Antonia Forest fans - have you seen this?

Spoiler Thread - sorry for the delay in putting it up!

Yes, do - I'll join!

I think you should start a spoiler thread too.....I have finished my copy (now on third reading.....)

Am part way through :) I think you should start a spoiler thread and then I will join in with it when I finish :)

Ah, I've not read the Thuggery Affair for some reason.

Shall I start a spoiler thread? I am itching to discuss the book in more detail :)

Yes, I agree. I think (sorry for the mini-spoiler) that the author was harder on Ginty than AF would be because she's the Amy March (out of Little Women) of the story, i.e. nabs off with the bloke everyone knows should really be destined for Our Heroine (Jo March/Nick). I think AF would have relished annoying her readers with another story in which the Patrick-Ginty-Nick triangle was not really resolved but, whilst it wasn't all hearts and flowers, it was decidedly Ginty 0 Nick 1 by the end, with a lack of subtlety I don't think she would quite have appreciated.

Also - utterly trivial continuity question but it saves further spoilers - doesn't Patrick talk about taking Regina with him to school? I thought Regina had escaped some books before?

I have just read it and loved it. The writer captures AF's style very well - there were only a couple of times when I thought ' that doesnt sound like her'. Everything I wanted to happen, did. But can't help thinking that AF wouldnt have given me everything I wanted - she had a habit of NOT doing so, and I think this unpredictability was what made her stand out as a children's writer.

It just arrived :)

However need to tidy house and get ready to go to a Brownie sleepover tonight (ie me being a Guider). Will take it with me on the train down south tomorrow :)

Well despite Amazon saying it would be beginning of December before it was sent out, I got a dispatch email either yesterday or the day before. Means it will arrive here when I'm away but at least it will be here when I get back again :)

Spring Term is available again through Badger Books. We sold out of our first tranche very quickly, but have replenished stocks from the publishers.

Got mine today, read it cover to cover. I will also wait to do feedback until there is no chance of spoiling it for others.

For me it was trying just a little bit too hard and I feel the author maybe felt obliged to be a bit constrained to tried-and-tested plot ideas / dialogue - I think if she could spread her wings a bit more if there is another one - without going mental and making Nick a contestant on X-Factor or similar - she could end up with a more authentic 'voice' in the story.

It could never have the authenticity of a true Antonia Forest but it was a hugely compelling and enjoyable read - and such a joy to have a glimpse back into that world.

They do send very quickly (have been satisfied customer before :))

Try GGBP, They usually say on their site if things are out of print and they have not said this is. They usually send very quickly too.......

GGBP may have some left themselves. Think I may go down that route as concerned my amazon order may never actually come.

Is this the one based on the fanfic 'Esther's Term' that disappeared a while back?

Ok actually have got the following message:
Error...
There is only 0 of Pre-order: Antonia Forest's Kingscote Spring Term by Sally Hayward in stock

I guess I deserved that! Sold out!

I feel the sameish, Mooncup. I was browsing the Chalet School bulletin board the other day, after seeing the Val McDermid thing (can't get it on iPlayer where I am, irritating), and was reminded just how flawed a writer EBD was - which is not to say I didn't gobble up every Chalet School book I could get my hands on.

But Antonia Forest is a completely different proposition, her character were so strong, so real, her books so consistently good. It must have taken a brave or confident fan to undertake this. I've read Jane Austen follow-ons, written by excellent writers, and they just don't approach the authority of the original.

OK have feeling have stated the bleeding obvious, but am going to post anyway. Am also going to ORDER anyway!

LOL at Violent Needham (sorry Badger).

I feel a bit weird about this - it's all very well doing follow-on Chalet School books, as frankly EBD was a pretty generic writer, but Antonia Forest is just so amazing and individual. It's like doing a knock-off Charlotte Bronte novel.

But - will keep a look out for more reactions and if they're all very favourable will consider biting the bullet...

Hi RustyBear,

Yes, at Badger Books we do sometimes tune into Mumsnet - I set up the book business when I was a full time SAHP, and it fits in with looking after the children now they are both at school.

Our stock of Spring Term came in late on Friday, and we were away over the weekend (we had a significant birthday in the family!) so we weren't able to catch up on posting out the pre-ordered copies. All pre-ordered copies are going out by first class post today (and by airmail to overseas customers - there are Antonia Forest fans all around the world), so hopefully will be with you tomorrow. Let me know what you think about it.

If anyone else is interested in a copy you can order them at www.badgerbooks.co.uk, along with many other reprinted collectable titles by authors such as Elinor Brent-Dyer, Elsie Oxenham and Violent Needham. The Spring Term page will probably be classed as a "pre-order" for a day or two, but only as we are catching up on processing orders before updating the website, so if you do order one it will go out straight away.

Best wishes,

Badger Books.

I was taken in by amazon reducing the price and claiming it would be sent on 1st November....and then sending an email saying it won't be dispatched until beginning of December :(

Maybe I should cancel the order and get it elsewhere - should probably have gone through GGBP in the first place.

comixminx: Yes, the Captain Marlow scene was very funny.

I hope everybody's books turn up soon so that we can have a discussion without having to worry about spoilers.

Mine arrived yesterday and I've read it.

I enjoyed it but it made me realise how beautiful Antonia Forest's writing is - bits of it felt clunky compared to her prose.

There were also some bits where I didn't think characters were acting true to character (don't want to post details and spoil it for those who haven't read it)

I did realise that I am a true AF geek because there were so many instances in the book where the author had lifted dialogue/phrases from other AF books and they leapt out at me