Another Antonia Forest thread

[tvaerialmagpiebin]

We haven't had one in a while.

I have just won "Attic Term" on ebay and almost got "Marlows and the Traitor" from a dealer but it turned out their website was out of date and it had sold in December. Boo hiss.

I tried to find the thread from a while back about "Nicola Merrick" the radio producer but I think it must have been in Chat because it has gone. I am re-reading all the AF books I have, in order, and it is surprising how things slip into place now. Can't believe I got "Ready-made family" for 25p in a charity shop 10 years ago and that launched me on such a fantastic discovery.

Now I have to convince my local library to get out the copy of "Run away Home" that they claim to have in the HQ store, and I will be very happy..

hello Noah

i read and adored the school stories first, then was gobsmacked to discover as an adult that a) there were more stories - LOADS more, and b) i couldn't afford to get copies of any of them

then i got into collecting children's books and managed to get my hands on a couple. the gaps were filled in when GGB reissued them all. It was so exciting waiting a year or so each time for the next title - i was most excited about Ready Made Family because the gaps in the schools stories had always intrigued me terribly - WHY had Kay married this not very nice old man, and where had these children come from? GGB used to sell photocopies of their own personal copies - spiral bound - i still have my copy of Ready Made Family from that time

i like TTK a lot
the family were slightly lacking, to me (seemed rather pale and unformed after the Marlows) but the other main character is great - really unlikeable and believable, with shades of Marie Dobson and others peeping through

the historical novels are a dream, aren't they? i was completely gripped
a visit to st paul's shortly after reading, was thrilling, and i was able to have a long conversation with one of the guides about what the old cathedral would have been like, based purely on the Players novels

GAH postman did not come up with the goods again. I might have to snog him tomorrow as a bribe (actually better not it might put him off completely.

Thanks PantryBoy, I wll have to beg the library staff to let me personallysearch the stacks for the copy of RAH which the online catalogue says exists.....

Lankyalto, I hope the postman comes up with the goods tomorrow.
I'm almost jealous because you still have unread AF books. Attic Term is fabulous - are you a Ginty fan because she features quite a lot?

Well I don't really think I know her very well, only the "lusting after Patrick" bit. So I am really looking forward to AT to find out more.

Poor postman, he can't know how much I look forward to his cheery wave every morning....

CoupleofCooks - I think I know who you are now. I was expecting you along to defend Lawrie as being positively the best character.

I first read A Prayer For Owen Meany because I heard so many people on mumsnet praising it. I will be forever greatful.

I must read the AF ones I have missed. GBB are not longer publishing are they?

No they aren't , and their website is currently being updated, there used to be a list of second hand dealers who still had stock, or who had copies from elsewhere. That's where I have got a couple and not just GGB ones either. Otherwise ebay, or amazon marketplace (occasionally).

Must read Owen Meany if AF fans like it!

some on eBay

humphrey i particularly like the Hotel New Hampshire which has a great Franny as the heroine

Yes, I read that because you told me to. It was on my I love Owen Meanie thread. I loved it too.

See what an influence you are on me.

I even had wnakey baskets for both my children

I will also be forever GRATEFUL.
My dd was helping me type, that is my defence and I am sticking to it. I truly am horrified I did that, will Mumsnet withdraw a post due to horrific spelling error?

Meany FFS

I may be losing my mind.

Thank you LawrieisLucky for that link, I really enjoyed reading that article. It suggests critics at the time didn't like forest because of her upper class characters and her religious themes - neither of those bothered me at all as a child, and actually I was very surprised to find out Forest was a devout catholic when she died, because I personally would never have guessed it from the books.

Aha, the postman came up trumps this morning so I am off bed early for an Attic Term fest.
Ho ho ho

Had a fruitless search of charity shops today for the AF ones I don't have. Slight hijack, but I was surprised how much some charity shops charge for books. £3 in BHF and Oxfam for a paperback.... used to be everything about 20-50p. Tsk tsk.

I'm glad it arrived.
Will you read it in one go or pace yourself?
I read very fast and if I am ejoying a book just devour it in one sitting (unless real life interferes)

Deffo in one go, I am a fast reader too. Just waiting for dS1 to drop off and then I am off to read it. Ho ho ho.

Have a lovely evening

OP, this is really weird - I think I know the person who was selling 'Attic Term' on ebay! It's a friend of mine - I asked him to look out for any AFs and he came up with that one....which I already have. Small world, or what?

I only stumbled across AF a couple of years ago when I picked up a pretty much mint Penguin copy of 'Autumn Term' for 10p from a jumble sale box, just out of curiosity. I had absolutely no idea about these books - but now I need to possess all of them! I'm getting there, but as everyone says, they're so scarce and soooooo expensive...

i read fast but when i am reading a new AF i pace myself
the last one, the Players and the Rebels, I actually kept on my sitting room table for months and months before actually reading it, and then i read it veeeeerrrrry slowly and totally savoured it
i knew it would be the last time i would ever read a new Antonia Forest

perhaps that is why I am strangely reluctant to actively track them down?

I still have this lovely feeling that there is this magical book sitting in the world, just WAITING for me to stumble across it..

Humphrey I know what you mean. CBB people keep trying to lend me AF books but I'm scared to read them. Have only read Autumn Term and loved it but I know I'll want the lot and getting all the Chalet books nearly bankrupted me!

I am wavering though...wish GGB would reprint

I was devastated to read that although AF had planned a sequel to RAH no manuscript was found after her death.

Coupleofkooks - I wish I had your self control

Though if someone was trying to lend them to me I would bite their hand off. And then photocopy them

They are all as good as Autumn Term. Go on, go on, go on....

They are in a different league to Chalet School (I read those too). Tbh, I never know why I read them. They are strangely compelling despite being really rather rubbish.

well i;ve read the lot now
only complete chronological order rereads to look forward to now!

humphrey i don't mind lending if there's one or two you partic want

don't bite me though

CoupleofKooks - glad I'm not the only one who is reluctant to read the last of a series - DH thought I was weird when I finally found the only PG Wodehouse I'd never read & didn't immediately start on it.