Mistress Pat

by L. M. Montgomery

Paperback, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

813.52

Publication

Tundra Books (2018), 400 pages

Description

Classic Literature. Historical Fiction. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: Home is where the heart is At twenty years old, Pat Gardiner has never regretted staying at her beloved home of Silver Bush. She has the wild stories of housekeeper Judy Plum to amuse her, a countess to entertain, a cat named Bold-and-Bad to keep out of trouble, and her younger sister Rae to care for. But she does miss her friend "Jingle" Gordon, who's away at college. He's the only boy who ever truly understood her, and their little spot called "Happiness" is much lonelier without him. Eventually, though, Pat will have to choose: the house she's loved her entire life...or falling in love and starting a home of her own. What Readers are Saying: "I loved this...better than the Anne of Green Gables books." "Pat is my favorite L.M. heroine and these are my new favorite L.M. books." "This book is a must-read for any L.M. Montgomery lover�??if you liked Anne of Green Gables, you'd love Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat." "The romance, the laughter, and the tears make it a story that just captivates you."… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member rachelellen

Most people know about Anne of Green Gables, and most girls have probably read it at some point. It's one of my very favorite books, one that, humble "kidlit" as it is, has even changed my life in many ways. What most people maybe don't know is that L.M. Montgomery wrote around 20 other novels --

seven more in the Anne series, an Emily series (probably her second-best-known books), two Pat books, two Story Girl books, a few standalone children's books, and two books written for adults; all these books are well worth reading. Mistress Pat is the sequel to Pat of Silver Bush; these novels were written late in Montgomery's life, and are darker than the Annes -- notably, Mistress Pat is possibly the darkest of Montgomery's novels and was written under the influence of a deep depression which clouded the second half of her life. I definitely recommend this pair of books, although you will pretty much need to read Pat of Silver Bush first. Pat in the first book is in close contention for the position of my favorite Montgomery heroine. Also, this short series has the distinction of containing one of Montgomery's two actual knowable male characters, in the young Hilary. He'll disappoint you by pretty much disappearing till the end of the last page of the second book, however, as Montgomery's romantic heroes were wont to do once she got out of her depth with them. "Write what you know", for this author, sadly didn't include strong men or normal romantic relationships.

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LibraryThing member rainbowdarling

Where I enjoyed Pat of Silver Bush at least to a mild degree, Mistress Pat left me wanting. I felt that I couldn't connect with Pat's urges and wishes and that her interest in having everything remain unchanged seemed to hint at an ostrich burying its head in the sand. She seemed through the whole

book to be so afraid of things changing that she would do whatever it took to prevent it from happening, even to the point of trying to avoid the happiness of her siblings. I couldn't understand her at all. Probably the most redeeming quality of the book was the reality shown that very few things are perfect and nothing is eternal. Otherwise, I could leave Mistress Pat rather than taking it up again in the future.

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LibraryThing member jphilbrick

i really want to like this book, but it spent 350 pages hitting me over the head with depression, and then dropped the two worst possible scenarios in the last two chapters. seriously, lmm? i guess the end redeemed it all somewhat, but for an lmm book, getting there was sometimes more painful that

it should have been.

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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

Originally published in 1935, this sequel to Pat of Silver Bush just happens to be the last of L.M. Montgomery's novels that I had not yet read, making the experience of completing it rather bittersweet. Continuing the story of Pat Gardiner, whose love for her home at Silver Bush, and for her

circle of friends and family, is as strong as ever, it is spread out over eleven years, with an multi-part chapter devoted to each.

The domestic traditions of Silver Bush, the widening social and romantic lives of Pat and her sister Rae (formerly Cuddles), the magical stories of Judy Plum and the new hired man, Josiah Tillytuck, all combine to fill Pat's days with happiness. But always, something is missing. Is it simply foreboding at the inevitable changes, such as Sid's marriage, that lie ahead? Or does Pat need something that Silver Bush cannot supply?

There is much here to enjoy, from Montgomery's lovely passages devoted to the natural beauty of Prince Edward Island, to the emotionally resonant ups and downs of sisterhood. And of course, the heartwarming presence of the Silver Bush kitties is always a winner! But if I'm honest, Mistress Pat simply isn't Montgomery at her best. Despite having "grown up," Pat still moves from three-dimensional character to caricature, upon occasion. The slapdash resolution, which crowds a death, a terrible catastrophe, and an unexpected epiphany into the last twenty pages, somehow isn't very convincing. In another author, this might have earned a two-star demotion, as it is, this is one Montgomery title I probably won't revisit very often.

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LibraryThing member BooksRLife4Me

This book could have had some good potential. I found it slow moving and difficult to keep my attention...

LibraryThing member laVermeer

MISTRESS PAT is Lucy Maud Montgomery’s second novel featuring Patricia Gardiner, the heroine of PAT OF SILVER BUSH. In MISTRESS PAT, Pat is now eighteen and being pursued by young men who hope to marry her. But Pat is single-mindedly committed to her home and family. Over the eleven years of the

novel, the world around Pat changes, and family members arrive and depart. In the end, Pat must resolve the central struggle of her life: her determination to remain at Silver Bush.

MISTRESS PAT would be a fine selection for readers who have worked their way through Montgomery’s Anne novels and through the Little House series. It is a gentle, slow-moving book, quite unlike much of what is currently available for middle-grade and YA readers. Although the book follows Pat through her late teens and twenties, many plot points will feel relatable for readers in their early teens (as well as for adult readers). Do be aware, however, that the novel contains passages that reflect attitudes of the early twentieth century; some readers may need to discuss the sexism and racism expressed in these passages.

For strong readers, this novel is noteworthy for Montgomery’s beautiful rendering of the landscape of Silver Bush and for her dropping of literary allusions. There is much to cherish in Montgomery’s effusive language and abundant descriptions, although her style will read as elevated and old-fashioned for some tastes. But for anyone who feels the strong tug of hearth and home — and grief for lost friends — Pat’s experiences will certainly resonate. MISTRESS PAT is an enjoyable, immersive book that readers will be able to revisit rewardingly, and I’m happy to see it available in this attractive new edition.

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LibraryThing member MickyFine

At twenty years old, Pat Gardiner has very little interest in beaus, marriage, or leaving her beloved home, Silver Bush. As the years pass though, Pat must constantly face off against that constant enemy of change and determine if loving her home is all she really needs to get her through the rest

of her life.

Regardless of her characters, there is something so satisfying about sinking into an L.M. Montgomery novel and immersing yourself in her language which evokes a place and time that seems untouchable. Technically part of a duology, it took me a bit to place who every character was and the book does include a major spoiler for the previous book but not much appears to be lost by reading the books out of order. Pat and all the other characters who build up her world are thoroughly charming and with episodes that will leave you laughing out loud as well as ones that will leave you sniffing back tears, the book is a delight from start to finish.

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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey

My, that's stupid! Year after year after year goes by (section headings remind the reader), with Pat loving Silver Bush and turning down every man who courts her. And things change, and she hates it, and the spiral gets tighter and tighter...and then (ok, I won't spoil it) the crisis comes, by

chance, and she finally figures out that all her love of Silver Bush was just trying to cover up her real love. And happy ever after, as the book ends. It was so obvious what would happen, though I couldn't see how, that I had a distinct feeling through the last half or so of the book of "ok, ok, come on, get it done...". The first book was sweet and pointless. This one is just stupid. I won't be reading either of them again.

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LibraryThing member foggidawn

As she grows into womanhood, Pat continues to love Silver Bush more than she could possibly love any man... or so she thinks. But change is coming, and even Pat’s determination can’t hold it back.

Ugh, this book is so unnecessary. I’m heading into a spoiler-filled rant here: If Pat had just

married Jingle at the end of the first book, it would have been lovely. But no, she has to be all stubborn about never leaving Silver Bush. So, in the second half of this book, we see the destruction of everything she loves. Gentleman Tom leaves, Sid marries Pat’s worst enemy, Rae goes off to China, Judy dies, and then the freaking house burns down and Jingle comes back and literally proposes to her in the ashes. No matter how much I want this couple to get together, I cannot feel good about that.

I’ve always been bothered by that to some extent, but on this read I was also irked at Montgomery’s casual fat-shaming, which unfortunately runs through many of her works, but is particularly egregious here. Fatness is always a character flaw when it’s mentioned, never a neutral descriptor. Fat characters are lazy or stupid or crass (Mrs. Binnie, for instance, is all three, and because she weighs over 200 pounds, there’s apparently not a chair in Silver Bush that can hold her), and they serve as comic relief. Fat characters are undeserving of love (one of Pat’s old flames is later described as — horrors! — having gotten plump and middle-aged, so of course Pat spurns him again, and Rae flippantly jokes that one of her suitors might get fat with age, and then she couldn’t love him anymore). And don’t get me started on Mrs. Merridew. I’m maybe a touch bitter and sensitive on the topic, but I had a hard time getting through this reread. I love the first book in this duology, but maybe next time I will pretend that this one never happened.

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LibraryThing member jennybeast

Rereading an old favorite. Good things in here, terrible things in here. Still a stirring story, for all I’ve lost patience with marriage and old maid mores. Left me weeping and annoyed, but glad to read it again for all that.

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