Emily of New Moon

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

I finished this on Saturday and forgot to post. I loved revisiting New Moon in this reread. Reading LMM's journals has deepened my appreciation of her novels.

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

Do you agree with LMM that this is the best book she‘s written (thus far in her life)?

What criteria do you use when considering what is a “best book”? For you, is “best” different from “favorite”?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, willaful

BarbaraJean I have a *really* hard time with determining what is a “best book.“ For me, “favorite“ and “best“ are very different things. I can appreciate a book's literary excellence and still not like it, and I can absolutely LOVE a book that I know isn't very well-written. So even though I asked this question, it's hard to answer! 😆 I do think EoNM is a better book than AoGG, but I don't know if I'd say it's better than Rilla. 2mo

lauraisntwilder EoNM is my favorite, but I think AoGG is probably her best to this point, from a literary standpoint. Marilla, Matthew, and Rachel are all so well and clearly defined. Jimmy is, but Elizabeth and Laura don't feel quite as real. I love them, but they're very similar to other sets of sisters in LMM's work. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I think I have to agree with @lauraisntwilder that AoGG seems like a more well-rounded book to me. It's also possible, though, that I feel that way because I've read AoGG a thousand times and EoNM twice 😂 I definitely don't think Emily is better than Rilla - I really think Rilla may be LMM's best book. I do think LMM connected far more with Emily as a reflection of herself than she did with Anne, who was entirely imaginary, and I can see why ⬇ 2mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) LMM would consider this her most pleasurable book to write. I think she enjoyed slipping in some autobiographical tones. She's also more confident as a writer at this point than she was when AoGG was written. 2mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks I see that with AoGG being a more well-rounded book than EoNM. I think I love Emily so much because there is so much depth and richness to Emily herself. We don't have nearly as much of Anne's inner life as we do Emily's—the tradeoff there is the deeper characterization Laura points out in AoGG, of Marilla, Matthew, Rachel, and others. With Rilla, it's kind of the best of both in its characterization. 1mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead LMMReread

For those of you who are re-reading, is there anything that landed differently for you on this reading?

If you‘re also reading the journals—how did the context of the journals affect your reading of the book?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, willaful

BarbaraJean Because of the journals, I saw SO many parallels between Emily and LMM: her life, her personality, and her family stories. I see such a mirror in Emily of LMM's NEED to write, how often she has to “write things out“ in order to process them emotionally. I also saw so many parallels to LMM's own writing ambitions (I mean, the Alpine Path is pretty obvious). Aunt Elizabeth landed a little differently this time—I actually found her more sympathetic.⬇ 2mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) I wondered how much of LMM's grandmother was reflected in Aunt Elizabeth. She absolutely DOES NOT understand Emily, but I found her so human in her eventual flash of realization that Emily is her own person whose perspective and feelings should be considered. She literally is a woman who has ZERO experience with or understanding of children and that somehow made me understand (not excuse!) her behavior a bit more this time. 2mo

lauraisntwilder The Alpine Path, yes, but it struck me as sad that creepy Dean Priest sent Emily the lines in a letter. I don't think I knew the significance of that poem to LMM when I read this before. LMM also had a horrible time shut up in the medical ward at school with measles. I was fascinated by that part of the journals and had completely forgotten that Emily gets measles, too. 2mo

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lauraisntwilder Knowing how often LMM had to entertain clergymen, I enjoyed the part where Emily asks Lofty John's priest for help even more. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks YES on the parts of Emily's life and personality that aligned with Emily! It was so interesting to see what family history tales she granted to Emily. And yes, Emily's determination and ambition and literal NEED to write all felt so close to the way LMM describes herself. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I wonder if LMM had already decided who Emily would marry when she wrote this first book, or if she was still keeping her options open? I feel like she sets Emily up with three options who connect with her in different ways: Teddy (soul), Dean (brain), and Perry (body). I could be getting really carried away here haha but in some ways these three also seem to represent the way LMM didn't really think it was possible for her to find someone who ⬇ 2mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) could be all three. (And in the end, LMM married someone who was none of them! Ewan is a fourth category, really - “practical“.) As a side question, do you think LMM intended for Dean to come off as creepy? @lauraisntwilder I would be interested in your thoughts, too!! 2mo

lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks No, I don't think she did. I like your idea of the three possibilities lining up with soul, brain, and body. LMM had Herman Leard for body (and what a lovely way to rewrite the life of someone who died young) who was socially inappropriate, like Perry, the "hired boy." Her brain companion was probably George MacMillan, right? I don't think he was creepy, but he was across the ocean. Maybe Dean's age is supposed to feel like a 1/2 2mo

lauraisntwilder great distance? And maybe she knew the whole time Emily would never be able to cross it? And her soulmate was Frede, I think. I don't think she ever found that connection in a romantic relationship. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder - Yes!! That is a great call with Frede being her soulmate; I genuinely think that's true. It doesn't seem like she ever connected with a man/potential husband in that way - or maybe she didn't let herself? I think she had trouble trusting people, and Frede was one of the few people in the world that she 100% completely trusted. I think part of the reason she married Ewan was because he WASN'T someone she could ever fall in love ⬇ 2mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) with, which weirdly made him “safe“ - falling in love gives someone a lot of power over you in many ways. 2mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Ugh, yes—I had forgotten that Dean sends her those lines. Ironic given his jealousy over her writing ambitions later! @TheAromaofBooks I agree with Laura—I don‘t think LMM intended Dean to come off as creepy, at least not in the 1st book. (There are too many icky age-gap romances elsewhere in her work that are presented as normal!) I do think she intends some red flags—his jealousy & possessiveness—in the subsequent books, though. 1mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I LOVE your connections with soul, brain, and body (although I think the connection with Perry is a little more tenuous, at least on Emily‘s side). That‘s such a great insight into LMM, as well—I think she articulates it pretty similarly, that she wants all three but doesn‘t believe they can (or will) all be contained within one person. 1mo

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I think her “brain” connection could be Nate, when she was young. They shared so many books and ideas back and forth. And I wonder where Will fits into the soul/brain/body idea. I think you‘re spot on with Frede being her soulmate! @TheAromaofBooks I completely agree that LMM didn‘t let herself connect deeply with a man, romantically. I think the depth of her passion for Herman scared her deeply. ⬇ 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) That, plus her baffling engagement to Edwin, plus her abiding fear of what others would think/say, I think all added up so that she was afraid to let go of control and trust someone enough to fall in love (and therefore she settled for Ewan as the safe, practical option so she could have a home and family of her own). 1mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread Emily of New Moon
As I was reading, I had a couple ideas I thought would be great for discussion questions. I was going to get up & note them down, but I was lazy and told myself of course I‘d remember. Well. I forgot. So. General discussion post! (I do have a couple of other questions I‘ll post separately)
What are your thoughts on Emily of New Moon? What themes, characters, scenes, or quotes stand out to you?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, willaful

lauraisntwilder I was struck by how much Emily wants to obey Aunt Elizabeth. She is amazingly loyal and sweet. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder - I was thinking about that, too! Especially since there are times that Laura encourages Emily to basically go behind Elizabeth's back, but Emily instead does try to stay true to what Elizabeth wants her to do. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks There was one line towards the end of the book where the aunts and uncles are talking about whether or not Emily should go to Queens, and Elizabeth says something like, “No Murray has to work for her living“ and the uncle says, “Well she's only half Murray“ And I was honestly so confused - aren't they ALL only half Murray!? 😂 2mo

BarbaraJean I'm so sorry it took me so long to get back to this discussion! @lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks YES, Emily is so well-intentioned and doesn't want to go behind Elizabeth's back like Laura so often suggests she do! Even when she does disobey. There are almost always extenuating circumstances. So often she unintentionally interprets the rules differently from how the adults intended! 1mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks 😂 😂 😂 I hadn't even thought of that, but it's absolutely true!! Just another example of how the Murrays never accepted Emily's father or her parents' marriage. 😢 (edited) 1mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

“The happiest countries, like the happiest women, have no history,” said Dean.

“…like all female creatures, you form your opinions by your feelings.”

Every time I read this, I discover more reasons to hate Dean Priest. #LMMReread #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, willaful

Trashcanman I‘ve never met a wise man, if so it‘s a woman. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks On top of being a total creep, he's sooooo condescending 2mo

kwmg40 He definitely comes across as a creep! 2mo

rubyslippersreads 😡🤢 2mo

lauraisntwilder The. Worst. 2mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Goodness, I love Father Cassidy so much. I wish we had more of him than we get!!

How is your reading coming along this week, Kindred Spirits? What are your favorite parts in this week‘s chapters? #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, willaful

JenlovesJT47 Thank you for reminding me!! I absolutely love this trilogy but have only read it once. Will try my hardest to get to it this week but I‘m so behind on everything. 😭 2mo

JenlovesJT47 And I love Emily, she‘s so feisty. 2mo

kwmg40 I love the interaction with Father Cassidy too! 2mo

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BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 I get it! No pressure, I know how busy things can get and how the self-assigned reading piles up 😆 2mo

BarbaraJean @kwmg40 He's such a delight! And I wish he could be more part of Emily's life. She needs more adults like this! 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Father Cassidy - finally a good adult!!

One thing that struck me this week was how much of this book is actually from Emily's first-person POV. Compared to the Anne books, where we don't get anything from Anne's direct POV (except in Windy Poplars, which hadn't been published at this point). However, this mixture of journals and narration does remind me of the format of Rilla. I really appreciate how, despite writing a story about another ⬇ 2mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) orphan girl, LMM has created a character completely different from Anne. Imaginative and creative, yes, but Emily is really just so so different from Anne in so many ways, beyond just her circumstances. Even at this young age (younger than we meet Anne) she's ambitious and goal-oriented vs Anne who did love learning and studying, but also at some level seemed to do it for the joy of learning more than because she had a specific career ⬇ 2mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) in mind. While Emily does sometimes get in a bit of a temper, she also tends to keep things in more until she can “write it out“ vs Anne's temper flashes and chatterbox tendencies. All that to say, even though I don't really objectively like this book - it's just too sad for me to really like it - I do appreciate LMM's incredible skill in character creation. 2mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

I don‘t generally advocate drinking your feelings, but tonight this lady needs a drinky drink and a comfort read.

ncsufoxes I have been having a few Surfside Vodkas & we watched an Adam Sandler movie tonight to laugh. 2mo

BarbaraJean @ncsufoxes sounds like a good way to self-soothe—you have to take what comfort you can get! 2mo

dabbe 🎯🩵🎯 2mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Hello, Kindred Spirits! Just a quick check-in on how your reading is going this week!

How are you enjoying Emily of New Moon so far?
What stands out to you from this week's chapters?

I‘m loving Emily and her world, as always. Emily is a delight and Cousin Jimmy is such a gift to her grieving spirit. I love seeing the parallels between Emily‘s writing and LMM‘s writing. And I want to shake Aunt Elizabeth. 😡

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, willaful

rubyslippersreads While you‘re shaking Aunt Elizabeth, give Ellen Greene a smack for me. 😠 2mo

JenlovesJT47 Have you watched the show? They picked the perfect person to play Aunt Elizabeth. 💚💚💚 2mo

kwmg40 This is a reread for me, and I‘m enjoying it very much so far. 2mo

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BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads Yes! And I'll also throw in a slap for Miss Brownell. @JenlovesJT47 I haven't yet! I think I'll wait to finish this re-read. Glad to know they cast her well! @kwmg40 💜 💜 2mo

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean Miss Brownell! 😡 2mo

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean And let‘s not forget Aunt Ruth. 2mo

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads So many people to slap. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Urgh, this book is so frustrating because it feels like basically every adult in Emily's life is ignorant, mean-spirited and/or too weak to stick up for her. Aunt Elizabeth shouldn't be allowed within 100 years of a child; was there ever someone with less understanding?! However, it's been SO interesting to pick up on parallels to LMM's childhood. I also recognized a few of the New Moon stories as belonging to her family (especially how their ⬇ 2mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) family ended up on PEI). Unpopular opinion, I'm really not that fond of Aunt Laura, either. She's obviously better than the others, but the way she just passively lets things happen to Emily, and then encourages Emily to just disobey behind Aunt Elizabeth's back! It drives me a little crazy. 2mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Every time I read this I discover I've forgotten just how bad 90% of the adults are. The way Elizabeth gets all snippy and lecture-y when Emily is crying, the night of her father's funeral?!?! 😡😡😡

I get where you're coming from with Aunt Laura. I'm SO glad Emily has Laura and Jimmy who actually love her and make her feel loved, but just encouraging Emily to sneak around behind Elizabeth's back is NOT the way to handle things. 2mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks And YES, I'm loving recognizing some of the New Moon stories from LMM's family lore! “Here I Stay“ is such a great tale, especially knowing it actually happened! 2mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Juxtapositions like these are one of the reasons I‘m so enjoying reading LMM‘s journals alongside a re-read of her books!

Top: quote from Aug. 4, 1923 — just weeks before Emily of New Moon was published
Bottom: quote from chapter 1 in Emily of New Moon

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread #LMMJournals

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

JenlovesJT47 💚💚💚 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I am really interested to see what connections we find between Emily and LMM (and later - Pat and LMM) 3mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I am SO interested to read the journals alongside Pat! I remember you really not liking the Pat books--do you think you'll re-read this time? 2mo

TheAromaofBooks I still have never read Mistress Pat, but I probably will reread Pat of Silver Bush despite saying I wasn't going to read it again ever 😂 2mo

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

I was really excited about re-reading Emily of New Moon by listening to this audiobook narrated by Megan Follows. Until I saw it‘s abridged. 😭 Maybe I‘ll read it in print and then go back afterwards to listen and see what they cut out. #LMMReread #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

TheBookHippie Oh dear. 3mo

lauraisntwilder ☹️ I see no reason for this book to have been abridged. 3mo

BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie I‘m SO disappointed! @lauraisntwilder Right?!? How could Megan Follows be part of this kind of travesty?! 3mo

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TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean it makes no sense. 3mo

willaful Good grief! It's hardly a super long book! 3mo

BarbaraJean @willaful I was thinking it was longer than Anne by about 100 pages, but I just looked it up, and at least in the Bantam paperbacks, it's all of 30 pages longer than Anne. 🙄 2mo

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LitsyEvents

Emily of New Moon | L M Montgomery

Repost for @BarbaraJean

Tomorrow begins the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead of Emily of New Moon! @BarbaraJean will post weekly check-ins and will discuss the book in full on Saturday, July 1. Schedule is above. All are welcome - please comment and tag @BarbaraJean if you were not tagged in her original post and would like to be tagged in future.
#LMMReread

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Tomorrow begins the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead of Emily of New Moon! I‘ll post weekly check-ins, and we‘ll discuss the book in full on Saturday, July 12. Schedule is above. All are welcome—please comment if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be!

#LMMReread #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, LitsyEvents

rubyslippersreads I‘m not sure if I‘ll reread (I bet I‘ve read it at least 50 times 😁), but I‘ll definitely chime in with comments. 3mo

TheBookHippie I adore this read! Enjoy!!! 3mo

JenlovesJT47 I read this a couple of years ago and loved it, sounds like a great time for a reread! P.S. Has anyone ever watched the show Emily of New Moon? It‘s pretty good. Got the whole series for $10 awhile back. 🩷 3mo

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willaful Oh, I haven't read this in so long. I think I'd like to join in! 3mo

BarbaraJean @willaful Yay! I‘ll tag you! 3mo

BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 I have an Emily of New Moon series saved in my Hoopla favorites but haven‘t watched it yet—maybe I need to do that this summer! 3mo

TheAromaofBooks When I read Emily the first time I found the series depressing and said I wasn't going to read them again - but I honestly can't resist rereading them within the context of everything we've been learning about LMM, so I guess I'm in again! 😂 3mo

rubyslippersreads @willaful I‘m jealous of you getting to read it for the first time. 3mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Hahaha! The Emily books really are much darker than Anne… but I do love them. I‘m glad you‘re in for a re-read—I‘m enjoying this chronological buddy read so much!! 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I am, too! I was not expecting rereading these within LMM's life-context to make such a difference but it really is! 3mo

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LitsyEvents

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

repost for @BarbaraJean:

Hello #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead-ers! I‘m looking at a tentative schedule for the next few months:
Beautiful Joe by Marshall Saunders (2 weeks)
Journals Vol. 5 (2 weeks)
Emily of New Moon (3 weeks)
Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner (3 weeks)
Journals Vol. 5 (3 weeks)
Emily Climbs (3 weeks)
“The Lay of the Brown Rosary” & Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (4 weeks)

THAT takes us to mid-October

LitsyEvents More info on the original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2863918 4mo

36 likes1 comment

Booksbymybed

Emily of New Moon: A Virago Modern Classic | L. M. Montgomery

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Final book of 2023! I really enjoyed it. A lot of things overlap with the beloved “Anne of Green Gables” saga, the setting, the inclination to writing and romance in the heroine. And yet, it‘s darker, the set up, the loss, the issues around her, some really unhealthy adults - from obsessively jealous or criminally neglectful parents, to creepy groomer relative. Made it more relatable. Can‘t wait to read the next book.

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ladyvital

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Emily is more demure than Anne. Far more introverted

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lauraisntwilder

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

I've finished my chapter-a-day reading of the first Emily book. I got a boxed set of all three books when my family went to PEI when I was 12, but for some reason, I never read the other two. I loved this book all over again. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series, but I have a feeling I won't love them as much as this one. 💛

rubyslippersreads I‘ve read all three many times, but the first is my favorite. 2y

lauraisntwilder @rubyslippersreads I just love Emily! 2y

25 likes2 comments

lauraisntwilder

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lines like these are why I always liked Emily a little more than Anne.

21 likes

ahoffkosik

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

On this week‘s episode of my book podcast, I have the chance to talk to two of my favorite podcasters — Sadie and Gavi from Leaving Eden. We focus on EMILY OF NEW MOON and the ways in which it became important to Sadie during her unusual childhood. We chat about teen angst, cats, atheism, universalism, orphan tropes, one-room schoolhouses, and grief, as well. 🌙 Link to listen in my bio!

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Deblovestoread

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#TemptingTitles #WithNew

Thank you for the fun April prompts! @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs 💙💜💗 2y

45 likes1 comment

IndoorDame

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#TemptingTitles #WithNew @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Cuilin Beautiful cover 😍 2y

IndoorDame It‘s my favorite edition! I have the ebook with this cover art, but I really want the series in print too! 2y

Eggs Beautiful photo and such a treasured book/series 🌺 2y

60 likes3 comments

rabbitprincess

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

I love the Emily books so much. I‘ve always related to her that little bit more than Anne.

batsy Same! 💙 2y

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kwmg40

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

I filled in a few of the early slots in the #192025 challenge in January!
@Librarybelle

Librarybelle Hooray!! 3y

38 likes1 comment

kwmg40

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

I enjoyed this first book in Montgomery's Emily series. There are definitely similarities to the Anne books, but I find Emily a more realistic and relatable character.

12 hours of reading and third book finished for the #20in4 readathon. @Andrew65

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#192025 #1923 @Librarybelle

Andrew65 Brilliant 👏👏👏 3y

Librarybelle Good choice! It‘s been ages since I‘ve read the Emily series! 3y

Octoberwoman I love the Anne series but haven‘t read any of the Emily books yet. Someday! 3y

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TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y

kwmg40 @Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks Thanks for the encouragement! 3y

kwmg40 @Librarybelle @Octoberwoman I'll definitely continue with the other Emily books. I've been an Anne fan for such a long time (even took my kids to PEI for a vacation) that I can't believe I've not read this book until now. 3y

Sapphire This is one of my #192025 selections too, but I stalled about a third of the way through. I need to pick it up again soon and hope it catches this time. I loved Anne when I read her as a girl. 3y

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merelybookish

Emily of New Moon: A Virago Modern Classic | L. M. Montgomery

My favourite LM Montgomery. 💜
#Alphabetgame #LetterE @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

LeahBergen Ooo, yes! 💙 3y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty! 3y

Cathythoughts ♥️ 3y

batsy Yes! 💜 3y

60 likes4 comments

bookandbedandtea

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Father Cassidy made me laugh 😂

16 likes

ReadingEnvy

Emily of New Moon | Lucy M Montgomery

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Can I squeeze this into my mid-century women reading project if it came.out in 1923? I read all the Anne of Green Gables books but for some reason was never really interested in Emily as a child. (Looking at covers, I remember the dark gloomy book on the left, this newer refreshed cover may have compelled me!) ↘️

ReadingEnvy Emily is orphaned and moves in with her mother's family in New Moon, PEI. She has to navigate rules, school, and friends while also managing a passion for writing (the joke here seems to be the passion without the talent, for now.) There are a lot of similarities to Anne and I wonder how far down the road from each other these girls are; PEI not being huge. 4y

LeahBergen I ❤️ Emily! 4y

ReadingEnvy @LeahBergen ❤️ 4y

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rubyslippersreads

Emily of New Moon: A Virago Modern Classic | L. M. Montgomery

The tagged book is my #1, always and forever. Some of the rest are rereads, but they‘re all books I loved this year. #Top21od21

It‘s obvious I ❤️ vintage fiction, but I see a lot of new books on everyone else‘s lists that tempt me to branch out in 2022.

Thanks for tagging me, @Nute and @Ruthiella 😊

I don‘t know who‘s already been tagged, so I‘ll invite anyone who wants to play, because I‘m so curious to see everyone‘s faves.

LeahBergen Oh, Double Spell! Also known as Twin Spell, right? That was a childhood favourite of mine and I own a very cool edition. 😊 4y

LeahBergen And I‘m glad to see that someone else will list as many oldies as I will. 😆 4y

Ruthiella I love seeing all the #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub books on this list! I kind of used the Ursula Orange title on my list as a placeholder for them all. 😀 4y

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elkeOriginal So many #furrowedmiddlebrow books! Well done! 4y

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen Yep, same book. 💜 that spooky stuff! 😄 4y

rubyslippersreads @elkeo_TheBookDragon 😊 4y

rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella They‘re addictive. 😄 4y

LeahBergen What is the Felicia book? It‘s the only one I don‘t recognize. 4y

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen It‘s about a cat who turns into a little girl. I had to get it through ILL; the cheapest copy I could find was $500! 🙀 4y

MaureenMc I love this list! 😍 4y

batsy So many pretty covers! Love seeing the Furrowed Middlebrows and yay Lolly Willowes 💖 4y

Cinfhen 😍 4y

quietjenn Same! Working on my list, it's *very* vintage, but I am inspired by others to maybe be slightly more contemporary in the future! 4y

LeahBergen I didn‘t get the notification that you replied to my question! That book sounds fascinating. 😮 4y

73 likes14 comments

Burpito

Emily of New Moon | L M Montgomery

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I loved the part of the book where my partner gave all the characters unique voices

4 likes

GodsLioness

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

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Sometimes you just need to spend time catching up with an old friend.

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Kristin_Reads

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Litsy made me do it! I couldn‘t resist these editions of the Emily series. I was everything “Anne” growing up but never read this series. Can‘t wait to start in! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #blameitonLitsy

MoonWitch94 Beautiful covers! 4y

ReadingEnvy I've never read Emily but would like to - which editions are these? So pretty! 4y

Kristin_Reads @MoonWitch94 @ReadingEnvy I love the covers, too! They‘re by Virago Press. 4y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty covers!! 4y

AnneCecilie Those are gorgeous 4y

63 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

I loved this re-read. It‘s been so long since I read the Emily books, and it all came back to me: Emily‘s writerliness, her keen observations, “the flash” & her experience of beauty, Ilse, Teddy, Perry, Cousin Jimmy—all the things I loved before. What I hadn‘t remembered—how awful Aunt Elizabeth is for so much of the book, and how problematic Dean Priest is—marred this reading for me a bit, though I do still so love Emily. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

BarbaraJean Over a week into reading Emily Climbs, and I‘m just managing to post a review of the first book—😬 4y

42 likes1 comment

Daisey

Emily of New Moon: A Virago Modern Classic | L. M. Montgomery

I fit in a couple more chapters with a supper of supreme nachos tonight. I‘m still working my way through this reread and thoroughly enjoying it.

#Reread #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #ReadAndEat

Texreader Mmmm, I love nachos! These look great! 4y

jewright That looks so yummy! 4y

Daisey @Texreader @jewright They were delicious! 4y

56 likes3 comments

AnneCecilie

Emily of New Moon: A Virago Modern Classic | L. M. Montgomery

so-so

This is my second time reading the story about Emily and to be honest I was disappointed. I remember loving this as a teen. Maybe it‘s age or maybe it‘s just that I love Anne so much.

I hope these improves as I read on

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

BarbaraJean

merelybookish How disappointing! But I love the cover. 🙂 4y

batsy That is a really nice cover! 4y

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TheAromaofBooks

Emily of New Moon | Lucy M Montgomery

pick

I first read the Anne books when I was pretty young, maybe 10 or 11. At the time, Mom told me not to read the Emily books because they were "too sad." In retrospect - & reading these for the first time - I think it may also have to do with the fact that the Emily books handle some topics not as suitable for younger readers. They definitely are more serious (realistic?) & Emily herself lacks the humor that carries Anne through so many difficult⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) situations. While I was glad to read this one & am continuing the series (thanks to the #KindredSpiritBuddyRead !!) I don't see myself rereading these as I have the Anne books. I don't connect to serious, ambitious Emily nearly as well, & the adults in her life make the story difficult to read at times. A soft pick for me, but one I'm glad to finally get around to reading!!

#SeriesRead2021 @TheSpineView 4y

thegirlwiththelibrarybag I picked this one up after watching Russian Doll on Netflix - I haven‘t gotten around to reading the sequels but I‘m glad I read the first one. (edited) 4y

rabbitprincess I have this exact edition! I like both Anne and Emily but consider myself more of an Emily person. I think I relate more to Emily‘s seriousness and reserve than to Anne‘s gregariousness 😁 4y

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LeeRHarry I have just finished Anne of GG for the first time - I thought it was very sweet and loved all the nature writing- would have loved it if I‘d read it when I was younger 😊 4y

TheAromaofBooks @thegirlwiththelibrarybag - I'm definitely glad to read them - I've meant to do so for years & even bought the trilogy used on ebay back in 2016, but it took this buddy read to inspire me to actually pick them up!!! 4y

TheAromaofBooks @rabbitprincess - I'm not sure if I would feel differently about Emily if I had read these books when I was younger? It's impossible for me to be even kind of objective about the Anne books because I have so much nostalgia tied up in them as well! 4y

TheAromaofBooks @LeeRHarry - I know some people find the series to be a bit too saccharine, but I have so many good memories of reading them that I can't even pretend to be objective! 😂 4y

BarbaraJean I know what you mean about not re-reading these like Anne. I've always said I like the Emily books better than Anne, but I've re-read Anne FAR more times. Anne is a comfort read for me, while Emily is not so much. Even though I do relate more to Emily (and think they are better-written books), you've articulated it well for me--their seriousness, the unpleasant adults, and the more difficult topics mean Anne is the more re-readable of the two! 4y

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean - I think now that I have a better idea of what to expect from these books, I'm enjoying them more. I do think that Emily's story is more realistic and that Emily herself is a more believable character than Anne who, after the first 11 years of her life, seems to be constantly under a good-luck star. But the Anne books are full of characters & places I love to revisit - I haven't really warmed to anyone in Emily's world in that way. 4y

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion

Question 7:
What were some of your favorite scenes or quotes in Emily of New Moon? What were your least favorite or most frustrating parts of the book?

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

rubyslippersreads I love the whole thing (well, not so much the Dean Priest parts), but one of the elements I like is all the family history and “tradishuns,” like Mary Murray and her “Here I stay.” Also the references to Jane Eyre, like Emily‘s experience in the spare room. And I always get the chills when Emily is able to solve the mystery of Ilse‘s mother. (edited) 4y

sblbooks I enjoyed Emily's time with Aunt Ruth. 4y

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Jerdencon I loved her letters to her father (and later her mother). 4y

rubyslippersreads @Jerdencon The letters are one of my favorites things in the book. 4y

TheAromaofBooks I really enjoyed the story of her saving the woods near their house by visiting Father Cassidy. 4y

Desha @BarbaraJean Thank you so much for leading and doing this discussion! I didn‘t add anything because I didn‘t get far enough in the book but I enjoyed reading everyone‘s thoughts. I‘m going to continue and finish the book! ♥️📚 4y

jewright I am bothered by the Dean part. I just love Emily‘s dedication to her writing. I love how she solves the mystery of Ilse‘s mother and just her double and zest for life. 4y

BarbaraJean I finished this re-read with such mixed feelings. My love for this series was undimmed until I got to Dean Priest, and that tarnished it for me, so much. That has to be my least favorite/most frustrating part. But there's still so much of it that I love! That scene at the beginning when Emily hides under the table and hears the family discussion about her fate--her sarcastic internal commentary is 💯. I also love Ilse's insults. 😂 4y

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads Oh, the “Here I stay“ story is so wonderful! I do love how Emily embraces the family history and all the New Moon ways. @Jerdencon I love the letters, too. It's such a sweet way for Emily to process her feelings. @TheAromaofBooks I love Father Cassidy! @jewright Emily's passion for writing is one of the main things that endeared her to me as a child, and I was even more impressed by her matter-of-fact ambition this time around. 4y

BarbaraJean @Desha Oh, you're welcome! It has been such a joy to read Emily along with all of you! Feel free to come back and comment when you finish the book, if you'd like. 😊 4y

quietjenn @BarbaraJean Yes, the hiding under the table scene - and popping up when she just can't keep her mouth shut - is one I truly adore! 4y

quietjenn @TheAromaofBooks yes, I love this bit as well! 4y

quietjenn In addition to what's been mentioned already, I'll say I really enjoy Emily's visit to Whyther Grange and especially they way she garners her invite by switching the picture and writing her own letter. But for all their faults, I can't resist crotchety and gossipy old ladies! Beyond the creepy vibes already talked about, I pretty much genuinely hate Miss Brownell. 4y

23 likes14 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion

Question 6:
We see several key moments in Emily‘s journey as a writer: Miss Brownell‘s sarcasm, Father Cassidy‘s encouragement, Mr. Carpenter‘s honest feedback, Emily‘s evaluation of her old writing—which of these (or other) moments did you see as most formative for Emily as a writer?

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

rubyslippersreads All of these, to one degree or another, but also that her father told her to keep writing. 4y

Jerdencon I think her ability to critique her own writing is an important part of her writing development. She is becoming an aware writer. 4y

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TheAromaofBooks I think all of them were important in the moment, but I think Mr. Carpenter's may be the most important as it relates to her actually continuing to pursue her writing as she gets older, because Emily seems to recognize that he is more objective than others in her life. Like @Jerdencon said, I also think it's important that she's learning to evaluate her own writing as well. 4y

rubyslippersreads @TheAromaofBooks @Jerdencon Yes, the fact that can she actually burn writing she knows isn‘t good impresses me. 4y

BarbaraJean @Jerdencon YES, I think that's integral to her becoming a serious writer; her ability to honestly evaluate her own work (and to take constructive criticism as she does from Mr. Carpenter). @rubyslippersreads Me too!! The descriptions of her destroying some of her old writing hurt me a little bit, but impressed me as well. 4y

jewright I wish she wouldn‘t burn her old writing! It‘s always nice to see where you have been. 4y

TheAromaofBooks @jewright - I thought about that as well... like it seems like it would be interesting for her to recognize that the writing isn't that great, but still to keep it so she can see how far she has come in the future! 4y

quietjenn I agree that they all had their role to play in Emily's creative development and help her grow as a writer, although Mr. Carpenter most of all because a) he is fair and helps her recognize how to evaluate her own work and b) because he treats her to a degree as a writing peer. I do wish her urge to destroy her old work was one she didn't give in to. 4y

15 likes9 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion:

Question 5:
Emily describes her experience of beauty and inspiration as “the flash”—do you think all writers/artists experience something like “the flash,” in their own way? Have you ever responded to beauty in a similar way?

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

TheAromaofBooks I'm not sure about the flash, but maybe? Sometimes I do see something so beautiful that it kind of gives me a weird tug inside, so maybe that's the flash! 4y

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I've definitely had moments that I think of as “resonating“--where something just sounds/reads/looks so incredibly right, it's like I've found a piece of myself reflected back to me. That's the closest I come to “the flash“! Now that I think about it, Emily feels so many things so intensely, it makes sense that her experience of beauty is so intense! 4y

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jewright Good books, beautiful sunsets, and amazing music always give me a weird cold chills feeling. I wonder if that is similar to Emily‘s “the flash.” 4y

Bkwrm7 My mom talks about completely understanding Emily's "flash," and I think that's a big part of why she loves these books so much. I think there is room for many different ways to experience artistic inspiration or beauty though. For some maybe it's a flash, for others a wave or a sun ray - or as you all have said- tugs, reflections and chills! 4y

Clare-Dragonfly I thought of the flash as more of a religious feeling than a writerly one, but these books are so Christian (I‘m coming from a pagan perspective) that I doubt it was intended that way! 4y

quietjenn I do think that there are moments that folks get (not necessarily just creative types?) where things just click and you feel a sense of clarity and connection. For Emily they are flashes, while for others they make take a different form. I've had my own, from time to time, although never named it that way. @Bkwrm7 @jewright @BarbaraJean 4y

BarbaraJean @Clare-Dragonfly I didn't get religious vibes from Emily's “flash,“ but so much of the imagery uses Christian language/terms, so I get it coming across that way. It's so interesting--I'm sure Emily's description of “the flash“ would be frowned on by religious types of the time. She makes so many contrasts between “father's God“ and “Ellen's God,“ etc. that it feels like Montgomery is consciously defining an approach to God that subverts the norm. 4y

15 likes8 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion:

Question 4:
I‘m not sure exactly what I want to ask about these three characters/plot threads, but I want to talk about them and I have a feeling you do, too:
👩‍👦Teddy‘s possessive, jealous mother
👨‍👧Ilse‘s father‘s neglect/the gossip about her mother
😳Creepy Dean Priest

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

rubyslippersreads Teddy‘s mother is scary, especially that she‘d go so far as to poison the cats just because Teddy loves them. (I‘ll bet she was tempted to poison Emily.) Ilse‘s father behaves horribly towards Ilse, but it seems realistic. As for Dean Priest, I first read this at about age 10, and lines like “I think I‘ll wait for you,” went over my head as much as Emily‘s. Now, 😳. 4y

sblbooks I have more sympathy for Ilse's father since he lost his wife. @rubyslippersreads yes... Teddys mother is scary. I do not like the Dean Priest storyline at all. I was surprised this was in a kids book written in the 1920s. Was this common place back then? 4y

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rubyslippersreads @sblbooks I think it was more commonplace to have marriages with wide age gaps then (the book was written in the 1920s, but seems to take place earlier). Look at the age difference between Jo and Prof. Bhaer in Little Women. Emily should pay attention to those warnings to “never marry a Priest.” 4y

Jerdencon Yes - teddy‘s mother is super bizarre and Dean is super creepy. I know about big age differences but Emily is only 12. I‘m reading these for the first time so wondering if we get some answers in the next books. 4y

TheAromaofBooks Teddy's mom is super creepy. I thought it was another interesting contrast between this story & Anne's - Anne & many/most of her classmates are encouraged to continue their education & make their way in the world. In this story, all three children have someone who is denying them that privilege. I can't see that going well for anyone involved in the long run. The part about Ilse's dad that I couldn't quite get behind was his sudden turn around ⬇ 4y

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) when the truth came out. It seemed hard to believe that he could so ignore/neglect/dislike her for her entire life & then all of a sudden just be so loving & caring. As for Dean Priest - it's not the difference in their ages that bothers me as much as the fact that she's freaking TWELVE. Like if she was 20 & he was 35 it would be weird but not borderline pedophile, which is how it reads now. Despite the lack of overt sexual tones, it ⬇ 4y

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) still kind of feels like Emily is being groomed, and I don't like it! 4y

sblbooks @TheAromaofBooks exactly...I agree😳 4y

rubyslippersreads @TheAromaofBooks @sblbooks Yes, Emily is a little girl. I wish that, when Dean came around New Moon, Aunt Elizabeth had given him some Murray attitude and told him to get lost. 4y

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads @sblbooks @Jerdencon I was trying to hard to understand how the Dean storyline would have been okay at the time. I have a hard time when people impose modern values on a time when views were so different, but I also can't excuse abominable behavior by saying “things were different then.“ As @TheAromaofBooks said, it's not so much the age gap, as that she's TWELVE YEARS OLD. I don't understand how that would've been seen as okay. 4y

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads I would LOVE to read a scene where Aunt Elizabeth uses the “Murray look“ on Dean Priest and sends him packing, telling him he has no business lurking around a 12-year-old girl like that. 4y

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I hadn't thought about that contrast with Anne - that our main characters here are all denied continuing their education, when it was so central for Anne and Gilbert and so many others. It's especially interesting since all four of the children here show such promise (there's some pretty heavy-handed foreshadowing that they all have brilliant careers ahead of them, to match their ambition and talent as children). 4y

Bkwrm7 Where Anne's world was pretty idealized, here's one with realistically (and terribly in some cases) flawed adults making poor parenting choices - Teddy's mother, who seems mentally ill honestly, and Ilse's father particularly. As for Dean, all I could think when the "I think I'll wait for you line" came up was Ew. She's 12! 12! What are you doing thinking about her like that? Grooming is the word that came to my mind, too. 4y

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean - I agree with trying to not impose modern values on older books - I do think it's important to keep the context of the societal values of the time in mind when reading books that are almost a hundred years old. But even given that some girls got married quite young (16-18) at the time, I just still can't reconcile, as an adult, looking at a 12-year-old & thinking, “Ah yes, the future spouse of my dreams!“ Just... ugh! 4y

Clare-Dragonfly How was there no resolution Teddy‘s dreadful, terrifying mother?! The book seems to think her treatment of him and everything he loves is in the realm of okay, when really it is so far outside of okay that it can‘t even see the border! 😱 4y

Clare-Dragonfly As for Dean Priest—exactly what @TheAromaofBooks said! 😱😱😱😱😱 4y

rubyslippersreads I‘m reading the Emily parts of a book on Montgomery‘s heroines and romance. It comments on the many Jane Eyre references, and says that Dean Priest imagines himself Mr. Rochester. 😳

The Fragrance of Sweet-Grass: L.M. Montgomery's Heroines and the Pursuit of Romance

quietjenn Teddy's mom had some serious issues - totally could make a horror movie out of that lady! Ilse's father is trickier for me - in so many other ways, he's an interesting, complex character who I appreciate (i.e. one of the few people who Aunt Elizabeth will listen to and be direct by, even if she doesn't like his advice), but his treatment of her is just so awful. And not excused by what he things he's experienced. So frustrating. 4y

quietjenn Dean Priest - I don't even know what to say about him. I definitely think it went over my head as a kid and I'm so gob-smacked by it now. That said, I don't think we're supposed to be totally okay with it? Like, even if you were cool with the age difference and the child/adult dynamics, he comes on pretty damn strong. Would 💜 a scene with Aunt Elizabeth giving him the Murray look! 4y

AnneCecilie I had no idea what you were talking about so I had to go back and look through the book, and I can‘t find these things. Teddy‘s mum is hardly mentioned and only as someone who doesn‘t leave her house. I didn‘t find Dean Priest at all. Ilse‘s dad is there, and it‘s mentioned that he‘s negligent, but I don‘t think I really saw it and her mum is just mentioned. Maybe these are some parts that was left out of my translation? 4y

AnneCecilie I had a suspicion that something was left out and that maybe chapters afterwards were adjusted. But based on the description of Dean Priest, I completely understand the reactions to that. 4y

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads The Mr. Rochester connection makes a lot of sense (and I've always felt that Mr. Rochester is an ass), though I think Rochester and Dean are problematic in different ways. That book sounds fascinating--I'll have to check it out! @quietjenn Yes, Teddy's mother is a horror movie all on her own!! I agree with @bkwrm7, there seem to be mental health issues there. I appreciate Emily's analysis in book 2--she calls her “haunted.“ (edited) 4y

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie That is so weird--your edition/translation definitely has parts missing. I remember you saying it had fewer chapters; I wonder if the Dean Priest chapters/sections were removed (as well as other sections!) and then renumbered. It reminds me of the differences between Anne of Windy Poplars (in the US/Canada) & Anne of Windy Willows (in the UK). Editing out Dean makes sense to me--far more problematic than the “gory“ parts in WP/WW! 4y

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean It‘s a fascinating book, but I‘d advise not reading it until after you‘ve finished the Emily trilogy, due to spoilers. 4y

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads This is a re-read of Emily for me, so no spoilers there, but it looks like the author also touches on some of the novels I haven‘t read (Jane of Lantern Hill), so that‘s good to know! 4y

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion

Question 3:
What are your thoughts on Emily‘s New Moon relatives: Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Laura, and Cousin Jimmy? What part does each one play in Emily‘s growth?

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

AnneCecilie They don‘t feel fleshed out, but more like characters where they each play their role. 4y

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie So interesting! I definitely felt that way about Aunt Laura—she wasn‘t fleshed out & was just there to provide some balance to Aunt Elizabeth‘s harshness. Cousin Jimmy, as much as I love him, is just in the background for most of the novel. I felt like Aunt Elizabeth was the most developed character of the three—as much as I disliked her for all but a couple of positive moments, I think she‘s the best-drawn character of the three. 4y

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BarbaraJean In spite of (perhaps because of) what I‘ve said about Aunt Elizabeth being the most-developed of the three, I think she contributes more to the story as an antagonist than she does to Emily‘s growth as a person—Emily‘s growth seems to come more from Jimmy‘s encouragement and Emily‘s own reflectiveness than from anywhere else. Elizabeth and Emily just flat out don‘t understand each other, though to her credit, Emily really tries to understand! (edited) 4y

rubyslippersreads I think all three contribute to Emily‘s life. Aunt Laura gives the unconditional love that Emily needs after losing her father and coming to a new home. Cousin Jimmy encourages her imagination. Aunt Elizabeth, although harsh (though not as bad as Aunt Ruth), is a bit like Marilla in that she has a hard time understanding children and is very set in her ways. (edited) 4y

Jerdencon I like all three - even aunt Elizabeth who grew on me. I feel like Laura and jimmy give Emily the nurturing she needs while Elizabeth provides the discipline. 4y

TheAromaofBooks I honestly despised Elizabeth for most of this book & while I found her somewhat more palatable by the end, I still dislike her pretty heartily. She doesn't even attempt to understand Emily or to see things from her perspective. The times that she literally destroyed things (and cats!) that were important to Emily verges on unforgiveable to me. And it isn't just the way she treats Emily - it's the whole household. I couldn't believe that she ⬇ 4y

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) keeps Jimmy's wages! I mean seriously! Jimmy & Laura are more likable, but they are so cowed by Elizabeth that their affection & encouragement to Emily feels somewhat underhanded, like they are sneaking around instead of just standing up & giving Emily the unconditional & open love that she needs. 4y

rubyslippersreads @TheAromaofBooks I agree that Elizabeth has a lot of nerve keeping Jimmy‘s wages when she‘s the reason he is the way he is. I also hate her for making Emily choose between Mike and Saucy Sal (never mind all the kitten drownings. 😾) 4y

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I was surprised at how awful Aunt Elizabeth was. I hadn't remembered her as so thoroughly unsympathetic. Her two good moments go a long way to redeem her for me, though: when she insists on keeping her promise to check the well, and her apology to Emily. But it's terrible the way she browbeats everyone into submission for the bulk of the novel, and the whole thing with Jimmy's wages--😡 4y

BarbaraJean Also re: Jimmy: I really don't see him as “not right in the head“ as everyone continually describes him. Maybe it's because we see him through Emily's eyes, but it seemed like the only reasons people thought he was “off“ were that he recites poetry, and... what? I can't find much else that was supposedly “wrong“ with him. 4y

Bkwrm7 Elizabeth was definitely the most rounded of the three guardians and works as a whetstone on Emily. @BarbaraJean the only other bit about Jimmy I remember that might indicate something is different about him is the story he tells about giving his money away. Other than that, agreed that he didn't seem significantly different in character than, let's say, Matthew. 4y

TheAromaofBooks The only thing I can think about Jimmy is that his fall somehow made it more difficult for him to do “book learning“ - I think it's indicated that he was going to go on to higher education & then didn't, so maybe it changed how he learns?? Or something?? But I agree that he doesn't seem crazy or even mentally slow in this story, despite everyone saying that he is. 4y

Clare-Dragonfly Yes, I agree with everyone about Jimmy—we‘re repeatedly told that he is slower than he used to be, but through Emily‘s eyes he just seems like a kind, thoughtful man so it‘s hard to believe. I was disappointed that Aunt Laura didn‘t become more of a complete character but I loved the character arc of Aunt Elizabeth. 4y

quietjenn I understand the roles that each of the adults play, but that doesn't mean that I always liked them! 😏 I do wish that we had more of their backstory and a better sense of them and what they've experienced in life up until Emily comes along. And that Laura and Jimmy weren't so willing to go along with Elizabeth's rule of things. She's so harsh and while I'm a little more forgiving of her than others seem to be, she's got a ways to go. 4y

quietjenn @rubyslippersreads yes, very much this! And they are such a better option than the others who might've taken Emily. 4y

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7 Yes, Jimmy definitely reminded me of Matthew. We're told that Avonlea thinks Matthew is strange, but that's explained by his shyness. I kept thinking that Jimmy's being “not right“ was similar--that it was largely based on other people's judgment because he didn't fit the norm. @TheAromaofBooks The “book-learning“ angle makes a lot of sense, but absolutely--we don't see his “slowness“ in the narrative. 4y

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BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion:

Question 2:
Having just read the Anne series, I found it difficult not to compare Emily with Anne. What comparisons and contrasts stood out to you between the two characters, or between the two series so far?

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

AnneCecilie I love Anne so much more. I think it‘s because of Anne and her ability to dream and see the positive in things. But also because of Matthew and Marilla. Emily doesn‘t have any of these things and felt a little flat. 4y

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie It‘s funny, I think I like Emily more because it isn‘t as rosy/positive as Anne! I love Anne‘s spirit, but Emily has a different tone that feels a bit more relatable to me. I do definitely miss Matthew and Marilla, though, and the sense of family they create for Anne. New Moon is lovely, Aunt Laura is sweet, and I love Cousin Jimmy, but I agree that I miss Matthew & Marilla! 4y

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sblbooks While I liked Emily, I don't think any character is ever going to measure up to Anne. I really dislike Elizabeth and the Dean Priest storyline is just creepy. I do like the rest of the supporting cast. 4y

rubyslippersreads I love Anne, but Emily is more of a kindred spirit to me. Anne is more cheerful; Emily seems deeper. 4y

Jerdencon I actually like Emily more than Anne too. She seems a little more realistic to me. They are both spunky girls but I like how Emily goes about thjbts 4y

TheAromaofBooks I really love both Anne and Emily. However, one of the things I love about Anne is her sense of humor & her ability to laugh at herself - & I don't feel like Emily has that. She takes everything quite seriously. I also struggled with this one because I felt like all of the adults in Emily's life are rather dreadful (even Jimmy & Laura are weak, leaving their kindness watered down) while Anne has so many good ones in hers. 4y

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads @Jerdencon Agreed - I love Anne, but I relate to Emily far more, and find her more realistic. With Anne, I so often agree with Katherine Brooke and feel she leads too much of a charmed life! @TheAromaofBooks Yes, you're right--I think it's harder for Emily to get outside of herself. Emily feels a little more immature in that way. Anne initially has a tendency to take things too seriously (dramatically so), but outgrows it a bit. 4y

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Oh, absolutely--the adults are all pretty bad. And the most prominent adult characters seem to be the worst ones. With Anne, even the adults that seem initially awful often turn out to be hidden gems (Mrs. Lynde, Mr. Harrison, even Marilla). 4y

jewright I think I will always love Anne more because I loved her so much as a child, but I‘m really enjoying this re-reading of Emily. (edited) 4y

rubyslippersreads @jewright I think whether we read something as a child definitely affects us. As a little girl, I had read and loved Anne. My mom gave me Emily, which she also read as a child, and said, “This is even better than Anne.” And (for me), it‘s true. 😊 4y

Bkwrm7 Hah - I see my answer to the first question would have fit better here! In general, I feel like the Emily books are probably stronger writing, but I love the Anne books more. 4y

quietjenn I will echo @rubyslippersreads @Jerdencon and @Barbarajean. Although I do love Anne, I relate and connect more with Emily. She seems much more like myself than Anne does, for all of her charms and whimsies (which is lovely in literature but can be a lot in real life). And I could never quite get with Anne's raptures over nature, but Emily's flashes of inspiration felt familiar. 4y

quietjenn @rubyslippersreads what an apt way to put it! 4y

15 likes14 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Getting started with our #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Emily of New Moon discussion!

Question 1: Overall thoughts:
First-time readers: what were your first impressions of the book?
Re-readers: How did the book hold up for you as a re-read?

BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7, @sblbooks, @Desha, @AnneCecilie, @rubyslippersreads, @Jerdencon, @quietjenn, @Clare-Dragonfly, @jewright, @Daisey, @TheAromaofBooks, @coffeewithbooks, @catebutler 4y

AnneCecilie I think I fall somewhere in between. I first read it in my teens and haven‘t read it since, so in one way it was like reading it for the first time. I think I a enjoyed it more the first time than I did now. 4y

sblbooks First time reader here: I enjoyed it, but not has much as Anne of Green Gables. 4y

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rubyslippersreads It‘s still my all-time favorite book. 😊 4y

Jerdencon First time reader too. I enjoyed it and liked Emily but found the book a bit wordy at times. 4y

TheAromaofBooks First time reading this, despite loving so many of Montgomery's other books. I didn't dislike it, but I also don't see myself rereading this one. It's an overall rather sad book, I thought. 4y

Clare-Dragonfly This is my first time. I liked it, but didn‘t love it, though I can see myself having loved it as a child if I read it then. It has a very childish sense of romance. 4y

rubyslippersreads @Clare-Dragonfly I think a big part of my love for this book stems from the fact that I was about 10 when I first read it. 4y

Bkwrm7 This was a re-read for me, but I definitely haven't read these as many times as the Anne books and I can see why. There's a warmth to the Anne books that I don't get in the same way from Emily of New Moon. I think the characters and situations are probably more complex in the Emily books, but there was so much tragedy, too. 4y

quietjenn Like others, I first read this as a child (about 11 or 12) and I loved it fiercely then. But because I adored it so much, I've been apprehensive about rereading it. I do still love it, but maybe not as fiercely. Although it's very easy to understand as a grown-up why it hit me so hard back then. 4y

15 likes10 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Just a reminder that our book-end discussion for Emily of New Moon will be on Wednesday, Sept. 1st. I‘ll plan to post questions around mid-day Pacific time. Join the discussion whenever you‘re able! Then we‘ll start chapter-a-day for Emily Climbs on Thursday Sept. 2nd. Looking forward to discussing with you all… I have THOUGHTS. #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Daisey, Hooked_on_books, Jerdencon, catebutler, Bkwrm7, LeahBergen, Desha, AnneCecilie, Clare-Dragonfly, coffeewithbooks, sblbooks, jewright, TheAromaofBooks

Hooked_on_books I fully intended to join in on this, but I never quite got around to reading! Oops. 😬 Enjoy the conversation! You don‘t have to worry about tagging me going forward. 4y

catebutler I‘m looking forward to the convo and also continuing with the series. 🥰 4y

Desha I only made it about halfway through but I‘m interested in the discussion on the 1st. I won‘t be going forward with the series after though. Thank you so much for doing this! 📚♥️ 4y

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TheAromaofBooks I'm really interested to see everyone's thoughts on this one. I love so many of Montgomery's other books but this one has left me with a lot of mixed feelings! 4y

BarbaraJean @Hooked_on_books 👍 I know how that goes! My August completely got away from me. @catebutler Yay! @Desha You're welcome - hope to have you join in some of the discussion! @TheAromaofBooks Meeeee toooo! I loved these as a kid, but revisiting it as an adult, my feelings have been all over the map. 4y

jewright This was my first re-read since I read it as a child, so I‘m excited to discuss. 4y

Jerdencon I finished up today. For some reason I never read any of these as a kid so it‘s fun reading them now. 4y

rubyslippersreads I‘m not quite finished, but since I‘ve probably read it at least 20 times, I‘m not too concerned. 😄 4y

LeahBergen I‘m in the same boat as @Hooked_on_books … I never got around to starting my reread of this series with you all. 😬 I‘ll be reading all your posts but no need to tag me. 😊 4y

BarbaraJean @LeahBergen I definitely know how that goes. 😆 You will be missed! 4y

38 likes10 comments

Daisey

Emily of New Moon: A Virago Modern Classic | L. M. Montgomery

I have had a busy month and have not yet had time to read Emily although I was so looking forward to this buddy read. I managed to finally fit in the first two chapters during independent reading time with my students today. This book starts sadly, but I love the beauty in the way that Montgomery describes the natural world.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #reread

52 likes1 stack add

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

“I think I‘ll wait for you.”
“Oh, I‘m ready to go now,” said Emily, standing up.
“H‘m. That wasn‘t what I meant. Never mind.”

Ugh. I remember being creeped out by this remark when I first read the Emily books, and I find it infuriating now. Yes, okay, this was published in 1923, but still: a 36-year-old man saying this to a 12-year-old?!? I just can‘t. 😡

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

xicanti This creepy dude chased me away from the Emily books. I‘ve got friends who love them so, so much, but I just can‘t. 4y

LauraBrook I haven‘t read the Emily books yet, but I am grateful for the heads-up about this. Creepy indeed. 4y

Bkwrm7 Yes! It reads very clearly as creepy to me now - why in the world is a grown man assessing a 12 year old like that???? Things I definitely didn't understand when I read these as a kid! 4y

BarbaraJean @xicanti Totally understandable. It's much more disturbing to me now than it was when I first read them (in jr. high/high school). I definitely didn't pick up on the “grooming“ vibes I'm getting this time around. @LauraBrook I didn't think a content warning was needed with these books, but it seems I remembered wrongly! 😣 @Bkwrm7 YES--SO not okay! I remember not liking/feeling uncomfortable about Dean when I 1st read these. Now I understand why! (edited) 4y

rubyslippersreads I was about 10 when I first read this, so I think it went as much over my head as it did Emily‘s. But as an adult … 😳 4y

32 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

In a lot of ways, I like Aunt Nancy & overall I think the visit to Wyther Grange is good for Emily. However, this chapter doesn‘t illustrate either of those. I‘m glad Aunt Nancy feels some remorse for the damage she‘s done in dredging up scandal & gossip about Ilse‘s mother in front of Emily. But it‘s not enough. This chapter ends up as another example on the long list of horrible old women in Montgomery‘s fiction.☹️ #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

TheAromaofBooks While I am overall enjoying this one (it's my first time ever reading it, despite absolutely adoring many of Montgomery's other books), I don't really see it becoming a favorite. There's just a sad/down tone to the book - even Emily's fun adventures always seem to have some bitter aftertaste to them. 4y

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I know what you mean—the Anne books are much more light-hearted. Anne‘s “scrapes” tend to be more funny than serious, and resolve more quickly, while the stakes seem higher for Emily. With Emily we also don‘t get as much of a view into the people who care for her—Aunt Laura is much more in the background than Marilla was, and Aunt Elizabeth is much harsher (without the sympathy we see in Marilla). 4y

TheAromaofBooks Yes, Aunt Elizabeth seems like Marilla without the sense of humor that we see Marilla develop throughout the series. There have been several instances where Elizabeth's decisions feel borderline cruel, and I never really thought that about Marilla. 4y

28 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

“Caroline here now never had a beau in her life, had you, Caroline?”
“Never wanted one,” snapped Caroline.
“Eighty and twelve say the same thing and both lie,” said Aunt Nancy.

I don‘t necessarily agree with Aunt Nancy on this point (on many points, actually), but this exchange is hilarious regardless. 😂 #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

21 likes

Clare-Dragonfly

Emily of New Moon | Lucy Maud Montgomery

This is charming and lovely for the very most part, but the adult obsession with Emily getting married or at least choosing a husband is quite disturbing! What is she, thirteen at this point? At the most? And even the narrative seems to treat all boys her age as romantic prospects instead of simply allowing them to be friends. Yuck.

15 likes

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