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Original poster

...to just not get the MN hullabaloo over Chalet School?

47 replies

FredWorms · 27/12/2012 22:11

I somehow missed it throughout my childhood, despite a wide selection of books regularly thrust in my direction by my book-loving Mother.

I bought the 1st one for DD after seeing everyone on here endlessly blathering on about it and it bored us, tbh. We had a good laugh, did some spiffing accents but not a lot happened. About half way through someone was a bit naughty, I seem to recall, and then we gave up.

Should we persist?

OP posts:
OhyouMerryLittleKitten · 27/12/2012 22:13

It does get better! The first one is a bit worthy, well they all are really, but more happens.

2aminthemorning · 27/12/2012 22:14

Yes, you should persist. It becomes much more interesting as the characters develop and get buried under avalanches etc.

MuddlingMackem · 27/12/2012 22:15

They're fun, great locations and, for the first fifty or so Wink, some good characters.

Maybe they're just a bit marmite though. Grin

Glossynotflossy · 27/12/2012 22:17

I remeber getting one out of the library at the age of 11 or something. What a waste of time. YNBU

thegreylady · 27/12/2012 22:20

Never mind you are probably a bit young for them :-) I think most of the real fans will have been born pre 1955. Its the same with The Abbey Girls. They are very much' of their time ' and maybe a bit prissy for today's DC. However the book where they escape the Nazis by crossing the mountains and when Miss Annersley's hair goes white is still very exciting.

HorraceTheChristmasOtter · 27/12/2012 22:26

I loved them! Particularly the ones with Tom. The one with the Nazi spy Gertrude is rather funny, and the chalet school and the Lintons was excellent. I always wanted to go there. They do get better after the first one!

prettydaisies · 27/12/2012 22:26

I like to reread them when I need a bit of comfort reading! The last ones aren't quite so good though. My DD who was born in this century loves them. I think her favourite book of all time is The Chalet School in Exile- the one where they escape from the Nazis.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie · 27/12/2012 22:26

It's Miss Wilson's hair that goes white.

HorraceTheChristmasOtter · 27/12/2012 22:28

I'm only 22 greylady so nor only pre 1955. Xmas Grin

manicinsomniac · 27/12/2012 22:29

I absolutely loved them as a child and I was born in 1983. My mum had them all though and pretty much inflicted them on me so maybe that's why. Don't think any of my friends read them.

I thin you should persevere though, they are great!

Original poster
FredWorms · 27/12/2012 22:32

I'm pretty old! (47)

OP posts:
priscilla101 · 27/12/2012 22:33

I adored chalet school. I begged to be sent to boarding school. Begged and begged. I wanted to drink milky coffee in the Tyrol and speak German on Wednesdays!

I also loved Trebizon.

I was born in 1980.

orlakielylover · 27/12/2012 22:35

I lve them. I'm trying to collect the series. DH fainting at the prices on ebay.

thegreylady · 27/12/2012 22:45

You are right of course setphasers it was Miss Wilson-I am responding in bed and it is ages since I read them. I do have most of them Inc some duplicates if anyone is collecting. Good to see some younger people enjoying them. I was born in 1944.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie · 27/12/2012 22:48

My mum introduced me to them. I love them.

MogTheForgetfulCat · 27/12/2012 22:52

I love the Chalet School! Used to spend hours in the bookshop deliberating over which one to get next. Also begged to go to boarding school, speak different languages on different days and catch the inevitable 'chill', necessitating a spell in the 'San' Grin.

TheWombat · 27/12/2012 22:52

I adored these books. I always remember Mary-Lou Trelawney and Mdlle the French teacher. I used to pronounce it m-dull. Hmm

priscilla101 · 27/12/2012 22:53

Oh my, I had never thought of collecting them as an adult. I may have to start. I used to trade mind in at the second hand bookshop for more, so I never actually owned a complete set.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie · 27/12/2012 22:54

Mary Lou annoyed me so much. Grin

She was just so bloody perfect.

quicknamechange5029 · 27/12/2012 22:54

I love them and I'm only 28, I've restarted collecting them and only have two to buy.
They are completely out of touch with things nowadays but I think thats why I like them

EATmum · 27/12/2012 23:00

I loved them but when I tried them on DD1 (who happily devoured Malory Towers etc) there was a gulf between us. Maybe when she's older ...?

MuddlingMackem · 27/12/2012 23:00

I'm hoping to get my kids into them. DD is only 6, so still a bit young, but DS is 9. I did suggest them to him and he liked the look of 'Exploits' from the picture on the cover and mention of explosions in the science lab. Grin So fingers crossed. Wink

Northernlebkuchen · 27/12/2012 23:02

I LOVE chalet school! Grin

ZZZenAgain · 27/12/2012 23:15

agreed, read them to dd, boring

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 27/12/2012 23:15

The second one is lovely to read at Christmas - they stay in Innsbruk and have a proper Tyrolean Christmas with sleigh rides and everything - I re-read that one every year, it is just so "festive" somehow Xmas Grin It is old fashioned, but lovely, like the "Katy" books or "Anne of Green Gables"
I only ever had the first 2 when I was young though, and came to enjoy the rest much later in life, until I eventually had a full set then sold some of them when DH was made redundant and cried as I posted each one