to prefer St Clare's to Malory Towers?

[Olivetti]

I love both of them,but for some reason St Clare's has always had the edge for me. So why does Malory Towers get all the fame and glory?

YANBU!

I read them all and preferred St Clare's to Malory Towers. Claudine at St Clare's was one of my favourites; and the final one when they're in sixth year.

Malory Towers seemed more remote and forbidding, less cosy somehow.

On a related but different note, recently I found 'The Twins at St Clare's' at my parents' house. Tried reading it. Couldn't finish the first chapter. How did I ever think these were masterpieces? The writing is terrible!

YABU! As others have said, more consistency and character development with the MT books. (I said that, but none of them are exactly Flaubert DId anyone read the Trebizon books? Similar to MT but with more of a modern edge, and perhaps more realism (only a bit though)

ah yes trebizon i read those as well i read many many school stories.

You must read the originals though. There is simply no charm in the modern updated versions: pound notes in pockets aren't half as evocative as ten-shilling notes tucked into knickers.

Gosh you all have good memories!

OP I'd say YABU not only because MT is better but because I'm now incredibly tempted to get into my Mum's attic and retrieve both sets of books to confirm why.

Regarding the sub-topic I always preferred secret 7, mainly because everyone else would go on about famous 5 being brilliant and I thought it made me a but different and original

Aw, have they changed the currency? What an own goal. Agree that there's something about a ten shilling note!

BitOfFun Sat 30-Jul-11 22:30:30
You must read the originals though. There is simply no charm in the modern updated versions: pound notes in pockets aren't half as evocative as ten-shilling notes tucked into knickers.

BitOfFun - I am devestated, how DARE they

Not just that- they have toned down the swimming pool incident where Darrell slapped Gwendoline six times and left fingermarks...to a mere shouting and a quick shake. There's no comparison.

Mallory Towers will always be more special to me I think, mainly because I read them first.

I always spell it wrong- Malory

No shillings AND no fingermarks? What next, celery sticks and edamame beans for the midnight feasts?

Gwendoline buffed her nails so it looked like she had tiny mirrors on each fingertip

wasn't there a couple of wishing chair books? about a rocking chair that could fly, I liked those.

BoF - I always thought the pool was based on the one at Dancing Ledge in Dorset since E.Blyton lived in the area here - it was originally cut into the rock fro use by a local prep school - it is a beautiful spot if anyone gets the chance to go there.

As for the books - Antonia Forest beats Enid hands down IMO. Most of the supposedly 'nice' girls at Malory Towers were mad bitches, and bullied anyone who wasn't a lacrosse freak.

What were the series of mystery books where one of the kids was prince? (and IIRC they had sensible names - not Fatty or Spotty or Thicky or Wheezy)

Ooh, where in Dorset is dancing ledge?

Malory towers was the best by far.

Its near Langton Matravers alow (i.e. you go to LM and then have to walk a way across the cliff top to get to the bay, Its a bit of a scramble down onto the beach (which is really just slabs of rock) - so little ones need a bit of help getting down. But the views are stunning and the sea very wild and beautiful, and it's fun swimming in the pool.

YANBU. St. Clare's definitely better, I used to love them.

Kurri - I think you're thinking of Jack, Mike, Peggy and Nora and Prince Paul... there were 4-5 books with them in, I think they're called the secret series.

And OP is BVU - MT much better than St C

That's interesting, Kurri- I'll check ot out.

Re the prince, was it perhaps the Island Of Adventure series?

I think Zombie has it,- the Secret Series - thank you,

yes Darrell definitely had anger management issues

And Bill - I quite liked her (was she MT or StC?) - she was another of the girls who wanted to be boys crowd (any girl who dared to wear trousers instead of a frock had to be called Frank or Mike or Philip)

I loved Mr Galliano's Circus! Do you remember them making little rubber socks for the dog to wear, so he could walk the tightrope?