to think that the Malory Towers gels where a bunch of bitches?!

[Bogeyface]

Just re-read the last two as they were my favourite and Oh Em Gee, what a bunch of fecking cows they were!

I have a HUGE EB collection starting with Five run away together, that mum bought me for my first Brownie camp. DD got into them (she is 8) so I thought I would buy her the MT box set. She was over the moon, and last night and today I read 5 and 6 as they had been my favourites although I hadnt read them in years.

These naice gels are bullying, bitching snotty nosed princesses! They were vile to newcomers, vile to younger ones, unspeakable to any girl who was a little bit different, encouraged one twin to dump her other twin in the name of "independence", looked down on parents who werent the right sort, self satisfied, self obsessed and utter snobs! And of course every book ended with the "not our kind" becoming a decent MT girl!

I have always, as an adult, read EB and particularly Famous Five with an air of amused irony ("Anne, you really are a proper little housewife!" "I know, but I do love looking after you all!"). But, and I realise that I am probably over thinking this, MT is awful and I am slightly regretting buying them for DD :(

So were they bitches or was I just the girl that would have left after 2 terms because I wasnt the right sort?!

I've been reading the set of St Clare's books to my 7 year old since the summer. One chapter a night. I loved them as a child but as an adult the books are so bloody samey.

The recent reprints have all been rewritten. Darrell no longer gives Gwendoline any slaps at the pool! Instead she just gives her a jolly good shake.

I loved the Secret collection - The Secret Island.. Er, the other ones I can't remember the names of.

Are my ears burning?

I recently read DD 'the naughtiest girl in the school'.

There is a really dark / weird story line about a girl who's mother 'doesn't love her' and who doesn't send her any birthday cards or visit her. Then in the ultra weird denouement to this the mother explains it by saying 'I did so want a boy you see' like it's just one of those understandable things. I felt really odd reading it to DD. The tone of it was so bloody peculiar - like 'yes, face facts, sometimes parents just can't help being entirely indifferent to a child IF IT'S NOT THE SEX THEY WANTED, that's life'.

I read somewhere that EB had a terrible relationship with her own mother - her books certainly shout ' ISHOOS!!!' at the reader. Judy Blume though -what a wonderful writer. She's the antidote to EB I reckon.

Yes, I remember Blubber, and Forever. I think most of Judy Blume's stuff was passed around the class as if it was hardcore porn, because it said things like "bra."

Who remembers Tammylan the tramp who lived in a cave? Was it about some children who lived on a farm? Who on earth would let their kids hang out with him these days?

And also, the girls in MT never, ever talked about Boys, or giggle about them in the dorms.
Were there ever any boys in them?

I remember one of the MT/SC gels had a brother who she adored and illicitly snuck out to visit once. I want to say her name was Eileen and her mother was the matron? In any case he's one of the few boys I remember making an appearance.

Actually to be fair to EB, I remember a couple of 'outsider' girls who were bullied by the others who she did treat quite sympathetically. Like the plain, moody scolarship girl (Ellen?) caught cheating on a test and comprehensively shunned by Darrel and co. afterwards. But then it turned out she had been in a state of mad migrainey-ness with the stress of trying to be top of the class and keep her scholarship place. I think the gels did feel suitably regretful afterwards, no? Or maybe my memory is playing tricks on me...

Oh and I loved Judy Blame too. Except for the penis named Ralph.

I think you're right riverboat, I seem to recall it was Eileen's brother, Edgar (they called him Eddie). I don't know why I recall that particular detail when so many others escape me. I think he was the only boy ever mentioned though!

I loved both sets when I was a child, but was ridiculed at my inner city junior school when I started saying things like "you're a real brick!"

Thankfully one of the dinner ladies kindly explained that people in our neighbourhood didn't speak like that.... then I found Judy and starting saying "that's so neat!"

What was the JB book about the girl who so desperately wanted to start her periods? Her best friend claimed to have done and then fell apart in a restaurant loo when it really came.

I love that as it was about the only book I read at the time that I could relate to. I loved EB for fantasy but that book helped me feel normal, although to this day I dont know what penny loafers are!

they were horrible. but girls are. people are.

I seem to remember Eddie was a bit shifty and poor Eileen and her mother left as a result. They weren't the right class,you know....

Was the periods book 'Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret'?

I remember Ellen! I loved Ellen. Didn't she have a crinkly grumpy forehead that magically went away when she learnt not to work so hard.

Ooh! Didn't Darrell catch her trying to cheat? Yes! And she was much better for a rest in the San.

I really want to read them all again now.

I was thinking that pELF but I am not sure. Its the only one that has been jumping out at me though! I was thinking of getting it for DD, as although she loved Jaq Wilson, I would like to see what she thinks of JB.

I'm with Bogey, was horrified when re-reading Malory Towers as an adult to discover what a bunch of horrible, snobbish bullies the girls are. I adored them when I was 10!

Trivia factoid - Enid Blyton's home was overlooked by Bekonskot model village (the original model village) in Beaconsfield. Given Green Hedges has been demolished, if you are a Blyton enthusiast, standing in Bekonskot is probably the closest you can get to visiting her house. IIRC there's a Blyton reference in one of the model buildings, possibly a bookshop run by a Mrs Blyton or some such.

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this and can't remember how to do links, but Google a blog called Blytonly Obvious (other search engines are available).

She takes the books to task for how bitchy all the girls are, has me laughing out loud instead of working at lunchtimes.

Now, Anne of Green Gables, there's a book that has stood the test of time IMO. And the Railway Children, read that to ds not long ago and I got quite tearful.

Clawdy - I think it was the mother/Matron who was the shifty one, and had driven the children to desperate measures of some kind. But they went off to live a happier life without her IIRC.

Pretty sure periods book was Are You There God, its me Margaret

Clawdy - I think it was the mother/Matron who was the shifty one, and had driven the children to desperate measures of some kind. But they went off to live a happier life without her IIRC.

Pretty sure periods book was Are You There God, its me Margaret

It was the Mother of Eileen and Eddie who was horrid (we've just read that one). She was the nasty stand in Matron. She learned her lesson after a good talking to by Miss Theobald though (of course!!!!)