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Original poster

Anyone else love Thursday's Child by Noel Straetfield as a child?

38 replies

ridingsixwhitehorses · 31/08/2016 20:20

Was telling a friend abut how much I loved it. Wonder if it would bear up to reading as an adult.

OP posts:
Pamaga · 05/09/2016 16:57

She was my favourite author. I loved Ballet Shoes, Wintle's Wonders, the Painted Garden, Party Frock, the Circus is Coming. I strongly identified with some of her sheroes because they had thoughts and feelings similar to my own while growing up. I loved the showbiz, stage school settings of many. The Circus is Coming improved my geography because i used an atlas to trace the journey across country made by the circus.

SaltyGoodness · 05/09/2016 16:33

Oh my goodness loved them all! Am collecting them all for DD to hopefully read one day.

I re-read Ballet Shoes not long ago, and loved how the Fossil children have stuck with me over the years, the commonsense no-fussing parenting, the seriousness with which Streatfeild treats children's little concerns, the ability of the children to internalise very grown-up concerns about family finances etc...

morningtoncrescent62 · 04/09/2016 17:38

Yes, I loved it. There was also a children's TV dramatisation back in the 70s which I remember eagerly waiting for each week. I've re-read it as an adult, and yes, I do think it stands up to re-reading, like many of NS's books. There are some bits of silliness in the plot (too many co-incidences) which grate on an adult re-read, but lots of lovely period detail about life on the barges and in theatrical circles.

LaurieMarlow · 03/09/2016 15:07

I loved it. But my full name is Margaret and I was born on a Thursday, so it was like it was written for me.

I'm a total Noel streatfield junkie anyhow. But that one was special.

lalalonglegs · 02/09/2016 23:24

Oooh yes, I remember the walking the barges through and the big old horse that pulled the barge along the tow path. I thought Margaret was super, so feisty and determined so I found the other Noel Streatfeild books desperately disappointing after Thursday's Child and Far to Go, especially the ghastly Gemma books.

Original poster
ridingsixwhitehorses · 31/08/2016 23:45

Oh I did not know about Far to go. I am going to buy both now second hand on Amazon for dd for me even though we're a long way off chapter books.
Also lived ballet shoes and white boots.
And The Little Gymnast by Sheila Haigh

OP posts:
ShiroiKoibito · 31/08/2016 21:21

oh i loved it - (trawling my memory) they went under bridges with the barge, and 'walked it through' by lying down on the boat, pushing against the inside of the bridge with their feet

was it Maggie? the oldest girl, and i think she walked sometimes with her boots tied together over her neck, just hanging?

Witchend · 31/08/2016 21:16

I loved that and Far to Go.

In fact me and dsis wrote a play for it which we acted out with our dolls. Blush

It's one of those that you feel there were more stories to be got out of Margaret Thursday (although probably not with matron)

CMOTDibbler · 31/08/2016 20:45

Now I'll have to go and read it! I love Noel Streatfield

ComeLuckyApril · 31/08/2016 20:44

Yes, and I found as an adult that there is a sequel, Far To Go.

MrsJoeyMaynard · 31/08/2016 20:29

Was that the one where (3?) children run away from a horrible orphanage and end up travelling on a barge? I'm sure I read it but I can't remember it very well.

I think White Boots and The Circus is Coming were my favourite Noel Streatfield books.

AngelBlue12 · 31/08/2016 20:28

I adore Noel Streatfield

NannyR · 31/08/2016 20:26

I've not read Thursdays child but Ballet Shoes is my comfort read, the book I read when I just want to sink into something familiar that doesn't need much concentration. I've reread it dozens of times since I was a child and still enjoy it each time.