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Original poster

to think that Amy March is one of the most irritating literary characters ever.

344 replies

squoosh · 21/04/2013 17:22

God she annoys me, throwing Jo's book in the fire, being a general brat and then sin of sins marrying Laurie when she had no business do any such thing.

I don't care what the subsequent books may say the Amy/Laurie union was a stupid idea.

They should have left her to drown in the icy river.

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MrsFrederickWentworth · 24/04/2013 20:47

I wanted mostly to be Posy.

I love the way her siblings squabble in all the books.

And I love The Dark is Rising series. I wanted to be Will.

Preferred Kingscote to the Chalet School. And also to the Abbey girls series. All those twins.

I read the little house series to Ds who enjoyed them, tho he enjoyed the one about Almanzo less, funnily enough.

MyNameIsAnAnagram · 24/04/2013 18:51

Oh I loved the Romney marsh books Grin

Original poster
squoosh · 24/04/2013 17:45

Has anyone read this? The fans are not pleased. Does sound a bit grim.

www.amazon.co.uk/Chalet-Girls-Grow-Up-Sequel/dp/0953395200

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seeker · 24/04/2013 17:31

"Seeker, yes, the Romney Marsh books with Tamsin, Rissa, Meryon and Roger!"

Yay! The white pony on my profile as so nearly Cascade-but we decided she was too old to change her name. The girl could well have been Tamsin too, but my dp put his foot down!

seeker · 24/04/2013 17:28

No- sorry, I got it wrong. Mary Lou was the token blue stocking!

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 24/04/2013 17:23

I didn't think Mary Lou fell in love either - I thought she gave up archaeology nobly to look after Verity Carey when her mother died. Maybe she did fall in love in a later book, though.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 24/04/2013 17:20

I was never sure if I wanted to be Pauline or Posy. Petrova didn't appeal at all.

Teaching historical movements across Europe rather than following the kings of England are also mentioned a lot in the CS. And learning languages by the direct method of having to speak them all day long. And um, using 'modern methods' of mathematics as opposed to the type favoured by the likes of Polly Heriot. She's another one who started life as Hildegard Mariana Sophonisba and wound up as Polly, by the way.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 24/04/2013 17:14

Seeker, yes, the Romney Marsh books with Tamsin, Rissa, Meryon and Roger!

HumphreyCobbler · 24/04/2013 15:56

yes, cause and effect is a recurring theme. As well as strictly rockerless cradles.

Cooroo · 24/04/2013 14:54

Lovely nostalgic thread. My childhood was steeped in Narnia, Ballet Shoes, Chalet School - and Willard Price's 'Adventure' stories. Oh, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Managed to read all of Narnia books to DD when she was small, also couple of the 'Adventure' stories. Little House and Little Women didn't go down so well. Harry Potter, Northern Lights and Eragon (1st 3) all followed. And then she was 14 and rebelled!

MooncupGoddess · 24/04/2013 13:41

There is some actual teaching in The New Mistress at the Chalet School, as I recall. And there is a bit on teaching methods - EBD (a teacher herself, of course) was v keen on arguing from cause to effect rather than rote learning.

Most of their energies however go in escaping the countless threats that encompass the school on every side.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/04/2013 13:32

Isn't that what all teaching is like?? >

HorryIsUpduffed · 24/04/2013 13:29

The Chalet staff seem to do fuck all teaching. Mostly skiing and going on long walks.

MooncupGoddess · 24/04/2013 13:22

Ah squoosh, you share my feelings on this one Grin

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/04/2013 13:18

On reflection, I think I'd rather be a member of staff at the Chalet school - they do seem to have quite a lot of fun, and mostly end up marrying handsome doctors from the San.

Original poster
squoosh · 24/04/2013 13:13

Not even Thea which would have been lovely.

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Original poster
squoosh · 24/04/2013 13:13

Poor old Theodora ends up as TED!!!!

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Original poster
squoosh · 24/04/2013 13:13

Yeah but Kaffee und Kuchen would swing it for me.

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MooncupGoddess · 24/04/2013 13:12

Also Joey as an adult is v. controlling, I cringe at the bit where she unilaterally tells Theodora she needs a new name. Her sons' wives would totally have been on MN whinging about their infuriating MIL.

MooncupGoddess · 24/04/2013 13:10

I don't remember Mary-Lou falling in love, but going back to the thread title she is definitely one of the most annoying characters in children's fiction.

I always fantasised about going to the Chalet School too but in practice I would have hated it, so bloody wholesome and all that sport.

HorryIsUpduffed · 24/04/2013 13:03

Shortenings are ok but not nicknames. Hence deliberations between the triplets about whether Richenda could be Ricky or Shendy...

HintofBream · 24/04/2013 13:02

Mooncup a goddess indeed. Flowers. Yes, I know what you mean about the the slightly magical ones but the minute I pick one up and start reading I am totaly sucked in, magic or not. The later ones have very flimsy plots too. The earlier ones with Jasper and Dick are the best. I've got 11 of them, and very expensive they are these days though Girls Gone by have done some. I am always hoping to spot one I havn't got in a second handbookshop. Can't understand why so few people are familiar with them.

Original poster
squoosh · 24/04/2013 12:34

And no one is ever allowed to keep their full name. You enter the Chalet School as Annabel and within 5 minutes Joey will have you rechristened as Bill.

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HumphreyCobbler · 24/04/2013 12:28

Does Mary Lou fall in love? I haven't read that one!

MooncupGoddess · 24/04/2013 12:16

Yes, I am a fan of Violet Needham! I was quite obsessed with The Black Riders as a child and think her best novels are really excellent, though I find some of them rather weak/mannered these days and can't be bothered with the magical objects. But the ones where she looks at statecraft, and the character of Count Jasper, who starts off seeming like an evil tyrant but one then realises is rather a principled and effective regent, are v impressive.