Carola Johnstone
The CBB -> Book Discussions
#1: Carola Johnstone Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:36 am

Please discuss Carola here...

 

#2:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:00 pm

She's one of many characters who play a major part in one book and then fade into the background. It's a shame because she's quite an interesting character - there are lots of people who were reluctant to go to the school and then changed their minds, whereas she really wanted to go in the first place.

 

#3:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:33 pm

I liked Carola from the start of the book 'Carola storms the Chalet School' but I didn't like her guardian. She is a help in putting out the fire that hurts Len's arms and rescuing Sigrid from the river. I do wish she hadn't disappeared from the books though.

 

#4:  Author: Emma A, Location: The Soke of Peterborough PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:19 pm

Yes, she only appears as a minor character - it's noted that she is one of the players in the tennis pairs in Changes for the CS - but she's not mentioned before the discussion. It's a shame, as she is a very likeable character, eager and willing, but also rather scatter-brained.

 

#5:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:56 am

Carola starts off as a strong character. Strong enough to know what she wants and to do something, however wrong headed, about it. She is to the fore all through her own book and then fades away with only a few mentions. It would have been nice to have seen a lot more of her throughout her school career.

 

#6:  Author: Carola, Location: Bedford right now, usually Nepal PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:48 pm

I always liked the character of Carola (well, you can tell that from my nick....) but I suspect it's mainly because Carola Storms was the first CS book I read. My grandmother bought it for me and I remember being unimpressed as I was really into the Malory Towers and St Clares books, and didn't want to read about this other, strange, school. However, once I picked up the book (in hospital, having my wisdom teeth out) I loved it and determined to read more. In fact, I even took another CS book from the children's library on the ward home with me when I was discharged (confession time!). Shocked After that criminal act, I was hooked.

 

#7:  Author: Changnoi, Location: New Mexico, USA PostPosted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:22 pm

Carola wrote:
My grandmother bought it for me and I remember being unimpressed as I was really into the Malory Towers and St Clares books, and didn't want to read about this other, strange, school.


When I initially read my first CS book (Three Go), I didn't really like it also because I'd been immersed in Malory Towers and St Clare's since the age of six. I was not pleased with words like 'scaramouche' and 'moke', since they were not words used by Blyton. My father--the only other GO reader I know personally--observed that Blyton's schools drew much richer, seemingly 'higher-class' girls than did the Chalet School! An elderly cousin of mine talks just like Enid Blyton books, so her language always seemed to fit!

As for Carola, I liked her a lot. I didn't like the way EBD made her cardinal sin that of 'I didn't think' all the way through the series. There are plenty of other characters who don't think before they do things--think of all the times you read, "With [X], to think was to act, and so she...[did something stupid]". Also, not thinking before you do things is fairly standard for a teenager!

I was very touched by Carola's thoughts of Carola and Biddy's relationship before Carola goes to the CS. Carola's relationship with her aunt is so distant, and that's the only one she has. It's easy to think that Carola seized on Biddy as an older-sister aunt figure and idolized her and hung on to every brogue-laden word that dropped from Biddy's lips. I think it would be interesting to see how that relationship developed once Carola got to school. I think, if it were true to life, Carola might have gotten a bit jealous that Biddy, in school, didn't have as much time for Carola as she had had at Penny Rest. Maybe I'm reading too much into this...I think a Carola drabble would be very nice, though.

Chang

 

#8:  Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 4:29 pm

I've always like Carola. I thought she was a refershing charactor. I mean, how many people run away so they can go to school?
I didn't think very much of her aunt or her parents. Mom and Dad run off to Africa on a job and bascially dump Carola with her globe trotting aunt. I'm surprised Carola didn't beg and plea with them to send her to school.
I also liked the book because it reintroduces us to Biddy

 

#9:  Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:20 pm

I REALLY like Carola! I love the way she rushes off and does mad things but is really lovely anyway! Unlike Mary-Lou, who often rushes in but obviously does think....of something. *mutters darkly*

I have to admit, I do giggle when Carola has to work out her date of birth on her fingers! Maybe she just wasn't as used to writing it on forms...

 

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