Just re-read Ballet Shoes as an adult

[heron98]

Someone answer me this - if they are so poor they can't even afford new clothes, why don't they get rid of the flipping cook and the maid? Why doesn't Garnie get a job instead of staying up all night stressing about money?

I loved Ballet Shoes too. Almost certainly my favourite book as a child, together with A Little White horse. I had an audio tape of it, read by Moira Shearer.

Had both of these editions. Thursday's Child was my favourite (I loved those Orphanage type stories in Bunty too when the poor orphan always turned out to be the heiress to a fortune with a long lost kindly grandfather). Watched both of these on BBC back in the 70's.

Anyone else googling NS books? Amazon won't know what hit it.

Also loving this thread! Loved all these books and had forgotten so many! Did anyone else read the 'Drina dances...' Books?

Totally loving this thread. I re-read children's books when I'm tired and stressed. Today has been a shocker, so I need some cheering up. I had forgotten about Gemma, White Boots, etc. so this is a rich seam to mine!

Caldicott Place is a lovely story. Set maybe in the 70's, the family are a lot more ordinary, no old school friends or faithful retainers working for nothing. Don't want to spoil for those who haven't read it, but I do recommend it.

Oh, and on the subject of film and theatre wages, I was in a television advert as a child, in the early 60's, my stage school got a cut as the agent but I took home £14 for one day's work. My father earned about £12 a week at the time.

I remember Caldicott Place. No idea what happened to my copy though .

The Cazalet stories are heavily based on Elizabeth Jane Howard's own life. In her memoir she recalls her childhood in London and describes her schooling. I seem to remember that she doesn't go to school all the time but is educated at home because educating girls is less important than educating boys.

I also loved reading the Wells booked. I'd forgotten about those.

Now I really want to read all these to DD! What age would you think would be alright for NS? I think I was about 9 or 10 when I first discovered them (and was still picking them up as a teenager), but I read them myself they were never read to me. So maybe younger? [hopeful face]

Maybe 7ish, Fink, for reading out loud?

Absolutely the character Louise is her. She's such a great writer.

Funnily enough I pulled The Painted Garden off the shelf to re re re re read tonight. It has Pauline and Posey in it, possibly Garnie too.

Maddiemokins. That's the 'right' cover to my ballet shoes.

Mine too, Curly.

maddie I had those ones too - the cover of Ballet Shoes fell off in the end through constant re-reading!

That's the cover image from my vhs (and now dvd) of ballet shoes, but I don't think it's the picture from the original copy of the book that I had. I've been looking all evening and can see a couple that look familiar. Maybe I'll order a few copies off of eBay 😁😁

Broomstick I loved Proper Little Nooryeff! There's a sequel???!!!!! Fantastic!!

Gasp0de I have that edition of Ballet Shoes as well. I must dig it out for DD(7). I'm currently reading her The Little White Horse (I am a massive Elizabeth Goudge fan) and I think some NS might be in order.

I adored White Boots as well, but I never got on with The Painted Garden for some reason - I might try and re-read now as I suspect I'll enjoy it now. Apple Bough was totally ruined for me by being read slowly and painfully out loud by our class in English. I read the Gemma books as well, but don't especially associate them with NS for some reason - perhaps because they are later.

BUT - as also mentioned - I adored the Wells books (especially the first 3), the Flambards series (although I loved the flying one the best by far) and the Drina novels.

What a lovely thread this is!
I always thought NS had a very distinctive writing style. I mean in terms of grammar rather than subject matter. She seemed to use comma splices rather a lot - anyone notice this? Commas where you might expect a full stop or semi-colon or a conjunction? At the time I was reading them, we were being taught at school that this was very definitely a Bad Thing, but NS appeared to get away with it.

Ive just bought this on Amazon, after reading this thread. Ballet Shoes was one of my favourite books as a child, I read it over and over. I remember it being a long story, will be interesting to re read it.

Her adult novels are written like that too, Hope. If you read her autobiography she had a teacher who took the trouble to give her demanding writing exercises, so perhaps she developed her own style as a result of that. Whatever it is, it's an unmistakable 'voice'.

Party Frock was retitled "Party Shoes".

I have a first edition.

maddiemookins16mum that's my edition of BS too.

Loving this thread. I love the Cazalets. I have read those books over and over.

I'm excited to find that I may be able to order the other 'Vicarage' books. Thanks again CMOT.

I have introduced some of my nieces to NS. They love her books too.