Two Sams at the Chalet School
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#1: Two Sams at the Chalet School Author: Rachael PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:13 am


A summary for this book may be found here Starters for discussion: Fave/worst scenes? The relationship between the two Sams?!! Do you feel they have too many "accidents" between them? To what extent do we see Con growing up? How do you like Nina being reintroduced in this way? Thoughts on Phil and her polio? Anything else?

 


#2:  Author: catherineLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:15 am


One of the things that struck me about this book - as indeed it does in others - is the responsibility of the Prefects and older girls. Henriette, Priscilla and others get into trouble over Samantha's accident and I remember wondering why there seemed to be no blame apportioned to the staff. The prefects are just girls themselves, after all, but as in other books, they seem to be expected to behave with the wisdom and thought of responsible people who are 10 years older! I do think it proves to be a sharp lesson to Con about daydreaming and not being fully aware of her surroundings. Phil's polio - I think the lack of proper mention of it in the books - other than a reference here and there, makes it very puzzling. The lack of miraculous recovery is realistic and I did love Bruno's gentleness and protectiveness towards her. I didn't really 'get' the fixation with Nina. It all struck me as rather odd and I didn't really understand why EBD decided to reintroduce Nina - other than to allow Samaris to learn an instrument, which she could have done anyway. The cat rescue? Boring. The relationship between the two Sams - stretching the long arm of coincidence a mite too far. I liked Samaris but Samantha struck me as being heedless and thoughtless. I think it would have been good to see her character developed properly. Not one of my favourite books.

 


#3:  Author: RuthLocation: Lincolnshire, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 1:29 pm


This is not one of my favourites. I the cat scenes are boring and there is too much mention of the wretched animals (I don't like cats) I love the way Bruno is so gentle with Phil. I like the way there is no sudden miraculous recovery (not that I like Phil being ill!! Just like the realisticality [is there such a word?!] of the situation) The relationship between Samantha and Samaris is really to far-fetched. The relationship between Robin and Adrienne is much more believable! {Adriennne} I don't know why Nina had to be reintroduced. I like Samaris but not Samantha. I do think that given time and more mention Samantha's character could have been developed and she could have become more bearable in time. Maybe Con will learn her lesson and daydream only when it is safe to and she is not in charge of any of the girls.

 


#4:  Author: RachLocation: Cheltenham, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:01 pm


Not one of my favourites - for some reason I don't care about the characters in the same way as I do in most of the other books.Worst scene: I find it hard to choose between them, but probably the excitement felt at the similarity of the girls' names, which I find very odd!Relationship between the Sams - it just seems too improbable and very bizarreIt's interesting seeing Nina reintroduced as an adult - I must admit I would have been a bit jealous too at the attention she gave to the SamsPhil's polio is treated very sensitively - instead of everyone knowing every detail, people have a vague idea which is probably quite realistic. And the fact that she doesn't have a miraculous recovery is very well described

 


#5:  Author: patmacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:37 pm


One thing I wondered about in this book is that (set around 1957) TB was being, the doctors thought, beaten by new drugs. A lot of Orthopaedic wards in sanatoria in the UK were taking in polio patients. Did EBD know of this and, if the series had continued later, would the San have converted to dealing with polio? I also wondered that Phil's polio wasn't a major story line, with Jo as major protagonist. Samaris and Samantha and their adventures just left me cold. they never felt like 'real' characters and their relationship was utterly unlikely. Having slated the book ( Embarassed ), it did move along at a fair pace and made a reasonable light bedtime read.

 


#6:  Author: jaceyLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:28 pm


I just read this in transcript recently. I've always assumed that the story of Phil's polio was in one of the books I hadn't read. It's a bit like the behind closed doors scenes in the study. I found this a really irritating book, coincidence just too much to take. Like PatMac I never felt the two Sams were "real" Rolling Eyes

 


#7:  Author: AlexLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:37 pm


The thing that annoys me most about this book is the fact that people think the two Sams must be related because the first four letter of their Christian names are the same. Nobody ever said, "Goodness! Valencia Pertwee and Valerie Gardner must be long lost cousins!" so why suddenly start it with the Sams?

 


#8:  Author: KateLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:29 am


Yes, that was totally ridiculous. It wasn't even as if it was the same name - say they were both called Samaris, I would have been surprised by that. But I'm not sure I'd even spot a connection between "Samantha" and "Samaris", (especially seeing as they were in different classes in a relatively big school) without it being pointed out to me.

 


#9:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:59 am


Alex wrote:
Nobody ever said, "Goodness! Valencia Pertwee and Valerie Gardner must be long lost cousins!" so why suddenly start it with the Sams?
Ohh I so agree with you Alex (and you too Kate)! Samantha is hardly an unusual name after all! All in all, like the rest of the later Swiss set, not one of my favourites as it is soo unrealistic. Even Redheads is better!

 


#10:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:57 am


I'm not particularly fond of this book and felt it was repeating old themes. I think when I finally got this in paperback, I was rather disappointed, I'd hoped for something more. I found the relationship between Samaris and Samantha too much of a co-incidence. One point though to EBD, Samantha would have been and exotic name, as until Bewitched was broadcast, I don't think there were many people called Samantha. So, it would have given rise to comment by EBD, etc. Never very clear why there should be the interest in Nina. All in all OK, but not the best, but then this was written some 40 odd years after the first and I'm not sure any of us could keep a high standard up for that long. I also wonder whether in later revisions it would have got better, but ill-health prevented EBD doing so. Ellen

 


#11:  Author: MihiriLocation: surrey england PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:23 pm


i liked the two sams as people but thought the actual story wasnt too great. It seems that in lots of books long lost relatives turn up and i thinki by now the theme is slightly overused

 


#12:  Author: MiriamLocation: Jerusalem, Israel PostPosted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 10:45 pm


I think the point about their names was becuase they were both new together (and the only new girls that term?). Thus when people were learning the new names, they could have been struck by the coincidence.

 


#13:  Author: MrsH PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 12:05 am


I'd have to say this isn't particularly high on my all time list. EBD seemed to be scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit with this one. At least we're spared ML (unless I managed to obliterate several chapters from my memory when she butted in and helped someone see things the CS way - which could be, I only have pb). Don't really have any favourite or otherwise scenes, but I did think the Sams relationship was interesting. They were both believable and I quite liked them. I did wonder at one point if EBD meant to develop them further, especially Samaris. She looked fleetingly as if she might be in line to fill the personality/leader girl gap before the next Maynard rolled along. The accidents were a tad frequent even for EBD, but at least they were edging towards plausible. The same cannot be said of the relationship between the girls. But this is EBD land. Not sure about Nina as she was never made that much impact on me to begin with, more of an excuse to make Rosalie's life miserable working out her timetable. Did anyone else feel that she was being slotted into the ML butt in gap at all? Just thought maybe EBD was trying to expand her cast of helpful adults. Yes, agree with everyone who thought Phil's polio recovery was moving. It's nice that she doesn't just bounce straight back to health and much more believable. Joey irriates me a lot in this one (generally true of the later Swiss books I fear). I nearly applauded when Hilda told her she couldn't just march off with Samaris as her parents had sent her to the CS to be educated! Long post - apologies. By a happy coincidence I just finsished reading it this morning.

 


#14:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 8:06 am


I think it's quite strange that Upper IVB should have their games time cut - being allowed only a brisk walk and then being expected to work, when the other books always emphasise the importance of exercise for the girls. Usually this would be the term when as soon as an opportunity arose lessons would be dropped and the girls would all be sent outside for some fresh air and exercise. Maybe the doctors at the san weren't consulted on this one! Liz

 


#15: two sams Author: mohiniLocation: india PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:30 pm


I liked this book.Maybe it is because I like families and always dream of meeting someone from family when I am away from home. It is really difficult to understand why an author has introduced a character again.Maybe she gets some new adventure and finds that the earlier character is not fit for it. Take for example the first book of EJO series.The central character of the Girls at Hamlet Club is side tracked in the subsequent books and is only mentioned a few times. Joan then takes over.

 


#16:  Author: JoeyLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 6:03 pm


This was one of the first CS I read, and the first hardback - it was in the school library. I actually put it back when I left, too, though in my five years there no-one else sniffed at it. What it is to be virtuous... Probably as a consequence of this, all the tired, hackneyed old themes didn't strike me as such, and I still have a soft spot for the book. I love cats, so any mention of them gets my vote of approval. Samantha's a common name now, but it wasn't then, so the names would have struck people. Also, alothough they are related, at least they aren't long-lost Bettany/Russell/Maynard connections. I like Nina as a character and think she gets neglected after Genius, so it's good to see more of her. Phil's recovery is moving and realistic, as is Joey's breakdown. I think this is one of her best scenes in the later books, as it shows her humanity. I agree about the prefects being given too much responsibility though. After all, they are only pupils. The staff are adults, and paid. For me, the good points of this book outweigh the bad.

 


#17:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:44 pm


I found the relationship co-incidence a bit much as well but didn't worry overmuch about it. I've always loved this book for the whole Phil/polio thing, and Joey's breakdown in the study always makes me go 'awwwww'. Actually, come to think of it, as one of the Hilda fans on the board, that's probably why I like this book- we get to see a good deal of her, though admittedly she's normally telling people off! Laughing I always felt rather sorry for Con, but she didn't really have an excuse- she's practically been brought up in the school and had lived in the mountains all her life. It wasn't even as if their supervising was anything heavy- all the prefects had to do was check that a mistress had passed the girls wanting to ski that slope, and then just generally supervise!

 




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