First #5JoysFriday of 2026!

1. Monday—Wednesday I had NOTHING on the calendar and I just read and puzzled
2. Reading Emma M. Lion Volumes 1 & 2 in the last couple days of the year
3. Finishing #BookSpin and #192025 challenges on NYE
4. Husband and I made a delicious New Year‘s Eve dinner (Everything-crusted tuna steaks with snap peas and tahini-gochujang sauce)
5. Coffee hangout today with my husband and a good friend

Thanks to Facebook, I got this lovely reminder of the time I shared some reflections about my annual reading and got mansplained about how tracking which/how many books I read is a “male approach” to reading. And how it indicates that I‘m rushing through books just to check them off a list and clearly I‘m doing it wrong. 🙄

Another reminder of how thankful I am for Litsy and like-minded reading friends!!

StoryGraph 2025 wrap-up! My first book of the year was an #AuldLangSpine pick from @Librarybelle and my last book of the year was another #blameitonLitsy book. 😁 I‘m especially proud of #DoorstopKristin, my longest book of the year, buddy read with the #KLBR crew.

Wrap-up link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/wrap-up/2025/barbarajean

A fantastic December for #BookSpinBingo—two bingos, and all my remaining spins from 2025 completed. 🎉

Favorites:
🎄A Christmas Carol
📖Emma M. Lion
🌚The Hungering Dark
⛏️Thud!

🏆A Separate Peace and Go Tell it on the Mountain were also standouts, but too emotionally wrenching to call “favorites”!

“If you think, from this prelude, that anything like a romance is preparing for you, reader, you never were more mistaken. Do you anticipate sentiment, and poetry, and reverie? Do you expect passion, and stimulus, and melodrama? Calm your expectations; reduce them to a lowly standard.“

😂🤣 These opening paragraphs are 💯

#HashtagBrigade @BarkingMadRead

With the holiday chaos, I've neglected to post a #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead schedule for January and beyond...but here it is now!

We'll start with an #LMMReread of Magic for Marigold, then it's on to #LMMAdjacent reads: Elizabeth Gaskell's biography of Charlotte Bronte, and Tish Plays the Game. Somewhere in there we can decide whether we want to read/re-read Jane Eyre together. We'll jump back into the #LMMJournals sometime in March or April!

I almost forgot to post my first #BookSpin list of 2026! I was waiting to see what I might finish yesterday… 😆 Here we go!

Ooof. I don‘t know if I can let that be my last book of 2025. 😭

This is an American classic I‘d missed reading up till now, and I think I‘m still stunned by the ending. The characters and their friendship here are both masterfully written—an intimate portrait against the backdrop and looming dread of WWII.

I needed something lighter to alternate with Baldwin‘s Go Tell it on the Mountain and A Separate Peace by John Knowles—and this fit the bill. A lighthearted, delightful dessert of a book… I might have to treat myself to Volume 2 tonight as a unicorn chaser after finishing A Separate Peace.

I can‘t quite take it in that this was Baldwin‘s debut novel. The structure—alternating between a church meeting in the present and the core characters‘ lives in the past—is intricate and deftly woven together. My view of 14-year-old John Grimes and his family expands and deepens beyond my first impressions, as initially seen through John‘s eyes. The themes of race, class, and especially religion are heart-wrenching as each character's struggles⤵️

It‘s been AGES since I‘ve read A Christmas Carol. I loved re-reading it for #WhattheDickens this year, and was reminded again as to why this is such a perennial Christmas classic. I can‘t get over the sweetness of the Cratchit family, the depth of Scrooge‘s transformation, and honestly, just the *kindness* of the narrative overall. Yes, it‘s sentimental, but I love it. God bless us, every one!

I didn‘t realize how appropriate this would be to read during December. It may partly be reading it during this season, but Buechner‘s reflections here all seem to center on and circle around the Christmas story—and on Christ—moving through themes of darkness and light, doubt and faith. Buechner‘s writing is gorgeous as always, and the prayers that conclude each chapter are especially rich & meaningful. This was my November #DoubleSpin. ⤵️

It feels like cheating that this was my December #DoubleSpin, but I can‘t argue with the #BookSpin fates! I loved reading these cozy stories for #KindredSpiritsChristmas—a delightful respite from the busy-ness of the season.

I snuck this Miss Marple short story into my December reading for the Snowflake prompt (set during winter/in snow) in the #ChristmasCrimeChallenge. I do love Miss Marple and her keen observations of human nature, but as is usual for me with Christie‘s short stories, I found this all too short.

Another delightful installment of the Thursday Murder Club! I thought this felt less intense than previous books, with fewer life things happening outside the mystery at hand…but then there was Ron‘s storyline, so maybe not so much. There was a lot less of Chris & Donna than I‘d have liked, but it was nice to have Joanna in a more prominent role. As always, I loved spending time with these characters & am looking forward to the next adventure. ⤵️

So, here‘s a #libraryhaul 😳

Wildful, Still Life, and Witches of Brooklyn are for #AuldLangSpine, so those wait till Thursday… and although it would be helpful to get a head start on Washington for #USPresidents, I don‘t think I‘m ready to jump into it yet! But I might just be tempted to start The Summer War sooner. Once I finish the last of my year-end reading. 😏

The in-laws left town yesterday morning, and today I‘m digging in for the first of 3 solid year-end reading days. After church and a post-church meeting yesterday, I started in with Baldwin‘s Go Tell it on the Mountain, then read the first couple chapters of the tagged last night. Gonna make some more progress today, curled up by the tree with some candles and my tea. I may have to take an audio-walk later, given how gorgeous it is outside today!

Hold up, Goodreads. The year‘s not done. I still have three and a half good reading days ahead of me. Hold my cup of kindness.

Christmas #bookhaul, part three (the final part!): SFF & classic fiction

I have Goudge‘s Pilgrim‘s Inn on my shelf & have been waiting to read it since I discovered it‘s book 2 in a series—now I own book 1!
I got Brigands & Breadknives almost immediately after my library added it to Libby, only to find that I most certainly should have read Bookshops & Bonedust first. I own Bonedust, and now I can come back to Brigands at my leisure ⤵️

Christmas #bookhaul, part two: children‘s and YA

I‘ve been wanting to re-read Wind in the Willows, so my husband got me a nice illustrated B&N edition, plus Alice (there was a sale 😁)
My book group read Raybearer this year, so I needed Redemptor—the sequel!
The Last Unicorn has been on my list foreeeeever
I‘ve recommended Kiki‘s Delivery Service so many times while playing Little Bookshop, I decided I needed to read it 😂

Christmas #bookhaul, part one: nonfiction

I‘m super excited about A History of Reading, after reading Manguel‘s The Library at Night this year.
Touch the Earth and Rage Prayers are books I discovered through my spiritual director. I‘m looking forward to dipping into those both for myself and to share with others
Praying with Jane Eyre is right up my alley with personal and spiritual reflection on literature
And, the LMM complete journals vol. 7!

I have TWO books remaining for #10beforetheend—those two are also my remaining unread BookSpins, and the final two I need to complete #192025. Five days to finish two books and knock out three challenges… I think I can do it! (I am less confident I‘ll be able to finish the 20+ reviews I‘d like to catch up on…)

Christmas joys for #5JoysFriday!

🎷Christmas jazz concerts from the groups my husband directs
🐑 Living Nativity with tiny grand-niece—when the angels appeared, her little voice exclaimed “Oh, WOW!” in the silence right before the music kicked in, and she loved meeting the sheep
🕯️Discovering tiny grand niece knows Silent Night—a surprise to all until she started singing along at the candlelight service: “Si-ent Niiiight, Woly Niiiiight…” ⤵️

Squeezing in another belated review before joining the family for Christmas celebrations…

This was one of the best books I read this year, but it didn't make it onto any of my favorites lists. I can't bring myself to call a book a favorite when it inflicted this much angst and emotional frustration! In some ways it felt (borrowing an analogy from a former professor) like pounding on my thumb with a hammer: “it feels so good when I stop.” 😆 ⬇

Oof. This line stood out to me—how easily can “sharpness” become a habit? Also: I love how deftly LMM draws even her side characters with just a few lines like this!

Our final #KindredSpiritsChristmas story this year is “Bertie's New Year,” from “Christmas with Anne.” It‘s also on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/5/

Thank you all for reading along with me this year! A cozy, merry holiday to you all!

I‘ve considered doing a US presidents reading project for a while, but it felt like too much of an undertaking… however, I can‘t resist a Litsy challenge! I put the Chernow bio on hold and it came in just in time for all county libraries to close due to the current heavy rainstorm. 😆 It‘ll wait for me till NYE, which is perfect. (Although I may later regret my over-zealousness in choosing the 900-page Chernow bio…) #USPresidents

Another sweet story of a holiday mishap & giving to others! Also, an appearance from Josie Pye…but not THAT Josie Pye 😆 This story was published pre-Anne, before LMM wrote the familiar disagreeable Pyes! I wonder if she remembered using the name here?

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Ida's New Year Cake,” from “Christmas with Anne.” It can also be found on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/11/

This was a fun, enjoyable MG fantasy + mystery—with a dragon, an ogre, two castles (naturally), and a young girl making her way in the world. As an adult reader rather than the intended middle grade audience, I had a few issues with the writing. But I liked the characters, I liked the mystery, and I probably would have loved this when I was the target age! This was a soft pick… and my 2011 read for #192025.

My issues: ⤵️

I read this in October—an account of a mother & daughter forced to flee a life of privilege in Mexico and settle in a California farm labor camp during the Great Depression. It was fascinating to have read this *right* before starting Grapes of Wrath. Same era, same destination, different focus. As I read Grapes of Wrath, and the Joads headed for California, dreaming about living in a little white house and picking all the oranges they wanted, ⤵️

I‘ve owned a copy of this for years, but never mustered up the fortitude to read it, so when the #HashtagBrigade tackled it in November, I jumped in. (Because why not tackle Grapes of Wrath AND Old Curiosity Shop at the same time?!)

I‘m stating the obvious here, but this was heartbreaking. Relentlessly sad (which I expected because: Steinbeck), but also infuriating—the injustice throughout, and the bleakness and suddenness of the ending (which ⤵️

I‘ve seen others criticize this for moving too slowly, but for me, it was a 5-star read. Perspectives alternate between three women: a hiker lost along the Appalachian trail, the State Game Warden leading the search, and a retiree who takes an interest in the search from afar. The character development here was well done, and Gaige strikes a balance between mystery, survival, and reflection that really worked for me.

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is a New Year‘s one, and it‘s short and sweet. “Uncle Richard's New Year's Dinner” is in “Christmas with Anne,” and it can also be found on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1909-1922/26/

I do love these stories of long-held grudges and quarrels being overcome at the holidays! And I loved the little references to Prissy longing for her book.

My planned #AuldLangSpine picks were all readily available in my county library system, so I‘ve been waiting until closer to the end of the year to place my holds. Library hold timing is everything. 😆 I put these three on hold over the weekend, and they‘re on their way! 🎉

“The month before Christmas was always the most exciting and mysterious time in the Joseph household. Such scheming and planning, such putting of curly heads together in corners, such counting of small hoards, such hiding and smuggling of things out of sight, as went on among the little Josephs!”

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “The Josephs‘ Christmas,” from “Christmas with Anne” (or on Hoopla, or at the link below) ⤵️

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is another sweet tale of giving to others at Christmas.💚❤️

“A Christmas Inspiration” is from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. You can also find it on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1896-1901/2/

Tomorrow‘s story is “The Josephs‘ Christmas,” which can be found in “Christmas with Anne,” on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1902-1903/13/

This sweet story combines several of LMM‘s favorite Christmas-story tropes: a Christmas mishap, a rich relative saves the day, and a misunderstanding comes right. (Also: I kind of want to read the tramp‘s side of the story…)

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “The Falsoms‘ Christmas Dinner,” from “Christmas with Anne.” You can also find today‘s story on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1905-1906/19/

“Our basket was full of mottoes made from letters cut out of cardboard and covered with lissome sprays of fir. They were, moreover, adorned with gorgeous pink and red tissue roses…”

I‘m always curious how these Christmas decorations would have looked!

Another sweet story today for #KindredSpiritsChristmas: “The Christmas Surprise at Enderly Road,” from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. ⤵️

“The little Grants stood with open mouths & horrified eyes. No turkey for Christmas! Was the world coming to an end? Wouldn't the government interfere if anyone ventured to dispense with a Christmas celebration?”

Ha! Well. Not so much, little Grants. Not then or now.

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “A Christmas Mistake.” It‘s in the tagged collection, on Hoopla, or here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1896-1901/3/

I love Rebecca Dew! Now I want to re-read Windy Poplars!

Today‘s #KindredSpiritsChristmas story is “Katherine Brooke Comes to Green Gables,” which is in the “Christmas with Anne” collection. The story is an excerpt from Anne of Windy Poplars (2nd Year, chs. 5-6), and the full text of the book is available here: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20100608

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently,
“nor the best, either.”

This story is one of my favorites, even if it‘s very “moral-of-the-story.” And I needed this reminder on a day when I‘ve been stressed about Christmas shopping!

Today‘s story is “Clorinda‘s Gifts” from “Christmas with Anne.” You can also find it on Hoopla or here: https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20150144/html.php#Clorindas_G...

I‘m celebrating Jane Austen‘s 250th birthday with this quality meme from Writers Write 😂🤣

“We are not idealized wild things.

We are imperfect mortal beings, aware of that mortality even as we push it away, failed by our very complication, so wired that when we mourn our losses we also mourn, for better or for worse, ourselves. As we were. As we are no longer. As we will one day not be at all.”

“We imagined we knew everything the other thought, even when we did not necessarily want to know it, but in fact, I have come to see, we knew not the smallest fraction of what there was to know.”

We‘re halfway through December, and I‘ve been looking at #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead-ing for 2026. I don‘t yet have a copy of Vol. 7 of the journals, but also in the queue are some as-yet-unread adjacent books as well as Magic for Marigold. I‘m curious what people are interested in reading first—or at all!

Earlier in the year, we voted on several LMM adjacent books—these showed some interest, but we haven‘t gotten to them yet: ⬇

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “The Unforgotten One”

This felt a bit too maudlin, a bit too contrived for me this time around…also, what jerks are the family for “unconsciously” leaving Nanny out of reunions because she‘s “only the little orphan ‘help‘ girl”?!

Today‘s story is from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. You can also find it on Hoopla, or in this collection: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24876/24876-h/24876-h.htm

I realize it‘s just all L.M. Montgomery all the time around here these days, but I have to post this text exchange I had literally while I was posting quotes on Litsy from LMM‘s journals. 😆
#LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

“The book was ghastly…It *must* have been worse than the others. Surely even at twelve years I couldn't have read such mush with pleasure.” (from Aug, 19, 1928)

SO relatable… tracking down a sequel years later, discovering it‘s crap, and wondering about your childhood self‘s taste in fiction!

“…before a whole roomful of company, half of them rapscallion boys, Mr. MacFarlane, anxious to be kind and hospitable, exclaimed, ‘Mish Montgomery, aren‘t you cold shitting away over in that corner? Shit nearer to the fire—shit right here in this rocking chair.‘

This. I laughed SO HARD at this!

(I keep meaning to post a few quotes from Vol. 6, and time just escapes me. Trying to catch up today!) #LMMJournals #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

#KindredSpiritsChristmas - “The Osbornes‘ Christmas”

“You've had too much Christmas, you Osbornes,“ she said seriously. “It has palled on your taste, as all good things will if you overdo them. Did you ever try giving Christmas to somebody else?”

Today‘s story is “The Osbornes‘ Christmas,” from the “Christmas with Anne” collection. You can also find it on Hoopla, or online here: https://www.online-literature.com/lucy_montgomery/1902-1903/17/

“In came a fiddler with a music book, and went up to the loft desk, and made an orchestra of it, and tuned like fifty stomachaches.”

THAT is a simile I‘ve never heard before! 😂

#WhattheDickens