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. ( )

Mistress Pat continues the story of Pat of Silver Bush and covers an 11-year period in Pat's life. Readers familiar with Montgomery's other works will find many similar episodes in these pages, but they are none the less enjoyable for that.

In Montgomery's world, the greatest barrier to love seems to be the unwillingness of the woman to understand and acknowledge that her feelings for the man run deeper than friendship. Anne, Emily, and Pat all suffer from this. All three heroines share an almost-painful awareness of beauty and love of poetry. Pat is probably the least likeable of the three; she has few ambitions save her plans of living always at Silver Bush, and though she loves beauty she does not have any artistic pursuits such as writing. She is intelligent but does not care for school. In some ways her love for Silver Bush is like an obsession. One thing I did enjoy about Pat was her sharp wit with her suitors. I don't remember Anne or Emily being quite so acerbic, and it was rather funny in places. Though this paragraph hasn't been overly complimentary to Pat as a character, I do like her. But I understand why these books are much less known than the Anne and Emily stories.

Montgomery did pull one or two surprises in this story. I couldn't believe who Sid brought home as his wife, or the fate of Silver Bush at the end. But for the most part the story rolls on slowly over the eleven years, like it would have for quiet country people. I enjoyed my foray into that world and I recommend the Pat books to those looking for more of Montgomery's magic. ( )

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. ( )