The CBB :: View topic - Jo of the Chalet School

#1: Jo of the Chalet School Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 11:41 am

Again, the synopsis hasn't been carried over. Is Joey naughty but nice, or a bit of a brat? What do you think of Dr. Jem's arrival properly on the scene, and his and Madge's relationship? Does the Robin seem more like 3 than 6, or has EBD got her spot on? Was Captain Humphries doing the right thing for his daughter, or was he heartless to leave her with strangers? Do you like her relationship with Joey? How about the rescue of Rufus and of Robin from the stream? It's also the book of the magical Innsbruck Christmas, and Joey states her intention to become an 'authoress'! Anything else?

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

Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 4:22 pm

*starts the ball rolling*

This is my favourite book from the series, probably because it was one of the first I read, and was the first hardback of the series I read. I like Jo in this book- she's naughty, gets in a temper, can be careless and definately impulsive- in short, a typical school girl. This is why she seems more believable to me than later on in the series. Although one thing that does annoy me is that Madge seems to get really annoyed with her but forgives her easily- from what I can remember, her exploits usually end in some sort of accident and so Madge feels she has been punished enough Rolling Eyes

Despite that, Jo is one of my favourite characters in this as she does seem so real and the scene when she rescues Rufus is one of my favourites.
I think EBD protrays Robin as younger than she really is which can get annoying but for the most part, it's nice to see Jo looking after her and it makes her more responsible.
I think the way Jem seems to arrive on the scene just when he is needed (such as the ice carnival) is a bit too perfect, but it's nice to see Madge's relationship with him grow, and I like the hints Jo keeps giving about how she thinks it will end, such as when the flood happens and she wishes Jem was there and Madge blushes- lovely scene to me!
Despite this, I wish in a way that EBD had waited a few more books to marry Madge off (although I know it doesn't actually happen for another book or so) as it would have been nice to see her in charge for a while longer.

Love the Innsbruck Christmas, one of my favourite scenes of the series and like Jo's attempts at becoming a writer- she makes funny mistakes which would be natural but it shows her determination to do what she loves.

Phew! Think that's about it lol Laughing

#3: Author: Amanda M, Location: Wakefield

Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 4:28 pm

I have to say that this is one of my favourite Chalet School books. You can really see the Chalet School shaping up from its first term. I'm not incredibly enamoured of Joey in this book, she does seem brattish at times - and how many times does she become poorly?! It seems as almost every chapter she's caught a chill or almost killed herself on the ice Wink

(A bit of an exaggeration, I know!).

I don't think Robin is described as the age that she is, she comes over as much younger than the 6 years old she is supposed to be.

I do love the description of the Christmas in Innsbruck, you get a feel for the time and place in which it is set.

I have to say that Joey seems to be very young to have set her heart on a career at an early age. She was fortunate that she got her first book published, many want-to-be authors never get published.

Star Wars

#4: Re: Jo of the Chalet School Author: Rachel, Location: West Coast of Scotland

Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 5:17 pm

Josie wrote:

Does the Robin seem more like 3 than 6, or has EBD got her spot on? Was Captain Humphries doing the right thing for his daughter, or was he heartless to leave her with strangers?

When I first read this book as a child, I never really thought much about the Robin - she was one of the "little ones" and therefore I didn't really look too closely at how she was being portrayed. Now however, I read it much differently - she definitely doesn't come across as six! Even my own child with a very young mental age didn't act like that at the age of six!

Captain Humphries is in a difficult position. No family, no friends (or so he believes) he is planning on leaving his little girl with complete strangers. The fact that it turns out that HE knows the strangers doesn't make it any better for Robin. But under the circumstances, what else could he do? This is very much the pre-war era when the benefits system didn't exist. He HAD to work to get money. If he hadn't taken the job in Russia, I suppose he could have taken something nearer at hand, but whatever he did, he was going to have to get somebody else to take care of his child - and pay that person. I imagine he could have taken any job, but he had to get one that would provide enough money to pay for his own needs, Robin's needs AND pay for Robin's care whilst he was out working. 1930s is also depression era - were well paid jobs easily available? Could he have done anything else? I don't LIKE the fact that he seems to leave Robin so causally, but I can see why he would HAVE to.

(Forgive the rambling - I am coming down with Katarzyna's cold which she passed through the modem to me!)

#5: Author: elise, Location: Zurich

Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 5:42 pm

I love the magical Innsbruck Christmas in this book but always thought it was so mean they got presents for everyone except Gottfried! Poor guy, he's left to carry the cases, pay the taxi etc and doesn't even get a slab of chocolate...

I think Jo comes over as very realistic in this book but it does show a nasty side to her character especially when she bullies Marie into the ice skating affair. It does show how strong a leader she is though.

The Robin and Rufus in the water incident always seems like a bit of a non event. I like that Grizel seems to be friends with Wanda after 'losing' the bad Juliet. I always thought Wanda and her whole family seemed really friendly and would offer Grizel another place to turn besides Jo and Madge, though of course she stays closer to them.

Dr. Jem seemed nice in this book, a bit bossy but no real indication of his future autocratic nature, or maybe it's just that Madge is still her own woman at this point?

#6: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 9:48 pm

This is one of my favourite comfort reads. Yes Jo can be brattish but it must have been a big change for her to share her sister. I think Robin is the baby EBD would have loved to have had and probably didn't dare make her younger than 6 to allow her to be left at a boarding school but did want her to be young so makes her out to be a lot younger than she really is. Jo is far better with her than she is with her own kids later. The Christmas scene is my most favourite ever. Such a happy family Christmas but it also shows how thing were in the past with the grandmother's tales.

#7: Author: Sarah_G-G, Location: Sheffield (termtime), ? any other time!

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 9:20 am

I'm another one for whom this book is a favourite. The school is still small enough to have a family atmosphere to it, which is increased by the Christmas scenes in Innsbruck. Joey can be a bit of a brat but she's a nice brat, I think! Yes, she's undisciplined, impulsive and can even be a bit of a bully but her good points also come through. I think what always appeals to me most about Joey is that she's a very vivid character so that everything she does and every aspect of her charcter shines through, particularly in the earlier books like this one. In this book I really feel she could step out of the pages and be a real little schoolgirl. I also like seeing Madge as a real person in this book, who is excited about becoming an aunt for the first time and then lives with the Mensches at Christmas. The Robin is less realistic for a child of 6(!) but is very cute nevertheless. I can't decide about Captain Humphries as I'm sure he saw it as having no other choice, especially in a time where men would have rarely been actively involved in the day to day bringing up of the children, but he is still abandoning his child in a foreign country with complete strangers (and let's face it, it was more luck than judgement that led him to leave the child with someone he knew even vaguely). I can't decide whether or not I'm being slightly hypocritical to say it's fine that he left his child in that way but it was terrible for the Carricks to do so. *shrugs* I know that they did it in a deceitful manner where he felt he had justification and did intend to stay in touch but the end result isn't all that different.

#8: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 11:37 am

I suppose the difference between the Carricks and Captain Humphries is that 'Uncle Ted' made it clear what his situation was, whereas the Carricks simply up and left, dumping their daughter on Madge's hands without asking any sort of permission. And then Captain Humphries did know Herr Anserl ('his old friend') so he didn't leave Robin with complete strangers. That he ended up leaving her with additional friends is luck (or good storytelling Wink

)

#9: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 12:53 pm

In the days in which the book was set, young children such as the Robin were expected to be young children, and behave accordingly. Remember, no television, and the girls at school would not have much contact with the outside world, no access to such things as comics so they would stay as infants for much longer.

#10: Author: Ruth, Location: Physically: Lincolnshire, England. Inwardly: The Scottish Highlands

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 2:13 pm

Jo is naughty but nice - a wee bit aggrevating at times. I think the Robin appears as her own age - don't forget, children were allowed to be children for much longer than they are nowadays. I love the way Dr. Jem appears on the scene at the ice carnival. He could have killed Joey if had really fallen on her!! I think it is nice to see the relationship between him and Madge grow and the way Joey receives the news at the end - Jem would not have been very pleased if Madge had been drowned by his future sister-in-law!!!! I too love the bit of the flood where Joey wishes aloud that Jem was there and Madge blushes. One of my most favourite scenes is Christmas in Innsbrucke. It is very beautiful and you can feel the joy that the children feel.
I don't feel that Captain Humphries did the wrong thing by leaving the Robin at the school - he certainly could not have taken her to Russia with him and Madge was the best person to leave her with. I just love the way Joey adores the Robin and vice versa. This is one of my most favourite books - I love the Tirol years.

#11: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 5:18 pm

I was going to say the same as Jennie, but she got in first! I think reading the books now, especially with the idea of School At being set in 1930 rather than 1924, we tend to forget how much things have changed - and how much they changed even in that 6 year period. I've never particularly thought of the Robin as being an unrealistic 6 year old because that's pretty much how a child would have acted then. Besides which, I always loved the cuteness of the Robin anyway and was quite upset when she learned how to pronounce the English 'J'! Very Happy

As for the book, again it's a book I don't tend to pick up out of order, but when I do read it, I enjoy it. I love the Christmas scene, and still harbour an ambition to spend at least part of Christmas time somewhere in Austria! I find it hard to condemn Captain Humphries for leaving Robin - he really did have no other choice if he was going to take up the post in Russia (though what he was actually doing there has been discussed elsewhere!). I like joey rescuing Rufus - it's exactly the sort of thing she would do, even at that early stage, and sort of sets the stage for all her other rescues (including Robin). And I almost always like Joey, though I will concede that this book doesn't always show her in a pleasant light.

#12: Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess

Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:03 pm

I like this book quite a lot.
In it joey is probably more realistic than in the later books, she is just a typical school girl
Robin is definately potrayed as younger than 6!!
I think the fact that Dr. Jem always seems to arrive at just the right time is a bit coincedental (sp?)
It might at first seem a bit mean of Captain Humphries to leave the robin but if you think about it a bit more you can easily understand his point of view. He needed to get money but could hardly take his 6 year old daughter to Russia with him, could he?
I think the rescue of Rufus by Jo is a good example of how realistic she is in this book.
When Robin falls in the stream I don't really understand why walks are forbidden to go there although I do understand why they can't go and play with their paper dolls there Exclamation

I think that's about all Exclamation

Ruth

#13: Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:09 pm

For my part I agree with Jennie that the Robin is realistic. My little nephew is six at the moment and I can’t see a lot of difference between the way he acts and the way the Robin does. What annoys me is the ‘the’ before her name. It would have worked better without.

Jem is autocratic even at this early stage. I wonder why EBD gave his name as ‘Mr’ in School at. She mustn’t have decided on the San. link at this point, although it is pretty clear from School at that she had decided on his marriage to Madge. The crossover from Mr to Dr is a little unbelievable.

The Christmas scene is my most favourite comfort scene ever and for ages, when I was a child, I wished that someone would buy me a really good fountain pen! (I never got one *sniff sniff*.) Gottfried also appeared in my 12 year old head as a most handsome specimen! The pinafores are my favourite part, and also the beautiful dresses that Dick sends over. I do think that Dick could have made the trip over to introduce Mollie instead of just writing a letter. I mean, how many times in your life do you get engaged?

The competition that Jo wins near the end is far too built up for what it is. Jem’s news was such an anticlimax, especially when you were expecting him to announce his engagement to Madge. I agree with Amanda M. that the most irritating thing about this book is Jo’s constant illnesses. Every chapter sees her rushed to bed with a hot water bottle and the bronchitis kettle!

The other thing I like about this book is Miss Durrant, who seems to have a jolly and definite character, something which Maynard and Mlle lacked for me. Madge treats her with more respect than she does the other two as well.

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

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 6:48 am

Róisín wrote:

Jem is autocratic even at this early stage. I wonder why EBD gave his name as ‘Mr’ in School at. She mustn’t have decided on the San. link at this point, although it is pretty clear from School at that she had decided on his marriage to Madge. The crossover from Mr to Dr is a little unbelievable.

Jem just introduces himself as 'Russell-James Russell' (shake not stirred Laughing

) in School at, so although EBD calls him Mr, that might just be an assumption on the part of Madge & Jo, from whose viewpoint the story is being told. He does seem to have a habit of turning up very conveniently when things go wrong in Jo of - something he loses the knack of in later books, or maybe he leaves that role to the unattached doctors!

Róisín wrote:

I do think that Dick could have made the trip over to introduce Mollie instead of just writing a letter. I mean, how many times in your life do you get engaged?

Yes, but wouldn't a trip from India in those days actually be weeks on a boat, and he was reliant on furlough for his time off, it's not like these days when you can just jump on a plane.

I agree with you about 'the' in front of Robin's name - she's always called 'Robin' to her face, so why add 'the' when talking about her - seems very strange.

I do like this book - it was the first I bought for myself (at a school bring and buy sale) and my copy is falling apart, but the school and the girls are still as fresh as in School at and there's so much going on in there - the rescue of Rufus, Christmas in Innsbruck, the start of singing lessons, country dancing - the book is just crammed with so many things.

Liz

#15: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:44 am

LizB wrote:

Yes, but wouldn't a trip from India in those days actually be weeks on a boat, and he was reliant on furlough for his time off, it's not like these days when you can just jump on a plane.

One would have thought so, but apparently the Viceroy of India (the ship Jo and Robin travel on in Gillian) only takes three nights or so.

#16: Author: Guest,

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:37 pm

KB wrote:

LizB wrote:

Yes, but wouldn't a trip from India in those days actually be weeks on a boat, and he was reliant on furlough for his time off, it's not like these days when you can just jump on a plane.

One would have thought so, but apparently the Viceroy of India (the ship Jo and Robin travel on in Gillian) only takes three nights or so.

Well, we can't blame that one on EBD, can we? Very Happy

But still, that would be impossible. I tried searching out the actual length of the trip- the best I could find in the QE11 from Bombay to Rome (I guess the best port from which to reach Austria by train) through the Suez canal, and it takes 19 days now. Now this is a cruise, so the pace is leisurely with several stops, but at least 10 of those days are completely at sea, and that's with a large, but modern ship. I imagine back in the 1930s the engines would have been less powerful, which might sailing times about the same on a smaller ship. And of course back then the ship would have had to make many stops for fuel and supplies and to pick/up drop off passengers. So even if we cut off a few days you're still talking at least a month, and possibly more of just travel time by sea- and you wouuld have to add in travel time by land at each end and time with the families- it would kake 2-3 months in all to be worth while.

And do you think Mollie (who was only about 18 at that time) would have been allowed to travel alone for that long with a man to whom she was not married? They would have had to bring along a chaperone of some kind, which would increase the expense, even if Dick could get the time off work.

#17: Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:25 pm

I like what you've done with the time and expense that travel involved but I disagree over whether Mollie would be allowed to travel with Dick, unmarried. Look at Madge travelling alone over to Austria to start a school, or for that matter, frolicking about the Tyrol with Jem before they're married. Allowing for that though, they could have travelled after marrying. (Unless she got pregnant straight away, which I think she might have...)

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