The CBB :: View topic - Adrienne at the Chalet School

#1: Adrienne at the Chalet School Author: Rachael,

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:49 am

Apologies for lack of new book last week ... but someone else could have started it!! There is no summary for this book Starters for discussion: Fave / worst scenes Is the Robin/Adrienne relationship coincidence too much? What do you think of Janet? Thoughts on Mary-Lou's role in this book? Views on the developing relationship between Reg and Len? Anything else?

#2: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:07 pm

I actually quite like this book, notwithstanding the flack it has received for its, hmm, *strained* coincidences, and I loved the scene at the beginning when Robin faces down the evil concierge. As for the relationship between Robin and Adrienne, no, it's quite ridiculous. Furthermore, I could never understand how it's all worked out because the two of them look alike, when they both look like their respective mothers and are related through their fathers!! Oh, well, that's EBD for you - I guess she didn't have a particularly strong grasp of genetics. Len and Reg. Ah, Len and Reg. How I love them! I think this is the first book where we see Len's feelings about Reg, and I though I would quote it here:

Quote:

Len nodded. Then she said a very unexpected thing. "Auntie Hilda, do you think Josette is too young to be married? She's not quite nineteen." The Head looked at her thoughtfully. "I don't think age has a great deal to do with it after all. What matters more is if you've met a man you feel you could bear to spend the rest of your life with - seeing him at breakfast every morning, putting up with his whims and fancies - and that is a matter for both sides, let me tell you. Remember that marriage is for life. When your time comes, Len, think long and think hard and be very sure - as sure as you can be. And now," she went on in another tone, "you must go. I have plenty to do and so, I imagine, have you. If you want to discuss this with me, let me know and we'll find time for a talk together. Now be off!" Len departed to pull on waders and oilies before splashing her way the slushy mess on the ground. Her cheeks were very pink and there was a light in her eyes that would have told the Head or her mother that she had left the last of her childhood behind her with that brief chat. The Head's words had settled for her a question which had been on the nebulous side with her till then. Now she knew where her future seemed to lie. "But, of course, I must do as she says - think long and think hard. But I somehow believe that all my thoughts will end one way."

And of course, there's Reg being a SLOC at the end with the fire. I think it's nice. Len's what? 17? 18? in this book, old enough and mature enough to have serious romantic feelings for Reg, and I think it's quite believable. Whether them getting engaged in *Prefects* was wise and whether the relationship would have lasted, who knows, but it comes across as being genuine enough.

#3: Author: Elzbie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:35 pm

I love the bit when Ribin faces the evil concierge too. It's quite dark, really, with all the hints as to what might have happened to Adrienne if she had not been rescued. I'm always a bit suprised that Adrienne is not more worldly-wise at the school, as she has led quite a life. I suppose, though, that it would not quite fit with the innocence of the girls as a whole- and with her status as the main character in the book.

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

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:16 pm

I thought the beginning was great, mainly because it's different to the rest of the series and it was nice to see a new girl who wasn't English for a change! But once it got into the 'new-girl-makes-an-enemy' storyline, I thought it became a stock Swiss CS book. And by this stage I was starting to get a bit fed up of Mary-Lou popping up all the time - I know Joey and Jack are effectively family to her, but she seems to be hanging around far too frequently considering it's been three years since she left the CS proper.

#5: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:53 pm

I like this book, it is so much better than its immediate predecessor, although Adrienne and Robin looking so much like their mothers but related through their fathers is a bit annoying. However everyone says my brother is the dead spit of my dad but he (brother) and a cousin of ours look very similar. His grandfather (cousin's) was our maternal grandmother's brother ie the relationship is through mum. So maybe EBD wasn't so mad after all.

#6: Author: Elzbie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:16 am

It is all a bit of a coincidence, I'd love to make a big family tree of all that lot- or has it been done already? Poor old Janet- I think the bit where Allie and co. happily point out how jealous she is in front of the whole splashery (having a conversation about the girl as if she isn't there) is enough to drive anyone to extreme measures! And maybe she does have a point.... Adrienne does learn German incredibly quickly- almost as quickly as Theodora! By the way, I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but in the plate/picture in the front of the 1965 HB, Adrienne looks rather like Joan Collins......!

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

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:54 am

I love the way the tiny Robin faces up to that horrible woman! That would have to be my favourite scene. It is nice to find out in the end that Adrienne is not without relations. I like the way Len is really growing up in this book. Reg being quick off the mark at the fire is very good to. I don't think much of Janet - what's wrong with being quick at picking up a language you have never heard before?

#8: Author: Amanda M, Location: Wakefield

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 10:39 am

I quite like the beginning of Adrienne. It's quite a dark beginning (for EBD) and it hints at the awful life Adrienne might have had to endure if the nuns hadn't taken her under their wing. The main problem with Janet, for me, is that she's somebody who's suddenly dropped into the book to create a rival for Adrienne. You don't hear about her before this book, and I'm pretty sure you don't here about her afterwards. I think it might have been a bit more credible if EBD had used another character that we were already familiar with. I also couldn't see why Janet was getting so worked up about having to share the honours of being top of the form. I also got a bit annoyed about Mary-Lou popping up all the time with her pearls of wisdom, but that's just my thoughts. All in all, an OK book, not one of the best, nor one of the worst. Star Wars

#9: Author: Elzbie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:59 pm

That's a really good point, Amanda M- Janet isn't a main character before, which is quite suprising as when she's not being mad, she sounds like she should be- very clever, top of form, friends with everyone etc ('a real chalet school girl'!). I just re-read the book, and it struck me that Adrienne herself also felt like a filler character- she is too good to be true, a bit like the heroine of Joeys first attepmt at a book. The real 'characters' in this are Allie and Co- maybe EBD was setting up further books where they would lead the school?

#10: Author: Guest,

Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:41 pm

I agree with that, Elzbie. Ailie etc do seem more 'real' compared to Adrienne, who comes across as too perfect. Again, a similar sort of plot used as Barbara, Theodora etc- new girl settles in fine, makes friends with the most popular characters, a problem occurs with a girl already at the school being jealous of her, everything gets resolved, they become friends in a 'mild sort of way.' Rolling Eyes

Also thought the relationship between Adrienne and Robin a bit hard to believe, but I do like the fact we get to see Robin again, and how she is getting on as a nun. Liked the way the Len/Reg relationship is working out. Think EBD handled it well in this book, whatever happens later on. The scene after the fire where they gaze into each others eyes is almost as romantic as the infamous SLOC incident Wink

And love Jack's comment about if Reg finds all in Len that he found in Len's mother he'll be a lucky man! (always want to go 'awww' at that point lmao). All in all, I did like this book, even though the plot has been used before Smile

#11: Author: Steph, Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:42 pm

Sorry, that was me, forgot it had signed me out Rolling Eyes

#12: Author: Amanda M, Location: Wakefield

Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:44 pm

Sorry to be an ignoramus, but can anyone tell me what the SLOC incident was, and what it stands for? Confused

Thanks.

#13: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:56 pm

stands for Solid Lump Of Comfort (aka Jack in Exile)

#14: Author: Amanda M, Location: Wakefield

Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:28 pm

Thanks for that - it all makes sense now Smile

#15: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 1:15 am

I quite like this book too - I agree about the beginning, it is different, and quite scary really, with the hints about Adrienne's future if she had been left with the concierge - or is the adult me reading more into it than EBD intended? As for the new girl makes an enemy, this was one of the first, if not the first CS book I ever read so that particular plot didn't seem over used at that point. I've always felt that the relationship between Robin and Addrienne was contrived, it's one of the thhings that really annoyed me, I have to admit though, that the fact that there shouldn't have been any family resemblance totally passed me by until I discovered this board! What I really want to know though, is what happened to Addrienne afterwards? She was supposed to have been Joey's ward, I think, but there's no mention of her ever being with the Maynards again after the ending of this book. I know she was going to visit Robin in Canada, but she couldn't have gone there every holiday, surely?

#16: Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:48 pm

If I was forced to choose a least favourite, this would fight with Summer Term. I too like the beginning, but for me it just doesn't live up to its promise. Robin, whom I always loved, vanishes back into obscurity (and why did no-one visit her when she was in France?). It also annoys me that it's Mary-Lou who spots the resemblance between Adrienne and Robin. Mary-Lou knew Robin at a distance for a few years when she was a kid. Joey lived with her for many years.And I don't like the way Janet, whom we've never heard of before, is thrust into prominence for a negative reason. Maybe this is unreasonable of me, but if it had been a character we already knew this plot line would have annoyed me less.All the wards except the Richardsons are pretty much ignored. Claire is the youngest child, not Geoff & Phil, but she isn't paraded when visitors come. And Erica & Adrienne don't take visitors home for half term, unlike the trips and Ruey. Discrimination, that's what it is.

#17: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:11 pm

I always think EBD allowed Jo to adopt all these wafs and strays so that a child connected to Jo would be prominent in the storylines after the triplets left school. With the end of the series where it was we never saw that, also like other characters introduced for various reasons they are unceremoniously pushed back into the background and forgotten about.

#18: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:40 pm

That's a point. Especially with Claire! I too always liked Adrienne, and there are some bits I really enjoy. OK, it's predictable but stille enjoyable. I liked the stuff with Robin, and the Len and Hilda scene Liss quoted is one of my favourites out of the entire series. I may not re-read the whole book, but I do re-read that scene. And Prudence in the shower! (shower?! what shower!!) Having said that, from one perspectibe I can kind of understand where Janet was coming from. Not the accusations of cheating or calling Adrienne Adder- that's just nasty, but her feelings about it. It might be that she wasn't as confident as she seemed and her academic ability was the one thing she really felt sure of, so when Adrienne thratened her supremacy as top of the form, she felt personally insulted. Sorry I'm not making any sense- I've been writing essays all day and now i can't type straight.

#19: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:51 pm

Lisa_T wrote:

Having said that, from one perspectibe I can kind of understand where Janet was coming from. Not the accusations of cheating or calling Adrienne Adder- that's just nasty, but her feelings about it. It might be that she wasn't as confident as she seemed and her academic ability was the one thing she really felt sure of, so when Adrienne thratened her supremacy as top of the form, she felt personally insulted. Sorry I'm not making any sense- I've been writing essays all day and now i can't type straight.

You do make a lot of sense... I know I've felt that in my time... I've never been quite so open about my feelings though!!

#20: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:17 am

Lisa_T wrote:

And Prudence in the shower! (shower?! what shower!!)

*g* That is such a good point!! A few more showers and the whole morning routine would have been sooo much quicker!!

#21: Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 3:39 pm

Ah but how would they have coped with their hair?!! I could just see some naughty Middles 'accidentally' getting their hair wet! I have wondered what happens to Adrienne after this but it crossed my mind that since she was Ailie's friend, it is possible that when Madge and Jem returned from Australia, she went home with Ailie for the hols. I was puzzled by the lack of references to her in following books - though I believe she got a mention in Challenge, didn't she? But also Erica and Adrienne were both older than Felicity and younger than the trips so I wonder if EBD planned to concentrate on them as time went on? Were they a way of filling the years between The trips and Flixy?

#22: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:43 pm

I do like the start of this book, especially when Ailie rushes over to great Robin in Paris (although Robin is quite insensitive saying she'd forgot Ailie was going to be there). I do like the treasure hunt and the half term activities. I could never understand the relationship between Robin and Adrienne when I was younger, thw way they were related was very similar to how the Richardson's were related to Daisy.

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