Kindred Spirits Book Club Ragon Duffy and Kelly Gerner

In today’s episode, Kelly and Ragon wind up their discussion of Anne’s House of Dreams. In a book that encompasses many emotional highs and lows, we discuss friendship and family as the foundation of a happy life. Ragon explains psychological protective factors, which can help determine how well someone weathers a crisis, and we share our favorite books with found families.  
What we are reading:
Ragon is reading ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-eyes-and-the-impossible-dave-eggers/18751937?ean=9781524764203“＞ The Eyes And The Impossible ＜/a＞ by Dave Eggers and ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-swifts-beth-lincoln/18539965?ean=9780593533239“＞ The Swifts: A Dictionary Of Scoundrels ＜/a＞ by Beth Linconln.
Kelly is reading ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-grave-robbery-deanna-raybourn/20159685?ean=9780593545959“＞ A Grave Robbery ＜/a＞ by Deanna Raybourn.
And we are both tracking our reading in the ＜a href=”https://novellyyours.com/products/2024-reading-tracker“＞ Novelly Yours Reading Tracker ＜/a＞.

Inspired By:
Ragon is inspired by the found families in＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea-klune-tj/9881851?ean=9781250217318“＞ The House In The Cerulean Sea ＜/a＞ by T.J. Klune and＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-very-secret-society-of-irregular-witches-sangu-mandanna/18151716?ean=9780593439357“＞ The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches＜/a＞ by Sangu Mandana.
Kelly is inspired by the found families in ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/nettle-bone-t-kingfisher/18349589?ean=9781250244048“＞ Nettle And Bone ＜/a＞ by T. Kingfisher and ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-adventures-of-amina-al-sirafi-shannon-chakraborty/18834226?ean=9780062963512“＞ The Adventures Of Amina Al-Siragi ＜/a＞ by Shannon Chakaborty.

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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: ＜a href=”https://www.maisonette.com/product/emilia-bonnet-garden-floral“＞ Maisonette baby bonnets＜/a＞ and the beautiful picture book ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/life-cynthia-rylant/10317716?ean=9781481451628“＞ Life＜/a＞ by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel.
Ragon is inspired by: ＜a href=”https://a.co/d/gAouQMa“＞ Tag blanket lovey ＜/a＞ (which you can also find on etsy from independent artists) and picture books like ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-big-orange-splot-daniel-manus-pinkwater/6389557?ean=9780590445108“＞ The Big Orange Splot＜/a＞ by Daniel Pinkwater and ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/please-baby-please-spike-lee/8179911?ean=9781416949114“＞ Please, Baby, Please＜/a＞ by Spike Lee and Kadir Nelson.
Brenna is inspired by:＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/they-all-saw-a-cat-brendan-wenzel/7572686?ean=9781452150130“＞ They All Saw A Cat＜/a＞ by Brendan Wenzel and ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-is-for-activist-innosanto-nagara/7406230?ean=9781609805395“＞ A Is For Activist＜/a＞ board book by Innosanto Nagara.
And we all also recommend the BabyLit board books like ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/alice-in-wonderland-a-babylit-r-colors-primer-jennifer-adams/10500083?ean=9781423624776“＞ Alice In Wonderland: Colors Primer＜/a＞ and of course, ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/anne-of-green-gables-a-babylit-r-places-primer-jennifer-adams/10512674?ean=9781423647829“＞ Anne of Green Gables: Places Primer＜/a＞ .

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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: ＜a href=”https://dashingdiva.com/collections/gloss”＞ Dashing Diva nail stickers＜/a＞, NYX lip oil in ＜a href=”https://www.nyxcosmetics.com/lip/lip-gloss/fat-oil-lip-drip/NYX_1054.html?dwvar_NYX__1054_color=Thats-Chic”＞ That’s Chic＜/a＞ which is the perfect berry shade of gloss and ＜a href=”https://shop.mgae.com/products/mgas-miniverse-make-it-mini-lifestyle-home-series-1”＞ Mini Brands tiny plants＜/a＞.
Kelly brought: ＜a href=”https://www.teleties.com/collections/flat-hair-clips?tw_source=google&tw_adid=667757886952&tw_campaign=15170468152&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwuJ2xBhA3EiwAMVjkVC-xQg-hXc6_OQipRBL5Ef1-Zs5uFWbtO-CHJlFm4hXgHCa9feK3sBoCQFQQAvD_BwE”＞ Teleties flat hair clip＜/a＞.
Brenna would bring: ＜a href=”https://www.squishcandies.ca/collections/gummies”＞ Squish gummy candies＜/a＞, especially the Ice Wine and the Gin and Tonic flavors.

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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,＜a href=”https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/”＞ Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab＜/a＞, especially ＜a href=”https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/general-catalog-perfume-oils/marchen/beauty-and-the-beast/the-rose/”＞ The Rose＜/a＞ in honor of Leslie’s engagement and ＜a href=”https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/general-catalog-perfume-oils/ars-amatoria/maiden/”＞ Maiden＜/a＞ for Anne’s wedding day
Kelli Tager is inspired by Leslie’s glorious hair and recommends ＜a href=”https://a.co/d/9xFkjLL”＞ Eufora Hydration Leave-in Conditioner＜/a＞ for goddess hair!

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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＜a href=”https://dashingdiva.com/collections/gloss”＞ Dashing Diva nail strips＜/a＞.
Kelly is inspired by the ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/master-and-commander-patrick-o-brian/15540225?ean=9780393541588”＞ Aubrey Maturin Series＜/a＞ by Patrick O’Brian for some seafaring adventures like Captain Jim’s.
Ragon is inspired by the ＜a href=”https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/his-majestys-dragon_naomi-novik/261093/item/45899134/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_new_condition_books_high&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=593819619485&gad_source=4&gclid=CjwKCAiAuYuvBhApEiwAzq_YiQGezheX2fq0G9UqBOGICt1asmFr24gqWnnFKN0cJ44RgBNIEqVf0hoCDdwQAvD_BwE#idiq=45899134&edition=59969477”＞ Temeraire Series＜/a＞ by Naomi Novik for military adventures plus DRAGONS.

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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 ＜a href=”https://www.freepeople.com/shop/melody-choker/?color=060&type=REGULAR&size=One%20Size&quantity=1”＞ Free People＜/a＞.
Ragon is inspired by the beautiful fairytale retellings by Robin McKinley, especially ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/beauty-a-retelling-of-beauty-and-the-beast-robin-mckinley/7886632?ean=9780062803450”＞ Beauty＜/a＞ and ＜a href=”https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-McKinley-Robin-Market-Paperback/dp/B00GSCWMQY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=YIQS0506LNSI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lj6ABx_z-SiLErmTCvMz_jANd3wtHGL9quwgmsh1pAEg4nUxk8njoaEQLIupHjXEhZwcOpFsqczKNw-O4GSJsXce-qBtRAgclLtIGJEgd71wqgKewKcQl8DPHYxDKtmZgLGpaY0B3iZRuDRHh5-i9Z__azaWE6Y2i2-sV_ok1hieG49KhKLrQJZIJRBQjP6ODSpfXvEf3zh9KFIIH0pCwQ.8goZbXKmjEVEJgO1bi1An7kNN8Pxo1bVUTUfE0q-X4k&dib_tag=se&keywords=rose+daughter+by+robin+mckinley&qid=1709140225&sprefix=rose+daughter%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-4”＞ Rose Daughter＜/a＞ for Beauty and the Beast retellings and ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/deerskin-robin-mckinley/7502102?ean=9780441012398”＞ Deerskin＜/a＞ for a darker fairytale about the curse of being beautiful. And don’t forget ＜a href=”https://bookshop.org/p/books/spindle-s-end-robin-mckinley/7503718?ean=9780698119505”＞ Spindle’s End＜/a＞ for a Sleeping Beauty retelling.
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