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Books: Hilda Annersley, Headmistress
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4225
Author:  Róisín [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Books: Hilda Annersley, Headmistress
Written by Lesley Green and published by Matador Press in 2005, Hilda Annersley, Headmistress is set in the same timespan as the books covered by Gay to Rosalie. There is a full synopsis with spoilers option here.

Hilda is recovering in hospital from a head injury when she meets Nurse Jan. Jan accompanies her when Hilda moves from the hospital to finish her convalescence at the house of her cousin. Hilda is unable to return to work for the time being and this frustrates her. There is a flashback to what happened Hilda at the time of the Anschluss and the book ends with her eventual return to school.

So, did you like this filler? Did you find it different in tone (maybe more adult?) to other fillers? How does it read when read as part of a read-through (ie does it join seamlessly to the next book, which is either Peace or Three Go depending on your view of canon)? Is helping Jan in character for Hilda? There is a strong Christmas chapter in this book - is it at all similar to the Christmases that EBD portrayed?

And anything else you'd like to discuss about this book, please go ahead and join in below :D

Edit: as we have the authoress on the board, if you want to ask her any questions about the book, this might be the place to do it.

Next Sunday: Peace Comes to the Chalet School by Katherine Bruce
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
I really loved this book. I don't think it has the same style as EBD but it does have the same essence as EBD. I can understand why GGBP didn't publish it as it does have a more adult feel to the book but am very glad Lesley went on ahead and did it on her own.

The biggest plus was the way she developed Hilda as a character and remain true to EBD's character of Hilda Annersley. I tend to judge the fill-ins on those two criteria-do the characters develop and grow and is it true to essence of what EBD wrote.

I also loved the new characters Lesley introduced, namely Jan and her cousin Helen and the way the old characters remained true to the books (ie Matey, Hilary Burn, Joey and Madge etc).

All in all would highly recommend
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
One of my favourites. Strangely enough, I'm not keen on many of the fill-ins, though I loved 'Librarian', and I find it absolutely in character that Hilda would help Jan. This is EBD grown up!
Author:  Laura V [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:18 pm ]
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I agree with Fiona and Jennie! I loved seeing Hilda's life outside school and also the flashbacks to her childhood. I have to admit that I was dubious at first because it wasn't published by GGB but this soon changed! THank you Lesley for a wonderful read!
Author:  Pat [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
I loved this too - and so did Steve. I think Lesley's portrayal of Hilda is so very true to EBD, and yet also gives far more depth to her than we ever see in the original books.
Author:  leahbelle [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is one of my favourite fill-ins, too. I love seeing Hilda's character develop and reading about her life outside of the school.
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thank you all who have commented - I'm really chuffed. :oops:

I think, if I were to write the book today - I would change a few things - firstly, I have another 4-5 years experience of writing so I expect (and hope) my style has improved! Also i would get rid of up to 90% of the exclamation marks - no idea why I used so many and they really bug me when I see them. :lol: I might include a little more about Jan after she left in December too - after being such an integral part of Hilda's recovery for so long it didn't sit right that she be dropped quite so thoroughly.

I wrote the book to satisfy my own need to know what happened to Hilda during her 13 months off-sick, it was never intended to be a book that could have been written by EBD, it was intended to be about an adult character and read by an adult audience. I think I achieved that. I would be interested in if anyone has any glaring errors to point out - and how you felt about the different stories within the story.

Lesley
x
Author:  Pat [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
One of the parts I liked was the interaction with the German soldier in the hospital. This is a great example of the way that Hilda has been developed from the EBD original, cool and calm, dealing with whatever nneds dealing with, whatever she might be feeling inside.
Author:  Liane [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
That bit was one of my favourite parts. I also liked Jan and Matey ganging up on Hilda :lol:
Author:  Pat [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Liane wrote:
That bit was one of my favourite parts. I also liked Jan and Matey ganging up on Hilda :lol:


Me too! :lol: A typical piece of Lesley style.
Author:  Sugar [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Lesley wrote:
I might include a little more about Jan after she left in December too - after being such an integral part of Hilda's recovery for so long it didn't sit right that she be dropped quite so thoroughly.

Lesley
x


We'd love to read anymore you might want to write!
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
We certainly would; always like to read anything by Lesley - & I'd really like to read this actual book, as I haven't been able to get hold of it yet :(
Author:  Pat [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
They're pretty hard to come by.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
So I understand :cry:
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
I love the fact you made Hilda very human and described her argument with Jan where she was pretty nasty to her about her nursing. It made her more human and not the plaster saint, both with why she lost her temper and how she resolved it. I also liked the development of the relationship between Hilda and her cousin Helen. Glad you mad it true to the books and Nell Randolph doesn't get to meet her :lol: I also liked how she interacted with the deputy Headmistrss at another school

BTWI never noticed the overuse of exclaimation marks.
Author:  Róisín [ Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fiona Mc wrote:
IBTW I never noticed the overuse of exclaimation marks.


I didn't notice either - and I think that EBD herself used quite a lot of exclamation marks, just as part of her tone, so that was a good thing for me :)
Author:  Jennie [ Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
I treasure my copy so much that it's not out on open shelves, but kept securely in its bubble-wrap envelope, securely fastened.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
I also enjoy very much enjoy this one, particularly the depth of adult character that couldn't be achieved in the classic school story, and the flashbacks, which mesh particularly well with the canon. I've ended up shelving my copy just after Gay for rereading purposes, even though it really covers more terms--probably because the accident looms so large in that volume.

The only thing I found irritating was the punctuation, particularly the run-on sentences -- enough to make one suspect a semicolon-eating grammasite.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I liked it. One or two things jarred a little, but then, Lesley wasn't trying to be EBD! But it is pretty well-written and easy to read, and by and large true to Hilda's character.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kathy_S wrote:
The only thing I found irritating was the punctuation, particularly the run-on sentences -- enough to make one suspect a semicolon-eating grammasite.

Speaking of grammar, Hilda would skewer that sentence. :?
Author:  fio [ Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
abbeybufo wrote:
& I'd really like to read this actual book, as I haven't been able to get hold of it yet :(


:? Me too- added to the fact that I'm totally skint at present!! :roll:
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:46 am ]
Post subject: 
I never saw this book as being geared towards adults otherwise you could argue Exile as being like that as it faces more adult issues too. I would certainly have no issues with a young teenager reading it, which was when I started reading the CS
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