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Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5962
Author:  Róisín [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
Joey Goes on Television is available as a transcript on the transcripts site - see the thread in Sales and Wants for details. If you would like to read the transcript and don't have access to the transcripts site, PM a mod and we will email you a copy.

As far as I can remember (please correct if I'm wrong!), this short story appeared in one of the Newslettersin the 1960s, so if you have a copy of the Newsletters from GGBP, then you also have reading access :D

So! Did you enjoy this story? Do you think it's a reflection on EBD's own experience on television (in the Newsletters also, and quoted in McClelland)? Would the job of a television secretary seem a likely one for Alixe von Elsen?! And what about the end of the story - is the British public ready to hear about Mary-Lou's 'archaeological adventures'?

Please join in the discussion below :D

Next Sunday: New Beginnings at the Chalet School
Author:  Carys [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
What really grates me about this story is Mary-Lou talking about Alixe von Elsen as if she knows her and was a naughty middle when M-L was HG...

I do find it intriguing about Alixe emigrating to Brazil though! I wish EBD had explored that a bit further!
Author:  Dreaming Marianne [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
Do you know, this felt very clunkily written to me - especially the "Brrring brring" at the beginning! A bit like when EBD writes about the theatre - it's all "darling", very stereotypical and how an outsider perceives it - not informed.
Author:  Nightwing [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
On the one hand, I was a little disappointed in this story - I don't like the style in which it's written, and I don't think EBD pulls it off convincingly. On the other hand, I think going on TV is the obvious next step in the CS's plans for word domination... :devil:
Author:  Mel [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
I don't think that EBD wtites short stories very well. Maybe she doesn't try as hard, but I think the annual 'novels' are weak too, I mean Tom, Rosalie and Mystery.
Author:  JB [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
Carys wrote:

Quote:
What really grates me about this story is Mary-Lou talking about Alixe von Elsen as if she knows her and was a naughty middle when M-L was HG...


On my recent reread of the later books, there were several such instances on pupils talking about former pupils they couldn't have known and they grated on me too. There are also reminiscences about events people didn't actually attend. There's one in Prefects or Althea when the triplets talk about a regatta on St Briavels, which Margot remembers, even though she was in Canada at the time :roll: . Then a couple of lines later on, Con says she wishes they'd been there but it was when they were in Canada (although I think she and Len may have still been in England).

This story disappointed me and I too feel that it's clunky, with too much dialogue. I don't see why Joey would be invited on television to talk about the Chalet School. Her books, yes, but not the school. It's a shame because it would have been a good way to find out more about how EBD felt when she was on television.
Author:  Sunglass [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
JB wrote:

On my recent reread of the later books, there were several such instances on pupils talking about former pupils they couldn't have known and they grated on me too. There are also reminiscences about events people didn't actually attend.


I always find this faintly creepy - like it's a sort of Borg Hive Mind - but I suppose you could 'realistically' (well, kind of) explain it away by the fact that every generation of CS girls is so thoroughly well-versed in all the school legends they feel they'd been there, and known the person in question as a naughty Middle or brilliant Head Girl. The triplets must particularly suffer from this, having heard every single piece of school minutiae from babyhood, and having a mother who features in an unfair percentage - I think I'd be trying to write myself into the legend too, in their place! But there is something Zelig-like about it.

JB wrote:

I don't see why Joey would be invited on television to talk about the Chalet School. Her books, yes, but not the school.


I just think EBD didn't get at some deep level that a TV audience wouldn't automatically be interested in the CS - I think she must have imagined people sitting glued to their televisions like CS new girls on their first Freudesheim tea party! - or that there are valid reasons why a producer might be interested in interviewing Joey which have nothing to do with the CS, but with her novels. I always find it quite hard to imagine Joey just functioning as professional author, talking about her books or doing signings or press without the context of the CS being referred to all the time...
Author:  Cat C [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Short Story: Joey Goes on Television
Sunglass wrote:
I just think EBD didn't get at some deep level that a TV audience wouldn't automatically be interested in the CS - I think she must have imagined people sitting glued to their televisions like CS new girls on their first Freudesheim tea party! - or that there are valid reasons why a producer might be interested in interviewing Joey which have nothing to do with the CS, but with her novels. I always find it quite hard to imagine Joey just functioning as professional author, talking about her books or doing signings or press without the context of the CS being referred to all the time...


I see what you mean, but I'm sure there are examples of celebrities now who get tired of being asked about stuff which has nothing much to do with whatever it is they've achieved... (Not that I can see Joey being unhappy about being asked about the CS, although that would be an interesting one to drabble "much as I find your interest in my sister's school flattering, we are here to discuss my historical novels...") or about their unusual background ("I understand you were orphaned at an early age Mrs Maynard, and brought up by your older brother and sister...?)
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