@BarbaraJean on Litsy

Hello, #DoorstopKristin readers! Our second #KLBR discussion, on Book Two (The Wife/The Mistress of Husaby), will be on Friday, July 31.

I finished book two this week and it was slower-going than book one, but still SO GOOD. Also: equally if not more emotionally rough than book one. These characters live and breathe on the page. Looking forward to discussing this with you all next week!

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella @Andrea313 @Daisey @quietjenn @Librarybelle @lauraisntwilder @MaureenMc @Gleefulreader @Deblovestoread @MeganAnn @AmyG @JenLovesJT47 @rubyslippersreads @bklover @Texreader @AnneCecilie @suet624 @Leniverse @CrowCAH @Caterina 2d

Ruthiella I just finished book two today. Looking forward to the discussion! 2d

Andrea313 I slowed down on it this month but plan to finish next week! Looking forward to the discussion as well. 2d

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CrowCAH I wasn‘t able to start reading The Wife. I got behind with my ebook reading. Still planning on reading it. 1d

Suet624 Yes, this was slower going for sure. But I‘m still plugging along. Should be done by next Friday. 1d

Deblovestoread Reading has been a struggle this month but will try to catch up. 1d

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BarbaraJean

Beautiful Joe: An Autobiography | Marshall Saunders

so-so

(I‘m slowly trying to catch up on reviews back to MAY… when this was a #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent pick.)

This book for children, published in 1893, is based on the real-life story of a dog who‘s rescued from horrible abuse. When I was a kid, I loved animal stories, especially when told from the animal's perspective. And I think I‘d have enjoyed this “Autobiography of a Dog” much more as a kid. Or maybe not? ⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) Overall, it was far more didactic than narrative. With so many lessons shoehorned in—without much of a plot to tie all the little stories together—the book was too preachy for me. As an adult, I wanted more story and more character development. My child self might have felt that a bit, too. 2d

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BarbaraJean

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

I thought I would end up with very mixed feelings about this book, as often happens to me with Okorafor‘s work. I admired the main character, Zelu, but didn‘t much like her, and her family was infuriating. I enjoyed the interwoven book-within-a-book much more—but the framing made Zelu the focus, so I didn‘t enjoy the book as a whole as much as I wanted to. Until the end. The ending not only surprised me, it absolutely made the book for me. ⤵️

BarbaraJean There is so much going on here—disability and culture and family and fame and prejudice and difference—and at times, it felt like the plot went completely off the rails. But by the end, I loved the questions the narrative(s) raise, and the interplay between Zelu and her story.

A very belated #CampLitsy25 review! Thank you @Megabooks @squirrelbrain and @BarbaraBB for hosting a fantastic discussion! 2d

Tamra Stacked! 2d

Megabooks So glad you enjoyed it! 2d

squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 1d

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BarbaraJean

The Unfolding | Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

I‘d gotten out of the habit of #5JoysFriday lately, but the idea of joy kept popping up this week. I‘m calling it a sign to dive back in!
1. This poem: https://ahundredfallingveils.com/2022/11/13/lumbricus-terrestris/
2. Spiritual direction (with my own director and with one of my directees)
3. New delicious-smelling candle
4. Completing some writing (ironically, about joy) to read at my writing group today
5. India Rose Crawford‘s Frog pics 💜🐸

DebinHawaii

AnnCrystal 💝💝💝💝💝. 2d

Sace 🐸 💚 2d

dabbe 🩵💙🩵 2d

28 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier

so-so

I knew this would be disturbing, and yeah. It was horrific. Also: I liked it better when it was called "Lord of the Flies."

Also also: Teenage boys. UGH.

But: one more complete for #192025! This one is for 1974.

I‘m trying to decide if I want to read the sequel. But first, I need a dessert book (which will be the new Morrigan Crow)!

Librarybelle

Librarybelle I liked this one better than The Lord of the Flies, but I read it such a long time ago. Good choice! 2d

Sace I had a student years ago that loved this book. 2d

BarbaraJean @Librarybelle @Sace It's such a YA classic, and I see why. It's powerful. It has the same unsettling Robert Cormier flavor that I remember from reading his books when I was a teen! 2d

34 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

Heartwood: 'nearly impossible to put down' Jennifer Egan | Amity Gaige

Here's an idea: All emotions start out as love. Later, that love is worked on by the forces of luck and suffering.
Hate is just soured love.
Fear is wounded love.
Longing is homeless love.
Love, not pain, is the mother. Love is the taproot.

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BarbaraJean

Story of an African Farm | Olive Schreiner

“…Bonaparte soon came to a conclusion as to the nature of the book and its contents, by the application of a simple rule now largely acted upon, but which, becoming universal, would save much thought and valuable time. It is of marvellous simplicity, of infinite utility, of universal applicability. It may easily be committed to memory, and runs thus:—
Whenever you come into contact with any book, person, or opinion… ⤵️

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean …of which you absolutely comprehend nothing, declare that book, person, or opinion to be immoral. Bespatter it, vituperate against it, strongly insist that any man or woman harbouring it is a fool or a knave, or both. Carefully abstain from studying it. Do all that in you lies to annihilate that book, person, or opinion.
…‘This book,‘ said Bonaparte, ‘is not a fit and proper study for a young and immature mind.‘” 7d

BarbaraJean Well, if that doesn‘t remind me of something… 🤔 #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent 7d

TheAromaofBooks By the way, in my copy, after Chapter 13 it switches to Part 2 and starts numbering the chapters again. So should I just count 2:1 as 14, etc, to get to our goal of chapter 18 by Saturday? 2:1 is also divided into multiple labeled sections as well, just to keep things bonus confusing 😂 5d

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BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Ugh, me too!! I‘m having to do chapter math every time I pick it up to read now! I read 2:1 yesterday and was further confused by the subsections!! Yes, just count part 2, chapter 1 as chapter 14 and so on. This is what happens when I look up the table of contents online before I have a copy of the book in hand 🙄 5d

TheAromaofBooks Okay, that is what I thought, but decided I should double check haha I have also gotten burned in the past by looking up how long/how many chapters a book has and getting LIED TO. Robinson Crusoe was the worst, since apparently some editions have chapters and some don't! 4d

julieclair @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean I was wondering about the chapter numbers, too. I‘m listening on audio, but have just kept plowing ahead. This week‘s listening has been slow going, though. 3d

TheAromaofBooks @julieclair @BarbaraJean - This week has definitely felt slower to me - and I'm not through it all yet!! I think I was somewhat let down by the abrupt departure of Bonaparte. It made it feel like the entire first part of the book was kind of pointless? It was weird. 2d

BarbaraJean @julieclair When I saw the change in chapter numbering, I kind of panicked and thought I'd gotten it completely wrong in the schedule! But then I counted the total number of chapters and realized the total was still correct, technically. I incorrectly assumed they'd be numbered sequentially 1-27 instead of split up like this. And I guess there's no point to updating the schedule now, since next week's reading is just to finish the book 😆 2d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair This week's chapters have felt slower to me, too. All the philosophical conversations (almost monologues)! Re: Bonaparte—I felt that, too. I thought it was interesting that the author kind of gave a caveat about him in the Preface: “Two strangers appear on the scene, and some have fancied that in the second they have again the first, who returns in a new guise. Why this should be we cannot tell... ⬇ 2d

BarbaraJean ...unless there is a feeling that a man should not appear upon the scene, and then dis-appear, leaving behind him no more substantial trace than a mere book; that he should return later on as husband or lover, to fill some more important part than that of the mere stimulator of thought.“

I'm guessing based on that, Bonaparte doesn't return! 2d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair @lauraisntwilder Also, I was going to post a separate check-in post today, but we're already kind of having our weekly check-in here, so I'm going to let this be that, without a separate post!! 2d

TheAromaofBooks This section felt kind of preachy, without a lot of story to back it up. 2d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Yeah, there were a couple of chapters in this week's section that felt like they were just setup for long one-sided conversations on philosophy and feminism. I loved what Lyndall had to say, but it was awkward the way she went on and on, with Waldo just there to provide the setup for her next long comment. The idea-heavy parts last week—like where Waldo struggled with his view of God—were woven into the story much more naturally. 2d

julieclair @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean I agree that this week‘s chapters felt like a series of longwinded monologues. Rather boring, as they didn‘t have much of a plot connecting them. The comment in the Preface about the two strangers is interesting. I agree, it seems like Bonaparte will not reappear, and that‘s fine by me! 18h

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BarbaraJean

Story of an African Farm | Olive Schreiner

“When that day comes, and I am strong, I will hate everything that has power, and help everything that is weak.”

I LOVE Lyndall—the above quote is 🔥

Nine chapters in and I‘m feeling a lot of injustice fatigue with this book! Some wonderful characters, and some despicable. I‘m so interested to see what the author does with the views of God she‘s woven in so far.

How‘s your reading going? #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

lil1inblue What an excellent quote! 🤩😍🥰 1w

dabbe What a prevalent quote! 🩵🎯🩵 1w

TheAromaofBooks I am not sure what I was expecting, but this isn't exactly it 😂 I think I thought the story would be focused more on the girls, but it's really been a lot of set up getting this jerk settled into place. I'm pretty hooked, though. 1w

julieclair I loved this quote! And I agree with @TheAromaofBooks … this wasn‘t the pastoral tale I was expecting, but I‘m hooked! 1w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair I‘m with you both—this is not at all what I was expecting! I thought it would be more nostalgic and reflective. The philosophical digressions are super interesting but unexpected—I‘m so curious to find out where it all goes. 4d

38 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

“Her heart felt as if it were breaking in her breast, bleeding & bleeding, young & fierce. From grief over the warm & ardent love which she had lost and still secretly mourned; from anguished joy over the pale, luminous love which drew her to the farthest boundaries of life on this earth. Through the great darkness that would come, she saw the gleam of another, gentler sun, and she sensed the fragrance of the herbs in the garden at world's end.”⤵️

BarbaraJean There are so many moments when this book breaks my heart with its beauty. 💔 #KLBR #DoorstopKristin 2w

Texreader This is beautiful. I haven‘t started the third book yet! I will soon. 2w

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BarbaraJean @Texreader I haven't either! This is from book two (Part II, chapter 7) 🙂 (edited) 2w

Texreader @BarbaraJean I guess because I‘m listening to it this time around I didn‘t pick up on how gorgeous this quote is. 2w

BarbaraJean @Texreader I get it--I'm not at all an auditory learner and often overlook the writing/language when listening! 2w

Ruthiella Beautiful! 😍 2w

AmyG Yes, beautiful. 2w

Suet624 💕💕💕 2w

36 likes9 comments

BarbaraJean

Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin | Alison Goodman

I‘m just about to start this, I‘m really looking forward to it, and also: I cannot express how much it annoys me that it‘s missing the necessary apostrophe after “Ladies.” Ladies‘ Guide. Plural possessive. COME ON, publisher. 😫

MommyWantsToReadHerBook That's so bad! 2w

MemoirsForMe Yikes! 😬 2w

41 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Story of an African Farm | Olive Schreiner

The next #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead pick is an #LMMAdjacent—LMM references Story of an African Farm several times in her journals. Published in 1883, it‘s been called an early feminist classic. However, I‘m bracing myself for the inevitable racism. 😬

I picked up my library copy today, and it‘s a big illustrated one! Super interested to dive in.

Schedule:
July 13 - 19: Chapters 1-9
July 20 - 26. Chapters 10-18
July 27 - Aug. 2: Chapters 19-27

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

rubyslippersreads What a gorgeous edition! 2w

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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. 2w

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. 2w

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 ⬇ 2w

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. 2w

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. 2d

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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.⬇ 2w

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. 2w

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. 2w

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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. 2w

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. 2w

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 ⬇ 2w

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!! 2w

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 2w

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. 2w

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 ⬇ 1w

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) with, which weirdly made him “safe“ - falling in love gives someone a lot of power over you in many ways. 1w

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. 2d

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. 2d

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. ⬇ 2d

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). 2d

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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. 2w

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. 2w

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!? 😂 2w

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! 2d

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) 2d

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BarbaraJean

County of Los Angeles Public Library - La Mirada Library | La Mirada, CA (Library)

When it rains… 😳

I thought I was far enough down the holds list for Heartwood and Silverborn that it‘d take a LOT longer for those to make their way to me. Looks like I‘ll be needing to clear my schedule!!

willaful Always. Though even more likely for me these days is as soon as I pick up my holds, another one comes in. Sometimes the email goes out while I'm still in the library, but of course I don't get it til I get home. 😂 2w

BarbaraJean @willaful I just got back from picking up my holds at the library and literally as I walked in the door, I got a notification in my library app that one more book just came in. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I thought of you 😆 2w

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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. 3w

TheAromaofBooks On top of being a total creep, he's sooooo condescending 3w

kwmg40 He definitely comes across as a creep! 3w

rubyslippersreads 😡🤢 3w

lauraisntwilder The. Worst. 3w

42 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

Spinning 101: Step by Step from Fleece to Yarn with Wheel or Spindle | Tom Knisely

I keep getting these ads on FB, and they have inspired an obsession with getting a bookshelf that spins. I don‘t have the room or the $$ for it, but it‘s going on the “someday library” list.

Tamra It would make a fantastic TBR unit! Best get a couple of them though. (edited) 3w

Chrissyreadit I get them constantly on my IG- and do wish i could hear from actual people who have it what they think of it. 3w

BarbaraJean @Tamra Hahaha, yes! One of them claims to hold 300 books, but it seems my physical TBR is a bit larger than that 😆 @Chrissyreadit I know, they look fantastic, but I'd really like to see (and spin!) one in person first. 3w

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LA_Mead I have one and it‘s great! It holds a fair amount of books and looks cute. 3w

BarbaraJean @LA_Mead Oh, that‘s good to know! Thanks! 3w

AnnCrystal 🤩👍🏼📚🆒💝. 3w

Kitta I have one! I love it. It‘s holds quite a few books (mine is round, 5 tiers and holds 120 “medium” books) and the spinning is smooth. I got mine impulsively from the TikTok shop or maybe flycity. 😆 My cats like to jumping from the sofa to the top of it though and it freaks me out haha. I keep thinking it‘s going to topple over but so far it‘s been sturdy. Happy with it! @Chrissyreadit @BarbaraJean 3w

Chrissyreadit @Kitta Thanks for sharing- also feel free to post a picture for a “shelf love” post (ha I would love to see it so this is completely selfish) I‘m bumping up the likelihood of getting one this Summer because i have a lot of books that need a shelf 🤣 3w

Kitta @Chrissyreadit I mostly have pictures of Willow the cat on top of it haha. I can take a picture of it though for some shelf love. 💕 (edited) 3w

48 likes9 comments

BarbaraJean

Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or S | Srdja Popovic, Sra Popoviac

I follow Lauren Grubaugh Thomas‘ Substack, A Soulful Revolution, and today‘s piece was hopeful and encouraging to me, as I feel somewhat at a loss over effective action in the face of current events. I‘ll link her piece below. She highlighted the tagged book and an upcoming series of online book discussions, if anyone‘s interested in joining in. I just put the book on hold at the library! Links in comments ⤵️

BarbaraJean Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/laurengrubaughthomas/p/our-protest-isnt-enough?r=u... 3w

BarbaraJean Book Club: https://bp4r.rsvpify.com/?securityToken=DfS7yw5gLDGHfjy65vJgDTj04vxqyIES&utm_med... 3w

TheBookHippie I‘ve been preaching this for decades . Yes we have to protest. No that‘s not enough. ✊🏼 wonderful article. Hopefully more people wake up. 3w

Lcsmcat Thanks for sharing! 3w

lil1inblue Excellent article. And I'm signing up for the book club! Thanks so much for sharing this! ✊🏻 3w

36 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

Men At Arms | Terry Pratchett

“Sometimes it‘s better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.”

🔥

#OokBOokClub

julesG Not wrong. 🦧 3w

dabbe 🩵💙🩵 3w

42 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

Here we are in July, and I‘ve started #DoorstopKristin Book Two: The Wife (The Mistress of Husaby in some editions). This book is so beautifully written, and so emotionally engaging—I‘m enjoying book two just as much as book one.

How is your #KLBR reading coming along? If you‘ve started book two, what are your thoughts so far?

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella, @Andrea313, @Daisey, @quietjenn, @Librarybelle, @lauraisntwilder, @MaureenMc, @Gleefulreader, @Deblovestoread, @MeganAnn, @AmyG, @JenLovesJT47, @rubyslippersreads, @bklover, @Texreader, @AnneCecilie, @suet624, @Leniverse, @CrowCAH, @Caterina 3w

Suet624 I can‘t wait to start. Have to finish a few other books first. 3w

Deblovestoread I started Book 2 last night. Loving it! 3w

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Texreader I just finished yesterday. 🎉 3w

AmyG I read Book 2 a few years ago. Don‘t remember specifics but loved it. 3w

Ruthiella I‘ve started and am enjoying how Kristen is coming in to her own managing the estate. Erland is, unsurprisingly, useless. 3w

rubyslippersreads I‘m still on Book 1 but loving it. 3w

Daisey I‘m still in the last section of Book 1. Edited to add that I finished Book 1 tonight, and I‘m going to read through the discussion on next. (edited) 3w

CrowCAH I haven‘t started book 2 … yet. 3w

Andrea313 I'm a couple chapters in, and loving it and hating it in equal measure. It's still such great writing and such an absorbing world, but Kristin's made a pretty bad choice with Erlend and I think things are gonna go downhill from here... 3w

AnneCecilie I haven‘t started book two yet, maybe next week? 3w

47 likes11 comments

BarbaraJean

The Library at Night | Alberto Manguel

pick

I loved this. Manguel writes about being a reader in ways that are so relatable, even though I‘m pretty sure his reading is much more erudite than my own! Starting with reflections on setting up his own library, Manguel uses each chapter to examine a different aspect of libraries—the library as myth, as order, as space, as imagination, and so on. He brings together historical tidbits about personal and national libraries with his own reflections⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …on reading and the collecting of books. Sprinkled throughout are related photos that made me add to my aspirational list of libraries and bookish sites to visit someday. And, naturally, several more of Manguel‘s books about reading have now been added to my TBR. This fulfills # 7 for my #50x50 challenge: a book about books/reading. And, it was my May #BookSpin. @TheAromaofBooks 3w

TheBookHippie I personally think Netanyahu is pure evil, simultaneously I am so tired of people blaming all Jewish people for Palestine. People have lost the ability of nuance and the ability to contain multitudes. I give to Hadassah, I want the hostages home, I weep for what happened Oct 7. I also give to WORLD KITCHEN and aid to feed Gaza. I worry for the women & children there. I‘m so tired of people being on one side. No one wins in war but the oligarchs. 3w

BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie I think you meant to post this for the Beinart book, but YES to all of this. Complexity abounds in all of this and SO MUCH nuance is needed. When people conflate Judaism as a whole—or all Jewish people—with the current government of Israel, it completely flattens that nuance. It is possible to both be heartbroken about October 7 and the destruction of Gaza. Any person of decency should be able to see the horror of both. (edited) 3w

See All 6 Comments

TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean ha. OY VEY yes!!!! Ooops. 3w

BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie 😂 I knew what you meant! 😁 3w

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3w

46 likes1 stack add6 comments

BarbaraJean

Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning | Peter Beinart

pick

I read this in May after seeing several reviews on Litsy. It‘s excellent—a Jewish perspective on current events in Gaza that traces the impact of the persecution Jews have faced and interrogates Israel‘s conflation of religious and national identity. It traces how Israel‘s establishment as a nation-state has largely changed its position from persecuted people to perpetrators of violence themselves, and how deeply problematic a persistent story ⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …of victimhood is, when those victims now themselves wield power over others. Illuminating and heartbreaking. 3w

Cuilin I hadn‘t seen this before. Thanks for the review. Stacked. 💔 3w

41 likes4 stack adds2 comments

BarbaraJean

Tilt | Emma Pattee

pick

I ended up devouring this in a day, which I suppose is fitting given that‘s the timeframe in which the book takes place. I enjoyed the way this was structured: alternating chapters between present-day and flashbacks, gradually fleshing out our MC and her story, all told in 2nd person, addressed to her soon-to-be-born child. While the choices Annie made generally stressed me out (Stay where you are! Stop trekking your 9-months-pregnant self ⤵️

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …all over Portland!), it also made so much sense and certainly kept me turning pages. Her reflections on her life and career and marriage and failed dreams, against the backdrop of a major disaster and the swath of humanity she encounters, all lead up to what felt like an abrupt but also inevitable and very fitting ending. I‘m really looking forward to discussing this—especially the ending—with #CampLitsy25 in August! 3w

BarbaraBB Great review. I still need to read it but am very much looking forward to the book and the discussion! 3w

squirrelbrain Great review! I read it really quickly too, which felt fitting, as you say. 3w

Daisey Great review! I listened to this today during a long drive, and you noted many of my same thoughts. It should lead to some great discussion. 5d

48 likes4 comments

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. 😭 3w

JenlovesJT47 And I love Emily, she‘s so feisty. 3w

kwmg40 I love the interaction with Father Cassidy too! 3w

See All 8 Comments

BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 I get it! No pressure, I know how busy things can get and how the self-assigned reading piles up 😆 3w

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! 3w

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 ⬇ 3w

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 ⬇ 3w

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. 3w

38 likes8 comments

BarbaraJean

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes | Langston Hughes

“…O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath— America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain—
All, all the stretch of these great green states—
And make America again!“

https://poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-again

lil1inblue 💓💓💓💓💓 3w

Amiable 💙🩵💙🙌🏼 3w

dabbe 💙✊💙 3w

AnnCrystal ✊🏼🥲🙏🏼💝. 3w

kspenmoll ❤️🤍💙 3w

38 likes5 comments

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. 4w

BarbaraJean @ncsufoxes sounds like a good way to self-soothe—you have to take what comfort you can get! 4w

dabbe 🎯🩵🎯 3w

46 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

The Holy Bible | Crossway Bibles

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the orphan."
—Isaiah 10:1-2

A friend posted this on FB today. Spot on. ?

Butterfinger Yes!!! 4w

AmyG 😢 4w

lil1inblue 💔💔💔 4w

See All 7 Comments

Roary47 💔 4w

TheBookHippie Yup. 4w

AnnCrystal 😢🙏🏼🦅💝. 3w

dabbe 💙✊💙 3w

43 likes7 comments

BarbaraJean

Salt Dancers | Ursula Hegi

There‘s been a pattern forming with #BookSpin for me this year: inevitably one spin lands on one of my #192025 spots and I get to choose something from a range of decades. This month, my #DoubleSpin landed on the 1980s–2000s, and I‘m deciding between the three above. #BookSpin is Salt Dancers by Ursula Hegi—she was an obsession of mine in the early 2000s and several of her books that I bought then still haven‘t been read. This one‘s time has come!

Librarybelle, TheAromaofBooks

Librarybelle Yay!!! 4w

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Enjoy!! 4w

39 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Men At Arms | Terry Pratchett

Wasn‘t this SAME passage at the beginning of Guards! Guards!? Or another book that featured Vimes? I know I‘ve read this before but I‘ve been reading these from the library, so I can‘t go back and check… 😒 #OokBOokClub

julesG You're referring to Sam Vimes Boots Theory. As far as I know, it's only in Men at Arms. 4w

julesG Checked against the ebook of Guards! Guards!, it's not in there. 4w

Leniverse You've probably read it before because it's famous and gets quoted a lot. 4w

See All 7 Comments

willaful @Leniverse yes this. I see it on Mastodon about once a week. 4w

Bookwomble "Boots Theory" has its own Wikipedia page ? "Men at Arms" is cited as the source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory 4w

BarbaraJean @julesG Thanks for checking on my behalf! @Leniverse @willaful This MUST be the reason, although my heart feels sure I read it in Guards 😆 @Bookwomble If only I‘d not been so lazy and had googled it myself! 4w

Bookwomble @BarbaraJean That's what community is about 😁 4w

32 likes7 comments

BarbaraJean

BookSpinBingo | Untitled

A bingo for June! 🎉🎉 My #DoubleSpin has been read, and I‘ll likely finish my #BookSpin today.

June favorites:
Woodworking
The Library at Night

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fantastic month!! 4w

31 likes1 comment

BarbaraJean

Something Like Magic: On Remembering How to Be Alive | Brian Andreas

I get daily emails from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer ( https://ahundredfallingveils.com ) and Brian Andreas/Flying Edna Studios. They dovetailed beautifully today!

Three Things to Remember at the Start of Every Day
1. This is your real life.
2. Joy is easier to see when you quit complaining.
3. You never know what the third thing is going to be until later, so try to pay attention so you don‘t miss it.
'three things' by brian andreas

Poem below ⤵️

BarbaraJean Only when I stop hiking
do I finally see the flowers
of the wild blueberries,
first one, then five, then
they are everywhere—
everywhere! How did I
miss all the tiny pink bells
that will soon become
dark sweet fruit? How often,
in my haste, do I miss
what is right here, the thing
I most long to see? Once
I start seeing the blueberry
flowers, I can't stop seeing
them. Sometimes it's like
this with kindness. With peace.
With beauty. With love.
⤵️ 4w

BarbaraJean “Sacred Pause” by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer ( https://ahundredfallingveils.com/2025/06/30/sacred-pause/ ) (edited) 4w

25 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

This post contains spoilers

show me

Kristin is determined to marry Erlend, but her emotions shift and change as the marriage approaches. What is your take on Kristin‘s motivation: how much of her ultimate choice to marry Erlend is due to her own desire, and how much is due to the societal/religious pressure she feels?

What do you make of the revelations about Kristin‘s parents and their marriage that we discover at the end of the novel?

#KLBR #DoorstopKristin discussion - 4/4

AnneCecilie I was shocked by the revelation at the end. That came out of nowhere. When it comes to Kristin, she has to wait two years to marry Erland and maybe some of her love has faded a little by that time. 4w

AmyG Oh, I‘m not done yet so I don‘t know about her parents. I feel like her love for Erland ebbed and flowed. I always got the impression that she felt more about doing what was right but I do think she loved Erland. 4w

Ruthiella I think she genuinely wants to be with Erland. But that first glow is wearing off and she‘s beginning to see his weak side and flaws. If she was really concerned with societal pressures, she would have married Simon. The reveal about her parents is for the reader, to show that not everything is as it seems on the surface. What a waste on both sides-if they‘d only been honest with each other from the beginning. (edited) 4w

See All 8 Comments

lauraisntwilder Being totally honest, I kept hoping she'd decide to be a nun. Erland gave me the creeps and Simon seemed nice enough, but she didn't love him. I loved the ending! I have my fingers crossed that the revelation shared between Kristin's parents will mean they're happier going forward. 4w

Andrea313 I think Kristin's feelings on Erland slowly changed but she doubled down on her feelings and her decision regardless, and I don't believe societal pressure factored in. I'm torn because on one hand, I love an independent, flawed woman making strong decisions guided by her own feelings and sense of what's right. On the other, dude is a walking red flag so I'm staying firmly Team Spinster, or joining in with @lauraisntwilder to manifest Nun Kristin. 4w

BarbaraJean I felt Kristin‘s motivation to marry Erlend shifted from “can‘t live without him” to more an atoning for her wrong. She‘s more conflicted about him after their betrothal, as she gets to know how he is in community rather than just one on one—and I think she felt societal & religious pressure to marry him because they‘d had sex. She still loves him, but I think she begins to see the red flags! (Team Nun/Spinster with @lauraisntwilder & @Andrea313) 3w

BarbaraJean For me, the revelation about Kristin‘s parents was heartbreaking. How different their marriage could have been if they‘d communicated about this earlier! And if there had been more openness about these kinds of transgressions, Kristin may have felt differently about Erlend and their actions. I mean, I get it, this is Norway in the 1400s, but my heart broke over the shame and the hiding. @AnneCecilie @AmyG @Ruthiella 3w

AmyG Oh wait….I went back and read about her parents. I had forgotten as I read this a few years ago. I don‘t think there was a whole lot of communication back then. If there was, between couples, it was probably rare. People have evolved and yet they haven‘t at all. Yes, @BarbaraJean so much shame. I am sure religion plays a huge part in that. 3w

8 likes8 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

This post contains spoilers

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Several women in the text have transgressed against the moral norms of the time, from Fru Aashild to Erlend‘s mistress, Eline—and as we later discover, even Kristin‘s mother Ragnfrid. Do you think Undset includes these women and their circumstances as simply a mirror of the times, as a moral warning, or as a critique of the expectations placed on women of the time?

#KLBR #DoorstopKristin discussion - 3/4

AmyG Perhaps both? I don‘t know much about the author and her feelings. 4w

Ruthiella I think she is showing us the humanity of the past. People were not so different from us in medieval times nor in the 20th century when this was written nor are they now so different 100 years later. Society has its strictures but then as now, we don‘t always fit within that framework. (edited) 4w

lauraisntwilder @Ruthiella I agree. People are people, no matter what year it is. 4w

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Andrea313 I don't know the author's intentions, but I do love that we saw three very different women whose circumstances felt timeless in varying degrees. I gotta say, Fru Aashild took me on a wild ride! Loved her at first, then turned on her when she was all-in for the escape and elopement, then was ultimately grateful she was there for Kristin. And I did feel that in Eline, we might be looking at K's future, even in part. 😬 4w

BarbaraJean Like @AmyG & @Andrea313 I don‘t know enough about the author to KNOW this, but it seemed there was a critique underlying her inclusion of these women‘s stories. Definitely a mirror of the times—including these parallel situations indicated that these types of moral transgressions were more common—but also, by extension, she seemed to be demonstrating that they‘re more nuanced and complex than society paints them to be. @Ruthiella @lauraisntwilder 3w

AmyG And let me say, I was surprised that there was so much “unmarried sex” happening. I don‘t know why I think that way, probably because it‘s the 1300‘s. Human beings being human. 3w

BarbaraJean @AmyG Haha, yeah, people are people, no matter the century! I was surprised that there wasn't more shaming going on, honestly. 3w

AmyG @BarbaraJean There wasn‘t more shaming because apparently they were ALL having “inappropriate” sex! 3w

BarbaraJean @AmyG 😂 😂 3w

4 likes9 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

This post contains spoilers

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Kristin struggles between her desire for Erlend and her family‘s (and society‘s) expectations. What role does her personal faith play in this struggle? What role does family play?

Kristin‘s relationship with her father is central in her life, and they are both pained by the rift that results due to Kristin‘s separation from Simon and her desire for Erlend. What role do you see Lavrans playing in Kristin‘s growth?

#KLBR #DoorstopKristin 2/4

AnneCecilie I read that Unset wrote this trilogy as a response to a discussion in Norway at the time regarding the influence religion had on people. Her viewpoint was that religion and Catholicism had influenced the Norwegian society tremendously 4w

AmyG Kirsten didn‘t want to bring shame upon her family. She especially loved her father. So she did her best to do what was right, considering her condition. She, throughout the book, was very concerned with doing right by the Church. (edited) 4w

Ruthiella Well, Kristen is religious, but it doesn‘t stop her from behaving in a way that‘s contrary to what her religion teaches her. She looks for reconciliation after the “sin”. The fact that she is willing to break with her father to be with Erland is most telling. That rift between her and her father is I think the most painful thing for her. It shows her growing in to her own person, separate from her family and parents. (edited) 4w

See All 6 Comments

lauraisntwilder It's interesting because the church in Norway, according to the book, didn't expect priests to be celibate. I think Kristin's approach was similar -- she wanted to do the right thing, but she was also practical and knew her own limitations. I think her obligations to her father and sister made her feel a lot more guilt than she did about the church. 4w

Deblovestoread I think it hurt her deeply to have a rift in her relationship with her father but even in the guilt of knowing she wasn‘t acting as she should her love was strongest of all. 4w

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie @AmyG @lauraisntwilder @Deblovestoread Kristin seems to deeply struggle with the expectations/morals of religion, but as @Ruthiella says, that influence doesn‘t seem to really have an impact on her actions. It DOES impact her feelings of guilt and shame and desire to do the right thing after the fact. But I got the sense that her guilt and shame were more familial than religious, in part because of her close relationship with Lavrans. 3w

4 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

This post contains spoilers

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What differences do you see between Arne, Simon, and Erlend—and Kristin‘s relationships with each one? Are there any similarities between the three men?

How do the women in Kristin‘s life shape her growth, especially her mother, Ragnfrid and Fru Aashild? What about her sister Ulvhild?

#KLBR #DoorstopKristin discussion - 1/4

AnneCecilie I think Arne represents her childhood, a time of innocence. Simon was her parents choice and she doesn‘t seem to have many feelings towards him in any direction. Erlend brings out her passion and as a teenager it‘s easy to confuse a first love for everlasting love 4w

AmyG Yes @AnneCecilie I agree with that. Erland was handsome and charming…Kirsten didn‘t stand a chance as she was yound and naive. I read books 1 and 2 a few years ago and don‘t remember much about her mother and sisters. (edited) 4w

Ruthiella Arne is friendship, Simon is security, Erland is lust. Ideally we would have all three in one person. Erland may change with time, but right now I don‘t find his behavior honorable. Arne and Simon showed her more respect. Fru Aashild is the one who influences her most in her choice of husband. She unwittingly encouraged her. I don‘t know that her mother had much influence. Kristen is so very much a daddy‘s girl. (edited) 4w

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Deblovestoread Agree with all three of you. Had she been older she might have seen Arne as more than a friend and Simon would have been the safe choice but first loves overtake everything. She was definitely a daddy‘s girl and her mom kept her at arm‘s length. 4w

BarbaraJean I have to apologize for taking a WEEK to get back to the discussion after posting the questions! @AnneCecilie I definitely agree: Arne recalls a time of innocence for Kristin. His departure kind of marks the end of that innocence, with Bentein assaulting her on her way home, and the aftermath of that in the following months. All three men are so different and seem to represent different paths she could have taken. 3w

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie @Ruthiella @Deblovestoread Yes, Simon is definitely safety/security, as well as family expectations. Erlend is kind of the opposite of Simon's stability! SO many red flags. Isn't “he'll change with time“ a universal rationalization girls use to excuse those red-flag relationships?! Kristin seemed much more influenced by her father than the women in her life. I wonder if more female influence would've led to different choices for her? (edited) 3w

6 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

Welcome to our first #KLBR discussion, on Kristin Lavransdatter Book One—“The Wreath.” I‘ll tag everyone here, but not in subsequent posts (because long tag lists on Litsy are difficult these days). Questions will be posted separately under spoiler tags. You can find the questions via the #KLBR and #DoorstopKristin tags, on my page, or on the book‘s page.

Also, I‘ll post a couple of resources I found helpful in the comments below.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, MaureenMc, Daisey, AmyG, Gleefulreader, JenlovesJT47, Texreader, MeganAnn, AnneCecilie, Caterina, Bklover, Andrea313, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, Leniverse, CrowCAH, lauraisntwilder, Ruthiella

BarbaraJean Reader‘s guide: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/296509/kristin-lavransdatter-i-the-wrea...

Character list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Lavransdatter#Character... 1mo

TheBookHippie I love this read I hope everyone is enjoying it! 4w

BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie I'm loving it but also OUCH. 4w

See All 18 Comments

AnneCecilie I have some mixed feelings about this one. I‘m reading the original text and the Norwegian was quite hard to get through. I can‘t remember the last time I hade to look up so many words. She writes in Norwegian but will includes Norse, Catholic and Danish words, I want to include Swedish too. She‘s also changes the sentence structure 4w

AmyG I am almost finished. It‘s an amazing book. 4w

Deblovestoread Finished Book One. Slow to start, but loved it. Looking forward to the next. 4w

AmyG @Deblovestoread For a big book and a slowish read…it goes fast. (If that makes sense). 4w

Librarybelle I‘ll join in when I finish book one! Barely started, unfortunately, but I‘ll get there! 4w

Andrea313 @TheBookHippie I really, really loved Book 1 and am eager to start Book 2! 4w

TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean yes lots of OUCH. 4w

TheBookHippie @Andrea313 YAY!!! 4w

TheBookHippie @AmyG I think it reads quickly too! 4w

rubyslippersreads I‘m behind but loving it. 4w

rubyslippersreads @Librarybelle I‘m glad I‘m not the only one. 4w

Bklover @Librarybelle Me too!! 4w

Librarybelle @rubyslippersreads @Bklover We‘ll catch up eventually! 4w

BarbaraJean @AnneCecilie This is so interesting! I wonder if that's typical of the Norwegian of the time, or if it's more a quirk of Undset's own writing. 3w

AnneCecilie If you think about the writing in Norway in the 1920s if wouldn‘t have consisted of Norse and Catholic words. After a union with Denmark for 400 yrs and Sweden for a 100 yr, the Norwegian language was very influenced by this, especially the Danish. 3w

40 likes18 comments

BarbaraJean

BookSpinBingo | Untitled

I was waiting till after last night‘s IRL book club meeting to post my #BookSpin list, so I‘d know our book pick for July. We still haven‘t landed on a final choice. 😂 So here‘s my list with a placeholder spot for IRL book club!

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4w

31 likes1 comment

BarbaraJean

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music | Victor L. Wooten

June #DoubleSpin complete! Which I might not have done if it wasn‘t for my IRL book club. This didn‘t work for me on several levels. I don‘t usually enjoy pseudo-fictional nonfiction, where the message is presented as a story. For me, this generally yields a gimmicky, sub-par story—I‘d rather you say what you want to say instead of shoehorning your points into the mouths of preachy/quirky characters. That‘s pretty much how I felt about this. ⤵️

TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 1/4) Also, just as a text about music, it ignores or postures as superior to certain types of music, which rubbed me the wrong way. My experience with music is largely classical—I grew up singing in choirs and playing violin; in college, I sang in my college‘s concert choir and played in the chamber orchestra. While some of what Wooten advocates is absolutely applicable to all forms of music, a good 70% of it ignores/dismisses whole ⤵️ 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 2/4) …eras of music as well as those kinds of ensembles.

Add to this, threaded throughout is a bunch of woo-woo content where words like Life and Music are always capitalized. Characters heal injuries from a car accident by singing over the victim, the effects of noise pollution in a nature preserve are rebalanced through an idyllic song session where frogs and snakes come up and rest in the laps of the singers, and the characters ⤵️ 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 3/4) …befriend a red-shouldered hawk when one of them sends an “intention bubble” over to it. This might be someone else‘s jam, but it‘s eye-roll-inducing to me!

I respect that Wooten didn‘t want to write a traditional instructional book about music, and that he wanted to weave in parallels to life as well as music. I respect that he advocated getting away from worrying about the right notes, and emphasized often-ignored elements ⤵️ (edited) 1mo

See All 8 Comments

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 4/4) …like space & listening, but in the end, this just didn‘t work for me. There was some good content, but presented as it was, it mostly annoyed me.

I listened to half on audio, which would have been a great way to experience the book if I had liked it better! The audio includes musical themes throughout—within scenes & at the beginning of each chapter—which was wonderful. But I wanted to finish more quickly, so I switched to print. 1mo

Tamra Well, I‘m guessing he wouldn‘t appreciate my Sanford & Son theme music post. 😂 1mo

BarbaraJean @Tamra Haha--I love it! 1mo

TheAromaofBooks This sounds like maybe it's the music handbook for Disney princesses? 😂 1mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks 😂 😂 That's exactly what my musician husband said about the scene I described!! 1mo

30 likes8 comments

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. 😠 1mo

JenlovesJT47 Have you watched the show? They picked the perfect person to play Aunt Elizabeth. 💚💚💚 1mo

kwmg40 This is a reread for me, and I‘m enjoying it very much so far. 1mo

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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 💜 💜 1mo

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean Miss Brownell! 😡 1mo

rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean And let‘s not forget Aunt Ruth. 1mo

BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads So many people to slap. 1mo

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 ⬇ 1mo

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. 1mo

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. 1mo

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! 1mo

23 likes11 comments

BarbaraJean

Joyful: A Truthful Guide to Finding Peace and Living a Fulfilling Life | Toks Adebiyi

#5JoysFriday

1. This reminder in my email to choose joy: https://flyingedna.com/products/choose-joy-storyblock?_pos=3&_sid=a72972f17&_ss=...
2. Fantastic session with my spiritual director
3. Lunch with a friend, and the beautiful homemade journal she gave me 💜
4. Finishing my Book nook! 😍
5. This India Rose Crawford video of Frog painting water lilies: https://fb.watch/AuGIVn_uHs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

DebinHawaii

AnnCrystal 💖💝💝💝💝. 1mo

dabbe 🩵💙🩵 1mo

31 likes2 comments

BarbaraJean

The Jane Austen Collection | Jane Austen

Seen on the interwebs. 😂

I think Austen girl summer could be expanded in many directions, though. Alternate versions: Holiday in Bath, “What are men to rocks and mountains,” the pleasures of Brighton, and “I should infinitely prefer a book.” Also unwanted proposals.

AmyG That is very funny. 1mo

Librarybelle I love this! 1mo

nanuska_153 I am having an Austen summer, here just to make a sport for my neighbours, and laugh at them in my turn 1mo

BarbaraJean @nanuska_153 Haha—a perfect Austen summer! 1mo

48 likes4 comments

BarbaraJean

Audition | Katie Kitamura

Um… I… hmm. Okay.

I appreciate what the author is doing here, but I didn‘t so much enjoy reading it. I like how the book mirrors the play at the center of the book, but in the end I‘m not satisfied with what she did include (or rather, what she left out). Two contradictory halves that play with the concepts of perception, reality, and performance—and kind of rely on the reader to make meaning of it all—left me frustrated. I read for characters, ⬇

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 1/7) …story, and ideas, but also for meaning—and this was interesting but felt hollow (and honestly—a little lazy!). I don‘t regret reading it (partly because it‘s short enough that I read it in two afternoons), and am glad it was part of #CampLitsy25 even if I came to the discussion late due to uncooperative library holds. For me, this is a better book for discussion than enjoyment! Further thoughts under (many) spoiler tags below: ⬇ 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 2/7) I read this as the author setting up the play within the narrative as a mirror to the book, especially with that central scene, which the narrator cannot get a hold on. She says: “that scene continued to resist me, it was the one thing I couldn‘t fully parse, and without it I was unable to make sense of the part as a whole.” I felt like this about the book as a whole. The author left out the center that would have allowed ⬇ (edited) 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 3/7) …the reader to make sense of the whole. There were a bunch of clues scattered throughout that, to me, indicated that the author intended this close mirroring, leaving the center and the interpretation to the reader. But I feel like it‘s a lazy choice to make on the part of the author: to ask the reader to create the center of the work, which the author herself didn‘t include. In the quote I cited above, the narrator goes on: ⬇ (edited) 1mo

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BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 4/7) “I had begun to wonder if in fact there was some hollowness in the construction of the scene itself. The structure and the narrative of the play demanded that the scene contain a process of transformation, a moment of alchemy and transition, but in truth I couldn‘t find the basis for that metamorphosis in what had been written on the page.” Similarly, I couldn‘t find within the text the basis for a center that would hold together ⬇ (edited) 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 5/7) …the two halves.

I was fascinated by several passages in the second half that indicated a dual reality: “…when I looked back on his childhood, he [Xavier] was at once there but also not there.”
“I thought about my relationship with Xavier, when I looked back upon it, my memory was alarmingly inconsistent and full of gaps, so that I could not really say how it had been, at various stages of his life, his childhood and adolescence.”⬇ (edited) 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 6/7) But again, the book seemed to lack the transitional piece that would have made sense of that dual reality or provided a frame for the disconnection and contradictory narratives. It seemed the author was relying on the reader to supply that, and while I respect that choice, it felt lazy to me to withhold it, expecting the reader to do the work of making the narrative hang together. ⬇ (edited) 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d - 7/7) To reference a future #CampLitsy25 book, my reaction to this book reminded me of Zelu‘s criticism of her students‘ work in Death of the Author! Now to read part 2 of the Camp Litsy discussion and hear everyone else‘s interpretations of this book…

@squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB 1mo

BkClubCare Very nice commentary 👏 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd 8/7 😂) And another thing! So many people have talked about an unreliable narrator here... and I disagree. I didn't feel the narrator was unreliable, but I felt that the *author* was unreliable. I think that's why this book was so frustrating to me. 1mo

BarbaraJean @BkClubCare Thank you!! I had a lot to say about a short book I didn't really enjoy... 😂 😂 1mo

AnnCrystal Thank you for this review, I've read mixed reviews, and I've been wondering about this one. 👏🏼☺️📚💝. 1mo

BkClubCare @BarbaraJean - I especially was struck by “better book for discussion than enjoyment”; good thing it was a camp book! 🏕️ 1mo

squirrelbrain I agree with @BkClubCare - a perfect description of this book. I enjoyed our discussions far more than the actual book itself! 1mo

CarolynM You make some excellent points. I enjoyed it anyway 😊 1mo

41 likes14 comments

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 💚💚💚 1mo

TheAromaofBooks I am really interested to see what connections we find between Emily and LMM (and later - Pat and LMM) 1mo

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? 1mo

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 😂 1mo

34 likes4 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

Hello to my fellow #DoorstopKristin #KLBR readers! Next week, we‘ll be discussing book one: The Wreath. I finished it over the weekend and—ooof! It‘s SO good but emotionally rough! I hope your reading is going well, and I look forward to hearing everyone‘s thoughts next week.

Ruthiella I just finished book one yesterday. Emotionally rough is right! 😬😢😅 (edited) 1mo

staci.reads I haven't gotten to this, so you can take me off the tag list 😔 1mo

Suet624 So good. 1mo

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Daisey I just made it to part 3 of Book 1. It‘s going to be a busy week, but I hope to make it through the rest of this section in time for the discussion. 1mo

Deblovestoread I have finished book one and will start the next when I finish

The Secret of Chimneys

1mo

Deblovestoread Loved it! 1mo

AnneCecilie I finished earlier this month and has mixed feelings 1mo

BarbaraJean @staci.reads I understand! Will do. (edited) 1mo

julieclair I still haven‘t started, so I think you can take me off the tag list, please. 😕 I will put it on my list for #AllergicToChunksters, which means I will eventually get to it. Then I can loop back to these discussions, because they‘ll be there waiting! Thank you for hosting. 💙 1mo

julieclair I tried to listen on audio, since my “sit down and read” time is scarce these days, but between the accent and the unfamiliar names, it just wasn‘t working for me. 😕 1mo

BarbaraJean @julieclair I understand! I don't think I'd be able to absorb this on on audio, either. I need to SEE unfamiliar names! 1mo

41 likes11 comments

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. 1mo

lauraisntwilder ☹️ I see no reason for this book to have been abridged. 1mo

BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie I‘m SO disappointed! @lauraisntwilder Right?!? How could Megan Follows be part of this kind of travesty?! 1mo

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TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean it makes no sense. 1mo

willaful Good grief! It's hardly a super long book! 1mo

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. 🙄 1mo

32 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

Summer Haikus | S. J. Pajonas

More quality content for the #haikuhive, @dabbe 😂

Susanita 🤣🤣 1mo

LeahBergen 😆 1mo

Bookwomble 😂 1mo

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dabbe #sheerawesomeness!!! 🖤🐝🖤 1mo

DebinHawaii 😂🐝😂💛 1mo

AnnCrystal 👏🏼🐝😂🐝💝. 1mo

Centique Brilliant!!! 1mo

JenlovesJT47 😅😅😅 1mo

50 likes8 comments

BarbaraJean

Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow: Volume 4 | Jessica Townsend

Just browsed through Goodreads‘ list of upcoming/new releases and have now added 4 more books to my library holds (and 7 others to my Goodreads TBR). 😬😍 Anticipating a new Thursday Murder Club makes me super happy, and I‘m SO EXCITED the new Morrigan Crow is finally being released! It‘s been so long I may need to re-read the first three…

Daisey I just ordered the Morrigan Crow book for my nephew. He‘s also been impatiently waiting for it to come out. 1mo

Centique Im so excited to hear about the Morrigan Crow! 1mo

36 likes2 comments

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. 1mo

TheBookHippie I adore this read! Enjoy!!! 1mo

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. 🩷 1mo

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willaful Oh, I haven't read this in so long. I think I'd like to join in! 1mo

BarbaraJean @willaful Yay! I‘ll tag you! 1mo

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! 1mo

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! 😂 1mo

rubyslippersreads @willaful I‘m jealous of you getting to read it for the first time. 1mo

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!! 1mo

TheAromaofBooks I am, too! I was not expecting rereading these within LMM's life-context to make such a difference but it really is! 1mo

31 likes10 comments

BarbaraJean

L.M. Montgomery's Complete Journals: The Ontario Years, 1922-1925 | Lucy Maud Montgomery

“I don't know whether I shall *ever* become sensible enough *not* to go to see screen versions of my favorite books. I am afraid I won't because I have been disappointed often enough to cure me of the foolishness if I were curable… I would resolve never to go to see another book-film if I thought I could keep it but I know I cannot. I will always go to them when occasion offers and always be sorry I did.”

#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead ⤵️

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean One of the things I enjoy most about reading LMM‘s journals is how thoroughly relatable she is as a reader—I love reading her thoughts on what she‘s reading, and this quote on film adaptations of favorite books is SO true! 1mo

TheAromaofBooks This made me laugh, too! Apparently this has been true since the invention of movies! 😂 1mo

lauraisntwilder Yes! This had to have been even worse then than it is now, since film has progressed by leaps and bounds since then. She had such an active imagination (I'm thinking, specifically, of her day alone at the lake envisioning a vacation with all her favorite people) that I think her perceptions of how a character looks and sounds must have felt completely real. 1mo

Daisey This is a great and relatable quote! 1mo

27 likes4 comments

BarbaraJean

L.M. Montgomery's Complete Journals: The Ontario Years, 1922-1925 | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals
Volume 5: Preface—Aug. 29, 1923

✍🏻What stood out to you from our past two weeks of reading Volume 5 in LMM‘s journals?
✍🏻What themes in LMM‘s thought do you see that recall previous journals? Do you see any themes newly emerging in this volume?
✍🏻What are you most enjoying about LMM‘s journals?

lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean The Pickering lawsuit naturally recalls earlier (and ongoing!) lawsuits with the Pages. It‘s so interesting to me that this prolonged legal wrangling was such a part of LMM‘s life! Pickering was a scoundrel and I really enjoyed reading how although he unfairly won his suit, he very much lost in the court of public opinion and never got his hands on LMM‘s cash. There‘s also so much foreshadowing that stood out to me here. ⤵️ (edited) 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) @TheAromaofBooks mentioned LMM‘s comments about Chester last week, and I noticed so many more similar comments this week as well. The number of times she wonders about how her boys will be when they grow up, whether one of them will break her heart 🥺 Also foreshadowing: I was perhaps disproportionately interested in the couple of places she comments on suicide (May 10, 1922–p. 32 and Jan. 2, 1923–p. 107) 1mo

TheAromaofBooks Yes on the suicide - I had marked those passages as well! I know we can never know for sure, but I do genuinely believe that she did commit suicide in the end, so her saying things like, “I just have to be here for as long as my children need me“ etc felt ominous and very sad. There were several mentions of things like, “I may also have a child who breaks my heart someday“ that really make me wonder how much trouble she was already having with ⬇ 1mo

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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) Chester. The Pickering lawsuit was fascinating and frustrating! He didn't get the money, but the amount of emotional and mental stress LMM went through - !!! Although I do think that ties back in part to her being SO sensitive about public opinion. There were several times through these passages where her innate snobbery came through as well, things like “he was marrying someone far below him“ despite not having anything specifically ⬇ 1mo

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) wrong with the bride - just the “wrong“ family. Her bittersweet visit to the Island was both happy and yet also hard to read. The main takeaway from these two weeks for me was just how lonely, lonely, lonely she was. She didn't have anyone she felt like she could truly trust or even truly laugh with, and it's SO sad. 1mo

lauraisntwilder @TheAromaofBooks The Pickering lawsuit stands out, of course, and I also noted those passages about suicide, but to your point about her snobbery -- I couldn't believe it when she maligned one of Pickering's witnesses for being a "home child." 1mo

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Oh, definitely--her stress over the Pickering case was closely tied to her fears of “what people will say.“ Which ties to the snobbery, I think! I'm fascinated by how often I'll be thinking what a kindred spirit Maud is, then she'll make some snobby comment and I'll think, “Oh, right, Maud is judgy like that,“ like I know her personally 😂 @lauraisntwilder Ugh, yes. Stuff like that crops up and really catches me off guard. 1mo

18 likes7 comments

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BarbaraJean

Joined May 2016