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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

116 replies

Bogeyface · 26/12/2012 22:57

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?!

OP posts:
kim147 · 27/12/2012 22:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mulledandmerry · 27/12/2012 22:49

My mother and siblings were all sent to boarding school in the late 40's/50's and she reckons the Malory Towers books aren't far off the mark...right from the 'darling, i must accompany daddy on his important business trip so we will see you again in 5 years when you're 16' ...to the ' bye bye mummy, don't forget to write and give my love to Cookie and the ponies'. That said they did have sneaky visits to the boys school when they were older teens..that must be the missing EB book...when the spanking gets a little less innocent and a dreadful sort burns in hell for letting a ruffian touch her knee.

PurpleTinsel · 28/12/2012 00:30

Loved Malory Towers and St Clare's when I was younger - but looking at them now, there's a lot of bullying going on.

LRDtheFeministDude · 28/12/2012 00:40

mulled - my DH went to boarding school aged 7 and saw his mum twice a year for summer and christmas holidays. He is 25. So it still happens, not so different!

I loved the books as a child but yes, they were horrible!

Btw, did anyone think the same watching the film of Lady and the Tramp over Christmas? I'm just watching it on iplayer and thinking 'tut! The MN doghouse wouldn't approve of that! And that baby is being FF in a very dodgy way!'

DonderandBlitzen · 28/12/2012 01:06

I loved MT and St Clare's as a child. Not yet reread them to my dds. I also liked the Wishing Chair, Faraway Tree, Famous Five, Secret Seven and the short stories called things like Sunshine Tales, Fireside Tales etc. I got hold of one of the original books of short stories and there was an awful lot of spanking in them! Was that just how it was back then or was it an EB thing?

Kalisi · 28/12/2012 01:08

Can't believe I loved these characters so much as a child. Re-read some St Clares recently and Wow! What a bunch of Cunts.

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/12/2012 01:09

LRD I watched Lady and the Tramp and found myself quite emotional. I am going soft in my old age.

I did think that even then there was a message trying to be sent about how one treats the family dog once a baby is on the way/has arrived.

Never would have picked up on it as a child bit as an adult with a beloved dog I was left feeling quite sad throughout.

LRDtheFeministDude · 28/12/2012 01:17

Well, I googled it, and it said that the man who wrote the story back in the 50s really did write it about a dog who got neglected for the baby! So I suppose it's meant to be a message for the adults while it's a film for children. Rather nice.

LRDtheFeministDude · 28/12/2012 01:17

(Glad it's not just me btw! Grin)

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/12/2012 01:26

Me too! I thought I was being overly soppy!

LRDtheFeministDude · 28/12/2012 01:28

Well, maybe we are both soppy! Blush Grin

(Have you had a good Christmas, btw?)

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/12/2012 01:31

I did LRD thank you,it was lovely, hope you had a lovely time with your family too Smile

LRDtheFeministDude · 28/12/2012 01:40

I did, thanks! Smile There's something about revisiting children's books/films that suits Christmas.

OneWellAndTrulyCrackeredMummy · 28/12/2012 12:10

AnneofGreenFables

I loved the Blytonly Obviously site, thanks :)

atthewelles · 28/12/2012 14:14

Just been on that site and now have a tremendous urge to buy a couple of MT books to re-read. For some reason, while I often buy and re read old childhood books such as the Drina series or the Welles stories I always feel there would be something seriously sad about re reading an old school story. Am I wrong??

dollywashers · 28/12/2012 21:50

They have the box sets of St Clare's for £6 and Malloey towers for £4 in Sainsburys right now. A real bargain.

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