Kindred Spirits Book Club

Rejoin Ragon, Kelly, and guest Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray for their discussion about motherhood in Anne’s House of Dreams. Ragon and Kelly are joined by Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray, Canadian literature expert, to discuss the joys and sorrows of Anne’s journey to motherhood in Anne’s House of Dreams. We discuss everything from baby talk to our favorite books and gifts for babies. Content warning: Child loss, pregnancy loss, infertility. Be kind to yourselves, Kindred Spirits! Inspired by: We are inspired by baby gifts! Kelly is inspired by: Maisonette baby bonnets and the beautiful picture book Life by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel. Ragon is inspired by: Tag Blanket Lovey (which you can also find on etsy from independent artists) and picture books like The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater and Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Kadir Nelson. Brenna is inspired by: They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel and A Is For Activist board book by Innosanto Nagara. And we all also recommend the BabyLit board books like Alice In Wonderland: Colors Primer and of course, Anne of Green Gables: Places Primer. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Ragon and Kelly are joined by Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray, Canadian literature expert, to discuss the joys and sorrows of Anne’s journey to motherhood in Anne’s House of Dreams. We discuss Victorian attitudes to pregnancy and birth, and we share our own journeys around motherhood. We had so much to say that we are actually making this a two-part episode! Content warning: Child loss, pregnancy loss, infertility. Be kind to yourselves, Kindred Spirits! Inspired by: We didn’t have our usual inspired by because this is a 2-parter but we did talk about what we brought or would bring to a “favorite things” party. Ragon brought: Dashing Diva nail stickers, NYX lip oil in That's Chic which is the perfect berry shade of gloss and Mini brands tiny plants. Kelly brought: Teleties flat hair clip. Brenna would bring: Squish gummy candies, especially the Ice Wine and the Gin and Tonic flavors. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Ragon and Kelly are joined by audiobook narrator and voice actor Kelli Tager to discuss the beautiful romance threaded through Anne’s House of Dreams. From Anne and Gilbert’s wedding day to Leslie and Owen’s happily ever after, join us to celebrate all the delicious romance. Kelli also discusses what it’s like to narrate audiobooks and her favorite LM Montgomery books. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by weddings and recommends her favorite anniversary tradition, which is to recreate her wedding bouquet every anniversary. Ragon is inspired by her favorite indie perfumer, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, especially The Rose in honor of Leslie’s engagement and Maiden for Anne’s wedding day Kelli Tager is inspired by Leslie’s glorious hair and recommends Eufora Hydration Leave-in Conditioner for goddess hair! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

In this episode, we are setting sail with Captain Jim! Kelly and Ragon talk about the lighthouse keeper’s gentle guidance, how he embodies and subverts the theme of cleverness, and his deep wisdom, earned over many years of seafaring. Sidebars and digressions include whether Captain Jim is a stealth matchmaker, life at sea in the 1800s, and recommendations for two swashbuckling adventure book series! Inspired By: Both Kelly and Ragon are loving Dashing Diva nail strips. Kelly is inspired by the Aubrey Maturin Series by Patrick O’Brian for some seafaring adventures like Captain Jim’s. Ragon is inspired by the Temeraire Series by Naomi Novik for military adventures plus DRAGONS. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

The mysterious beauty Leslie Moore is the subject of this Anne’s House of Dreams character study. Ragon and Kelly discuss the myths and metaphors surrounding Leslie, and whether she is properly humanized in the text. Digressions include Favorite Things parties, how to talk to kids about stereotypes in media, and the tragic beauty trope. Inspired By: Kelly is inspired by Leslie’s style and recommends red flower choker-style necklaces like this gorgeous one from Free People. Ragon is inspired by the beautiful fairytale retellings by Robin McKinley, especially Beauty and Rose Daughter for Beauty and the Beast retellings and Deerskin for a darker fairytale about the curse of being beautiful. And don’t forget Spindle's End for a Sleeping Beauty retelling. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Meet Miss Cornelia and her signature phrase “Just like a man!” Miss Cornelia is the great comic relief in Anne’s House of Dreams, an otherwise serious and emotional book. Ragon and Kelly do a deep dive into the contradictions that make up this memorable woman: she’s charitable, loving, and neighborly; and she’s judgmental, prejudiced, dogmatic and an unapologetic gossip. Sidebars include the Oscars, Methodists versus Presbyterians, and one of our favorite sitcoms. Inspired By: Ragon is inspired by the fantastic TV show, The Good Place, starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, if you want to go all in on the exploration of what makes someone a “good” person. In a meta moment, Kelly is inspired by our Episode 9 about Miss Josephine Barry, another Rich Auntie Supreme like Miss Cornelia! Give it a relisten! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Anne’s House of Dreams is one of L.M. Montgomery’s most mature and emotional books, and Ragon and Kelly are thrilled to devote season three of Kindred Spirits Book Club to it. In this episode, we recap Anne’s House of Dreams, discuss what we’ve been reading lately, revisit our own weddings, and brainstorm Miss Cornelia-inspired fanfic. We didn’t do any inspired bys this episode but we did check in on what we are each reading these days! Ragon is reading: A cozy witchy mystery, In The Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace, the gothic fantasy Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, and the Myrtle Hardcastle middle grade mysteries by Elizabeth C. Bunce. Kelly is reading: The beautiful picture book Oona by Kelly Dipucchio and the non-fiction book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Welcome back, Kindred Spirits! Ragon and Kelly kick off a third podcast season by re-introducing themselves and the podcast, giving a behind the scenes look at how we make the pod, and discussing some of what’s to come in Season Three. This is a great place to dive in if you’re new to the podcast, and for longtime listeners, enjoy the deep friendship lore! Inspired by: Both Ragon and Kelly are inspired by podcasts this week. Most of the podcasts are available on a variety of podcast players but we’ve included links here to their main sites. Ragon is inspired by Normal Gossip by Kelsey McKinney for fun, low stakes stories that will have you invested in real life anonymous gossip. And is inspired by Binge Mode: Harry Potter by Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion on The Ringer. Binge Mode is only available in its entirety on Spotify at the moment but here’s a Playlist that is only their Harry Potter series. Kelly is inspired by Feeling Seen by Jordan Crucchiola for thoughtful interviews discussing movie characters that made the guests feel seen. And she is inspired by the podcast Worlds Beyond Number, a role playing podcast where talented voice actors play out the adventures of a hedge witch, a haughty wizard and the son of a demigod. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

It’s our last episode of Season 2 and the last episode of 2023! Editor Katie Stewart comes back to debate the most important of issues: who is the best romantic hero: Barney Snaith or Gilbert Blythe? We had a blast discussing the way the themes in The Blue Castle compare with Anne’s themes, as well as discussing Hallmark movies and holiday traditions! Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by the perfumes of Imaginary Authors, especially Cape Heartache for a perfect Blue Castle scent. Katie is inspired by the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota and Wisconsin for vacationing, canoeing and finding your own Barney Snaith. Ragon is inspired by the books of Bill Bryson, especially A Walk In The Woods. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

We briefly leave the Anne series to discuss one of our very favorite LM Montgomery books, The Blue Castle! Many of the elements we love in the Anne series – romance, selfhood, family, and community – play out differently but just as satisfyingly in this book. Come along as we recap this gorgeous fairy tale of a book. Inspired By: Kelly and Ragon are inspired by the Muskoka area of Canada and recommend checking it out for a Blue Castle vacation of your own! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Canadian literature expert Brenna Clarke Gray joins Ragon and Kelly to recap the bonkers 1987 miniseries: Anne of Green Gables, the Sequel! Are we making the best use of Dr. Gray’s expertise and insight into Anne? Probably not, but we sure had fun. Join us for an irreverent look at Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel – and stick around for a very special KSBC Holiday Gift Guide! Holiday Gift Guide Inspiration: Sqirl LABonne MamanPolkadogBook Babe DesignsChapter CatchersIdeal BookshelfNovelly YoursThe WagerEssenTilesMeadowlands SyrupLinen Celebration CrownRainbow WandSlackline kitJohn WindBrooklyn CharmAnne, an Adaptation (sort of) If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Now engaged to be married, romantic Anne can’t help but get involved in other people’s love lives, and her meddling has hilarious results! Join Ragon and Kelly as they discuss matchmaking – and matchbreaking! – gone wrong, Anne’s love letters to Gilbert, epistolary novels, and our favorite advice column. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by The Jolly Postman by Allan Ahlberg and by This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Ragon is inspired by Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock and by Captain Awkward's Advice Column. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Anne loves a thrilling tale, and there are a few in Anne of Windy Poplars that are perfect for a very spooky Halloween episode of Kindred Spirits Book Club. Ragon and Kelly examine Anne's years on Spook's Lane through the lens of graveyard stories and haunted mansions. Highlights include Kelly's discussion of Gothic literature, and Ragon's upcoming Halloween party! Inspired by: Ragon is inspired by spooky games like Betrayal At House On The Hill and Gloom. Kelly is inspired to make decisions about the end of life with Five Wishes. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Anne has a special gift for winning over misfits and misanthropes, but in Anne of Windy Poplars, even her skills are put to the test! Ragon and Kelly discuss how Anne won over the Pringles and Katherine Brook, Kelly teaches us about comedies of manners, and they both marvel at the miracle of buttermilk and pumpkin preserves. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by the kids baking on the spin-off of The Great British Bake Off, Junior Bake Off. Ragon is inspired by Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

From her unique vantage point as an engaged woman and a high school principal, Anne observes all kinds of interesting parent-child dynamics in and around Summerside. Ragon and Kelly discuss the takeaways from these relationships, and then Ragon gives us all an in depth parenting lesson – but not before we discuss Fourth Wing and all things dragons! Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson and by Schitt's Creek. Ragon is inspired by the podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting but specifically the episodes between 2017 and 2019 with Carvell Wallace, Rebecca Lavoie and Gabriel Roth. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Ragon and Kelly boldly go where few podcasters have gone before – deep into Anne of Windy Poplars! Join us as we recap the 4th book in the Anne series--you probably missed this book or have forgotten it so let us help you find the humor and tragedy hidden in the pages. Listeners, be sure to count how many grumps Anne has to win over while presiding over Sunnyside High School. Also, back-to-school vibes, Anne's meddling era and enough people with dysfunctional families to keep a whole practice of therapists busy for years. Inspired By: Ragon is inspired by the 2001 movie Amelie. Kelly is inspired by Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

Happy Anniversary to US! To celebrate, Kelly and Ragon are throwing a podcast party, with special guests, games, trivia, and best of all, prizes. You’re invited to the Anne of Green Gables themed party of the year! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.

After everything Gilbert has been through over the past three books, we knew he needed his own episode! Ragon and Kelly discuss the making of a classic romance hero, from the infamous “carrots” scene to the swoon-worthy final proposal. We round out the conversation with stories from our weddings and an exploration of Victorian courtship rituals. Inspired by: Ragon is inspired by the songs: Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Feels Like Home by Randy Newman and Heads Carolina, Tails California by JoDee Messina. Kelly is inspired by the songs: Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show and I'll Follow You Into The Dark by DeathCab for Cutie Additionally, Kelly recommends the books Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld and Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane.

Anne’s childhood wish to become “divinely beautiful” is coming true - at least in the eyes of one particular gentleman. We love the romance in Anne of the Island, not just for Anne but for her friends Diana and Phillippa as well. Ragon and Kelly chat about all of Anne’s would-be beaux, and unpack why she doesn’t seem ready for any of them yet. We also compare this book to one of our other all time favorite classics: Pride and Prejudice. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by The New York Public Library Shop for bookish goodies. Ragon is inspired by the movie Roxanne (1987) for some more fun romance.

It might be summer where you are, but in Anne of the Island, it’s always September, and we are headed back to school with Anne. In this episode, Ragon and Kelly explore Anne’s ambitions as a writer and a scholar – including, of course, her embarrassing first experience as a published author! Kelly and Ragon also share stories from their own college years and talk about the history of women in higher education. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by the pretty stationary of Felix Doolittle | Stationery & Gifts | Shop and Open Sea Design Co. Ragon is inspired by the Big Dipper and Little Dipper rings at Bryan Anthonys.