The CBB :: View topic - The Chalet School Does It Again

#1: The Chalet School Does It Again Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:38 am

A summary can be found here. So: What's your favourite scene? Least favourite? Is Prunella's behaviour really believable? What do you think of her and Len's relationship?

#2: Author: jennifer, Location: Sunny California

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:56 pm

I rather liked this book. I think it's one of the more believable 'redemption' storylines. Prunella comes out of her shell relatively gradually, and through natural interactions with her peers, rather than the machinations of Mary-Lou. Favorite scene: I enjoyed the scene where Len looses her temper. She's portrayed as much more human than she normally is, and more sympathetic. Least favorite: No violent dislikes, although the Con and Daniel and the Lions' Den is probably one of the more overated scenes in the books, and the poor girl never gets to live it down. I generally find the pantomime/pageant chapters boring, and skip over them quickly. They don't change a whole lot from book to book, and are much too detailed. I can see the motivation for Prunella's behaviour, but I really don't think that a girl that age could keep up that sort of behaviour for so long, and so convincingly.

#3: Author: Helen, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:27 pm

I'm afraid that the title Does It Again says quite abit about the book. For instance how Biddy O'Ryan met her future husband.The Prunella story is too unbelievable. No one could keep that up for a day much less weeks.I did like the scene with Len losing her temper. It does show a more human side to her.I do agree about the Daniel bit the lion part. Though I think I probably had a smile at it when I first read it is not all that witty.I suppose I would put it as a middling book, a pleasant enough read.

#4: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:42 am

it's ages since I read this one (got it out of the library). I can't remember much about it apart from that I liked Prunella's story. At least it's a bit different to other new girls.

#5: Author: Ruth, Location: Lincolnshire, England

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:20 pm

My favourite scene would have to be when Margot falls in the Lucerne and Prunella dives in to rescue her. Another favourite would have to be when Len looses her temper - she comes over less perfect and more human! And 'Daniel Bit the Lions'! I don't really dislike any scenes in this book (or if I do I can't remember any!). Prunella's behaviour is rather too unreal and unbelievable - a girl of her age would not be able to keep that up. Rather repetative - mistress meeting doctor and ending up marrying him - although I am glad Biddy O'Ryan meets someone like Eugen (I am also glad that he is not an English doctor- a Swiss one makes a nice change!) In all I liked this book.

#6: Author: Chickpea,

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 6:12 pm

Quote:

I am glad Biddy O'Ryan meets someone like Eugen (I am also glad that he is not an English doctor- a Swiss one makes a nice change!)

Is this the only instance of two nationalities marrying?

#7: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:17 pm

Juliet (anglo-indian) marries Donal O'Hara (an Irishman) but I think thats it

#8: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:19 pm

Maria Marani marries Walter Maclaren, possibly English or Scottish

#9: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:46 pm

I liked Does it Again (although i have just had to read the summary to remember it in detail!) I like Jo getting Bruno at the sale, and I find the pantomime funny, and I also like the way Len loses her temper. I don't like Margot's 'devil' being blamed for the accident again and I don't like the way that as soon as the middles get grumpy the immediate assumption is 'oh, they're ill'. Surely teenagers are allowed to be grumpy now and again? I actually quite like Prunella and her behaviour, although I agree that in real life she wouldn't have been able to keep it up for that long. I think its a novel way of getting back at someone though! [/i]

#10: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 10:11 pm

I loved 'Does it again' first time I read it, although I think that was cos GGb republished it whilst I was living in France sans CS books and it was the only one I had. Still like it now though. The whole Prunella biz was quite good, although how she kept it up so long I have no idea! Liked Len losing her temper, one of the few moments that I don't want to shake her for being so goody-goody. And after all the hoo-hah they make about Con's 'Daniel bit the lions' in the later bits I found it a bit disappointing to actually read it, wasn't that great Confused

Also liked the Lucerne bit, nice to see Biddy get a Swiss doctor rather than yet another English one. Can't think of anything else for now!

#11: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:30 am

Have to agree with you on the Con thing pim - the way it's so hyped up in all the other books, I was rather let down by the whole affair! I also have to hold up my hand and confess I skim the sale and panto, I don't really enjoy those because the same things happen in each, just to different people. Did enjoy the whole rescue scene, and I thought Len was extremely believable in her reactions to seeing her sister falling in the lake. Think Prunella's behaviour was understandable, but there's no way she'd have been able to keep it up for the length of time that she did. OK, maybe I'm judging her on my standards! Wink

Thought the friendship between her and Len was realistic though, and i'm glad it started as a result of the apology, and not because Prunella saved Margot from drowning.

#12: Author: Katarzyna, Location: Preston, Lancashire

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 6:12 pm

What's your favourite scene? Probably prunella diving into the lake to save Margot though the argument with Len is also good - it's just a pity it couldn't be resolved as an argument on it's own but had to be the result of Len coming down with flu - heaven forbid that one of EBD's favourites actually simply lost their temper! Least favourite? Joey getting bruno as a gift - sorry really gets on my nerves, dogs are not gifts, should never be gifts and the idea of handing someone a puppy and then them dumping it at home with a busy maid is just ridiculous (you think i'm stroppy on this subject - just wait till the next book where he gets slapped 3 times in a day for basically being a puppy) Is Prunella's behaviour really believable? Not at all, but then are any of the reformations really believable?? What do you think of her and Len's relationship? I actually don't have a problem with this, Len is the oldest of a long family and quite a lot more grown up in her outlook, Prunella has been bought up as a spoilt brat (sorry) and is probably quite young in hers, mentally the two are probably of a similar level therefore it's a much more realistic friendship than Clem and Mary-Lou's

#13: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 5:44 pm

Favourite scene - Margot falling in the lake. I also like Joey getting Bruno. I agree that dogs shouldn't be gifts but she seems to love him very dearly and never mistreats him so I think it's okay. The bit with Daniel bit the Lions is one of the few scenes in the series that really gets on my nerves cos I'm usually reluctant to criticise the books (I seem to be all alone in that respect). I personally couldn't see how Con could possibly say that even if she was in a dream and therefore it's just unfunny. I don't see how Prunella could have kept up her act for so long or how she could have been bothered. But I do quite like her redemption. I have a soft spot for sales and pageants. I find the Christmas plays very touching and I don't care how alike they are.

#14: Author: mohini, Location: india

Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 4:48 pm

I read this book thanks to Sindhu. I like this book. No least fave scenes. Though I do not understand why Emerence was thought to be the cause of Margot falling in lake. It was Margot's fault. one is not supposed to sit on railing. This is one book which does not describe the chalet by Tom in detail and I missed it. On the whole I liked the book specially since I got to read it and now I can recall when other books mention in footnote Does it again

#15: Author: Annie,

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:44 pm

Favourite scene: As always, I like the Sale scene best- can't really say why, but I always have and still do like the Sales however alike they are. Least favourite: Agreeing with Elisabeth, I often wonder- how on Earth could you say that Daniel bit the lions.If you were in a dream, you would eithher not hear or say part of your dream- or in this case the poem she is making up, or whatever it is. Prunella's behaviour: Well, yes it could happen, but the odds are extremely strong against it, so I very much doubt that someone could be like her. Prunella + Len:It is a bit stereo-typical-ish someone comes to the CS very priggish and unsatisfied, have an argument and major bust up with someone important like M-L or Len, rescue someone fragile from a life-or-death situation, Joey steps in and tells person how stupid they are, person realises this and says sorry. ???- familiar???

#16: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 9:51 pm

Worst part of the book in my opinion: Upon returning to Freudesheim following Margot's adventure at Lucerne, Joey thinks to herself: "Thank goodness I needn't do anything about Margot. It's Hilda's job!" This struck me as a bit odd. I'm sure if I'd fallen into the icy waters of a snow-fed lake my mum would have had plenty to say whether it happened on a school trip or not.

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