Susan Baker, the unsung heroine of Rilla of Ingleside, gets her due in today's episode. Dr. Kate Scarth of the University of Prince Edward Island and the L.M. Montgomery Institute joins Ragon and Kelly to chat about Ingleside's faithful, fearless housekeeper, and how Susan's domestic skills and homely philosophies support Rilla and the Blythes during The Great War. Kate also shares biographical information about Montgomery's own reactions to the war, and how those views came to life in this novel.

Want to hear more from our awesome guest, Kate Scarth? Her Audible book is The Life and Works of L.M. Montgomery , a great listen! Her book Romantic Suburbs comes out on April 21, 2026. You can find her on Instagram or at The L.M. Montgomery Institute. Registration for the 2026 L.M. Montgomery Conference is now open so come join us there!

Inspired by:

Kelly is inspired by the University of Guelph digital exhibit about life on the Canadian home front in the context of Rilla of Ingleside. There’s a great section about Susan specifically!

Ragon is inspired by her favorite recipe blog, Smitten Kitchen and her newest cookbook, Smitten Kitchen Keepers.

Kate is inspired by a recipe for Monkey Face Cookies and by the book Irish Chain by Barbara Haworth-Attard.

You can support the pod by shopping through our Bookshop link for any books we’ve recommended!

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Kelly and Ragon are diving into prophecy, patriotism, and porch-debate energy in Rilla of Ingleside. From Miss Oliver’s eerie dreams to Norman Douglas’s keyboard-warrior vibes, we unpack all the different ways the Glen justifies — and questions — the war. Is it fate? A moral necessity? A cosmic inevitability? As we start wrapping up our Rilla season, we zoom out to listen to the full chorus of opinions shaping wartime life at Ingleside.

Inspired by:

Kelly is inspired by Heated Rivalry! Whether you watch the show on HBO/Crave or read the book by Rachel Reid, enjoy some fun, romantic, spicy distraction. Kelly especially recommends the third book in the series, Tough Guy, for some Anne of Green Gables references!

Ragon is inspired by the game, Let's Hit Each Other With Fake Swords for some silly family fun.

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.

Our fascinating discussion with Dr. Andrea McKenzie continues in this episode. We returned to making connections between living through war and living through the Covid-19 pandemic. We discussed the extraordinary Red Cross and nursing work taken on by the young women of Rilla of Ingleside, and Andrea teaches us about what would have happened to the young women who took on so many new roles during the war once the men returned home.

If you want even more of Andrea’s expertise, check out the absolute goldmine of information on the L.M. Montgomery Readathon Facebook Page.

Inspired by:

Kelly is inspired by the Red Cross and recommends donating to either the International Red Cross or your national chapter like the American Red Cross or the Canadian Red Cross.

Ragon is inspired by the war-time fantasy duology Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross.

Andrea is inspired by the community care in Rilla of Ingleside and recommends finding community in your area!

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.