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A review by eatingfiction
Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery
3.0
Pat of Silver Bush feels like a bit of an odd-one-out amongst the L.M. Montgomery heroines I've encountered thus far. Many of the familiar & lovely trademarks remain, such as LMM's stunning nature descriptions and the sense of wistful melancholy. But where Pat differs drastically is that she lives with a happy, traditional family, and it just.......doesn't work as well. Sorry Pat.
Most of the side characters feel like outlines of characters, wispy shadows, half-formed with no real personality and no presence. Despite Pat's constant goings-on about how much she loves her family and never wants anything to change, the family dynamic never becomes anything. That being said, I adored Pat herself, her best friends Bets and Jingle, and Judy the housekeeper.
The plot is also hard to grasp -- the first half especially. Things happen and are resolved in such quick concession. There isn't much of a through-line except the idea that Pat hates change, and the many events which indeed bring change and challenge her. But the first half of this book is a bit of a drag, to be honest. Pat doesn't have any real ambitions, which doesn't help to push the story forward -- but she's still a great character. She loves things deeply, and never wants to leave her dear Silver Bush. Her obsession with her beloved home almost gets annoying at times... but I felt the same way by the end of the novel.
The second half picks up, with Pat growing older and her challenges becoming ever more vexing. The end of this book had me sobbing. LMM is unnecessarily cruel to Pat! I hate it but I also love it.
Of course, Silver Bush is a beautifully realized setting on Prince Edward Island. It's up there Green Gables and New Moon. There's a sort of underlying mysticism to Silver Bush, with Pat being told stories of fairies and witches. And the many descriptions of moonlight...lol (if you know you know..)
Definitely recommend to anyone who is fan of L.M. Montgomery's books -- but don't start here!
Most of the side characters feel like outlines of characters, wispy shadows, half-formed with no real personality and no presence. Despite Pat's constant goings-on about how much she loves her family and never wants anything to change, the family dynamic never becomes anything. That being said, I adored Pat herself, her best friends Bets and Jingle, and Judy the housekeeper.
The plot is also hard to grasp -- the first half especially. Things happen and are resolved in such quick concession. There isn't much of a through-line except the idea that Pat hates change, and the many events which indeed bring change and challenge her. But the first half of this book is a bit of a drag, to be honest. Pat doesn't have any real ambitions, which doesn't help to push the story forward -- but she's still a great character. She loves things deeply, and never wants to leave her dear Silver Bush. Her obsession with her beloved home almost gets annoying at times... but I felt the same way by the end of the novel.
The second half picks up, with Pat growing older and her challenges becoming ever more vexing. The end of this book had me sobbing. LMM is unnecessarily cruel to Pat! I hate it but I also love it.
Of course, Silver Bush is a beautifully realized setting on Prince Edward Island. It's up there Green Gables and New Moon. There's a sort of underlying mysticism to Silver Bush, with Pat being told stories of fairies and witches. And the many descriptions of moonlight...lol (if you know you know..)
Definitely recommend to anyone who is fan of L.M. Montgomery's books -- but don't start here!