Litsy

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

Bonus info I somehow missed before:
There are four short stories related to Pointed Firs (I guess those are the “and other stories” in some editions!). I haven‘t read them yet, but I‘m planning to track them down to read in the next week or two. If you‘ve read them, or want to check them out & report back, please chime in with your thoughts! The stories are:
"The Foreigner"
"The Queen's Twin"
"A Dunnet Shepherdess"
"William's Wedding"

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent 6d

TheAromaofBooks I ended up purchasing this book - and am very glad I did!! - and does include these stories. I'm definitely planning to read them!! 6d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks It‘s funny, because I intentionally checked out an ebook without “and other stories” because I didn‘t realize they were related and didn‘t intend to read them. And I wanted a correct page count for tracking my reading. Now I‘m gonna have to check out a different copy WITH the stories and adjust my reading trackers 😂 6d

TheAromaofBooks I actually kind of did the same thing - I looked for an edition without the stories because I thought they were related to EACH OTHER not to the main story 😂 But now I'm glad that I ended up with this one and cannot WAIT to find out how William gets married!! 4d

28 likes4 comments

BarbaraJean

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

Which scenes or chapters stand out in your reading? What made them memorable or meaningful?

Is there anything else you‘d like to discuss from your reading of this book, or quotes you‘d like to share?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

28 likes

BarbaraJean

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

Reading this as an #LMMAdjacent book, I had my eye out for paralells with LMM‘s other work. What similarities or differences do you see between Pointed Firs and Anne‘s House of Dreams (setting, characters, narrative style, etc.)?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

TheAromaofBooks Certain scenes definitely made me think of LMM - especially the big family reunion, or the parts where someone else is telling a story. I expected descriptions of nature and the sea to make me think of her writing, but it was actually the human parts. Jewett does a wonderful job sketching characters through their words and actions, and that part really reminded me of LMM's similar ability. 6d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks The setting felt like it should remind me of Four Winds—there were a lot of surface similarities—but it had a whole different vibe than House of Dreams. I completely agree about the characters. Mrs. Todd especially! The episodic, sketch-like writing style and its lightness on plot actually reminded me more of Lark Rise! LMM‘s more episodic books feel more humorous than this one, but the nostalgia here felt like Lark. 6d

21 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

Pointed Firs largely focuses on female characters—and only a few of these women are pictured in relation to a male character. Did you notice this emphasis on female experience in the text? Do you read this as a matter of perspective (“write what you know”) or a conscious choice to center female experience?

Which characters were most vivid to you?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

21 likes

BarbaraJean

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

I‘m sorry this is so late! Busy week + a long class today = late discussion questions! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

How did you feel about the 1st-person narrator? Did you wonder about her context & who she was? For you, did the lack of info about the narrator contribute to or take away from the story?

Why do you think Jewett chose to tell the story through the perspective of (what I assume is) a semi-autobiographical main character? ⤵️

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) How would a different narrative perspective affect the story? 6d

JenlovesJT47 I started this a couple of days ago, I‘m going to try very hard to finish it by tomorrow 😬 6d

BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 Feel free to jump into the discussion whenever you‘re ready—no rush!! 6d

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TheAromaofBooks I loved this book!! I had no idea what to expect, but this was just a delight. I found the complete lack of background about the narrator to be slightly distracting, but as the story went on we at least got clues - she's a woman, she's younger than Mrs. Todd, she's a writer, she's only here for the summer, etc. I think the first-person narrative is the only way for this story to work. It doesn't really have a plot - the plot is the narrator's ⬇ 6d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) thoughts, basically. Changing it to third person, or even having it be from the perspective of someone else, like Mrs. Todd, would make this an entirely different book, I think. 6d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I don‘t think I would have been as distracted by the lack of context for the narrator if it weren‘t for the first chapter, where she‘s reminiscing about visiting the town as a child. Other than that, she felt like Bev in Story Girl—first person but without lots of commentary or explanation. I‘d be interested to read this from Mrs. Todd‘s perspective—we‘d definitely get more commentary! But yes, it would be a very different book. 6d

19 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

“In the life of each of us, I said to myself, there is a place remote and islanded, and given to endless regret or secret happiness; we are each the uncompanioned hermit and recluse of an hour or a day; we understand our fellows of the cell to whatever age of history they may belong.”

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

julieclair I am loving this book! 1w

Cathythoughts I love this quote ❤️ stacking. 1w

Cathythoughts Couldn‘t we have them both though ? The endless regret AND the secret happiness … 1w

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TheAromaofBooks I am really enjoying this book, other than the nagging annoyance of knowing NOTHING about our narrator 😂 1w

BarbaraJean @julieclair I am enjoying it—it‘s very relaxing! But like @TheAromaofBooks I want to know who the narrator is and why she‘s there for the summer, and… and…and… 😆 1w

BarbaraJean @Cathythoughts 💜For me, I think there are different internal islands—some given to endless regret and some to secret happiness 😊 1w

julieclair @BarbaraJean @Cathythoughts I think most of us have both. 💙 1w

julieclair @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean I have no idea why, but that hasn‘t bothered me at all! 😂 1w

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BarbaraJean

The Country of the Pointed Firs | Sarah Orne Jewett

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

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

JenlovesJT47 I‘m behind, going to try to start it today or tomorrow 😬 2w

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! 2w

JenlovesJT47 Ooh yay, I‘ll try to start it tonight! 2w

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! 2w

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! 2w

20 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

L.M. Montgomery's Complete Journals: The Ontario Years: 1918-1921 | Jen Rubio L.M. Montgomery

Thank you everyone who voted on our next adjacent reads! Top picks:
Last of the Mohicans (6 votes)
Pollyanna (5 votes)
Life of Charlotte Bronte (4 votes)
I made the above schedule based on our votes & the Journals Vol. 4. We'll read Rilla and Pollyanna in May! Ivanhoe, More Tramps Abroad, and Beautiful Joe all received 3 votes each, so I'll plan to work those in later in the year.
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals #LMMReread #LMMAdjacent ⬇

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair

BarbaraJean As always, all are welcome to join in for any part of the buddy read that strikes your fancy. I keep separate tag lists for each book and for the #LMMJournals read. Just let me know if you're not tagged and you'd like to be. @LitsyEvents 3w

TheAromaofBooks Last of the Mohicans! I've always wanted to read this one, but I'm also scared 😂 Love the 5-chapters-a-week schedule for that one. 3w

julieclair Yay! I‘m in for Pointed Firs and the Mohicans. And maybe for Rainbow Valley… please tag me for all three. 😃 3w

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks 😂 It almost works out to chapter-a-day! I was torn between allotting 3 or 4 weeks for that one, but decided taking more time is never a bad thing 😆 3w

BarbaraJean @julieclair I‘ve got you down for all three! 3w

Daisey I‘m in for Last of the Mohicans! 3w

31 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

Anne's House of Dreams | L. M. Montgomery

Hello, Kindred Spirits! The #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead is currently reading Anne‘s House of Dreams for #LMMRereads & we‘ll read The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett for #LMMAdjacent from Feb. 2-15. After that, our schedule is TBD! I have a bunch of potential adjacent reads that I‘ve noted down as I‘ve been reading LMM‘s journals, so I thought I‘d put up a poll to see what others are interested in. The link is in the comments! ⤵️

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) I‘ve tagged the schedule/announcements list for the buddy read, but all are welcome. If you‘re interested, please vote, and also feel free to add suggestions if there are books you‘re interested in that aren‘t on the voting list. Here‘s the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxffDRlyb8jkq7hu0lvfq6Mdw8H6B6qGC7RzkM... 4w

BarbaraJean @Mirazzles You‘re welcome to chime in on this poll if you‘d like! And I can tag you for any/all of the buddy read: re-reads, journals, adjacent books—whatever you‘re interested in. There are lots of people who jump in and out for whichever books they‘re interested in or have time for! 4w

julieclair Voted! So many good choices! 3w

BarbaraJean @julieclair Thanks for voting! At this point it looks like Last of the Mohicans will be in our future soon! Several other good ones, too 😊 3w

julieclair Yay for

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757

37 likes5 comments

LitsyEvents

Anne's House of Dreams | L. M. Montgomery

Repost for @BarbaraJean

Next up for the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: Anne‘s House of Dreams for #LMMReread (+ the short story “The Life-Book of Captain Jesse”) and The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett for #LMMAdjacent.

Discussions are on Saturdays and all are welcome! Let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be. (Tag lists for each book are in the comments)

Original post - https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2831188

BarbaraJean Thanks for reposting! 1mo

35 likes1 comment

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