What Should I Read Next? Ep 521: Everything L.M. Montgomery and how to build a deeper reading roster
Apr 14, 2026
Kate Scarth, chair of L.M. Montgomery Studies at UPEI and Montgomery scholar, talks about building a deep reading roster. She explores books about literary women, detective-style investigations, haunted houses, magical realism, and nonfiction on creative women. Short, lively recommendations and reading goals pepper the conversation.
01:05:37
Building A Montgomery Collection With A Local Bookshop
- Kate collects Montgomery-related books and works with local indie bookstore Woozles to build a small collection tied to Montgomery's influence.
- Her role combines scholarship and public engagement, including advisory work for Green Gables Interpretive Center.
Use Reading Challenges To Stay Accountable
- Use Goodreads challenges and community Instagram reading challenges to sustain reading momentum and track recommendations.
- Kate finds the yearly Goodreads challenge satisfying and uses one-star reviews to glean critical, sometimes useful, perspectives.
Montgomery As A Multifaceted Artist
- Montgomery was a prolific, multimedia artist beyond Anne of Green Gables, producing 21 novels, hundreds of short stories, journals, scrapbooks, and early photography.
- Scarth emphasizes Montgomery's strategic publishing, visual imagination, and household/career ambitions as integral to her artistry.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
Introducing Kate Scarth and LM Montgomery Studies
05:07 • 38sec
Kate's Early Anne of Green Gables Memories
05:45 • 1min
Kate's Work with the Montgomery Institute
06:48 • 2min
How Montgomery Shapes Kate's Reading
08:20 • 1min
Anna Green Gables as Cultural Shorthand
09:47 • 2min
Enduring Appeal vs. Critical Dismissal
12:17 • 46sec
Montgomery Homages and Adaptations Kate Loves
13:03 • 2min
Kate's Broader Reading Habits
14:56 • 1min
Tracking Reading: Goodreads and Challenges
16:04 • 2min
The Great Courses: Life and Work of L.M. Montgomery
17:42 • 4min
Montgomery's Journals as Literary Work
21:28 • 3min
Visiting PEI: Sites and Recommendations
24:41 • 1min
Ad break
26:02 • 1min
Books Kate Chose: Format and Links
27:22 • 2min
Ad break
29:03 • 24sec
Favorite Book: The Postcard
29:27 • 4min
Favorite Book: A Ghost in the Throat
33:45 • 3min
Favorite Book: The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
36:22 • 4min
Least Favorite: All Fours by Miranda July
40:46 • 3min
What Kate's Been Reading Recently
43:31 • 4min
Reading Goals: Ghosts, Houses, Magical Realism
47:14 • 3min
Recommendations: Grown Women and Northwoods
50:13 • 2min
Recommendation: If Looks Could Kill
52:12 • 1min
Recommendation: Run Towards the Danger
53:26 • 11min
Recommendation: Possession by A.S. Byatt
01:03:59 • 3min
Kate's Picks to Read First
01:07:15 • 27sec
Outro
01:07:42 • 1min
#
Grown Women
Sarah Johnson
#25764
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
If books could kill
Kate Carlisle
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The Blue Castle
Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Blue Castle tells the story of Valancy Stirling, a 29-year-old unmarried woman living a dull and grey life under the strict control of her family.
Her only escape is her daydreams of the 'Blue Castle,' a fantasy world where all her dreams come true.
After receiving a medical diagnosis that gives her only a year to live, Valancy decides to break free from her family's constraints and live life on her own terms.
She moves out, starts caring for a friend shunned by society, and meets the mysterious Barney Snaith, with whom she falls in love.
The novel follows Valancy's transformation from a timid girl to a self-assured, witty, and courageous woman who finds happiness and fulfillment outside her family's influence.
#101996
Possession
A. S. Byatt
In 'Possession', A. S. Byatt crafts a complex narrative that intertwines the lives of fictional Victorian poets Randolph Henry Ash and Christabel LaMotte with those of modern scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey.
The novel delves into themes of love, possession, and the power of words, blending historical fiction with metafiction.
It won the Booker Prize in 1990 and is considered a modern classic.
#5069
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Tom Jones
Henry Fielding
#
Rebel of the Regency
The Scandalous Saga of Caroline of Brunswick
Ann Foster
#18906
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
North Woods
Daniel Mason
Daniel Mason's "North Woods" is a captivating novel that delves into the lives of individuals living in a remote area of the American West.
The story unfolds against the backdrop of a vast and unforgiving landscape, where the characters grapple with the challenges of survival and the complexities of human relationships.
Mason's writing style is known for its evocative descriptions of nature and its ability to create a sense of atmosphere.
The novel explores themes of isolation, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection in the face of adversity.
It's a story that stays with the reader long after the final page is turned, leaving a lasting impression of the beauty and harshness of the natural world.
#29122
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Postcard
Anne Berest
The Postcard begins in 2003 when Anne Berest's family receives an anonymous postcard listing the names of her maternal great-grandparents and their children, all killed at Auschwitz.
This sets off a journey to discover who sent the postcard and why, leading Anne to uncover the story of her ancestors' flight from Russia, their journeys through Latvia, Palestine, and Paris, and the devastating impact of the Holocaust on her family.
The novel is a meticulous account of the Rabinovitch family's life, involving detectives, handwriting analysts, and a powerful exploration of the occupation of France and systemic antisemitism during World War II.
#1691
• Mentioned in 27 episodes
All Fours
Miranda July
Miranda July's "All Fours" is a poignant and unconventional novel that explores themes of aging, mortality, and the complexities of human connection.
The narrative unfolds through the experiences of an unnamed narrator grappling with her changing body and relationships.
July's writing style is characterized by its intimate and often humorous approach to profound subjects.
The book delves into the challenges of intergenerational friendships and the societal obsession with youth.
Ultimately, "All Fours" offers a reflective and empathetic portrayal of the human experience.
#
Attila and the Book Wanderers
Anne James
Anne James's Attila and the Book Wanderers centers on a young protagonist who discovers a way to step into the worlds of books, experiencing adventures within beloved literary settings.
The story highlights reading's transformative power, friendship, and the ways texts shape identity.
It playfully intersects with classic works, offering homage to stories like Anne of Green Gables while remaining a fresh adventure.
The novel foregrounds curiosity and the communal joys of storytelling for middle-grade readers.
It has appealed to bookish children and adults who appreciate metafictional celebration of literature.
#
A Ghost in the Throat
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
Doireann Ní Ghríofa's A Ghost in the Throat interweaves personal memoir and the translation and study of an 18th-century Irish mourning poem by Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill.
The narrator, a new mother and poet, becomes consumed with uncovering the life behind the historic poem and giving voice to the woman who wrote it.
Rich, poetic language and a blend of scholarship and intimate reflection characterize the work, which meditates on motherhood, grief, and feminist reclamation of women's literary history.
The book uses investigation and translation as narrative devices to bridge past and present, highlighting how historical voices can haunt and inform contemporary life.
It has been widely praised for its originality and emotional power.
#
The Austins
Sarah Emsley
Sarah Emsley's The Austins investigates the life of Jane Austen alongside that of her sister Fanny, revealing lesser-known transatlantic ties and familial influences.
The book situates Austen within the naval and Atlantic world of her brothers, showing how such connections informed people and places reflected in her novels.
By attending to Fanny's life and letters, Emsley offers new perspectives on Austen's social networks and narrative sources.
The study blends archival research with accessible storytelling, making literary history engaging for general readers.
It enriches understanding of Austen's context and the broader cultural exchanges of her era.
#
The Astral Library
Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn's The Astral Library weaves historical detail with speculative elements around a mystical library where readers can step into books as escapes from harsh realities.
The story explores themes of trauma, healing, and the power of literature to offer sanctuary, with characters using book-escapes to survive and grow.
It connects historical settings with personal redemption arcs and examines the ethics and costs of such magical refuge.
The novel highlights how stories can be both solace and transformation, featuring richly drawn characters who must confront past harms.
It appeals to readers who enjoy literary escapism blended with emotional stakes.
#22088
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Run Towards the Danger
Confrontations with a Body of Memory
Sarah Polley
In 'Run Towards the Danger', Sarah Polley shares six deeply personal essays that delve into her experiences with trauma, including stage fright, high-risk childbirth, and sexual assault.
The book explores the transformative power of confronting past traumas and how this process can lead to healing and growth.
Polley's writing offers a candid and introspective look at her life, examining the complexities of memory and personal resilience.
#5012
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Five
The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
Louise Brealey
Hallie Rubenhold
In this book, Hallie Rubenhold delves into the lives of the 'canonical five' women believed to have been killed by Jack the Ripper in the Whitechapel murders of 1888.
Rubenhold challenges the traditional view of these women, often portrayed as sex workers, and instead presents a detailed and compassionate account of their lives, highlighting their diverse backgrounds and experiences.
The book is a critical examination of the true-crime genre and its treatment of victims, advocating for a more humane and respectful approach to historical narratives.
#67395
Grace of Wild Things
Heather Fawcett
#138
• Mentioned in 149 episodes
A Christmas carol
Jacqueline Goldfinger
Jacqueline Goldfinger's adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' is a family-friendly version that includes music, making it suitable for a wide range of audiences.
This play retains the core themes and characters of the original while adding a musical element to enhance the storytelling and emotional impact.
Many of you will well understand our team's excitement when we saw today's guest submission land in our inboxes. Today, Anne is talking with Kate Scarth, chair of L.M. Montgomery Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island.
They discuss Kate's work as well as some of Kate's favorite Montgomery retellings and homages, but their main focus today is on Kate's reading life. She's interested in building out a deep reading roster for the kinds of books she especially enjoys. Books featuring literary women, books where an investigation or detective work is a big part of the story, books that center on a house, and nonfiction about creative and artistic women in history. She's also very interested in finding more books with magical realism and ghosts. Anne has ideas to share.
Find the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/521, where you can also leave a comment to share your ideas for Kate.
We're so excited to tell you about a live event happening this spring. On May 7th, Anne will be joining Laurie Frankel in conversation at Parnassus Books in Nashville on tour for her new novel, Enormous Wings. We love to tell you about new additions to the calendar on the podcast, but if you want to make sure you don't miss any news, be sure to subscribe to our email list at modernmrsdarcy.com/subscribe so you'll be the first to know all our What Should I Read Next? news and happenings.
Chapters
04:45 Meet Kate
24:00 The Postcard by Anne Berest
28:11 A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
30:47 The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
35:02 All Fours by Miranda July
46:38 Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
51:08 North Woods by Daniel Mason
57:24 Possession by A.S. Byatt
1:00:19 What will Kate read next?
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