Mistress Pat (Unbound)

One of the most successful elements of the books is the characters and the sense of place. Judy, who we meet again from Pat of Silverbush, and Tillytuck, a new addition to the cast, are two of her most realistic and interesting characters. Silverbush itself is a character - I feel like I have tromped through the flower beds and maybe overnighted in the Poet's room. Despite this developed sense of place and person, some of Montgomery's formulas are still evident: I found Pat's sister Cuddles to be remarkably similar to Philippa Gordon from the Anne series. Pat has a streak of Murray pride and an older love interest a la Emily. Also, May Binnie, Pat's nemesis is a rather one dimensional character and we never understand what's motivating her.

Some people complained that there isn't enough of the male love interest in this book but I think they miss the point. This isn't a love story about a man and woman, it's a love story about a woman and her home. Besides, in most of Montgomery's other books the love interests are featured for only a few pages here and there. Anne and Gilbert didn't get together every weekend and neither did Emily and Teddy.

Another aspect of the story that I liked is that we see Pat get a little older before she figures who she loves and how she will spend her life. I'm only speculating but it felt more autobiographical. After all, Montgomery herself was in her thirties when Anne of Green Gables was published and wasn't married until she was in her late thirties.

I just finished rereading this book last night. I'll have to hold off a couple of years before rereading it again and I'm a little homesick right now for Silverbush and Pat and the Gardiner family.

No heroic struggles to achieve fame are here, but Pat definitely has to endure things large and small. From the passage of time, of life, to everyday annoyances. To have May Binnie brought into your very own home, and try not to be awful to her for your brother's sake -- ! I think it would be very harrowing to live with someone so alien and unsympathetic, in your very own beloved house -- living with a thousand small pinpricks a day.

Finally, Judy's death -- so well-written. Grievously sad but not maudlin -- the touches of humor Judy displays, her courage in dying -- I just don't think you'd have seen anything like that in earlier LMM works.

I never bothered purchasing a copy of Pat of Silver Bush for my own -- not that it wasn't well worth a read. But my copy of Mistress Pat was so well-read the cover fell off.