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Books: The Chalet School Librarian
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6019
Author:  Róisín [ Tue May 05, 2009 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Published in 2005, this is Pat's sequel to the Chalet School series. The Amazon link for buying/ reading other reviews/ reading a summary is here, if anyone would like to contribute a synopsis to the New Chalet Club list of sequels - the link is here and the page for this book on Google Books is here.

The author is a member of the board and so if you have any questions or queries to raise with her, I'm sure this is a good place to do so :D

So, what did you think of this book! Is this a storyline that EBD would have written about? Is the inclusion of a librarian as a plot line something that EBD should have done before now? Were school librarians common at this point in time (the early 1960s is when I think the book is set)... are they common now? What about the background detail - do you agree with what has been done with our regular characters - Len is married to Reg and is teaching, for example, and the school has acquired a swimming pool. Do you think that sequels in general have much more freedom with their storyline than fill-ins do?

Please join in the discussion below :D

Next Sunday: Chalet Girls Grow Up
Author:  JS [ Tue May 05, 2009 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
I haven't read the book (sorry Pat!) but just wanted to say that our school librarian (comprehensive, 70s and 80s) was fantastic. Okay, so that could have been because she was a massive chalet fan and had a number of the books in the school library (imagine my joy on the first visit to find several I hadn't read :D ) I'm sure she added greatly to the school experience for many and, as far as I know she's still there now.
Author:  Rachelj [ Tue May 05, 2009 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Hi

it's a long time since I read this so the only plot line I can remember is library prefect getting her nose out of joint :oops: however I do remember I really enjoyed it....my first book was 'New Mistress' so I have a soft spot for books focusing on the staff. I'm not sure that EBD would have written about a librarian in such detail but I did find it in keeping with her style.

Umm, will have to read it again to make a more useful contribution.... :)

Rachel
Author:  Kathy_S [ Tue May 05, 2009 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
On the timing question, I know my aunt graduated in the early sixties with a degree from a program that already specialized in turning out school librarians. I especially enjoyed the library focus of this volume, and was particularly tickled by the resolution of the librarian/library prefect feud: simultaneously so EBD and so Pat! Kerensa and the obstacle course also worked beautifully.

I was a little worried about the water polo, though. Not the water polo itself, but that no one seemed to be lifeguarding while the mistress was giving all her attention to helping individual girls, unlike the care we see with all the lifeguard boats on the Island. Of course, how the prefects could suddenly rearrange their schedules to add lifeguarding during class hours, I'm not sure!

The only thing that really bothers me about the book is the proofreading. Nothing like the seventh or eighth it's-used-as-a-possessive to send my blood pressure through the ceiling. (It was not a good idea to reread this one while in the throes of grading. *is ready to start throwing students from tall buildings*)
Author:  Pat [ Tue May 05, 2009 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
I have to apol;ogise for the proof reading! I have no idea what went wrong because I'm usually careful about that myself! I've been even more sensitive since Librarian was published!!!
Author:  Róisín [ Wed May 06, 2009 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
I actually think that EBD missed out on a great plotline by never including a librarian (and that therefore this book was a very natural sequel). EBD liked to play with different baby careers with the prefects' duties (library prefect, pets' prefect, hobbies prefect etc etc) and those generally translated into plot ideas for her (Kennelmaid Nan, Tom's carpentry missionary work) so why not the librarian idea? Unless there *was* a librarian somewhere in the CS who I have forgotten about - but I don't think there was.

Library work would also have been a good career choice for someone like Joey or Eustacia when they left school - not that they didn't go on to Good Things - but I think that it would have been more natural had they considered that route, what with their strong involvement in the library in school.

I think the School *would* have had to hire a librarian sooner or later, given the type of school it was. I also wonder about the Sally Denny Museum - was *it* part of the library - was it part of the library in your book, Pat? (I have read it but can't recall that bit.)

Could I ask you about New Beginnings, Pat? Where does Librarian fit in with NB, and did the plotline of NB feature strongly in your preparation for writing Librarian (ie did you tie everything in with the plotline there, or did you deviate at all)? Thanks! :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed May 06, 2009 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Pat wrote:
I have to apol;ogise for the proof reading! I have no idea what went wrong because I'm usually careful about that myself! I've been even more sensitive since Librarian was published!!!


I wouldn't worry about it, I've read the book stacks of times and never picked up on it!

Just wanted to say how much I did enjoy it. Really liked Kerensa as a character. She was lovely. Loved their joke/fun with slides as it was very believable and that scene reminded me of the War years when the girls used to do that sort of thing. I don't know if I would have chosen Gretchen as Head Girl, I probably would have chosen Agneta but did like her as Head Girl. She's very like her Mother and did a fantastic job. Also thought the problems with Victoria were realistic and in keeping with how EBD wrote her.

All in all I did enjoy the book
Author:  JB [ Wed May 06, 2009 10:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Roisin wrote:

Quote:
Unless there *was* a librarian somewhere in the CS who I have forgotten about - but I don't think there was.


Bride is interested in becoming a librarian when she's quite young (in the Plas Howells books I think) as long as she could "work at the Bodleian or somewhere like that." Not sure what she eventually goes in for - teaching perhaps?

I started to reread Librarian last night - agree that Vicky's character development is consistent and I love Pat's idea for introducing the new girls to languages. It makes so much more sense than the originals!
Author:  Jennie [ Wed May 06, 2009 6:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
I can vouch for the fact that Pat got all her possessives and elisions correct in the original, so it was a typesetting fault.

ETA: I loved it, and I'm waiting for the second issue of the book. Pat, save me a copy,please.
Author:  Pat [ Wed May 06, 2009 7:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Róisín wrote:

Could I ask you about New Beginnings, Pat? Where does Librarian fit in with NB, and did the plotline of NB feature strongly in your preparation for writing Librarian (ie did you tie everything in with the plotline there, or did you deviate at all)? Thanks! :D


It's really the only time I've treated a fill-in as canon. I took Librarian to be a year later, but carried on with the theme of Joey's accident. Also with Len marrying Reg. EBD alloows children to come on pretty quickly after marriage, but I decided I wouldn't. After all, a year isn't 'taht' long a period to wait for the first child. I don't think I carried on any other theme though - it's a while since I read it!! :lol:

As for republishing, since I had to pay up front for the original I'd have to pay again for it. Matador did do a second run of 500 at the time to meet demand, which was very flattering, especially as they funded it and I got commission!

I am working - very very slowly - on Guernsey, which I think/hope is better. More my own 'voice' and the opening chapter at least very much not aimed at the original age group.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Fri May 08, 2009 12:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Am looking forward to reading it
Author:  Jools [ Sun May 17, 2009 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: The Chalet School Librarian
Really enjoyed this book. Liked the fact that the main character was a librarian and thought that was a logical extension. Have to say I didn't notice the it's (and the wrong use of apostrophes usually really annoys me), and the story was well written. Great to hear that you are writing about Guernsey now as I would love to read more about that era.
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