Kindred Spirits Book Club

Anne Adaptations: The 1985 Miniseries

Anne of Green Gables has a long cinematic history but the adaptation we love best is the 1985 CBC miniseries starring Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst. We chat about our recent re-watch, how the movie strayed from the book, and the things we still love – the costumes! the scenery! Gilbert! Digressions include favorite movie musicals and how the kids are doing their hair these days. 

”Carrots” and Slates: Anne’s Pride

Anne Shirley, “all spirit and fire and dew,” is notorious for her temper and her pride. Ragon and Kelly explore why this is such a challenging character trait for Anne, and how she overcomes it. Side quests include TikTok, duels of honor, and whether Jo March, Mary Lennox or Pippi Longstocking is Anne’s spiritual sister. 

Dryads, Ghosts and Lily Maids: Anne’s Imagination

Wherein our heroine invents ghosts and dryads, fairies and snow queens, and we discuss how her imaginings very likely saved her spirit. We talk about whether embellishments are the same as lies, which Romantic poets Anne was reading, and how Anne made Prince Edward Island iconic with her imaginative descriptions.  

Red Hair and Puffed Sleeves: Anne’s Vanity

New Year, New Anne! We discuss Anne’s preoccupation with her appearance – she’s perfect just the way she is and so are you, listener! – and why Marilla was so worried about Anne’s vanity. We discuss Victorian fashion as well as the terrible haircuts, skincare, and diets we tried in the name of vanity.

Gilbert Blythe, Everyone’s First Crush

The podcast episode that is at least 20 years in the making . . .  We gush about why Gilbert was our first imaginary boyfriend, what the heck was wrong with Anne, and contemporary successors to Gilbert’s true good guy prototype.  We also discuss our year in reading and where we stand on the “rivals to lovers” trope.  

The Girls of Avonlea

It turns out that kids are kids even a century apart: opaque social hierarchies, dares gone wrong, mean-girl passive aggressive relationships, gossip and dramatics!  We talk about Anne’s friends and their antics, what we all got wrong about The Lady Of Shalott and how we are coping with the holiday season.  

S1, Ep 9: Miss Josephine Barry, Rich Auntie Supreme

Everyone knows that single, child-free, and mysteriously wealthy woman with immaculate clothes and a gorgeous home – and for Anne, it’s Diana’s Aunt Josephine! We tag along with Aunt Jo and the girls on a lavish trip to the big city and speculate about where her money came from.  Bonus content includes Aunt Jo fan fic!
Inspired by:
Ragon is reading When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill.
Kelly is reading The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Ragon is inspired by fancy ice cream like Salt and Straw or Jeni’s.  
Kelly is inspired by the Rich Auntie Supreme community.
You can support the pod by shopping through our Bookshop link for any books we’ve recommended!  
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. 

S1, Ep 8: The Ladies of Avonlea

Upsets, accidents, and apologies – how do the adult ladies of Avonlea respond to Anne’s escapades, and what does that tell us about who Anne is becoming? We discuss busybodies, eating medicine flavored cake to be polite, and politics in Avonlea.
Inspired by:
Ragon recommends going to a fancy afternoon tea!
Kelly recommends the period specific clothing of Recollections if you want to live out your Avonlea dreams!
You can support the pod by shopping through our Bookshop link for any books we’ve recommended!  
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. 

S1, Ep 7: Miss Stacy and Education

How do you educate a whole village of children in one room? Why was Mr. Phillips such a creep and Miss Stacy so wonderful? We ask these questions and share some embarrassingly hilarious stories from our own school days in this episode.
Inspired by:
Ragon recommends supporting teachers by donating to Donors Choose and by emailing their principal to sing the praises of a specific great teacher.
Kelly recommends the book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski.
You can support the pod by shopping through our Bookshop link for any books we’ve recommended!  
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. 

S1, Ep 6: Matthew and Masculinity

Do you love Matthew Cuthbert as much as we do? In this episode we celebrate this legend of gentle masculinity, and talk about how his capacity for unconditional love nourished and sustained Anne. Digressions include: why gifts are our favorite of the five love languages, fatherly pride, the delight of grubs in the cucumbers, and David Lynch.  
Inspired by:
Ragon is inspired by All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot.
Kelly is inspired by the movie The Straight Story starring Richard Farnsworth.
You can support the pod by shopping through our Bookshop link for any books we’ve recommended!  
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.