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Books: A Chalet School Headmistress
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4085
Author:  Róisín [ Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Books: A Chalet School Headmistress
Published in 2004 by Girls Gone By and written by Helen Barber. Following a teriible accident in which the Chalet School's Headmistress, Senior Mistress, Senior Languages Mistress, and Head of the Junior School were all injured, the Senior Mistress, Miss Wilson (Bill) rushed back to school before she was really fit to rescue the girls from a tyrannical temporary Head.

Did you like this book? Did you think it fit in well with the books that came before and after it (Mystery and Tom)? This was one of the earliest fillers - can you tell? Have fillers in general developed a lot since this one?

Please join in with any opinions that you have about this book below :D

Next Sunday: Tom Tackles the CS
Author:  Clare [ Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
I quite liked this book and I thought it fit in well with the series. The author did quite a good job of developing plot lines that are hinted at in other books (like Gwensi's troubles with Eilunedd - how on earth do you say that girl's name??). I quite liked her portrayal of Sybil, it was very sympathetic and well drawn. She shows the strain that she was under since Josette's accident, and how she longs to be absolved completely from that incident.

Miss Wilson was well portrayed with only a couple of instances where she definitely wasn't the Bill we know and love. In particular I didn't like her just before her first staff meeting getting wound up and only returning to normal when Hilary Burn winks at her (because she knows she's stressed out etc etc).

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the chapter with the cow after the music exams. I have to skip that on re-reads, it just seems to be the obligatory disaster that occurs on school trips.

On the whole though, very enjoyable and I would recommend the fill-in to anyone who hasn't read it.
Author:  patmac [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:47 am ]
Post subject: 
I enjoyed this book and the fact that it gave some 'back story' to some of the characters. I suppose EBD only used the accident as a plot device to allow the Miss Bubb disaster but I always wanted to know more about what 'really' happened to Hilda Annersley during that period.

I see it as an extension of the series, aimed at adults rather than children. I enjoyed it and would read it in sequence with the canon on a re-read.
Author:  Laura V [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:30 am ]
Post subject: 
This is my favourite fill-in :D I love how we get to see more of young Sybil and Blossom, and Mrs Redmond's story is so well handled. The only qualm I have about the book is it's title, we just don't see enough of Bill to justify it!
Author:  KB [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:43 am ]
Post subject: 
patmac wrote:
I enjoyed this book and the fact that it gave some 'back story' to some of the characters. I suppose EBD only used the accident as a plot device to allow the Miss Bubb disaster but I always wanted to know more about what 'really' happened to Hilda Annersley during that period.

I see it as an extension of the series, aimed at adults rather than children. I enjoyed it and would read it in sequence with the canon on a re-read.


Psst, Pat, I think you're confusing this book with Lesley's - which, by the way, should surely come after Gay and not as late as it does? I always read it after Gay in my read-throughs, rather than after Rosalie - or am I alone in this?
Author:  Róisín [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
KB wrote:
patmac wrote:
I enjoyed this book and the fact that it gave some 'back story' to some of the characters. I suppose EBD only used the accident as a plot device to allow the Miss Bubb disaster but I always wanted to know more about what 'really' happened to Hilda Annersley during that period.

I see it as an extension of the series, aimed at adults rather than children. I enjoyed it and would read it in sequence with the canon on a re-read.


Psst, Pat, I think you're confusing this book with Lesley's - which, by the way, should surely come after Gay and not as late as it does? I always read it after Gay in my read-throughs, rather than after Rosalie - or am I alone in this?


Lesley's book covers the time period described in all the books up *to* Rosalie though - so it helps to have read up to Rosalie before reading Lesley's.
Author:  Elbee [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
I found this a most enjoyable fill-in. I think Sybil is very clearly portrayed, as are most of the other pupils and staff. It was interesting to get the background on Eilunedd, as hinted at in Peggy, and I felt that little feud was dealt with very well. I found the incident of Gay's mark in the snow and Bill's response highly amusing, and there were lots of other exciting or fun incidents, but it didn't get too ridiculous or unbelievable (except perhaps the cow!). Bill's sympathetic handling of Mrs Redmond was very touching. I agree with Laura, because of the book's title I would have liked to read more about Bill.
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Patmac - :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


KB - My book covers from before Gay to halfway through Rosalie - as Roisin says (because she asked me! :wink: ) I felt it better if the book came after all of them as it refers to events in all the books. But, of course, you may read it when you like! :wink:
Author:  patmac [ Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
:oops:

It would have helped if I had read the first post :wink: In defence, I was only on my first coffee of the day when I posted.

I enjoyed this one as well and how it 'filled in' more about Sybil and Blossom. Like others, I felt Bill's handling of Mrs Redmond was well portrayed.

I would read it in sequence with the 'canon' quite happily.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:44 am ]
Post subject: 
I loved this fill in and thought it fitted in well with EBD and Mystery. I didn't mind the cow incident and liked seeing a nicer portrayal of Grizel. It certainly showed another understandable side to her which seemed to reflect the Grizel in Head Girl.

I also liked seeing Bill as Headmistress and thought she was lovely with Mrs Redmond and the mistress that brought the situation to her attention.

I thought the explaination of the Gwensi and Eliunedd situation flowed with the books and didn't sound contrived and I loved the developing friendship with Blossom and Sybil.

All in all its one of favourite fill ins
Author:  Kathy_S [ Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
I enjoy this book, and think it does a particularly good job filling in back-story and handling all concerned sympathetically. I do find the cow's behavior a bit odd, but not nearly enough to detract from the many high points. All in all, I'd rate the book a pretty deft rendition of EBD episodic style.

I admit that I'd hoped to see more of Bill, given the title. I like what we see of her, but think she could have used a few more scenes for character development, as sometimes she seems a bit more generic-exemplary-headmistress than Bill. I do empathize over those 4th form lab reports, though!

ETA I quite like Barber's idea that EBD promoted Hilda because Bill was too good a character to waste as headmistress.
Author:  Joan the Dwarf [ Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
I really like this book. It has the feel of the CBB about it: for instance, Grizel and Sybil are dealt with in the way that we generally want them to be treated, rather than the way EBD did treat them. I don't think that's a minus point, though: it's been written for its readership, which is different from the original. The same goes for the storyline with Mrs Redmond: it's much more adult than the originals would've been.

I actually like the cow incident :oops: and don't think it grates.

There are a couple of niggles with it. First, it does suffer from having to leave some of the big events out as they've been covered in Mystery. This is especially true of the ending, which just feels odd that the Play is glossed over in a couple of sentences, and then the impromtu concert is given prominence. Not sure if anything could be done about that, other than not having a big "do" to end it. Another thing I don't like is that occasionally the girls start talking in a generic-GO manner that is rather out of place in EBD. Finally - Gay's snow angel. I simply do not see the dignified Bill traipsing out into the morning snow and labouriously writing in it, with every chance that someone would stick their head out of the window at any moment and see her! It didn't ring true, and stuck out so much because the rest of the book by-and-large did.

It's definitely part of my reading, though.
Author:  Chelsea [ Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
I could have sworn that in some later book, Julie Lucy makes a comment about being glad that she never took music from Grizel - something along the lines of never being that good and being able to stay with Sally. So, it seems wrong that there is much written about Julie and her first (and second) music tests with Grizel as a teacher.

It is possible that I made that all up though :oops:
Author:  Pado [ Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:05 am ]
Post subject: 
I rather like the scene with the cow. It's so improbable and written with such lovely description.... rather reminiscent of EBD's scene with the wee Scottish lad and the pig that occurs later on.
Author:  Travellers Joy [ Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:39 am ]
Post subject: 
Pado wrote:
I rather like the scene with the cow. It's so improbable and written with such lovely description.... rather reminiscent of EBD's scene with the wee Scottish lad and the pig that occurs later on.


Improbable perhaps, but apparently entirely true! :shock:
Author:  Ariel [ Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've just finished reading my brand new copy... and I enjoyed it a lot, especially the fleshing out of the Sybil situation post Josette's accident and how she came to terms with it and showing that her cousins and the adults did forgive her - it is good to "see" that Jem for instance, forgives her, rather than just being told; Joey, too, especially as after Jo doesn't seem to have a great deal of sympathy for her niece.

I also liked seeing more of Jesanne and Lois, and that Jennifer Penrose had a back-story (I only recall her in Wrong; IIRC she had a feud with Blossom - good to see there were roots to that. Also as other have pointed out, Eilunedd.

I didn't love the cow incident, felt it went on a bit too long, or the accident with the beret; I loved the end of term concert in the gallery and the bonfire party; and I actually shed a tear - real tears - when Marjorie Redmond told Bill what happened re the air raid that kiled her daughter.

Barber has done a good job in filling in some gaps, so far s I am concerned, and while it does seem to have been written with an adult-fan audience in mind, I'm sure I'd have enjoyed it had I read it as a child and I'd defnitely include it in a read-through.
Author:  claire [ Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
I do have this and enjoyed it a lot (especially the Sybil bits - she seems more human and likeable) - however does anyone have a transcript by any chance as I wanted to try and interweave Mystery into it as they are set in the same term for my own enjoyment
Author:  leahbelle [ Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I really enjoyed this fill-in. It was good to read more about Sybil, Blosson and Jennifer and I felt the scenes with Mrs Redmond were very sensitively handled. I have to say, I always skip the chapter with the cow incident, but its the only low in the whole book.
Author:  MJKB [ Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: A Chalet School Headmistress
When is it going to be available again? I'm dying to read it.
Author:  Miriam [ Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: A Chalet School Headmistress
You can still get it from Betulas half of the 'Topsy-Turvy catalogue, though it's getting expensive - it's listed as being £16.00.

http://www.topsyturvychildrensbooks.co.uk/

She has it listed under 'Chalet Books by other authors'.
Author:  Cazo3788 [ Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: A Chalet School Headmistress
Miriam wrote:
You can still get it from Betulas half of the 'Topsy-Turvy catalogue, though it's getting expensive - it's listed as being £16.00.


£16! = R248.00 :shock:
...and my new job only pays R17/hr. Has anyone typed up a transcript for poor South African students?
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