St.Clare's v Malory Towers

[reelingintheyears]

Why was that thread just pulled?

But it's quite obvious by Attic that Gin is going to the bad. And the way she ducks out of facing things in Run away home underlines that. Also there are more than a few hints that her looks are proving to be transient as her true character shines through.......add to that the fact that she isn't that intelligent (not in Karen or Nick's league) and she isn't nearly as good at sport as Rowan or (again) Nick ........and I'm not sure about charisma either. I don't see any evidence, really. She is very isolated after Monica's accident precisely because she lacks charisma, I'd say.....

Good point about the obvious problems of the boarding school set-up now. And I couldn't be bothered with an historical setting I don't think, I can never read historical novels so I v. much doubt I could write one!

I read the first of those Jean Ure books I think. I remember her as being good on individual characters and dynamics between close friends/family but less good on the institutional/large group side of school life (which AF is v. good on I think). Isn't 'One Green Leaf' by Jean Ure too? (about sixth formers). A very touching and memorable one that. Always wondered if it was autobiographical in some way, it had the ring of truth I thought. Sad if so though.

Mayne's 'Swarm in May' and 'Chorister's Cake' are excellent boarding school stories (prep school boys though). I also quite enjoyed Jennings as a child, especially the very odd 'Jennings Little Hut'.

Mayne is tricky though ... can't quite see it the same way in light of his personal life.

Yes, One Green Leaf was about sixth formers - I liked that, too. Although I thought the older girls in Peters were pretty unconvincing.

Re. Ginty - I see what you're saying theta and I did say her name somewhat on the spur of the moment. I agree she's going to the bad (Mr Merrick's 'evens' on the subject seem optimistic!), I just meant if you could have the basics of her (v pretty, can 'accept a compliment with charm and grace', 'the sort of person other people give things up for') it might be quite fun!

I think Nick is just a little too worthy - I couldn't be doing with never giving a book up once I'd started it, for one thing!

Has anyone else got 'The family at Red-Roofs'?

It was so uplifting.

The way they all pulled together with the help of their maid, little Jenny Wren and the 'queer' little garden boy Jack Daw..

I have rhe family at red roofs :) loved it when I was younger and fairly recently bought a copy on eBay :)

One Green Leaf makes me sob. I really enjoy books by Jean Ure - take me back to teenage angst.

I have nearly all the antonia Forest books due to girls gone by publishing reprinting them. There's one being published soon that's a follow on to Run Away Home - anyone else going to buy it?

I also red some of the Peters ones by jean ure.

I am possibly one of the few who reads the Abbey books by Elsie Oxenham but would be pleased to be proved wrong

I think the Family at Redroofs had a happy ending that used to make me cry. Or I may have the wrong book altogether...

Lawriemarlow I certainly am. I can't wait. Although obviously I am slightly trepidatious since those books mean so much to me. I don't have any GGB Marlow books - I already had the full set before GGB started publishing, same with the Chalet school books (at GREAT expense) - but I have some GGB Lorna Hill's and they are great. I love GGB.

Which Marlow books haven't you read?

BUT, the good Chalet school girls always get to marry doctors, so we would never have to spend 26 mins pushing the redial button at 8 O/c in the morning just to be told the appointments are all gone.

Lawrie/Reeling 'What we reap we sow and may our harvest always be good'. :). EB instilled a sense of justice and fair play into me, I love Jenny Wren with her wizened monkey face etc. Who says that EB can't write.

I wish GGB would do different intros for each book - although I know there's probably not much material. I always hope it will be something different, and it never is!

Oh I'll tell you what about those Peters books sits ill with me - she's forever comparing (black) Nadge to a monkey - her clever little monkey face, swinging from the gym bars like a monkey etc.

Did anybody read A Bottled Cherry Angel by JU when young? That was an odd book.

Yes, I read A Bottled Cherry Angel. I agree, odd, but very memorable.

I was thinking after reading this thread earlier that if I ever wrote a novel (unlikely) I would definitely write for children. I don't think any book I read as an adult has had anything like the effect on me or my understanding of the world as lots of children's books did, even setting aside the most significant ones that I still reread.

I'd rather like to have gone to the farm school.
any one else read those 3 books by Josephine Elder? Exile for Annis, Cherry tree perch , and Strangers at teh Farm School.
I live in hope of spotting a copy of Choristers cake.

I haven't read any Josephine Elder but see that GGBP have republished two of them, and will be doing at least one more (so may do more than that).

Kingscote was definitely the most realistic, though much of the subtlety went over my head as a kid (was 10 when I read Autumn Term), not to mention only the four school ones were available. Suspect though I'd have been written off very rapidly as an Uncooperative Type which would have affected my experience!

I then went to boarding school and was very envious of Trebizon and the freedom they had to go to town etc from Third Year - they were reasonably realistic (my school was about half expat brats, like me).

Faves were Chalet School (except the bonkers latest Swiss ones) which I took totally at face value and was gutted when someone pointed out the ghastliness of Robin and the 'ridiculous' amounts of religion and coincidence and death-defying accidents, as it spoiled the whole escapism experience.

I recently re-read all the St Clares followed by Malory Towers and you can really tell that St Clares is pre-war and MT is post-war, less posh, girls expected to study afterwards and get jobs. A couple have some quite good characterisation, but on the whole I figured my offspring wouldn't miss out from not reading them and dumped them on the charity shop. They're just so much more simple - I went straight from Noddy to them with no problem when I was five.

I have Cherry Tree Perch - I loved it even though I found it slightly confusing due to lack of context.

I also read a few of the Abbey Girl series, they are rather compelling too. I used to spend ages deciding flower I would choose as the Queen.

The discussion about who you would most like to be in an AF novel made me laugh as I have also spent many happy hours dithering between Lawrie, Miranda, Ginty and Tim..

Chalet Girls Forever! My sister and I would spend entire mornings at the library waiting for Chalet School books to be returned, then run home and spend the rest of the day reading. I WAS Jo, despite her weak chest, or whatever. Having read a detailed description of a "cubey", I reorganised my bedroom according to the rules.

Trebizon books were written by Anne Digby! Set in Devon I think and had the lead character as Rebecca an aspiring tennis player.

I read them all 1 or 2 [hwink]

I have all 3 Josephine elder books. They are lovely.

EB - did anyone else read her one about the faraway adventure, a moral tale where you had to walk the narrow path avoiding gluttony and vanity etc, and when you reached the destination city (ie heaven) they asked you which was more important, faith hope or love, and love was the right answer or they wouldnt let you in I borrowed it about 17 times form the age 11yrs upwards

I loved malory towers and St Clares

Malory is better wedged in my memory - as I have a copy of one of them and still occasionally read it saved for dd

I loved Irene the mathematical musical marvel 'tumty tumming' on everything, and Belinda the artist, and Bill and Clarissa.,
and Alicia and her friend Betty the cool mean girls, Alicia found lessons easy and got top marks without even trying, and could juggle etc, she was my hero

odd book - How Green you Are by Berlie Doherty. when the boy scoops out the goldfish and thoughtfully eats it, I was nearly actually sick.

I adored the what Katy did s too, and loved to read about Clover and her pin-sized waist.

shocking when katy fell off the swing and broke her neck, they bought her a canary or something to cheer her up. fascinating books

Dr Carr's 'for shame Katy, give your sister her doll at once' always stung with me.