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#KindredSpirits
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BarbaraJean
Rainbow Valley | L. M. Montgomery
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Hello, #KindredSpirits! Checking in halfway through our read of Rainbow Valley!

📚How is your reading going? What are your thoughts so far?
📚What stands out to you from the first half of the book?
📚Any favorite sections or quotes?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

CogsOfEncouragement I'm just to chapter seven at this moment, but plan to finish the whole book in time for next week's discussion. This is a re-read for me. I read it once over ten years ago.

I'm struck by the relationship between Susan and Shirley, that he would not go with the rest of the family to Avonlea but with Susan to visit her brother. I can't imagine.

2w
CogsOfEncouragement Chapter One:

“Speaking of gossip...Mrs. Harrison Miller over harbour tried to hang herself...If I had been in her shoes, Mrs. Dr. dear, I would have gone to work to worry him so that he would try to hang himself instead of me.“
2w
CogsOfEncouragement Chapter Four:

Love was the only law at Glen St. Mary manse.

The world isn't a vale of tears, Mrs. Taylor. It's a world of laughter.

Father said in his sermon...we should love everybody...How could we love Mrs. Alec Davis?...Oh, father only said that from the pulpit...He has more sense than to really think that outside.
(edited) 2w
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CogsOfEncouragement Chapter Five:

Mr. Wiley used to mention hell when he was alive. He was always telling folks to go there. I thought it was some place over in New Brunswick where he come from.
2w
julieclair I‘m behind as usual… 🙄 2w
lauraisntwilder Just like the last time I read this, I can't help feeling like it's strange to be introduced to all Anne's children and then spend most of the book with an entirely different group of children. I like Meredith children, so I'm still enjoying the book, but it's odd. Gilbert only spoke in one scene so far, that I can remember. I miss him--and Diana and Marilla, and, actually, Anne, too! 2w
BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I thought it was odd as well, to have Susan take Shirley with her to visit her brother instead of him going with all the other siblings to Avonlea. He and Rilla kind of just disappear from the narrative (well, until the codfish episode with Rilla!). (edited) 2w
BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I love all the quotes you mentioned. Every one of them was one that caught my eye as well. I loved this especially: “The world isn't a vale of tears, Mrs. Taylor. It's a world of laughter.“ I love Faith Meredith so very much!! 2w
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder It IS odd. The first chapter sets up expectations that the book will be about the Blythes, and then the focus completely shifts. Like you, I like the Merediths, but it's such an adjacent-feeling book, rather than an “Anne“ book! Also: I wanted more about Anne and Gilbert's Europe trip! I'd read a whole novel about that! 2w
BarbaraJean @julieclair I get it! Feel free to drop back in when you're able to catch up! 2w
lauraisntwilder @BarbaraJean Yes, would love more on the European trip or the Blythe children with Marilla and Rachel! 2w
TheAromaofBooks I haven't started my reread of this one yet, but I'm planning to read the whole book this week!! We're at the new house with no internet right now, so my Litsy check ins are a little sporadic 😂 Hopefully we'll get things sorted this week!!

It's interesting to read this book directly after House of Dreams instead of after Ingleside. I think that adds to the “why isn't this book about the Blythes“ kind of feeling.
2w
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks You‘ve had just a FEW other things going on in your life… 😆 Looking forward to hearing your thoughts next week, and best wishes on sorting all the things! (Or most of the things… some of the things… a few of the things… 😂) 2w
kwmg40 I've only just started reading this novel so can't say too much yet. It's a reread for me, but I'd first read this so many years ago that it feels like a new experience! 2w
27 likes14 comments
review
julieclair
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Pickpick

This book was a beautiful, quiet, reflective balm for the soul. A lovely escape from the craziness of modern life, perfect for savoring slowly.

This was a wonderful choice for #KindredSpirits #BuddyRead , @BarbaraJean , and I would never have discovered it on my own. Thank you!

Tamra I‘d love to have an illustrated edition! 3w
julieclair @Tamra Oh… wouldn‘t that be wonderful?! 3w
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BarbaraJean
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Hello, #KindredSpirits! Today is our check-in discussion halfway through The Country of the Pointed Firs.

🌲How is your reading going? What are your thoughts so far?
🌲What stands out to you from the first half of the book?
🌲Any favorite sections or quotes?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

JenlovesJT47 I‘m behind, going to try to start it today or tomorrow 😬 1mo
BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 It‘s shorter than I realized, so hopefully that‘s helpful! I didn‘t start it till Wednesday, then I ended up reading the whole first half all at once! 1mo
JenlovesJT47 Ooh yay, I‘ll try to start it tonight! 1mo
lauraisntwilder My copy hasn't arrived yet, but if it doesn't show up soon I'll read it in ebook from my library. Either way, I hope to catch up before next weekend! 1mo
julieclair Starting today or tomorrow. I've been traveling in NC for family fun this week - 5-year-old birthday in Raleigh and baby shower in Charlotte! 1mo
21 likes5 comments
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BarbaraJean
Anne's House of Dreams | L. M. Montgomery
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Hello, #KindredSpirits! Checking in here at the halfway point of Anne‘s House of Dreams:

How is your reading going? What are your thoughts so far?
What stands out to you from the first half of the book?
Any favorite sections or quotes?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

CogsOfEncouragement Miss Cordelia is a hoot! Captain Jim is a treasure. Leslie is such a strong woman. This is a reread for me (over ten years between) and I totally forgot about Baby Joyce. 2mo
CogsOfEncouragement “Why do you hate the men so, Miss Bryant?”
“Lord, dearie, I don‘t hate them. They aren‘t worth it. I just sort of despise them.
2mo
CogsOfEncouragement “Yes, red—to give warmth to that milk-white skin and those shining gray-green eyes of yours. Golden hair wouldn‘t suit you at all, Queen Anne—my Queen Anne—queen of my heart and life and home. “Then you may admire Leslie‘s all you like,” said Anne magnanimously. 2mo
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CogsOfEncouragement “When I ponder on them seeds I don‘t find it nowise hard to believe that we‘ve got souls that‘ll live in other worlds. You couldn‘t hardly believe there was life in them tiny things, some no bigger than grains of dust, let alone color and scent, if you hadn‘t seen the miracle, could you?” (Captain Jim, Chapter 18) 2mo
TheAromaofBooks I love this book so much! One thing I was thinking on this read through is about how LMM chose to have Anne move away when she married, much as LMM also had to do. The whole part of the story with Joyce is just sooo sad, especially knowing how many of Anne's thoughts are reflections of LMM's own when she lost her baby. But I love the way that that isn't just a throwaway scene to make readers emotional for no reason - the baby's death is also the ⬇ 2mo
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) the catalyst for Anne becoming closer to those around her, especially Leslie and Captain Jim. In a way, it feels like her actual induction to adulthood more than anything else that has happened to her, the first true tragedy of her life. Consequently, it gives the story weight and meaning instead of just feeling like it is thrown in there just to make readers cry. 2mo
lauraisntwilder This is my second time reading this one. I read it for the first time in 2023, but that time I read Windy Poplars first. I think reading this as book 4, in publication order, makes more sense. I like Windy Poplars, but it's a little strange that Gilbert is so unimportant. 2mo
BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I love Miss Cordelia so much! She's hilarious and so bait-able, but she's just so wholly herself that she's aware she's being baited and doesn't care--she speaks her mind regardless. And such great quotes! That one about the seeds stood out to me, too. ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean One of the passages that stood out to me this time:
“You'll see your little Joyce again some day.“
“But she won't be my baby,“ said Anne, with trembling lips. “Oh, she may be, as Longfellow says, 'a fair maiden clothed with celestial grace'—but she'll be a stranger to me.“
“God will manage better'n THAT, I believe,“ said Captain Jim.

It reminded me of Anne's conversation with Ruby in Island. I love how LMM digs in to challenge pat answers.
2mo
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I hadn't thought about that parallel of LMM moving away after getting married! The parallel with Joyce is so sad and adding in other biographical details it seems Four Winds and Gilbert are likely even more of a reflection of what LMM wished for...both the love story and nearby friends of “the race that knows Joseph.“ I agree that this first real grief for Anne gives the story so much more weight & meaning. I'm impressed (again) ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) at how LMM took the events of her life and was able to weave those emotions and longings into her writing. Reading the journals is adding so much to re-reading her fiction. And as much as I love Island, I agree with LMM when she said that she thought this was her best book yet. Both the loss of Joyce and the way it's a catalyst for Anne, as well as Leslie Moore's story arc, make this story much deeper than her previous books. 2mo
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Yes, it's fascinating to be reading this one in publication order! I do love Windy Poplars for how it shows Anne finding her own way as a teacher and in Summerside society, but this one follows more naturally after Island when it comes to Anne & Gilbert's relationship. Gilbert's development as a character makes more sense when you go from Green Gables to Avonlea to Island to House of Dreams without the weird Windy Poplars absence. 2mo
TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder - I realize that it wouldn't really make much sense narrative-ly to have letters from Gilbert in Windy Poplars, but that was what I always wanted. He's there in a passive sense for Anne to write to, but I always wanted some of those “omitted“ pages to hear more of the dreams and yearnings, to help make Gilbert feel more real. Even having something in her letters be responding to his would have helped. 2mo
kwmg40 I'm really enjoying this reread. I don't think I'd appreciated this novel enough when I'd first read it as a teen. BTW, I had to look up the word “catawampus“. I guess it's not so uncommon but maybe its use is regional? 2mo
BarbaraJean @kwmg40 I've felt the same about this book--I didn't appreciate it nearly as much when I read it as a teen for the first time. I do think House of Dreams is the point where the Anne series moves out of YA/children's and into adult literature. I found this about the etymology of “catawampus“: https://uselessetymology.com/2017/12/02/the-etymology-of-cattywampus/ Super interesting! 2mo
kwmg40 @BarbaraJean Thanks for sharing that interesting article. It seems like such a terrifically useful word that I'm surprised it's not in common usage! 2mo
30 likes16 comments
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BarbaraJean
Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery
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Hello, #KindredSpirits! Just a little check-in here at the halfway point of Anne of the Island:

How is your reading going? What are your thoughts so far?
What have you enjoyed most in the first half of the book?
Any favorite sections or quotes?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

BarbaraJean I‘m loving this re-read (this will always be one of my favorites!), and finding Davy far more endearing here than in AoA. The Charlie Sloane bits had me cracking up—Phil saying that Gilbert‘s chum “had eyes that stuck out THAT FAR.” And the part where he digs up and sits on one of the forbidden cushions. 😂 Then the section with Ruby ALWAYS gets me—it‘s so well done and so heartbreaking. 3mo
BarbaraJean I‘m also noticing so many LMM life episodes! The chloroforming, and then not being able to get out of bed to turn out the light after reading a ghost story. And Anne‘s visit to the house where she was born—it was just beautiful, and echoed LMM‘s own words about her parents. 3mo
TheAromaofBooks I love this book so much!!! I wish that it was MORE books because I would 100% read a book about each year of Anne's college experience! I really love her warm friendship with the other girls, but how she stays in touch and spends so much time with Diana when she's home. The baking powder story episode cracks me up every time - having the hero mention baking powder as the final line of the story 😂 Even though LMM didn't want to write “lovering“ ⬇ 3mo
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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) I think she does such a great job with the Anne/Gilbert story, and I think stays so true to Anne's character. Like Phil says, Anne has fallen in love with this idea of love instead of being able to recognize it when it's in front of her face. We get the hints that Anne isn't actually as indifferent towards Gil as she thinks she is, and all sets up beautifully for the second half of the story. And speaking of romance - Jane's proposal ⬇ 3mo
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) for her brother is another episode that absolutely sends me every time. 😆 On the whole, I think we see such character growth for Anne in this one, and it's SO well done. 3mo
lauraisntwilder I'm not to the halfway point yet -- I got behind on LMM's journals so I've been catching up there this week. The girls have just secured Patty's Place. I agree with everything both of you have said though. After AoGG, I think this is my favorite Anne book. 3mo
CogsOfEncouragement Enjoying Phil‘s dramatic ways: “And I have such a cold in the head—I can do nothing but sniffle, sigh and sneeze. Isn‘t that alliterative agony for you?” 3mo
CogsOfEncouragement This was too funny: …wound up by saying that she was disgusted with Spencervale church and she never meant to darken its door again, and she hoped a fearful judgment would come upon it. Then she sat down out of of breath, and the minister, who hadn‘t heard a word she said, immediately remarked, in a very devout voice, ‘Amen! The Lord grant our dear sister‘s prayer!‘ 3mo
CogsOfEncouragement This is my second read. This was one of my fav quotes from the series: The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth. 3mo
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Oh, me too! I would absolutely read a whole series of books for Anne‘s college years! I adore Patty‘s Place and all the friendships between the girls. I think you‘re absolutely right that LMM gets Anne‘s character development spot on here. And it‘s so relatable for me, anyway! Diana putting the baking powder into the final line of the story is HILARIOUS. And the fact that she didn‘t see it as ridiculous is even funnier. I loved ⤵️ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) Gilbert‘s response that no-one would fault her for wanting the prize money—and I wonder if the high melodrama of the story made that ridiculous line fit right in 😂 I‘m still waiting for my favorite of Anne‘s proposal, though: the “will yeh hev me?” one 🤣 2mo
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Oh, I‘m glad you‘ve been able to do some journal catch-up! Those are a bit harder to binge… with the Anne books, it‘s hard to stop! 2mo
BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I love Phil so much!! I get a much clearer picture of her than of the other girls, and she‘s so endearing. There really are some great quotes here—that story you mentioned is hilarious!! And the passage about living for the highest (especially with the context with Ruby) is both beautiful and heartbreaking. 2mo
kwmg40 This novel is one of my favourites. I love Anne's first steps into adulthood and independence, and Patty's Place seems so warm and comfortable. Phil is an adorable character, but spending time with a real-life version of Phil would drive me crazy. I'd rather have a more low-key friend like Priscilla! 2mo
BarbaraJean @kwmg40 Ha! Yeah, Phil might be a bit much in real life! I think I wouldn‘t mind her as a friend, but definitely not as a roommate/housemate—even with Priscilla and Stella to balance things out! 2mo
julieclair This is my first time to read this book. I adore how Anne is maturing, but glimpses of her dreamy, imaginative, spunky, childhood self still come through. The baking soda prize story was a hoot! And I love the cat Rusty… how he just attached himself to Anne… so sweet. But the chloroform scene was very hard to read. Patty‘s Place sounds like the absolutely best college living arrangement ever. Although I agree with @kwmg40 that Phil would ⬇️ 2mo
julieclair drive me nuts as a roommate. But she‘d be fun as a friend. The scene where Anne turned down Gilbert‘s proposal broke my heart. Anne is just so stubbornly blind! 2mo
30 likes17 comments
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ferskner
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Help a Litten out! I'm wanting to get back into reading challenges this year but I'm having a hard time figuring out what Litsy is hosting these days. It looks like a few I used to do aren't active anymore. Are there any I should know about? (I'm planning to do #bookspin with @TheAromaofBooks and #agathachristieclubR3 with @Librarybelle, of course!)

Picture of my dog's dumb teeth for tax!

TheAromaofBooks I'm participating in - #Pantone2025 and #FourFoursin25 with @lauredhel
- #WickedWords with @AsYouWish
- #Roll100 and #GottaCatchEmAll with @PuddleJumper
- #FictionalTraveler and #ReadorDonate with @julieclair
and my own other challenges, #ISpyBingo and #BookChain

Have you checked @LitsyEvents ? That account does a great job reposting all kinds of shenanigans!!
3mo
Ruthiella You can follow @LitsyEvents for reposts of all the challenges, etc. Good luck! 😃 3mo
AmyG There is #authoramonth @soubhiville where one reads 1+ books from that specific author for the month. #TBRTarot is where a card is chosen and you pick a corresponding book. #readyourkindle is like Bookspin but just for ereaders. Last two are with @Cbee (edited) 3mo
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Librarybelle @Cuilin @dabbe —thanks for mentioning the buddy reads I host! This is the last year for #192025 , which is reading a book originally published in each year from 1920-2025 (I‘ll post details later in the year for the next challenge, #192030 ). 3mo
Texreader And #litsyatoz that I‘m hosting. 3mo
AllDebooks #SeriesLove2025 challenge is a good one, hosted by @Andrew65 3mo
AllDebooks Sorry, not finished. And @thelibraryview. I'm doing the Wild Moor reading challenge. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDKncU5i_Y7/?igsh=MXQ0a3U2cWZ1OHlieQ== 3mo
AllDebooks Series love is also hosted by @TheSpineView having a brain malfunction 😅 3mo
AllDebooks Thanks for the tags @TheBookHippie and @Cuilin 3mo
julieclair In addition to those already mentioned (thanks, @TheAromaofBooks 💙), I also host #ThematicCozies , #AllergicToChunksters , and #MonthlyNonfiction2025 . Others I participate in that haven‘t been mentioned yet are #KindredSpirits with @BarbaraJean , #LittensLoveRomance with @StayCurious , #JaneAustenThenAndNownwith @Crinoline_Laphroaig , #HitchToScreen with @JenlovesJT47 , #FurrowedMiddleBrow and #PersephoneClub with @LeahBergen . 3mo
Andrew65 This just shows how much is going on, an impressive list. 3mo
PuddleJumper Teeth! ❤️ I think my general ones have been mentioned. I also have #RiordanverseReadalong which is reading Rick Riordan books and #ReadYourDamnDanmei which is reading Chinese light novels. I also run seasonal challenges in October/December 3mo
PuddleJumper Also #QueerBC Monthly LGBTQIA+ authors and you can read anything they've written 3mo
LeahBergen @julieclair Wow, this is a big list! Thanks for tagging our little reading groups. 😘 3mo
MatchlessMarie When I have been away from Litsyland for a while I like to check out the @LitsyEvents page for most current things. But this is a great time of year to get back into them. It‘s hard to miss challenges since we are all abuzz with New Year wishful thinking 😂 3mo
TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle - I will be so excited to tackle another long-term project!! I actually think I'm going to complete #192025 which is pretty thrilling! 3mo
Librarybelle That‘s so cool, @TheAromaofBooks ! I still have a bit to go but need to tally up my readings from the last half of 2024. I love the long term challenges! 3mo
julieclair @LeahBergen I think it‘s more of a “wishful thinking” list! 😂 3mo
LeahBergen @julieclair I think you‘re right. 😆 3mo
staci.reads Also #SheSaid hosted by @Riveted_Reader_Melissa highlighting books by female authors and women's topics! 3mo
ferskner @TheAromaofBooks @AmyG @Jess861 @Cuilin @dabbe @TheBookHippie @Ruthiella @Librarybelle @Texreader @AllDebooks @julieclair @PuddleJumper @MatchlessMarie @Lauredhel @Amiable @staci.reads thank you all for your help and ideas! I totally forgot about @LitsyEvents so thank you for that reminder too! I'll go through these and pick out a few. 2mo
Texreader So great to have you back!! 2mo
britt_brooke Joseph! 2mo
59 likes30 comments
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JudeCC
Untitled | Untitled
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Even though here in the desert it‘s still summertime 😒 I‘m still hopeful and happy for what‘s to come.
Happy October, everyone! 🙌😃 My favorite month just started! 🎉😁
#october #hellooctober #fall #excited

dabbe I\'m in the desert, too! Where are you, if I may ask? I\'m in the hell that is Phoenix where it just turned noon and is currently 105º. 😳 6mo
JudeCC @dabbe No way!!! 😂🤣🙌 Desert buddies. I‘m in the Mojave High desert area. Just at the Los Angeles limits. An hr or so from Las Vegas I think? 🤔 It‘s 104 degrees here. 🥴 Cheers! 🥂😃 6mo
dabbe @WJCintron #kindredspirits I feel your pain! 🔥🧡🔥 6mo
39 likes3 comments
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Eggs
Untitled | Unknown
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TheSpineView 🤎🤎🤎 7mo
Eggs @TheSpineView 🤎❤️🤎 7mo
IndoorDame We‘re thinking alike this morning! ♥️ 7mo
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lil1inblue 💙 🌟 💙 7mo
dabbe 🩶🖤🩶 7mo
Eggs @lil1inblue 🥰🤩 7mo
Eggs @dabbe 🥳🫶🏻 7mo
38 likes8 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
It Ends With Us | Colleen Hoover
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My August hopefuls. This doesn‘t include my ebooks nor audiobooks.

Sinnett_Blue I do all 3 too, happy reading! 📖 🥰 8mo
49 likes2 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | Kate Douglas Wiggin
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Mehso-so

The first half of this book was a pick. The second half really fell off and felt like Wiggin couldn't really decide where she wanted to take the story so it didn't go much of anywhere. However, I was glad to finally read this classic and enjoyed discussing its influence on Anne of Green Gables with the #KindredSpirits Is it plagiarism if you write it a million times better than the original? 😂

@TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean

TheBookHippie 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💚💚💚💚💚 I do so agree!!! 10mo
BarbaraJean Hahaha—improvement is not plagiarism! I love that copy of this!! 😍 10mo
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