Kindred Spirits Book Club

Episode 41: Wisdom and Whimsy: Captain Jim Tells The Tales

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. 

Episode 40: Sorrow and Splendor: Leslie Moore Lives Happily Ever After

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. 

Episode 39: Chats and Charity: Miss Cornelia Spills The Tea

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. 

Episode 38: Anne's House of Dreams Recap

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. 

Episode 37: Welcome to Season 3!

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. 

Episode 36: Season 2 Finale: Queens Of The Blue Castle

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. 

Episode 35: The Blue Castle Recap

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. 

Episode 34: Anne Adaptations: The Sequel (1987 Miniseries)

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:
Plum Jam like from Sqirl LA or Bonne Maman
Fancy dog treats from Polkadog
Size inclusive bookish tees from Book Babe Designs and Chapter Catchers
Custom bookshelf print or other bookish prints or swag by Jane Mount at Ideal Bookshelf
A book tracker journal like at Novelly Yours
A thrilling non-fiction book about shipwrecks and mutiny, The Wager by David Grann
Book wine charms from EssenTiles
Fancy simple syrups from Meadowlands Syrup
Linen Celebration Crown
Rainbow Wand
Slackline kit
Personalized charm bracelets from John Wind or Brooklyn Charm
Anne, an Adaptation (sort of) graphic novel by Kathleen Gros
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. 

Episode 33: Anne’s Meddling Era: How To Write A Love Letter

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. 
 

Episode 32: Anne’s Meddling Era: Spooky Edition!

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.