When Patty Went to College

Patty #2

by Jean Webster

When Patty Went to College is Jean Webster's first novel, published in 1903. It is a humorous look at life in an all girls college at the turn of the 20th century. Patty Wyatt, the protagonist of this story is a bright, fun loving, imperturbable girl who does not like to conform. The book describes her many escapades on campus during her senior year at college. Patty enjoys life on campus and uses her energies in playing pranks and for the entertainment of herself and her friends. An intelligent girl, she uses creative methods to study only as much as she feels necessary. Patty is, however, a believer in causes and a champion of the weak. She goes out of her way to help a homesick freshman Olivia Copeland who believes she will be sent home when she fails four subjects in the examination.

The end of the book sees Patty reflecting on what her life after college might be like. She plays hooky from chapel and meets a bishop. In a chat with the bishop, Patty realizes that being irresponsible and evasive at a young age could adversely affect her character as an adult and decides to try to be a more responsible person.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Humor, Childrens, Audiobook

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Jean Webster (pseudonym for Alice Jane Chandler Webster) was an American writer and author of many books including Daddy-Long-Legs and Dear Enemy. Her most well-known books feature lively and likeable young female protagonists who come of age intellectually, morally, and socially, but with enough humor, snappy dialogue, and gently biting social commentary to make her books palatable and enjoyable to contemporary readers.

Reviews

[Raha · Rating 4 out of 5]

ماجراجویی های دختری شاد و سرزنده به نام "پتی" که سال آخر دانشگاه رو سپری می کنه

چقدر شخصیت سرزنده و جسور "پتی" رو با تموم اون شیطنت ها و حق به جانب بودن هاش، در عین حالی که خودش مقصرترین بود، دوست داشتم. "پتی" قطعا یکی از دوست داشتنی ترین شخصیت های داستانی بود که شناختم

داشتم فکر میکردم که شاید خاطرات دوران دانشجویی عزیزترین و ارزشمندترین خاطراتی باشن که هر کس می تونه داشته باشه. دورانی که بزرگترین دغدغه هات تو پاس کردن درسها و جیم شدن از کلاس ها و به موقع رسیدن برای غذای سلف دانشگاه خلاصه می شه. خلاصه اینکه خوندن این کتاب برام تجدید خاطره ی خوشایندی بود از دورانی که مثل برق و باد سپری شد و من قبل از اینکه فرصت داشته باشم با تمام وجود در آغوشش بکشم باید ازش خداحافظی می کردم

[Sara Kamjou · Rating 2 out of 5]

یک کتاب با شوخی های بامزه که البته از دید من بیشتر جنبه شیطنت‌های دوره دبیرستان رو داره تا کالج.
پتی با خودش، با آدم‌ها و با دنیا سر شوخی داره و اصولا شیطنت رو به عنوان وسیله‌ای برای روبرو شدن با دنیا به کار می‌بره.
شخصیت‌پردازی کارکترها چندان خوب نبود، و این برای منی که دوست دارم آدم‌های توی قصه رو بشناسم یه ضعف اساسی به شمار میاد.
جنبه طنز قلم جین وبستر این اثر رو مزین کرده.
در کل برای یک بار خوندن بد نبود.

[Sajede · Rating 3 out of 5]

چرا یهو باید شخصیت اصلی به خودش بیاد و بخواد تغییر کنه؟😒

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 4 out of 5]

والا لیاقتش پنج ستاره است با آن شخصیت‌پردازی فوق‌العاده و فضای خواستنی‌اش! لیکن برای آن که جای جودی و بابای لنگ درازش در صدر محفوظ بماند، یک ستاره را یواشکی می‌گذارم توی جیب خودم.
فصل «کیت فریس گریزپا» را برای بچه‌هام در زنگ تماشا خواندم و چقدر کیف کردیم!

[Ali Atefiniya · Rating 3 out of 5]

با این که به نظرم نسبت به دو کتاب دیگه ای که از جین وبستر خوندم(بابا لنگ دراز و دشمن عزیز)سیر داستانی ضعیف تری داشت ولی همچنان اون حس خوب و دلنشینی که در دو کتاب قبلی بود،در داستان نهفته است.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patty Wyatt is a college senior and the most popular girl in her dormitory. She handles everything with ease and what she doesn't know - she makes up, or avoids. She's fond of telling tall tales, which she calls, local color, which both terrify and excite the freshmen. She never does anything she doesn't want to do and she never acts unselfish or stupid as most girls in novels of this period are wont to do. I quite enjoyed her. She's outrageous, but I can see why everyone loves her. I think I would do. She would certainly make college life more entertaining. This novel was written in 1905 but the author was raised in a progressive household so the novel has an underlying feminist theme. It's a new century and new progressive ideas about helping the poor and women's suffrage were taking hold. A little bit of this shines through the book. It's subtle, but it's there. For all her fooling around, Patty is smart and the subjects she studies typically masculine and tough. This is real college, not a place to go to find a husband. (The school isn't co-ed and hardly any boys come to their dances anyway). There are frequent references to "manning up" and "being a man" about things. The characters are never allowed to become wilting flowers or silly simpering misses in any way. The very last chapter ruined the book for me. I would have liked to see Patty progress to growing up on her own throughout the course of the novel.

This story doesn't compare to the lovely Daddy Long Legs, but it's a quick, fun read by a wonderful author. Jean Webster wrote a prequel to this book called Just Patty. I wish that she hadn't died young so we could have had more Patty adventures.

[Zen Cho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patty is so much fun! She's like Psmith, but a girl. I thought the moralising at the end was kind of tacked on, but liked the rest of it. I wish there was a sequel where she falls in love, though -- then it really would be 100% the kind of thing I gobbled up as a kid. (Cf. Pollyanna, Anne of Green Gables, etc.)

Reread Nov 2020

[Labeba Salameh · Rating 4 out of 5]

لطيفة
ستتوه في بدايتها لانه جزء ثاني
لكن دار ابداع أخبروني ان الجزء الأول تم ترجمته ومتوفر للطلب تحت عنوان اسمها باتي
الأمر أشبه بتوم سوير على شكل طالبة جامعية تجيد كافة الحيل والمقالب لكن ضميرها يقظ دوما

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful read. I love lighthearted stories set in the early 1900's, in a idealistic setting where life is comprised of fudge parties, afternoon tea, and nothing more adventurous than harmless "scrapes" that the hilariously bold heroine gets herself into.

I wish "When Patty Went to College" was a little more of a cohesive "story" instead of "vignettes" of Patty's adventures, but I still enjoyed the book very much and would definitely recommend.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and fun but lacking the flicker of romance that makes Webster's other works that I've read so endearing. It lacked something. Still delightful and fun!

Thank you, Ginnie, for pointing out that these books were available for free on most reading devises!

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fun read.I read it in one sitting.It's been a long time since I've read a book non-stop.
Patty Wyatt, the protagonist of this story somehow reminds me of Judy Abbot,but not exactly like her.She is a funny character who makes me laugh out loud many times during the reading,she has the sense of humor.she doesn't like to obey rules and she breaks them whenever she likes.I love her method of studying for exams and her kindness toward others.
In my opinion,one of the reasons this book is not so popular as Daddy long legs is that there are no boys in it.
The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it's not a coherent book,I mean It consists of 15 short stories about Patty and her friends.As a result when I finish the book I wanted more and more.so I decided to read Just Patty which is about Patty's school days.

[Yasaman A · Rating 3 out of 5]

"وقتی پتی دانشجو بود" صرفا یه کتاب مفرح با داستانهای بی ربط به همدیگه س که به نظر می رسه فقط برای خندوندن شما طراحی شده. جین وبستر که یکی از نویسنده های موردعلاقه ی منه، شخصیت پتی رو مشابه "جودی آبوت" درآورده با این تفاوت که پتی بی خیال تر و آسوده تر از جودیه. پتی دختر جوونیه که قوانین دانشکده رو دور می زنه، مدام استادها رو سرکار می ذاره و عاشق شایعه پراکنیه اما چون ذات خوبی داره و خوش قلبه، معمولا بعد از پیاده کردن یه نقشه ی ماهرانه، قضیه رو لو می ده.
ترجمه ی سوسن اردکانی فوق العاده س! کلا این مترجم حرف نداره و اینجا مخصوصا لحن شوخ و شنگ کتابو به بهترین شکل منتقل کرده
وقتی که اعصاب ندارید و فقط دنبال حال خوب می گردید، یه نگاهی به کتاب بندازید

[Wardeia · Rating 2 out of 5]

بدون أي تفكير أخذتها بسبب كاتبة روايتي المحببة صاحب الظل الطويل ، ولكن اكتشفت انها هذي أول كتاب للكاتبة من 1903 وهالشي ماشيكته مو لسوء الرواية ولكن تظل انها بدايات + ماقريت خلفية عنها ولا كتبت تنبيه انها لليافعين جدًا وحسيتها صغيرة علي بزيادة بس قررت أكملها .. بس بالعموم لطيفة لعمر أصغر بخليها لأطفالي المستقبليين 😁❤

وللمعلومية : الرواية المترجمة عدد صفحاتها 135 فقط .. اتوقع المترجمين اختارو قصص من الرواية لأنها عبارة عن قصص حصلت لباتي في الكلية بعناوين مختلفة .

[mairiachi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was funny, and interesting, but there wasn't any plot - it was just a lot about college life way back when.

And the ending is kind of unsatisfying, because it just ends with Patty deciding she's going to be a better person from now on.

But I like funny books, and this was pretty interesting overall, so 2.5 to 3 stars.

[نرمين الشامي · Rating 3 out of 5]

يوميات طريفة بطلتها فتاة في كلية البنات. إنها (باتي) الظريفة المراوغة صاحبة الحيل ومحترفة الكذب التي دائمًا ما يستيقظ ضميرها في النهاية لتعترف بما فعلته، وتتحمل مسئوليته.
رواية لطيفة وخفيفة، وترجمة متوسطة لكن مفهومة في الغالب.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming selection of short stories about a girl of high spirits and rather engaging humor.

[Katherine 黄爱芬 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kali ini menceritakan ttg kehidupan Patty di asrama saat kuliah. Patty msh gadis remaja yg banyak akal (bulus) dan ikut campur disana dan disini. Teman² Patty makin beragam tapi karakter tokoh yg lainnya sdh tidak berkembang. Kita justru disuguhkan oleh perkembangan karakter Patty menjelang kedewasaannya. Walau terkadang msh konyol, Patty sdh berkurang banyak karakter childish-nya.

Tapi bagi saya, novel ini msh terlalu biasa saja dan sayangnya kurang relate utk zaman skrg. Krn anak² kuliah zaman skrg gak akan ada pengawasan spt zaman awal abad 20 ini. Mana penjaganya semuanya bertipe religious yg dgn mudahnya dikelabui oleh Patty yg nakal. Jadi saya cuma memberikan penilaian sedang² saja utk buku ini. Lumayan tapi bukan utk dikoleksi.

[Serene Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean , I read it and I'm still the same.

[moviebunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

from my blog: (\__/)nymfaux


When Patty Went to College was a fabulously fun read! The story revolves around Patty, finishing her final year of college, and her life full of playful shenanigans. Patty is one of those characters that has a way of wrapping her friends around her finger, and before they know it their up to their necks in another of Patty’s I-Love-Lucy-esque schemes. And it wasn’t long before I was just as enamored with her, myself! From the very first chapter, I was in love with her bold, confident attitude, and charming way of getting others to see things from her perspective. I’m pretty sure my jaw actually dropped a couple of times in amazement. And when I burst out laughing at one of Patty’s outrageous moves, I ended up having to read the whole scene out to my sister, wherein we both erupted into hysterics—Seriously, we were bordering on asthma attacks.

And after that scene, I had to start at the beginning, and whenever we ran errands I would read aloud. It was just such a fun read, (and because reading older books makes me use old-fashioned words), I have to say, it was a pure delight. :)

I think my only critique is that the book seemed to end a bit abruptly, and especially with an ebook, I didn’t see it coming—I know both my sister and I were sorry to see it come to an end. Thank goodness Ms. Webster left us a few others to share!!!!! :D

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had moments where it was hilarious, but the ending seemed somewhat abrupt and out of character. It seems like this is the first book by this author, so it makes sense it wasn't as good as Daddy Long Legs which is the other book of hers I've read. Still had some of the great humor, but wasn't my favorite.

[Dianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the most frivolous books I've ever read—which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I just didn't find Patty's escapades all that amusing. Also, there was no plot to connect the incidents, so I didn't really feel interested in the story and had a hard time getting through it.

[giso0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

دفعه قبل وقتی خوندمش که داشتم دوباره نویسنده ها رو از اول کشف می کردم و احتمالا به خاطر همین لذت بیشتری بردم.

[Elahe · Rating 3 out of 5]

- وقتی مجبوری موضوعی را برای یک زن توضیح بدهی، بهتر است برایش نامه بنویسی. اما وقتی طرف یک مرد است، همیشه شخصا توضیح بده.

[zahra · Rating 2 out of 5]

it’s the kind of book you close and immediately forget the texture of. soft, safe, a little too perfect. if you like lightness with no aftertaste, it’s for you. me? i wanted a bruise

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patty sighed. "I see a whole series of sequels stretching away into the future. It's worse than the Elsie Books!" (36)

Another college book from long long ago. Like Betty Wales, Freshman, When Patty Went to College dates itself, mostly charmingly (better, Patty manages to avoid the blatant racism of Betty).

Patty is quite a bit wittier—and less moralising—than Betty, though it is also very episodic, leading me to wonder whether this was originally published as a serial. I don't see a reason to read the other Patty book, but this is definitely a far more engaging read than Betty.

A few things from the past leave me puzzled (how can a student flunk just one hour of her Latin course? What does that even mean?), but others delighted me in their, well, datedness: the use of the umlaut for sound changes with two vowels, for example, or this:

The College Settlement Association...was in the habit of distributing three hundred dolls among the students every year before Christmas, to be dressed and sent to the settlement in New York. The dolls were supposed to be so well dressed that the East Side mothers could use them as models for the clothing of their own children, though it must be confessed that the tendency among the girls was to strive for effect and not for detail. On the evening before the dolls were to be shipped a doll show was regularly held, at which two cents admittance was charged (stamps accepted) to pay the expressage. (23)

Again: the datedness! It's this sort of...benevolent classism, if that's even a thing? I think the implication is that the thing keeping poor? immigrant? (those are treated as one and the same here) children down was that their mothers don't know what was the height of American fashion. I'd love to know if this was actually a thing in the early 1900s.

[Anna Butler-Whittaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting, having just rediscovered ’Daddy Long Legs’ I thought I would try this. Honestly I found it fairly well written (and I found it fascinating to see how much life as a young adult has changed/not changed since 1903!!!), but it is obvious that it was written earlier in the author’s career. The style definitely evolved. I’m always pleased to explore older writing. In my opinion not bad but not inspiring either.

[pearl]

I was trying for days to track down the title of this book and the name of its author. I knew that at some point during grad school I had done an assignment to write a fictitious grant request about an archive, which held the personal papers belonging to this author. As I recalled this fact, the most specific thing I could hang onto was that the university in charge of said papers was likely Vanderbilt or some such. But! But! Actually it was Vassar College!

And here we are, the book has been tracked down. I can finally re-read this book about the hijinks of a Very Spontaneous girl in college at the turn of the 20th century. Phew!

[Abeer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

[Psychogroupie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Patty Went to College is a continuation of Jean Webster's Just Patty which chronicles the life of the main protagonist Patty Wyatt and her friends in college and high school - respecively. It is a collection of short stories said to be loosely based on the author's experiences. Unlike Just Patty, we see Patty's mischief toned down a little but her spunk, attitude, charm, and character still stands out. I particularly liked the last story in the book where Patty decided to cut obligatory church and eventually happened to encounter the bishop who sermoned that morning.

SPOILER HERE

Finding out that Patty will lie in order to get out of being punished for her church cutting, the bishop told Patty that a woman who deals in subterfuge and falsehood and evasions is not attractive and that she has to sow the seeds of character early. But clearly, as the story progresses in the end, one need not worry of Patty's character because throughout the book we saw it shine here and there and everyone knows that Patty will be alright.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was rereading a couple of favorite chapters from this book last night, and wondered how much it influenced Carney's House Party--it seems fairly likely that MHL read it, since she read and referenced Daddy-Long-Legs. I know this didn't have the popular following DLL did, but I bet she read it, either around when it was written or when she was doing research for CHP.

If Carney's parents had read it, would they have been so keen to send her to Vassar?

I love that Patty's techniques for seeming brilliant at college (while doing the smallest possible amount of work) were so similar to mine, almost a hundred years later.

Have you read this, Sue? It's priceless.