Finish the tagged #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead and continue reading Wuthering Heights #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights #PemberLittens

I want to finish The Yips and hopefully also Mantel Pieces

I want to read Death on the Nile the group read for #foodandlit #Egypt and I want to start Pinocchio #ChildrensClassicRead

Teresereading Spent some time in Florence looking for Carlo Collidis grave. Sad story but I still want to read the authentic Pinocchio who I loved as Disneys 3y

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Daisey

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

pick

I finished this light and fun listen today. I had a major L.M. Montgomery reading phase, but I honestly cannot remember reading this one. I enjoyed it but not nearly as much as several other L.M. Montgomery books, and I don‘t think it will stick with me either.

#Audiobook #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

BarbaraJean I have another third to go yet, but I think I‘ll likely concur with your review! It‘s sweet and light but doesn‘t have the “tang” of some of her others. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#BookReport

I continued the chapter a day reading of Wuthering Heights #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights #PemberLittens and The Story Girl #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I read Autumn

I‘m currently reading both Mantel Pieces and The Yips

Cinfhen No tv distractions?? 3y

AnneCecilie @Cinfhen Always, you‘re beginning to know me well. There‘s the Men‘s European championship in Handball. So far so good. 3y

Cinfhen Hahaha 😌perfect!!! 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

“If your Aunt Olivia was to up and get married what would your Uncle Roger do for a housekeeper?” asked Peter.

“Oh, but Aunt Olivia will never be married now,” said Felicity. “Why, she‘ll be twenty-nine next January.”

“Well, o‘course that‘s pretty old,” admitted Peter, “but she might find some one who wouldn‘t mind that, seeing she‘s so pretty.”

🙄
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

SRWCF Lol! I loved this book. 3y

Bookbuyingaddict 29 quite old 🤣 hilarious 🤣 what would 90 be then ? 3y

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JenlovesJT47

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

pick

I‘m a huge fan of the Road To Avonlea TV series and it was so fun to read this again. It has that same warm and cozy vibe as the AOGG series. I‘m looking forward to book 2 because it‘s been 10 years since I read it and I don‘t really remember anything about it. LMM‘s books are perfect when you need an escape from harsh reality. 5⭐️

#classics
#LMMontgomery
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

CarolynM 👋 I've missed seeing you around. Hope all is well 3y

JenlovesJT47 @CarolynM thank you for thinking of me!! All is well, I got really behind on my reviews but I‘m going to start catching up today. I hope you‘re doing well and have a great day! 🤗🤗❤️ 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

There is such a place as fairyland— but only children can find the way to it… Only a few, who remain children at heart, can ever find that fair, lost path again; and blessed are they above mortals… The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and story-tellers; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#WeeklyForecast

Continue the tagged book #KinderedSpiritsBuddyRead and Wuthering Heights #WanderingTheoughWutheringHeights #PemberLittens

Continue reading Mantel Pieces.

I want to reread Autumn and get a good start on The Yips.

Sophronisba It's been a while but I remember really liking The Yips. 3y

AnneCecilie @Sophronisba The blurb sounds great so it‘s good to know that it lives up to that. 3y

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Eggs

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

1* This is one of the several audiobooks I‘ve started but haven‘t finished.
2* Cold with 50mph winds 🥶🥶
3* hot bath 🛁, apple cinnamon tea 🍵, my t-shirt quilt, and furry slippers

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#BookReport

I continued the chapter a day buddy reads of Wuthering Heights #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights #PemberLittens and the tagged book #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I finished Children of Gebelawi and Little Virtues.

I‘ve started Stay Another Day and Mantel Pieces

Cinfhen What‘s the Hilary Mantel about??? Is it NF? 3y

AnneCecilie @Cinfhen Yes, it is. It‘s a collection of texts she has written for the London Review of Books over the years. I just read about how when she wanted to buy a bookcase in Jeddah in late 80s she couldn‘t find one. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

FINALLY starting this for #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead!! I‘ve gotten a small handle on my excess ebook situation (so many holds at once, and only so many hours I can screen-read!)—so I‘m just diving in tonight.

Who else has started their reading of The Story Girl? What do you think so far?

quietjenn, Jerdencon, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

AnneCecilie I have started. It‘s a little different from the Anne and Emily books, and I have needed to get used to that. 3y

BookBabe I read it as a child when my parents bought me a copy. I remember enjoying it! ☺️ Happy memories ❤️ 3y

catebutler I haven‘t started yet, but my copy is sitting on my nightstand! 3y

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StayCurious I‘ve started it and it takes me right back to the Road to Avonlea series! Of course there are changes but some of the misadventures are similar. 3y

Jerdencon I agree with @staycurious it‘s basically similar themes but still fun to read. I like that the narrator is a boy this time. 3y

TheAromaofBooks Definitely episodic in nature, but feels a lot more cohesive since the characters are all the same in each chapter. Kind of reminds of Rainbow Valley in that way. 3y

quietjenn Like @catebutler I haven't started yet, although I have it waiting for me. Soon! 3y

JenlovesJT47 I‘m enjoying it but I love the Road To Avonlea series so it‘s fun reading these. 3y

Daisey I hope to fit it in this month, but I‘m really not sure when. 3y

Bkwrm7 I've started and it's fascinating what I remember and don't. None of the characters beyond the Story Girl had stuck with me at all, but I very distinctly remember the multiplication table bit when they are canvassing. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#WeeklyForecast

Continue The Story Girl #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead and Wuthering Heights #WanteringThroughWutheringHeights PermberLittens

Hopefully read an essay or so in Little Virtues

Continue reading Children of Gebelawi. This book is denser than I expected and is taking longer to read.

Cinfhen Nice to be a part of multiple buddyreads ❤️ 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#BookReport

I‘ve started the buddy reads of the tagged book #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead and Wuthering Heights #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights #PemberLittens

I finished 84 Charing Cross Road and The Fran Lebowitz Reader

I read Thursday‘s Children and Kleopatra

I‘m currently reading Children of Gebelawi.

Cinfhen I loved

84, Charing Cross Road

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LitsyEvents

The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead with @BarbaraJean will be reading and discussing The Story Girl by Lucy Maud Montgomery for January. #BuddyRead

BarbaraJean Thanks for reposting! All are welcome to join—just read along at your own pace throughout the month and we‘ll discuss on the 29th. If anyone wants to be tagged for the discussion, tag me to let me know and I‘ll add you to the list. 😊 3y

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The Story Girl | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#WeeklyForecast

I want to finish The Fran Lebowitz Reader

I‘m going to start two buddy reads, The Story Girl #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead and Wuthering Heights #PemberLittens #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights

I want to read both 84 Charing Cross Road and Thursday‘s Children.

erzascarletbookgasm 84 Charing is delightful 👍 3y

jb72 The Hanff book was one of my favorites last year. It‘s so good. 3y

Crinoline_Laphroaig I love 84 Charing Cross Road! Just about to post reminder for #wanderingthroughwutheringheights 3y

Suet624 I can't believe I haven't read 84 Charing Cross Road yet. Grrr... It's been on my “to read“ list forever! 3y

AnneCecilie @erzascarletbookgasm @jb72 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @Suet624 I didn‘t even know about it before joining Litsy, but it‘s a cute story and a perfect read to kick of the new year with. 3y

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The Story Girl | L. M. Montgomery

After a hiatus in December, #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead will pick up again in January with The Story Girl! Feel free to read along at your own pace throughout the month and we‘ll discuss on the 29th.

All are welcome—feel free to join in if you‘d like! I‘ve tagged those who expressed interest, but if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be, please comment and let me know!

quietjenn, Jerdencon, Bkwrm7, JenlovesJT47, AnneCecilie, TheAromaofBooks

jewright Please add me! 3y

sblbooks Please tag me🙋 3y

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y

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Jerdencon Im excited to start! 3y

BarbaraJean @jewright @sblbooks Adding you to the tag list! 🎉 3y

Liz_M @LitsyEvents #BuddyRead (edited) 3y

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