Pat of Silver Bush

Although by the end of Pat of Silver Bush, I was as impressed in many ways as I have been by all of Lucy Maud Montgomery's work that I have read so far, I have to also say that some aspects of the experience were not as engaging to this reader as I would have liked.As with her other creations, Anne `of Green Gables', Emily `of New Moon' and Jane `of Lantern Hill', Pat `of Silver Bush' is a loving, engaging and interesting child who goes through her early life - slowly at first but then suddenly much more quickly - from the age of 7 through 18 or 19. Her life can best be seen through her relationship with where she lives - in this case, Silver Bush - a typical strength of LM Montgomery's work. As a writer, Miss Montgomery frequently shows us the physical and emotional importance of 'place' as an anchor for her characters. Silver Bush is no less strong for Pat than New Moon was for Emily Starr and Green Gables was for Anne Shirley's early childhood. Place validates and confirms existence, providing stability and support for the heroine as she engages with other elements in her life most notably physical and emotional change.So this relationship between Pat and Silver Bush was a reliably great and positive element about this book, but other relationships were not so good and ill-defined. As I read more, it became apparent that Ms Montgomery was clearly struggling greatly to define Pat's other relationships with the chief members of her family - most notably with her older brother, Joe, her older sister, Winnie, and even more spectacularly with her parents who seem like dim and ghost-like figures on the fringes of Pat's existence. She is closest to Judy, the home servant, but who functions more like Pat's day-to-day mother. Judy is interesting and annoying by turns and I got fed up with every speech prefaced and then littered throughout by 'Oh Oh' and other supposed Irish dialect.Yet, it is Pat's parents who troubled me most about this book because as those of us who have read Montgomery's other works can testify to, her heroines for the most part are orphans who are in need of a home and empathetic parental guidance. In the Anne and Emily series, home takes the place of physical and emotional support but over time, care is additionally provided by Marilla to Anne and by an assortment of dysfunctional aunts to Emily. Yet for Pat, who by contrast, has a loving family and a permanent home, the relationship with her parents doesn't work which is odd. Just like Jane Austen's seeming failure to convincingly define life outside of small communities and lavish homes, and Charlotte Bronte's equal inability to convincingly describe industrial unrest throughout her novel Shirley, Lucy Maud Montgomery is seemingly out of her element with defining a convincing and meaningful relationship between her heroine, Pat, and her parents. They seem to be there, but not there, and yet all of her other heroines have longed for parents so the failure to engage Pat with her mother and father on something other than them just being there, and with little dialog between them, is so much the more striking given the longing that Anne, Emily and Jane have for parental stability.Indeed, I would go further and say that Pat's parents only really cross the book when something indifferent or hostile to Pat's needs and emotions needs to be expressed. I am thinking of her Dad's trip 'out west' to explore a farm possibility and the indifference to Winnie's supposed 'adoption' by relatives which fortunately for Pat fails to work out. They are part of the big picture of Pat's life at Silver Bush but not part of the day-to-day minutiae of existence - all of which is shared with Judy or with her friends Jingle and Bets. Her brother Sid, is better defined, but only in one of the final scenes with Winnie, is Pat's life really expressed in its intersection with her older sister. At least, it is the only time we really get to hear Winnie speak in the book.Pat of Silver Bush is unique in the oeuvre for Ms Montgomery because Pat has siblings and parents but for all of its descriptive and other strengths - we care a lot about what happens to Pat and her friends being amongst those - the way the writer connects or does not connect Pat to the rest of her family but leaves her predominantly in the care of Judy, is indeed a failure. Just telling us how important her parents and siblings are does not convey to this reader at least how important they are. Grieving over Joe leaving for shores unknown, her sister's wedding, her father's trip and her mother's illness does not convey the importance that they all have for Pat because we hardly ever hear her and them in conversation together. The only touching connection delineated with her father comes across with the story of who gets to name the new baby. Yet, 'Cuddles' remains 'Cuddles' throughout the rest of the book so the importance of how Pat manipulates events to allow her father to get to choose the name of the baby is diluted.

Good book for kids

I loved Anne and adored Emily, but Patricia Gardiner is my new favorite LMM heroine. This is the story of her devotion to her home, Silver Bush, and her family, including the inimitable Judy Plum, who cares for the Gardiner family. In this book, set on Prince Edward Island, Pat grows up and learns to love others in addition to her family and home. She finds a friend in Hilary "Jingle" Gordon and a kindred spirit in sweet Bets, who comes to live at the Long Lonely House next to Silver Bush. the book moves from Pat's childhood just after the end of the First World War to her young adulthood at age 18. It is truly a wonderful story about growing up, love and loss. Pat stands on her own as another lovely and memorable heroine of Prince Edward Island.

The book was in good condition, exactly as described and was shipped quickly

While not my favorite book of Montgomery’s, this story is a reread for me and one that I was really excited to experience again!Pat is an entirely different creature, in that she is wholly and completely devoted to not a person, but a place. And that place is Silver Bush.Silver Bush has been in Pat’s family for many generations. And while not as old as Silver Bush, Judy Plum–the Gardiner family help–has been at Silver Bush for generations, all on her own.My most favorite aspect of this story are the characters. Between Judy’s many wonderful tales, Pat’s vivid imagination and devotion to home, and the myriad of cats all residing at Silver Bush–I was enthralled with this story on my second reading.My only “bone” with it is that because I loved Jingle so much, I felt like he needed to be a part of the story more.I’ve already started Mistress Pat and am excited to read all over again how this story ends!

This was true LM Montgomery. The story was, I think, one of her better ones.

Another classic

Great Book

This is the prequel to the story "Mistress Pat" which a friend lent to me. I was happy to find this first story here. Reading them out of order doesn't diminish the charm of any of LM Montgomery books but it helps to have the background to fully enter in to this second book. It is a very sweet, probably the most similar to "Anne of Green Gables", yet it has its own flavour, with engaging characters and storyline. Judy Plum is my favourite! Perfect reading for a cool afternoon or evening with a cup of tea.

This is another excellent book about another real character of a girl, by L. M. Montgomery. Pat loves her home, "Silver Bush", a farm on Prince Edward Island. She is almost seven years old when we first meet Pat and the rest of her family - and the never to be forgotten Judy Plum, Judy is the housekeeper and another real character! She keeps Pat enthralled by her stories of fairies and witches - and the past, for Silver Bush has a history with some remarkable individuals in its past! Judy's stories are often very funny! Later on, Pat meets "Jingle", a farm boy who comes to her rescue when she gets lost. One day Jingle's beloved dog disappears, and, following Judy's advice, Pat and Jingle meet a witch - or is she? And Pat makes friends with Beth, who becomes her best friend.We see Pat growing up. She hates change, but change has to come - the new baby when Pat was almost seven - who she comes to love as another important part of Silver Bush - starting school - later on, going to "Queens" - meeting more boys. Changes come - some happy, some sad, for there is some sadness in the book. Overall, however, this is a happy, humorous book that is a delight.

I like the book and love to read based on many years ago in the country...........

This and Mistress Pat are lovely books, set on Prince Edward Island and written with lyrical prose. They are full of good, old-fashioned wisdom and humour, mainly presented by the wonderful character of Judy. There are also moments of great poignancy.

If you like Montgomery's work, you will enjoy Pat of Silver Bush