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

And finding love means you give up your ambition to be an archaeologist.

And head injuries make your hair curl.

Tennis Shoes is the tennis one, HintOfBream. I don't know how she came up with that title.

I really do enjoy re-reading childrens' books from my childhood - there are so many good ones. I've got most of the Malcolm Saville Lone Pine stories - when I was a child, I really wanted to be Peta, from the Lone Pine series, because she and the handsomest boy character (whose name I completely forget) ended up as a couple. I've added to my collection of Eva Ibbotson books too - I like her childrens books as much as her books for adults.

Fascinating how breathing cold air gives you bronchitis in the Chalet school too.

Mind you, I've had arguments on mumsnet about that!

The Swish of the Curtain had a profound effect on my teenage years too Seeker.

I hope my dd grows up like yours Poledra. I remember that feeling from a child, the desperate yearning to become the character I loved so much. The Dark is Rising series was one of my obsessions, I wanted to be Jane actually I still do

The Chalet school are most notable for the amount of children who fell down cliffs. And the fact that singing or speaking in a clear voice OFTEN brought people back from the dead. I remember one thread where we all speculated on the AIBU threads from Chalet School parents

Oh, and we have a little pony called Banner. Anyone get the reference?

Aw, I love Noel Streatfield. I think Thursday's Child/Far to Go are quite a bit more subtle than lots of ones she rather cranked out with the similar plots.

I love 'three of everything, all of the very best quality'.

"Does anyone remember the series - The Swish of the Curtain - where a group of children find a deserted hall with a stage, and decide to make it into a theatre and put on a play? "

Remember it? I read them to dd. Repeatedly. She is now 17, directing a play when she should probably be revising for her AS levels, and her ambition is to do a degree in theatre practice and set up her own touring company.

Be very careful. Some of these books are dangerous!

Yes, SDTG, Ballet Shoes and White Boots, and the tennis one, can't remember the name.
I always ask forlornly on these threads if anyone is a fan of Violet Needham: Black Riders, Stormy Petrel, Bell of the Four Evangalists etc. Occasionally someone has read one of them but there appears to be no bunch of devotees despite there being a flourishing Violet Needham Society.

SDTG I introduced 9-yo DD1 to Noel Streatfield at the end of last year and she loves them. And I get to reread them too . Mind you, DD1 prefers to live in alternate worlds - one night recently, as I was leaving her room after saying goodnight, a wistful little voice said 'Mummy, wouldn't it be great if you could go and live in a book just for a little while? I'd go to Hogwarts and Narnia and I'd be Pauline for a bit too.'

TooExtra - I love the chalet school books - Joey with her 11 children (and her threat to add quads, that is never fulfilled), and how every woman who gives birth has to spend 10 days in bed. And Matey inspecting the dormitories. And having to use French, English and Germans on alternating days. I would have loved to go to the Chalet School.

I have read a lot of the books mentioned on this thread - to my shame, though, none of the more erudite ones like Mill on the Floss and Wuthering Heights etc.

I do remember the Seven Little Australians series, and I thought it was very sad at the end - and then I read the book which is sadder!

Does anyone remember the series - The Swish of the Curtain - where a group of children find a deserted hall with a stage, and decide to make it into a theatre and put on a play?

Has anyone mentioned Noel Streatfield yet?

I disliked Maggie Tulliver. Finished reading and threw the book to the floor in disgust.

Also Cathy in Wuthering Heights. I just did not get that bloody book. Perhaps I should try again?

I always thought it was a bit of a moral judgement on poor ol' Ruby too, squoosh. Who knew - LM Montgomery had judgey pants!!

I haven't read Return of the Native so it can't be me.

Mill on the Floss was an A Level set text. The bastards.

The films are never true to the books!

Never really liked Hardy.

How about the Abbey Girls?

Horry, was it you who summarized the opening chapter of The Return of The Native as

A moor. It gets dark.

?

Brilliant, both summaries.

Actually I find Clem v irritating too. And Tess. And both of Sue and Jude.

MrsWentworth has it right: Maggie Tulliver.

I hate Mill on the Floss so so much.

Writing writing writing hmm it is getting a bit complicated oh well carry on writing writing writing ... shit what do I do now? all these loose ends ... um, FLOOD. They're all dead. The End. Phew.

Fuck. Off.

Little Dog Monday! I howl every time. And at Matthew saying Anne is 'my girl. My girl that I'm proud of.' Little Joyce, the 'wee white lady', yes. Oh, and I also always cry when Ruby Gillis dies, because she's so scared of death and she just wants to live, marry her beau and have lots of babies.

Elinor M Brent-Dyer, anyone? Joey and Madge and Robin? I do like how Madge makes all the decisions for her and Dick, and at the age of 24 goes off to the Tyrol with her 12 year old sister and starts a school. Sadly there is a lot in the books about needing a man's advice, but I love them anyway.

/But the film wasn't true to the book!

They are dated, Squoosh, and there's a lot of lip service to boys being best but underneath that, they're stories of career women & strong, independent girls who take matters into their own hands without waiting for a man to come along & save them.

I missed this thread yesterday ! Decided to watch the film again as had not watched it for years. Thought it was a bit creepy the way Jo looked so young compared to the prof in his 40's. Think I just viewed it a bit differently watching it now as a mature woman. He seemed a bit predatory.
I loved Little Women growing up and as an only child I would have loved to have been part of a March family. Jo was my favourite character I would love to have been as spirited as her but in reality I was probably more like Beth.I too felt Jo should have ended up with Laurie. I did not have much sympathy years ago for Amy but watching it yesterday I did as she grew up and was a good match for Laurie.
I did read the sequels years ago but have completely forgotten what happened in them (obviously that good!) I am going to dig them out and reread.