The CBB :: View topic - EBD's best evocative writing

Good Herr Braun, the proprietor of the hotel, met them with a beaming face, and escorted them to three of the tables with their huge scarlet umbrellas nearest the Tzigane. How they all enjoyed that afternoon—even Juliet, and Simone, who was suffering from pangs of jealousy because Joey and Grizel had foregathered at another table! Many of their friends were there—Herr Marani, who brought over Frau von Eschenau for a chat with Madge; the Mensches, who had a table nearby; Monsieur and Madame Mercier with Suzanne and Yvette; and many others.
As Grizel said afterwards, it was so unlike England. There were the gaily dressed Tzigane playing as though they were music-possessed; the merry cosmopolitan crowd seated at the umbrella-shaded tables; the vivid blue lake-waters before them; and, surrounding all, the great mountains, beautiful in the bright July sunshine.

I think that the bit in Island when Annis is running away and gets caught in fog and stranded on Vendell is fantastic - so scary and horrifying. And then there's a lovely scene when she wakes up the next morning safe and sound, and with friends.

I also love that bit from the Innsbruck Christmas, Cestina - the part where Joey gives away her money to the poor girl so impulsively always brings a lump to my throat.

It was me who said that - so thankyou!

For me, the bit that always gives me goosebumps is the 'Olim memnisse jubavit' line at the end of Exile.

andi wrote:For me, the bit that always gives me goosebumps is the 'Olim memnisse jubavit' line at the end of Exile.

I think that's the only line of book 1 of the Aeneid which I can actually remember from A-level Latin (no, I don't know why I did A-level Latin either, but I did)! It became a class joke - one day even A-level Latin would be a joy to remember, not - but it always makes me think of Joey ... if I'm in a certain mood it even makes me cry when I read that bit of Exile.

It was a glorious morning; the early morning sun had risen, and was driving away the mists which had risen from the river overnight, and every railing and tree was bespangled with glimmering drops of water. Spiders had woven their gossamer threads between the railings, which were hung with these delicate diamonds, and the sky was a clear, steadfast blue. Underfoot, the falling leaves rustled in a carpet of crimson and yellow and brown and made a pleasant noise.

There's some lovely writing in THE SCHOOL BY THE RIVER

Gay noticed her expression, and nudged her. ‘Like it?’ she asked.
‘It’s beautiful,’ said Jacynth gravely. ‘I saw the photos, of course, but I’d not idea it would look like this. It – it reminds of a great lady, somehow. Do you know what I mean? Someone who’s grown old and doesn’t mind being old, because she knows that even now she is beautiful.’

"Joey - oh Joey, liebchen!"

and afterwards, the scene when Dick turns up, seeming so much older, and Jem tells him he thinks Joey won't see the afternoon. Simple, but very, very powerful.

Billie wrote:

and afterwards, the scene when Dick turns up, seeming so much older, and Jem tells him he thinks Joey won't see the afternoon. Simple, but very, very powerful.

Oh, that bit makes me cry every single time!!! :cry:

The description of the quiet house on a summer's morning in contrast with the hellish journey that Shiena, Flora and Fiona have endured has always struck me as being both realistic and lovely. It is so evocative that you can almost feel the bliss of having a bath and clean bed to get into after hours and hours of being shaken about in the train, and I think the description of Joey's kindness and understanding makes her more human here than she is anywhere after the Austria books.

She's very good at describing interiors isn't she. I like the descriptions of the New House, especially the prefects' bedrooms and the mini-San.

Mel wrote:She's very good at describing interiors isn't she. I like the descriptions of the New House, especially the prefects' bedrooms and the mini-San.

I think those descriptions are a big part of why I like New House so much. I always think Gwensi's bedroom (and the whole of Plas Howell really) sounds lovely too.

I think it might have been Gay from China....not necessarily even one of the most descriptive of the series.

That's a very good point violawood - it's precisely EBD's most evocative writing that has been missing for those people who have been unfortunate enough to only have access to the Armadas.

'Camp' is a lovely book, isn't it? All of the interactions are so natural, and I love the part where Joey falls down a pit. I can't remember exactly why at this moment, but I have the overwhelming impression that I always find the ending quite sad, as well.

remember being chilled to the marrow by the description of Rosalie's adventure along the dark drive.

Also Shesings - I keep thinking of the Dartmoor cottage as though it was written in the originals - such beatiful writing by CathVP.

snowmaiden wrote:

Also Shesings - I keep thinking of the Dartmoor cottage as though it was written in the originals - such beatiful writing by CathVP.

Is there a link to this drabble, anyone?

If you get a message like that, cestina or anyone else, I think the mods would like to be told so that they can try & correct it. The board has moved around several times and it hasn't always been possible to keep everything up to date.

Mods, if I'm wrong, please forgive me.

Yes thank you from me too. I don't always find the earlier drabbles mentioned very easily. I often get a "this url can't be found" message......

And I'm enjoying this one......

Joey wrote:

I *think* that that is the case - and often it is pretty easily fix-able by going to the top and removing the /board part in the web address. Once you've done that you should be taken to that particular thread.

Here's the link for the first part of The Return anyway:
board/archive/files/ST_the_return_part_one_221005.htm

You'll just have to rely upon your own strength of will.

Squirrel wrote:

Quote:

You'll just have to rely upon your own strength of will.

That's me snookered then....

Down at the foot of the mountain lay the lake, coated with thin ice which turned it black in its rim of white snow. The villages and hamlets scattered about its shores had the appearance of toys dropped by the hands of giants. Round them rose the mountains, grander than ever in their winter garb with only the blackness of the pine forest on their winter slopes to contrast with the purity of the snow. Above, the sky lay grey and wintry, for the pale November sunshine of the morning had vanished shortly after midday. . . .

Author:	cestina [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:49 pm ]
Post subject:	EBD's best evocative writing
Someone said recently that she thought it was a pity that people rarely highlighted good writing by EBD as opposed to picking at the less satisfactory bits. So I thought I'd make a start . It's too long a section to quote but for me Chapters XIV-XVI in Jo of the Chalet School which cover the Christmas holidays in Innsbruck cannot be beaten by anything else she wrote. They evoke for me, almost painfully, the atmosphere is so accurate, the Christmas I spent, aged 5, in post-war Czechoslovakia, the only one, as far as I remember, with my maternal grandmother, and other Christmases spent in Kitzbühel in Austria, before it became a fashionable resort. I can almost smell the snow and frost, feel the excitement of the build-up to the Christmas feast, see the twinkling lights and decorations in the shops, savour the "crisp little brown sausages" served with the delicious soup, and were it not for one or two discrepancies in the detail (there is no way, for example, that presents would have been given on Christmas Day, it would have been the evening of the 24th, and no Austrian household would have known what a mince-pie was, let alone made any ) the chapters are perfect. I can reread them over and over again and am immediately taken back to those Christmases more than sixty years ago.

Author:	Cat C [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
My choice isn't evocative / poignant in quite that way, but I think the toboggan accident scene in Mary-Lou is well-written. I suggested it for a drabble challenge in January (challenge was to re-write in the style of another author), and so I read it multiple times for that, and was struck by how well the writing moved the action along. I know OOAO isn't everyone's favourite character, but I adore that book, even though I only have the pb version; and sadly GGB told me, when I emailed them a list of my requests recently, that it wasn't on their list for the next year. Neither were any of my other requests, apparently - I suppose it's cheaper that way!

Author:	Lesley [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Auntie's letter to Jacynth in Gay From China - so so sad and yet so loving. I also like the fact that Jacynth does not completely recover afterwards - as so many who have suffered bereavement seem to - years later she is still described as the one with the sad eyes.

Author:	JayB [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
There's a passage in School At which for me really demonstrates EBD's skill at creating a sense of place. I'm sure she must have been writing directly from her own experience and observation, and it shows just why the idea of the Chalet School would have been so appealing to UK readers in the 1920s. It's quite short, so I'll quote in full: Quote: Good Herr Braun, the proprietor of the hotel, met them with a beaming face, and escorted them to three of the tables with their huge scarlet umbrellas nearest the Tzigane. How they all enjoyed that afternoon—even Juliet, and Simone, who was suffering from pangs of jealousy because Joey and Grizel had foregathered at another table! Many of their friends were there—Herr Marani, who brought over Frau von Eschenau for a chat with Madge; the Mensches, who had a table nearby; Monsieur and Madame Mercier with Suzanne and Yvette; and many others. As Grizel said afterwards, it was so unlike England. There were the gaily dressed Tzigane playing as though they were music-possessed; the merry cosmopolitan crowd seated at the umbrella-shaded tables; the vivid blue lake-waters before them; and, surrounding all, the great mountains, beautiful in the bright July sunshine.

Author:	Emma A [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I think that the bit in Island when Annis is running away and gets caught in fog and stranded on Vendell is fantastic - so scary and horrifying. And then there's a lovely scene when she wakes up the next morning safe and sound, and with friends. I also love that bit from the Innsbruck Christmas, Cestina - the part where Joey gives away her money to the poor girl so impulsively always brings a lump to my throat.

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EBD's best evocative writing http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6584

Author:	cestina [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I think your choice would have been my second one JayB. Once the school left the Tirol it lost so much for me though I went on enjoying the books to the very end.

Author:	Cosimo's Jackal [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Emma A wrote: I think that the bit in Island when Annis is running away and gets caught in fog and stranded on Vendell is fantastic - so scary and horrifying. And then there's a lovely scene when she wakes up the next morning safe and sound, and with friends. I also love that bit from the Innsbruck Christmas, Cestina - the part where Joey gives away her money to the poor girl so impulsively always brings a lump to my throat. Agreeing whole-heartedly on both of those. I find the Annis running away section absolutely chillingly well-written. Another frankly scary part I think is very well-written is when Robin and the other girls get entangled with the Jew-baiting mob. Was skimming Exploits for Grizel-related stuff, and I'd forgotten how much I like the entire half-term at the Sonnalpe, especially the tableaux at Die Rosen, and then later, the run up to and the dress rehearsal for the Christmas play, when the Annexe people come down to stay at the school. EBD does lots of descriptions of plays and tableaux throughout the entire series, but sometimes they can be dull set pieces. These ones are genuinely funny and involving, and full of little details about the characters and mad contrivances like (at Die Rosen) the girls having 'borrowed' Madge's priceless tablecloth and handmade lace baby coverlets. And the nativity play rehearsal is great fun, with Joey drying up and pricking her finger trying to pin on the Robin's angel wings. And the play just feels so integrated into the local community, with everyone from around coming, and Herr Braun skating across from the Kron Prinz Karl pushing his wife in a chair on runners!

Author:	JB [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
The Christmas scene from Jo of is essential Christmas reading for me. So many parts of Exile make me tearful and I think it was very brave of EBD to write in this way in a children's book.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
It was me who said that - so thankyou! I'm another who finds the scene where Jacynth reads Auntie's letter so, so sad. Another favourite is when Grizel tries to climb the Tiernjoch - I always feel as if I am there with them, experiencing the danger.

Author:	cestina [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
ChubbyMonkey wrote: It was me who said that - so thankyou! I thought it was but couldn't remember where so couldn't really check quickly

Author:	Mel [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I always find the descriptions in Head Girl of the madman and the sparkling salt-caves scary and chilling. Far-fetched maybe but reading as a child I found those passages compelling especially his 'eldritch shrieks.'

Author:	Abi [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
The bit where Grizel climbs the Tiernjoch - you get right into her mind and feel her fear. But also agree with all the bits above .

Author:	Alison H [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Definitely Christmas in Innsbruck. I also like the bit - sadly cut out of the pb - early on in School At when they arrive at the Innsbruck Bahnhof for the first time and it all seems so foreign and exciting to Grizel. We miss a lot of that these days, arriving at airports which look pretty much the same the world over and where signs and announcements tend to be in English as well as the local language and there are adverts for McDonald's and Starbucks no matter where in the world you are, and I just really enjoy reading about Grizel's reactions to it all. Other favourites - Auntie's letter in Gay, some of the funny family scenes (Sybil and Rix squabbling, the Maynard boys arguing about who's going to sit where in the minibus, Joey getting upset when she hears that Jem's engaged and doesn't at first realise that it's to Madge, the scrap between Mary-Lou & co and Phil Craven), the very moving scenes in Exile and Madge's "falling asleep to wake with God" explanation. Christmas in Innsbruck is my all-time favourite, though.

Author:	MJKB [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Christmas in Innsbruck for me too. I also love the begining of Reunion when Rosalie and Joey talk suspect that Grizel is suffering from some form of depression.

Author:	andi [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:20 am ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
For me, the bit that always gives me goosebumps is the 'Olim memnisse jubavit' line at the end of Exile.

Author:	Alison H [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:34 am ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
andi wrote: For me, the bit that always gives me goosebumps is the 'Olim memnisse jubavit' line at the end of Exile. I think that's the only line of book 1 of the Aeneid which I can actually remember from A-level Latin (no, I don't know why I did A-level Latin either, but I did)! It became a class joke - one day even A-level Latin would be a joy to remember, not - but it always makes me think of Joey ... if I'm in a certain mood it even makes me cry when I read that bit of Exile.

Author:	andydaly [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing SPOILERS IN WHITE
Not even one of the best books, but in Chalet School Triplets, EBD's description of the woman who kidnapped Cecil going out searching for her dead little girl, who the woman believes is lost rather than dead, rings with truth and poignancy for me. Just a couple of lines, but enough allow an insight of how thoroughly tragedy and despair can destroy a person. Again, a brave thing to treat of in a book intended for children.

Author:	Tan [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Even now the letter from Aunty causes me to well up in sympathy with poor Jacynth. I do love the Innsbruck Christmas, more so having spent Christmas in Innsbruck (sadly sans snow - it was a couple of years ago when we had the warmest winter ). I also thought that the scenes in Exile with the Jew baiting were sadly probably very close to what did happen prior to WWII.

Author:	trig [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Alison wrote Quote: andi wrote:For me, the bit that always gives me goosebumps is the 'Olim memnisse jubavit' line at the end of Exile. I think that's the only line of book 1 of the Aeneid which I can actually remember from A-level Latin (no, I don't know why I did A-level Latin either, but I did)! It became a class joke - one day even A-level Latin would be a joy to remember, not - but it always makes me think of Joey ... if I'm in a certain mood it even makes me cry when I read that bit of Exile. Agree with both bits! So much of Exile is so well written that I'd say almost the whole book - the bit where Frieda jumps up in front of everyone and tells how a CS girl saved Bruno and Friedel is a hanky bit as well. The jew-baiting scene is horribly realistic and EBD was brave to have the Goldmanns and the priest die in spite of the girls' efforts. I rate Three Go very highly too - some of the time EBD is cringe-worthy when writing about younger girls but here all of the scenes are well written and entirely believable. This was the first CS book I read and I was hooked from the start! To be a Mistress of the Inkwells sounded much better than my school...

Author:	JS [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I love the Christmas in Innsbruck bit, and also the scene in Rivals where The Robin rouses Joey with the Red Sarafan, although I know it's been much parodied (thank you Aquabird). Another scene that really sticks in my mind is in Three Go when Mary-Lou is being shown around the orchard and given apples. And, call me shallow, but I love the description of Joey being dressed for the parade through Belsornia in Princess, down to her hair being brushed so it shone like raw silk, which I always conflated in my mind with the dress being silky too. Christmas in Innsbruck is probably the winner for me - I try to re-read it most Christmas Eves. Edited to say thanks for starting this topic. It's lovely

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
The story in 'Triplets' I've only read once, but I found it so moving at the time. I think also when the Balbinis hear that they were too late is another horribly poignant moment - it was brave of EBD not to grant them a last minute grace and get them back just in time, but so, so sad too.

Author:	Mrs Redboots [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Definitely Christmas in Innsbruck, and Auntie's last letter - I always weep over that one. And the bit where Jo is dying in RIVALS - before Robin comes to sing - and Dick and Jem are trying, and failing, to be stiff-upper-lippish about it. There's some lovely writing in THE SCHOOL BY THE RIVER, which is this week's book in the Formal Discussions board. This almost at random: Quote: It was a glorious morning; the early morning sun had risen, and was driving away the mists which had risen from the river overnight, and every railing and tree was bespangled with glimmering drops of water. Spiders had woven their gossamer threads between the railings, which were hung with these delicate diamonds, and the sky was a clear, steadfast blue. Underfoot, the falling leaves rustled in a carpet of crimson and yellow and brown and made a pleasant noise.

Author:	cestina [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:45 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I haven't read School by the River yet - I must work out how to get a transcript - but some of what has been posted has reminded me of the works of Violet Needham, who is one of my favourite authors (after EBD of course ) I'm sure there must be other fans of hers on the Board. Am I right in thinking there are some similarities?

Author:	JayB [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Quote: There's some lovely writing in THE SCHOOL BY THE RIVER The descriptions of the scenery on Jennifer's train journey at the beginning, and of Mirania and Valnich, are so vivid and so detailed that it seems as if EBD was writing about a journey she had actually taken, and real places she had actually seen. Assuming she never visited a small kingdom in the Balkans , could she have been basing the descriptions of places she saw in Austria? Did she go anywhere other than the Achensee? Or is Mirania purely imaginary?

Author:	cestina [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:04 am ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Many thanks for the transcript help - one is now safely lined up on the list of important things to do today

Author:	Simone [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Glad to be of help!

Author:	mohini [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I love this from Gay where Jacynth describes the house. Quote: Gay noticed her expression, and nudged her. ‘Like it?’ she asked. ‘It’s beautiful,’ said Jacynth gravely. ‘I saw the photos, of course, but I’d not idea it would look like this. It – it reminds of a great lady, somehow. Do you know what I mean? Someone who’s grown old and doesn’t mind being old, because she knows that even now she is beautiful.’ I also liked the Genius where there is description of Nina sitting and playing in a cold room with no fire. One can almost imagine the scene. Sorry have to leave now.

Author:	Josette [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Lots of my favourite bits are the ones already mentioned from Exile - the 'olim meminisse juvabit' and the bit where Frieda leaps forward to tell the girls about how a Chalet girl was part of the reason for Friedel's and Bruno's escape. I also love Frieda's and Joey's reunion - it's only the words "Joey - oh Joey, liebchen!" which doesn't seem much but I can hear Frieda's voice so clearly here. Again, Three Go has been mentioned already but I do love the descriptions both of Mary-Lou's life in Cornwall and her exploration of the new garden at Howells - EBD seems to be in no hurry to get her to the school itself, and just lets the story unfold. I also think Mary-Lou's response to being told of her father's death is very believable - feeling that she ought to feel much sadder than she does, but can't because she doesn't remember him - and then worrying that she has to show her mother and Gran she cares by "kissing them all the time and things like that"! EBD doesn't write about people as young as ten very often, and I think she gets inside ML's head really well here.

Author:	cestina [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Josette wrote: "Joey - oh Joey, liebchen!" I cry whenever I read those words. Also when Robin is insisting on singing to Joey, lying, dying.....

Author:	LizzieC [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Jack's death in Highland Twins does it for me - specifically the chapter in which the telegram arrives. Not so much the parts after. But the arrival of the telegram, and what comes after always gets me. That life can be so ordinary one minute and completely changed a minute later. I know it seems rather overdone, but I find Jo's inital reaction completely believeable (as is the reaction of Robin and Daisy and their attempts to cope) and the whole thing must have been terribly familiar to a number of her readers at the time who had seen similar scenes play out in their own homes throughout the war.

Author:	Alison H [ Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I think Bernhilda and Kurt's wedding is beautifully written. There's a bit that's quite emotive about Bernhilda stopping for a last goodbye to the parents who've looked after her and cared for her all her life, which is a reminder of how young the earliest CS girls were when they married and how they more or less went straight from the schoolroom to being wives and mothers and running their own homes. And then the whole thing about Grossmutter being seriously ill but not wanting the rest of the family to know until Bernhilda and Kurt had left, because she didn't want to spoil their big day, and them having to send all the guests home whilst they go and sit with Grossmutter as she dies, but knowing that she's ready to go and believes that she'll be reunited with her husband and Natalie, just always gets me.

Author:	valerievengeance [ Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Christmas in Innsbruck is definitely my favourite, ever since I first read it as a little girl. It's been a very long time since I read it, as I don't have a copy, but there were some descriptions in Camp that I was bewitched by, and that were the spur for me joining Guides.

Author:	Billie [ Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
I'm rereading the series in order - as well as I can with my incomplete collection (and oh! it is hard not to skip onto my shiny new GGBP Exile that is sitting on the desk!) and found in Rivals a couple of scenes very powerful: when Joey is in the water rescuing Maureen but growing weaker and knowing she can't last much longer, and afterwards, the scene when Dick turns up, seeming so much older, and Jem tells him he thinks Joey won't see the afternoon. Simple, but very, very powerful.

Author:	Mrs Redboots [ Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: EBD's best evocative writing
Billie wrote: and afterwards, the scene when Dick turns up, seeming so much older, and Jem tells him he thinks Joey won't see the afternoon. Simple, but very, very powerful. Oh, that bit makes me cry every single time!!!