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Original poster

I need a Chalet School fix

282 replies

Dilbertian · 15/12/2021 15:50

Please help:

Where can I download a Chalet School book? I'm astonished that I cannot find any as ebook.

(When you're under the weather, nothing quite hits the spot like a bit of EBD escapism.)

OP posts:
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13
Original poster
Dilbertian · 15/12/2021 21:03

Anyone?

OP posts:
elkiedee · 16/12/2021 02:52

Only "free" if you have a paid subscription to Kindle Unlimited, otherwise £7.20.

DuneFan · 16/12/2021 03:08

Can't help but I'm on a full reread (as far as my collection allows) and enjoying it. Nothing like a CS comfort read.

Lots of the paperbacks and some of the early hardbacks can be picked up pretty cheaply if you're patient on Abebooks and ebay. I'm not sure that the pdf documents are still available now that GGBP are reprinting.

Original poster
Dilbertian · 16/12/2021 10:04

Thanks for the Abe Books tip. I've ordered 3 books - 2 of which I have definitely not read. But I'm going to have to wait to read them! It's just not fair. I'm poorly and I want to read them nooooooowwwww 😭

I'll probably be well again by the time they come!

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Original poster
Dilbertian · 16/12/2021 10:05

If only I knew where the ones I've got are. I can understand misplacing one book, but half-a-dozen?Confused

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Corbally · 16/12/2021 10:07

There used to be a set of transcripts doing the rounds, but I don't know if they still are. Remarkably illegal, obviously.

burnoutbabe · 16/12/2021 10:12

yes, i am up to New House in my illegal collection re-read right now. Joey just about to leave the school, her final term and oh Matron isn;t very nice!

(the spelling and proof reading in my set is APPALLING!)

Corbally · 16/12/2021 10:16

@burnoutbabe

yes, i am up to New House in my illegal collection re-read right now. Joey just about to leave the school, her final term and oh Matron isn;t very nice!

(the spelling and proof reading in my set is APPALLING!)

I was totally on Nasty Matron's side in New House -- the way everyone else on the staff behaves as if Joey is the golden-voiced, untouchable Messiah would have driven me nuts. Grin
burnoutbabe · 16/12/2021 10:33

isn't the issue more that the rule is that the prefects and the head girl shouldn't be PUBLICLY told off, but fine to do it in private. Which seems a sensible rule.

Corbally · 16/12/2021 10:44

@burnoutbabe

isn't the issue more that the rule is that the prefects and the head girl shouldn't be PUBLICLY told off, but fine to do it in private. Which seems a sensible rule.
Oh, I wasn't thinking of that, it's more Matron being told by one of the other staff members (might be Matey or Bill? I haven't read NH in years) about Jo being a 'dear girl' and how everyone loves her -- I think it's after Joey uses rouge to cover up her toothache pallor, and the new Matron is told off by Matey for not noticing, and the new Matron says quite reasonably that Joey is always pale, and how was she supposed to know?

Joey is seventeen and about to leave school at this point, not a small child -- I don't think new Matron is actually unreasonable for assuming that a seventeen year old can be expected to report her own ailments if she's unwell, especially as she keeps being told to respect the prefects' privacy and special status.

In fact, virtually all the aggro between Joey and the new Matron could have been solved by having a brief written run-down on the CS rules and prefect exceptions etc written out for new members of staff!

Gremlinsateit · 16/12/2021 11:56

Does anyone know if the very kind and helpful Parker is still around?

DuneFan · 16/12/2021 12:40

New House is next in my reread too - ah the excuses so EBD doesn't have to let go of Joey!

PotteringAlong · 16/12/2021 12:44

I’ve got every copy of the chalet school books in my parents loft. Must be worth a fortune!

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 16/12/2021 12:44

I started the collection of Chalet School Christmas stories the other day and am loving it. Sadly, I've only got about 20 of the books. I'd love to have more.

PotteringAlong · 16/12/2021 12:44

@elkiedee I didn’t realise that Blush

I don’t have a kindle - I’m a paperback Puritan Grin

elkiedee · 16/12/2021 14:27

I think the way that they list books on offer through Kindle Unlimited is rather misleading.

Have you tried any other boarding school stories? You might be able to get something from the early 20th century really free or something very low price. Enid Blyton's school stories are available really cheaply quite often. Not sure if the recent TV version is still on Iplayer.

There are also a few recently published historical and contemporary series by modern authors - I know Robin Stevens is really popular with nearly teenage girls, or Elly Griffiths has written 3 books about Justice Jones. Jenny Colgan has also written a series of school stories.

Original poster
Dilbertian · 16/12/2021 15:06

Yes, I binged both series of Malory Towers over 3 days Grin Outrageous liberties were taken with the stories. I probably wouldn't have watched past the first episode, had I not been in need of something mind-numbingly soothing.

I have read a few early 20thC girls' school novels - I like the genre - but none are as satisfying as the Chalets. I don't even remember any of the authors or the titles. That might be a good thing, as any rereads would be fresh.

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Corbally · 16/12/2021 20:24

[quote PotteringAlong]@elkiedee I didn’t realise that Blush

I don’t have a kindle - I’m a paperback Puritan Grin[/quote]
But the Chalet paperbacks are sometimes so abridged!

Original poster
Dilbertian · 16/12/2021 20:28

Are they!?!? Shock

I've only ever read them in paperback.

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DuneFan · 16/12/2021 20:29

Angela Brazil is good. I've had some LM Alcott and Susan Coolidge free on the ebook sites. There are 2 more sequels to What Katy Did/At School/ Again - Clover and something else, which are quite fun.

ArblemarzipanTFruitcake · 16/12/2021 20:32

@dilbertian Have you tried Antonia Forest? 'Autumn Term' - the first one is very widely available and cheap. The same can't be said for the rest of the series but they are well worth it - far and away, without qualification, the best school (and holiday) series of any era.

There are quite a few Angela Brazils on Kindle - I find them hit and miss - 'The Luckiest Girl in the School' 'A Patriotic Schoolgirl' and 'A Pair of Schoolgirls' are favourites of mine.

DingleyDel · 16/12/2021 20:33

Oooh it’s so frustrating. Wish you get CS on kindle, or in print without paying £££. There was a poster a few years back who would send a file of all the books.

ArblemarzipanTFruitcake · 16/12/2021 20:34

Second Dune on Coolidge - the last one is called 'In the High Valley'. There's a Kindle compilation of all four plus a short story about Johnnie Carr.

piratehooker · 16/12/2021 20:36

Oh, my childhood!

I find myself every now and then googling to see if anyone has recorded them as an audiobook. I mean, I'd gladly take a few years out of my work to do nothing but read aloud and record the whole series. But I have a voice even my loving Mother would hate to have ruining the books, and butchering all that French and German!