Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge 2011

'Tis the season for Lucy Maud Montgomery! Every January I like to host the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge in order to start my reading year off right. (At least, as right as I can make my reading year!) I like easing into the year with old friends, all created and penned by LMM. I think reading Montgomery is a cozy thing to do, especially when there is still a bit of the holiday rush being felt and as things are beginning to calm down.

The rules for participating in this reading challenge are quite simple:

1. Pick the Montgomery book (or books!) that you most want to read and then read them during the first few weeks of January. Watching any of the following movies/tv shows also qualify for this particular challenge: Anne of Green Gables, Anne Of Green Gables - The Sequel or the Road to Avonlea series. (Watching Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story does NOT count because it doesn't follow the books a stitch and is Anne-heresy.) Write up a post declaring your intentions to participate and, if you've decided already, what books you purpose to read.

2. Come back on Monday, January 3rd to link up to the Lucy Maud Montgomery Challenge post. (Just say that you are participating so that myself and others know to watch your blogs for your thoughts over the course of January.)

3. Read, read, read. Watch, watch, watch. Come back on Friday, January 28th and link up however many posts you wrote up relating to the Montgomery books or films you chose to read or watch during the month.

4. Optional, but encouraged: VISIT EACH OTHER and get to know the other people participating in the challenge.

That's it! You can decide to do as much or as little as you like. I just hope that you'll take a little bit of time to indulge in some of Montgomery's writings.

Unfortunately, a great many of Montgomery's works are out-of-print but don't fret! It's easy to locate something. Here are a few suggestions:

• Your local library no doubt has the Anne of Green Gables movie on hand. They might possible even have some of the Road to Avonlea series or can get it for you. Ask now and maybe they can get it in for you in time!
• The most popular series by Montgomery (still in print) is the Anne of Green Gables series and the Emily of New Moon series.
• There are a load of short story collections by Montgomery, including, but not limited to: Akin to Anne, Across the Miles, Along the Shore and The Doctor's Sweetheart and Other Stories.
• A few fun and more unique titles include: Kilmeny of the Orchard, Jane of Lantern Hill, A Tangled Web, The Blue Castle and Magic for Marigold.

Here is the button code for the challenge, if you'd like it:

<a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2009/12/lm-montgomery-reading-challenge-2010.html"><img alt="L. M. Montgomery Reading Challenge" src="http://www.bluecastlephoto.com/misc/lmm-challenge.gif" border="0" /></a>

I hope you'll consider joining in! See you in a week with more information about this!