Gentle SPECTRUMS discussion

Please join Kerri & I, Carolyn, to read Lucy Maud Montgomery's autobiography and reflection on her writing life.

Looking forward to it! I am planning on reading the first chapter tonight. :-)

The cats & I started a Canadian cat trivia book yesterday evening, for McCartney's special birthday! I will switch to Lucy's book tonight.

I imagine a birthday well wish from his Aunt Kerri in New Zealand is coming one way or another. :) That day of turning twenty-one has been here, with Marigold to share it! We miss Spirit like crazy. I got a photo with his portrait in the background and others with Lovey's portrait, of the four kitties relaxing in the bedroom.

Ron helped us take our annual portraits with the birthday boy outdoors too, always with a proper digital camera. We always ensure there are some professional quality portraits. And all of the cats savoured the treat of different foods! I will take more photos if the cats ramble around nearby, when they go out later today. Warmly, Carolyn.

Thank you for your lovely e-mail this morning, with well-wishes for McCartney, as well as in my "Carolyn" member folder. He had a great celebration and is lounging in the livingroom sun today.

You, Shirin, Leeanne, and any member is welcome to create your own folder and post whatever you like. News of your countries, yourself, or favourite things would be enthralling to me.

Ron & I worked to replant some garden rows and pots and I must plant the flowerbaskets while he is at work. I fell asleep after only starting the foreward and Maud's introduction. I guess folks called her Maud instead of Lucy. But it was striking that there were a lot of impressions to have even then, didn't you think so

She goes on and on about what a strong island life is Prince Edward Island, where you can't get away from seeing or feeling the water. Why did not that convey to her novels, even these red roads, only mentioned as Anne et al left for Nova Scotia? It sounded like my prairie province actually. If no one fished, which I wouldn't like anyway, surely there are certain birds, animals, and temperatures typical to islands. I guess all she wrote about were beautiful trees, lakes, flowers, and chores; neutral everywhere.

I avoided hearing any details about Maud and only caught wind that she lost her parents young. I was relieved that the beginning includes a strong sense of family and heritage ties going back a ways, that is well-known to her.

I love that she cares about helping writers navigate the terrain of success in this do-it-yourself field. We should copy her poem here, for it really does inspire one, in any field of our dreams.

These are my impressions and while you are an absolute ace at replying to other people, I look forward to being surprised with your observations as well! :)

I was struck as well that she conveyed more of Prince Edward Island in that first chapter than she really has so far over the course of three "Anne" books! I have just finished reading the Fourth Chapter and I feel like I have a much clearer picture of the place. So far I loved how well she recalls her childhood, and the touching memories she shares, such as her initial belief that about the location of heaven. I can imagine the sense of loss she must have felt when she realised later on that she had misinterpreted things. One of my favourite quotes is this one: "I do not think that the majority of grown-ups have any real conception of the tortures sensitive children suffer over any marked difference between themselves and the other denizens of their small world." I think she captured this so well both in this book, and the "Anne" books as well.

I have also been enjoying the time she spent talking about trees, her early school days, the shore by the fishing huts -- I am less interested in the fishing, but her description of the shells and the tale of the murdered Captain Leforce have been wonderful. Her little solo adventure during her first trip into town was a real treat as well, she captures so well that sense of instant childhood friendship that covers all the things considered important by them, but completely forgets the exchange of names!

Although I am not surprised that her writing is excellent, I have been pleased by just how much I am enjoying this little book. My only sadness so far is that it is so short. I am already approximately half-way through. Still, I am glad that it is available in a collected volume like this!

I'm looking forward to reading her career advice, especially since that seems to have been her main motivation for writing this. It's lovely that she is so encouraging and seems less interested in her success for it's own sake and more because it might help guide another who wants to pursue something similar. So far she has come across as quite modest about all she had achieved, her uncertainty that might even be deemed a "career" was surprising, given how popular she was. I wonder what she would have thought if she had known that her books were still so widely read a hundred years later?

Kerri, please take the lead to continue our conversation. I will reply to message #5 soon. I am done the book too, so please delight me with whatever comes to mind.

I read the first half in one day and then stretched the last few chapters out over two or three -- I loved the whole thing, but I will say that the first half felt especially magical. She recounted her childhood vividly and I really felt like I was there with her in her memories. CHAPTER SIX, where she talked about how her childhood 'had a marked influence on the development of my literary gift' was another insight I appreciated. I liked following her early beginnings as a writer, and her mixed feelings about the stories and such she wrote to earn money. That part reminded me of "Little Women" where the character Jo experiences something similar. This quote stood out as well: "I know many people who have asserted that they are well acquainted with the 'originals' of my characters. Now, for my won part, I have never, during all the years I have studied human nature, met one human being who could, as a whole, be put into a book without injuring it. Any artist knows that to paint exactly from life is to give a false impression of the subject. Study from life he must, copying suitable heads or arms, appropriating bits of character, personal or mental idiosyncrasies, 'making use of the real to perfect the ideal.'
But the ideal, his ideal, must be behind and beyond it all. The writer must create his characters, or they will not be life-like."

I have to admit, I found her honeymoon less interesting in some ways, though even that had moments that made the focus feel important, especially this: "I must be alone, or with a few 'kindred souls' before I can dream and muse, and bring back to life the men and women who once dwelt there and made the places famous."

I Googled Fingal's Cave and it does look beautiful, I can see why it had such an impact on her. I also found her search for the China Dogs in the next chapter interesting -- I'm not sure exactly why but it was a part I really enjoyed.

Her final chapter was very encouraging and a lovely sentiment to end the book (or perhaps essay?) on. I read it several times.

Overall I found it an insightful read, though I wished for a few more details at times. Her husband just suddenly appeared for example, no details on their meeting, courtship, marriage etc, so the honeymoon felt sudden and an abrupt departure from her youth and early days a teacher and aspiring writer. The same with the death of Grandmother, mentioned and then moved on from, though perhaps she felt delving into her personal life would be irrelevant or unprofessional. In some ways this short little piece feels like a primer that makes me even more interested in an in-depth biography, or the volumes of her journals that have been published.

It was somewhat reassuring to read about the many times her work was rejected, simply from the point of view that hopefully good work eventually finds a home and an audience. I think I have read that she struggled a lot with depression, which is hardly mentioned here. Again, I wasn't expecting it to be, but I still wonder how this affected her, and whether it affected her writing or how how she wrote. But since she scarcely mentioned her marriage I knew an in-depth discussion about her mental health would be unlikely.

I was pleased to see that we weren't the only ones that regretted the early death of Matthew! Her explanation as to why she wrote it was useful to know. I'm sure she never would have thought that she would end up writing so much around "Anne" and her world!

Did any parts stand out to you, either good or bad? And did you find the writing advice useful? I thought a lot of what she said was great and insightful, though a little more brief than I had expected.

Hi Kerri! Happy Father's day, Dad figures of the world! Including mine, whom I have phoned, Ron to our kitties, and McCartney to our second generation of kitties.

We worried about Marigold, so I delayed message #5 impressions. I will continue those early ones, followed by later chapters. Between a pill with our usual care yesterday and fluids and rest this morning, with some encouraging hints; Ron & I feel certain Marigold has what she needs to be set to rights again.

It is funny, I never saw photos of P.E.I. and suppose our slow internet could show me that bright, unusual soil. I love Maud's description of contrasts and passion for her home province. Anne shared the passion and hastily said on the boat ride: "It is not my birthplace but it is Prince Edward Island for me". That was before she beheld Nova Scotia again. That is the place for me, second to Manitoba. If Conan were back, Dad not living, and the ascended cats laid to rest long enough ago that I could bear to leave that sacred ground; it is tempting.

Nonetheless, the strangely absent island ambiance is more extreme than Maud furnishing the autobiography with a description instantly. She insisted it is in their blood and they can't get away from it. She must either have been unaware that Avonlea was conveyed as "anyplace", not even Canada, or wanted it that way; which I presume the makers of "Schitt's Creek" did. Or Maud's habit as she said was to borrow from life but invent her art contents. I do believe she would want to share P.E.I. more than she did and venture to say she was unaware she fell short. She constantly spoke of beautiful wildflowers and streams but nothing identifiably island-like or Canadian.

What is it with words we hate, multiplying torturously? I had to go down to 4 stars immediately, when Maud insisted on using that damned "D" word for "lunch", instead of "meal" or "food" once in a while. Then she repeated the fucking word 20 more times in the next pages. And we ended up with the assumption that kittens "have to" be drowned. I get that there was no spaying & neutering then. Did we kill humans when there was no birth control? Don't deem life inferior and presto, we find solutions!

Like you, I loved the book. I felt that some childhood portions went on long but would have forgotten about it, if the things story readers need to know for balance and information sake had not been so grossly unfulfilled. I loved the snapshot and jokes about her newspaper days and the years she dared send poetry to magazines.

I loved that she spent a year with her Dad. Why did he not raise her? Where did he live in P.E.I? Not in Cavendish with the other relatives, like his Montgomery parents? Where was the sense of how much he and Maud saw each other, before he moved to Saskatchewan? At which point in her life did he move?

Yes, Maud is a gorgeous writer and refills my vocabulary supply. It seems odd she doubted herself. I could not get over how stupid it was to throw away doodlings, before she submitted work samples, nor the ones that were rejected so far. Writing is always worth something for ourselves, those close to us, and posterity. I loved hearing that fresh paper was rare and that she loved using long post office record slips.

Here is a fun fact: I use the back of any 8x11 paper as scrap printer paper; old bill summaries or flyers by mail. If it is not handed in formally, like book shopping lists or notes Ron & I make around home, scrap paper will do. I have printer paper for years.

The same as you, I loved the background of her family and did not expect it. I had the idea Maud lived apart from her relatives; now we know her Mom ascended when she was little. The thrown in comment that her Grandfather ran the post office was annoying. While you were constructing the family portrait, could Maud not have said "Grandfather and Father do X for a living"?

I wonder if she kept things short, because this autobiography was for a serial magazine. Shortness can comprise a fully balanced story. Had Maud gone back to fill in gaps (she was a tried & true newspaper editor!), we would have had chronoligical character presentations; not "By the way, Grandfather did this and Father moved there" annotated abruptly when she unexpectedly needed supplemental details further in.

Some people of any age are sensitive and that it isn't about children, as Maud thought. We grow better able to handle malicious or unintended ribbing but I would still hate unwanted nicknames or certain attitudes. I had to walk away from someone at a friend's birthday part a few years ago. I made a joke to keep it gracious: "Woops, I see I am at the wrong table" and left them to animal-killing remarks. That visiting man Maud abhored, as Anne abhored Gilbert needlessly for the furation of their childhood, came across as a sweet man to me. Except that he needed to take the hint if he could see Maud's nicknames were angrily received.

I did not relate to names and addresses not being the first things you exchange when you befriend someone. It was a sweet tale about instantly enjoying someone, touching that she ever remembers their conversation. Perhaps Diane arose from her. I felt critical of some things you found endearing through and through. Still, four stars are high praise. Great pleasure, smiles, and inspiration offset dubious frowns here & there. I loved knowing people's presumption to know whence her characters come, are erroneous. Details about "Anne Of Green Gables" seem few & far between, when these are largely what many people want.

I am certain it is inarguable that the most touching part that you & I read at this point was Maud's memory of her precious ascended Mom. The whole episode was touching and also, that such a young toddler could have that memory at all. My Uncle says the same of my Great-Grandma. He is a lot younger than Dad and their eldest brother, the Uncle we lost at the same time as Spirit & Jimmy. The elder two recalled their Dad's parents but my younger Uncle only recalls Great-Grandma's funeral service. I think remembering the love and sadness surrounding people is something and good for Maud and my Uncle to have had.

We thankfully don't know what it is like to be only children, Kerri. But it often works out, like it did for Maud, that they had cousins, neighbours, or friends with whom to grow-up and that was nice to see. I will see if you have any more to say about this first half, then answer the rest of your observations. I love know I haven't steered you from what might have occurred to you, even if they are the same. At this point, I had not minded the length of pre-success recollections, because I surmised the part we are waiting for, the road to and road after success, would be just as detailed.

Dear Kerri, you are very kindly among the first to personally e-mail condolences for our precious Daughter cat, Marigold. Thank you for that. Please feel welcome to continue these book discussions and the rest of our e-mails. Sometimes people don't know if it is okay to return to normal topics. I am happy to have other things to enjoy during the toughest part of painful grief. I expect everyone else with whom I shared the news to e-mail me this week, which I appreciate. It is comforting to receive support and dismay over Marigold's important, dear loss, over several hours and days.

You have my first reply to your wonderful input here. I will get to your second entry soon. Today's book review covers most of it. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hi Carolyn! Sorry I'm a few days behind on this conversation, I'll do my best to cover everything and catch up today! I know what you mean about being happy to have other things to enjoy during the grief. When I saw your post the other day that mentioned Father's Day I had a brief panic, thinking I had forgotten it, until I remembered that you have it on a different day over there. Ours is the first Sunday of September.

I had noticed that the word you don't like (I won't type it out!) appeared a lot in the book. It doesn't bother me, but I do notice it now, and winced on your behalf each time I read it. She certainly seems to be fond of it. The same with the drowning of the kittens, though I'm glad we didn't have to witness it. The one cat death that was detailed was an unfortunate accident and I had a great deal of sympathy for young Maud over that.

I would like to know more about her father as well, how involved he was in her life. I know it wasn't uncommon to send children to other family members, but he's hardly mentioned and then he is and I never felt like I learned that much about him, or her relationship with him.

I wonder if she regretted throwing away her older writing, or if she felt relief to have it gone, so she never had to be reminded of her perceived failings.

I use a lot of scrap paper as well! I cut up/out any 'writeable' piece of paper and keep them for lists and notes. I hate wasting paper, so I cut up envelopes and old appointment forms and anything that will work to write on. Sometimes cardboard as well, if it is thin enough. I love notebooks as well though, and have more of them than I will probably ever need!

I did find the details about her L.M. Montgomery's mother very touching, and felt so sad for that little girl, especially when it became clear that she hadn't quite grasped the concept of death yet. I was glad that she had that memory, though I imagine it was a difficult one at times, to mainly remember her mother at her funeral, not when she was alive.

I had been looking forward to the second half being as detailed as the first, the same as you I think, so I was a little surprised that it changed pace and tone quite a bit once she left her reminiscing of her childhood behind. There was still a great deal I loved in the second half, but I think it lacked the same magic of the earlier sections.

I remember reading that they kept "Schitt's Creek" deliberately vague, but did confirm it was Canada -- I wonder if, intentional or not, Maud's similar approach makes "Anne" and Avonlea/PEI so enthralling to so many. It's popular in so many parts of the world, and maybe it's because there is something universal about it all.