The CBB :: View topic - Althea Joins the Chalet School

#1: Althea Joins the Chalet School Author: Rachael,

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:46 am

There is a summary for this book here Starters for discussion: Fave/worst scenes? What do you think of Althea? Thoughts on Val Pertwee (and do you get confused between her and Val Gardiner?) How does this compare to the other "end of the series" books? Further insights on Len and Reg's relationship? Anything else?

#2: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:56 am

Quote:

Althea Mary Constance Helena Glenyon - yet another of those 'delicate' children. Her mother has to go on a cruise to convalesce, her father's going with her, and her aunt's getting married (to Clare Kennedy's cousin - we can see where this is going). Fiancé suggests Chalet School suggestion greeted with open arms (so to speak). Althea toddles off to spend first week at Freudesheim (Hilda Annersley having bullied Jo Maynard into looking after her).

That neatly summarises this one for me, as it's the only one I haven't read!! What a name the poor child's saddled with! Another delicate child? At the Chalet School? Surely not! Wink

Think maybe EBD was running a little thin on plot ideas?! Rolling Eyes

Or maybe she was just suffering from goldfish syndrome. 'Oh what a lovely plot bunny....oh what a lovely plot bunny....oh waht a lovely plot bunny"

#3: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:15 pm

The thing that most stands out for me about this book, is how the ending conficts with the beginning of Prefects, yet they both describe the same event. Maybe more evidence that EBD didn't write 'Prefeccts',

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

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:42 pm

Althea herself was a bit boring, IMHO. She's just a stock delicate new girl, and the only thing of any interest about her is the fact that Val dislikes her so much.

#5: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:27 pm

josie wrote:

Or maybe she was just suffering from goldfish syndrome. 'Oh what a lovely small sparkling purple leaf....oh what a lovely small sparkling purple leaf....oh what a lovely small sparkling purple leaf"

I'm in absolute agreement with everyone on this book - it's repetitive and not one of her best. But I do like the half-term events Very Happy

#6: Author: edith, Location: Aberystwyth or elsewhere mid-wales

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:08 pm

haven't read this one for a bit-i have to read it on Raya's site as I can't get most of the books and only have exile with me. but i'm getting a bit confused with val and val in a story i'm writing!

#7: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:12 am

Can't help thinking that Althea gets a bit of a raw deal with her parents (apart from the lenghty name!). First they just assume her aunt will look after her while they're away - and if the cruise is good for her mother's health and Althea's delicate why don't they take her and see if it does her good as well - then they seem willing to let her travel across Europe with a 17-year old girl they know nothing about. Ok, we know Len and know she's responsible but they wouldn't have a clue about that. Liz

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

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:12 pm

I like this one. One of my favourite scenes is when Len gets covered in paint. I like what we see of Len and Reg. I don't get the two Val's muddled up but it could be confusing if they were not given their surnames. I quite like Althea although to me she seems rather of the usual week new girl type.

#9: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:18 pm

I have confess that I was getting a bit bored with the 'new girl makes an enemy' plot line by the time I read this book. Whilst the earlier books seemed to focus on the school as an entity, the later books were a series of new girls. There are obviously a limited amount of stories for them partake in, but even so.

Totally random sheep, I was just testing them.

#10: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:56 pm

*giggles at the random sheep*

josie wrote:

Or maybe she was just suffering from goldfish syndrome. 'Oh what a lovely small sparkling purple leaf....oh what a lovely small sparkling purple leaf....oh waht a lovely small sparkling purple leaf"

What is this sparkling leaf thing? A drabble I missed, or the autocensor gone mad?!

#11: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:00 am

Grin! Liss set the autocensor so that 'PlotBunny' comes out as plot bunny

#12: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:11 pm

Vikki wrote:

Grin! Liss set the autocensor so that 'PlotBunny' comes out as small sparkling purple leaf

yeah, spotted that!!! Very Happy

Th0ought I'd gone mad and written something I didn't intend at first!

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

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:22 pm

Nothing really stands out to me in Althea. All that I remember is the beginning. It's not one of my favourites and is probably one of the boringist books of the series in my opinion.

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

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:33 pm

One bit I missed!!!!!!! I just love the burglar scene!!!!!

#15: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:36 pm

Yes, I loved Nancy Wilmot all through the half term bits. I loved her comments on the pink worm- giggling now at memory- and I loved her plonking herself down on the poor burglars head. I'm surprised she didn't get done for assault! Also intrigued by the sign language the girls used to communicate, but puzzled by the reference to prep. I thought it wasn't done for them communicate in any way then? Althea was a bit of a drip. Even drippier than Adrienne. Val is much more realistic, I think, and it's a rather classic Hilda scene when the Head sorts them out. However, Joey DOES seem to be going in for Number Twelve in this, doesn't she? Only it didn't materialise. Or maybe EBD died first.

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