A Tangled Web, by L. M. Montgomery

Rating: 9/10


It is time for Aunt Becky, on the point of death, to bestow her legendary, heirloom Dark jug on a lucky member of the Penhallow-Dark clan. The whole clan gathers in the hope of getting the jug, but once there, Aunt Becky tells them that the new owner will not be revealed until a year after her death. In that time, the Penhallows and Darks are ready to tear each other apart for the jug. Feuds are started and ended, new and old loves surface, and every family is affected by that memorable gathering at Aunt Becky's.

I'm surprised at how much I loved this! It was really cleverly written, with several different stories going on and intertwining. Sometimes all the characters were hard to keep straight, but I loved their stories, which overlap.

Montomery was clearly strongly influenced by clan/family (especially of the overbearing sort) relationships, traditions, and histories. In all of her work the reader is introduced to members of her main characters' families, and she was an expert at conveying their personalities, faults, and humorous characteristics.

The first section is really well done. Aunt Becky is very entertaining, although I sure as heck wouldn't want to meet her! She has a very sharp tongue. It's interesting how she casts clan members' mistakes and humiliations up to them, and does it because they are so reactive to her biting remarks. Many characters like her-sharp-tongued and harsh-have the softest hearts of all.

I enjoyed meeting the various members of the Dark-Penhallow clan. All the falling in love was both amusing and absorbing. For example, Peter Penhallow wonders why every man isn't in love with the woman he loves, and that he is the only man to ever be in love. Isn't that how everyone in love feels? I can't give any input on that myself, of course :). And dear Roger Penhallow! What is Gay thinking? Mooning after that insipid Noel.

There are several storylines, and some that aren't about romance, which is nice. Gay Penhallow's conceited, self-absorbed fiancee leaves her for seductive, sly Nan Penhallow; Peter Penhallow and Donna Dark are united after a lifetime of enmity; Joscelyn Dark questions the wisdom of separating with Hugh on their wedding night for reasons unknown to anyone else; Little Sam and Big Sam, after years of living together contentedly in mutual bachelorhood, separate over a matter of principle; lonely little Brian Dark longs for love and warmth in his hitherto cold, empty life; the mysterious Moon Man, who has second sight and fixes his affection on nothing but the moon, 'Lady Moon'.

And then there's the matter of the jug, of course. Montgomery doesn't reveal who is to get it until the very end, so the tension is built up nicely. My heart was pounding and my eyes were fixed on the words when that part came! It was a nervous moment. With a very unexpected resolution.

My reviews always end up too long...
Yes, so I really loved this book. My only qualms were what is now a disgusting bit of racism in the last sentence, and of course, the over-emphasis on looks. But really, those are minor.
This book is infused with Montgomery's trademark humor, beauty, passion, wisdom, and a something that I can't quite put my finger on.
As to who the woman and man on the cover are intended to represent, I haven't the foggiest idea. Beautiful cover, though.

So, after reading all of L. M. Montgomery's novels, I have concluded that the Anne books are my favorites, there's just nothing like them; but her other books are pretty darn good! (to understate)

Mistress Pat, by L. M. Montgomery

Rating: 8/10

Pat, now twenty, loves Silver Bush more with every passing year, and feels that it is the only source of satisfaction and consistency in her life. She spurns beaus and marriage in order to stay at her home, much to the disapproval of those around her. No matter how hard Pat tries to keep change from Silver Bush, it comes, in the way of a new hired man, irksome in-laws, and much more she doesn't anticipate.

There were a lot of changes in this one! Even I, the reader, had misgivings about a new person (the hired man) at Silver Bush. But I ended up liking Tillytuck enormously, just like Pat and her family.

*Judy is as delightful as ever-so wise and cheery. I find myself thinking in her vernacular-and liking it! The opening scene in this book is great, when the women at Silver Bush gather in the 'silver bush' to do their work. Great dialogue and atmosphere.

*I liked Suzanne Kirk, Pat's new neighbor, and felt so sorry for her when Pat ignored her for 'laughing' at Silver Bush. Pat is more touchy and protective than ever of her home.

*I could've shaken Rae (Pat's younger sister) many times! But especially Mr. Wheeler, the flirty, nasty minister she falls in love with. At many points, though, Rae is very strong and practical. Sometimes it's as if she is the older sister. And I love her relationship with Pat.

* I agree with what Uncle Horace says about books: '"Real life! We get enough real life living. I like a nice snug tidy ending in a book with all the loose ends tucked in."'

* A thought of Pat's I like: 'Pat didn't like a cloudless sky...it always seemed to her to be hard and remote...a few clouds made it friendly...humanised it.' Yep!

Okay, some more general stuff here. Pat rises very well to the challenge of dealing with changes that come her way. It's amazing how Montgomery changes the tone of her books when the characters grow up. To be sure, her books aren't only for children. In fact, in many ways they might miss and loveliness and wisdom of her stories, although they enjoy them. Not to insult children, but I just don't like labels on books to be taken very seriously. Anyone of any age can enjoy and learn from any book.

Mistress Pat is reminiscent of Emily's Quest in some ways; hope that doesn't give anything away. Pat comes to wonder if she really can be happy only at Silver Bush, and as she struggles to keep things as they are, her life becomes rather lonely and empty, and she has doubts.

A few complaints: More of Hilary (Jingle)! And the ending was a bit too abrupt for me. I like big changes and realizations to have several pages to settle in before the story ends.
I can't help resenting Montgomery a little for two things that happen towards the end. But I suppose they were necessary and inevitable. And that just emphasizes that Montgomery is so good she makes me suffer or be joyful along with her characters.
Also, there was one end that was kind of left loose, but luckily it isn't too major.

These are some quotes of Judy's I find worthy of putting in here:

"There do be always new good coming up to take the place av the old that goes, Patsy." Wise Judy.

"God must be liking a bit av fun, too, Patsy, when he made us so fond av it."

"I've been having a long life, Patsy, and minny things to be thankful for but nothing more than me liddle gift av seeing something to laugh at in almost iverything."

"There'll be a way," said Judy gently. "There always do be a way."

"Love don't iver be dying, Patsy."

'As Judy would say, there was always something to take the edge off.'

So, that's that. I wish there were more books about Pat! If only Montgomery was living, she could write endless sequels to all her books. But I can always read them over and over again =).

I'm now on the last of Montgomery's novels I hadn't read-A Tangled Web. It's rather heart-breaking to be at the end of them, but I still have all her short-story collections left. Hee!

The Golden Road, by L. M. Montgomery

Rating: 7/10

The King children and their friends are back, getting into scrapes and adventures, and listening, enchanted, to the Story Girl's stories. These are their last years together on the 'golden road' of youth and its dreams. To liven up their time together, they start a newspaper of their own.

It's getting difficult to review Montgomery's books without repeating myself and sounding hackneyed, so I will talk about things unique to this book.

This one was better for me than its predecessor, The Story Girl-though I sometimes wonder how much the time and place we read books impact our liking of them.

I like Bev's narration, and the way he slips quotes into conversations in the beginning is very cute. Felicity is amusing with her prim-and-proper mannerism. I feel a bit sorry for Sara Ray, who's portrayed as so pathetic and insignificant! But I must admit that her incessant crying gets a little exasperating. It's nice when she 'shows a flash of spirit'. I like my spirited characters :). I really like Uncle Blair, the Story Girl's father.

It rather annoys me that most of the Story Girl's stories are about romance, but I cannot deny that they are exciting stories. I loved the story The Christmas Harp, and the one about Mr. and Mrs. Davidson (erm, can't remember what it was...lol).

The Awkward Man sounds exactly like me! I tend to avoid eye contact and blush when speaking with people, especially men. Like it says about the Awkward Man: 'he was in an agony of painful blushes.' I feel for you, Awkward Man! Too bad we can't have a talk...although, we might not get anywhere because we would likely both be blushing and staring fixedly at our feet.
His love story is really beautiful. I'm glad that the mystery of his locked room was cleared up from the prequel, The Story Girl. Montgomery seems to have a high esteem for marriage, which is interesting because her own marriage wasn't exactly happy. Well, I guess the fact that she didn't find the man exactly right for her doesn't stop her characters from it.

Sara Stanley (the Story Girl)'s idea that thoughts have colors is interesting. But when I try to imagine which thoughts are which colors, nothing comes to mind!

Montgomery contrives the most incredible scenarios! The newspaper was very funny, with the children's comments sprinkled throughout. All the misspelling and misconceptions-this book captures youth, the 'golden road'.
Poor Cecily, with her persistent guy-I know what that's like!

'Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.' How true. I've always believed that.

The Golden Road is sad, touching, hilarious, enchanted, beautiful...so many things, like all of her books. I would have liked some sort of epilogue though. It's clearly implied what will happen to some of the characters, but still.

The two 'Story Girl' books are a little forgettable for me, unlike Montgomery's other books (except Kilmeny of the Orchard), but I still like them a lot.