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#1: Books: Juliet of the Chalet School Author: Betty, Location: Hampshire, UK

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:44 pm
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I just read Juliet and enjoyed it muchly, there were lots of things going on to keep the story moving. It fitted in very well between Jo of and Princess, it was great to see some of the things that might have happened in that time. Looking forward to Deira - thanks Caroline

Betty

Edit: This topic overlapped with the discussion in the News & Views forum, from when the book was first released, so we've merged the two as much as we could. Please do continue to spill forth on Caroline's gorgeous filler Very Happy

Róisín avec mod-beret

#2: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:26 am
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I've just ignored my present-packing in favour of reading 'Juliet', and I loved it. Thank you so much, Caroline. You have caught EBD's style exactly, and Joey and co. as Middles are spot on. You've also got behind the characters in a way EBD didn't always bother to do, and I really feel I know them better. Your pranks are actually funny, and the mystery is intriguing. And your Bill, who is a great favourite of mine, is splendid.

*does a little dance of pleasure*

#3: Author: Sugar, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:06 am
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I finished this the other night and never got around to posting. Absolutely brilliant. You really capture the atmosphere of the school and the characterisations are spot on. I forgot it was a fill-in it was so much like EBD. In my opinion definitely one of the best GGBP fillers. I'm thinking I might need to order another copy as this will definitely be reread many times.

Wonderful Caroline Thank you.

#4: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:55 am
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Have just read this Caroline, after borrowing from Dawn, and it was great. You really captured the small school feeling that was evident in the early books, and I loved the Scottish Matron, she was wonderful, pity she had to leave before Princess!! Laughing

The books seemed to fit seemlessly into the series and was an encaging read, one I wanted to read through, not had to force myself to read through. I liked your portrayal of Miss Wilson as well, and the fact that she made mistakes, all fitted well with what EBD makes of her, but filled out the character much more.

Brilliant, thanks..now must go back through this thread to see what all thia about Deira was!

#5: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:10 pm
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Oh Carolyn reminds me - I had a question - was the Scottish matron Matron Wilson? And was she related to Miss Wilson? And why did she leave? Thanks a million Very Happy

#6: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:06 am
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She was indeed Matron Wilson - EBD name checks her once only, in Princess.

No relative or connection of Bill's - I thought that was one step too far, with my Eva / Dorota plot, plus it would have given Bill a too-easy introduction to the school to have her cousin-the-matron already there. Also, Bill seems singularly devoid of relatives in the later books.

Again in Princess we're told Matron Wilson leaves because her brother's wife dies, leaving him to bring up three small children alone. Very EBD! This will feature in my next book (when I get round to writing it!) but I did set it up a little in Juliet, when Matron tells Evadne that her sister-in-law hasn't been well since the birth of her last baby.

Caroline.

#7: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:11 pm
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Thanks Caroline Very Happy

#8: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:36 pm
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I received Juliet for Christmas and finished reading it a couple of days ago. I really enjoyed it, especially seeing more of Madge as Head. Thanks Caroline. I'm looking forward to your next book, whenever it comes to light!

#9: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:14 pm
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I'm another one who got it for Christmas and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of the fill-ins I've read, this is the one that's struck me as most EBDish in its style and it really felt like another extra book in the series.

#10: Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:15 pm
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I also got it for Christmas - it was great! Thanks Caroline.

#11: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:49 pm
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My copy arrived today. I have reached page 90 already. AM likiing it very much!

ETA - I have now finished it and it was excellent. I plan to re-read it over the weekend!

#12: Author: little_sarah, Location: London next academic year, Manchester when I want some home comforts!

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 5:12 pm
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I've just finished reading Juliet, and I absolutely love it. It's my favourite fill-in (I've not read any of the others, but the sentiment's there!) and I kept forgetting that it wasn't written by EBD. In fact, at one point I found myself wondering why I'd never read it before!
I can't wait for the next one Very Happy

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

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 10:37 pm
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Goodness, they weren't very nice about you in the NCC mag, Caroline! Then again, Rosemary is the woman who was so extremely catty about the CS in her own books, but really that review is pretty vicious! Evil or Very Mad

#14: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 8:10 am
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I don't subscribe to the NCC mag - what did it say KB?

#15: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 9:23 am
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Me, either - and I'd love to know what's been said. I do like a review to be balanced, constructive and informative, so if it's just a hatchet job, I shan't be best pleased!

Twisted Evil

And I do wish reviewers would try to judge fill ins against the right bench mark. I'm trying to write a CS book, after all, not a great work of literature. If she's catty about the CS in her own work, why on earth get her to review what is, essentially, a copycat CS book? Obviously, she's not going to be a fan!

I got hold of a copy of the Folly review (written by someone who is (I have been told - I don't know personally) on record as saying they don't like fill ins which try to be authentic-in-the-style-of the original author.... Rolling Eyes

), which was actually rather positive on the whole, but did come across at various point as an exercise in damning with faint praise...

#16: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:07 am
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Yes we should definitely have a transcription of the review here then - pretty please anyone who does subscribe?

#17: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:12 pm
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I'm poorly in bed and bored out of my socks, so I will transcribe. It's not altogether bad, Caroline, she says some positive things about you. Give me 10 mins or so.

#18: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:25 pm
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Forgive the spree.

From the NCC Journal Spring 2007 by Rosemary Aucghmuty. I've used acronyms where she hasn't.

Quote:

Juliet of the CS is Caroline German's fill in tale that comes between Jo of the CS and Princess. It's not at all bad, for German is one of the best imitators of the Brent-Dyer style, and there are some well-described excursions, pranks & challenges. The requirements of the GGB formula - no new storylines or characters - makes the manufacture of a plot to bind the narrative together somewhat difficult; German's solution to the problem is to use the similarity between the names of Eva von Heiling and Dorota Heilinge to provide a probable EBDism with a rational explanation. She also draws on other favourite plot devices of EBD is making Juliet an initially reluctant Head Girl, Evadne a jealous friend and Miss Wilson an uncertain new mistress.

Unfortunately the process of explaining the in explicable and smoothing out the lines of transition between the original books in the series may not always work for many Chalet readers. Those of us who do remember the confident, mature Juliet of Princess will not recognise this hesitant novice; Evadne never struck me as possessive in EBD's books and as for Miss Wilson's ever being less that completely sure of herself, the idea is unthinkable. One of the great pleasures for me of re-reading Brent-Dyer's books as an adult is that when I read them I am a child again, and Miss Wilson for me is always totally grown-up, all-powerful and all-wise. (The fact that I would regard a woman of her age today as young and inexperienced is beside the point.) I loved the portrayal of Kathie Ferrars in New Mistress but I can't believe that Miss Wilson ever mismanaged a situation or needed to seek advice. I have always loved the way Brent-Dyer drops so many of her characters into books fully-formed,; any past history is introduced piecemeal (and often inconsistently) in later books, but it cannot alter our first impressions. An overview of a person's frailties and mistakes, while useful in real life, is not a perspective I welcome in my children's books unless introduced at the start.

This is a readable novel, well-written and well put together. It just isn't EBD.

#19: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:26 pm
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Caroline wrote:

Me, either - and I'd love to know what's been said. I do like a review to be balanced, constructive and informative, so if it's just a hatchet job, I shan't be best pleased!

Twisted Evil

Totally agree with you there, Caroline - I had someone complain about the fact that actually, at Christmas 1943, it didn't snow - whereas I had it snowing on Dartmoor - I mean, picky or what! Laughing

#20: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:34 pm
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I don't think that's actually to bad if you separate the reviewers ideas od what the books should be from her comments about the quality of the written work, which she was quite complimentary about. I actually disagree with the reviewer's premise. I enjoy reading the books as an adult and being able to take a more realistic view of the events and I've certainly never seen any of those three characters as infallible. Juliet had a stormy time of it in her first term and would probably feel anxious to prove herself to Madge and the weight of expectation could quite easily make her nervous and unsure of herself.

Having said all that, I have to admit to not actually having read Juliet, so I can't really comment!

#21: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:44 pm
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I haven't read Juliet so can't really comment either, but surely no-one - even Bill Laughing

- never needed advice and never made a mistake! As for Juliet being nervous at first, I should imagine that Gisela was a very hard act for anyone to follow.

#22: Author: Lexi, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:45 pm
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Quote:

This is a readable novel, well-written and well put together. It just isn't EBD.

Well state the bleedin' obvious why don't you! We're not ever going to get another EBD book so I don't really see the point in taking that line of argument.

Like Ruth, I don't imagine any of the three characters mentioned as infallible. I very much doubt Bill was the same when she first joined the school as when we see her later on and Juliet was always a bit of a worrier, wasn't she?

Personally I liked Juliet so much that I couldn't stop reading it and set my dinner on fire Embarassed

#23: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:57 pm
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Lexi wrote:

Personally I liked Juliet so much that I couldn't stop reading it and set my dinner on fire Embarassed

You can't get much higher praise than that Caroline!

#24: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:08 pm
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Ruth B wrote:

Lexi wrote:

Personally I liked Juliet so much that I couldn't stop reading it and set my dinner on fire Embarassed

You can't get much higher praise than that Caroline!

That's fabulous Laughing

I hope no serious damage was done!

Regarding the review, it's a big hmmmm from me.

Yes, I'm not EBD. Big shocker there. Rolling Eyes

Yes, I've had some characters go on a bit of a journey. Wouldn't be much of a story if they were all the same all the way through.

And yes, Juliet is a bit unsure at the beginning - I personally think it would be a bit unrealistic to have her recover and succeed easily, with no angst at all - in EBD's version we see her going from bad girl to good girl very quickly, and then jump a year to have her be the much loved head girl. But that's because EBD misses out three terms on the way. And taking over from Gisela must have been very daunting.

As for Bill - well, I had Bill tell Pam Slater in Robin that everyone makes mistakes in the beginning. This is Bill being human and learning to be Bill - again, I think it would be unrealistic to expect her to be perfect from day one, having never taught before. And Madge is the all-wise Head Mistress here - Bill doesn't become that character until quite a few more books have passed - in Princess she's just another jolly member of staff. I don't see her becoming Bill proper until Rivals, really.

Evvy? Well, I'll give her that. But that storyline just happened organically and I liked it so much it stayed. It was a good thing to have Ju sort out.

Honestly, I don't think I've done anything that EBD didn't do - and if I didn't show a slightly different angle on some much loved characters, there wouldn't be much story. And of course, Juliet is almost at the start of the series, and is the introduction for quite a few characters, so I think I am allowed to include the odd back story...

Reading it again, she does say some nice things about the writing and me - I like being one of the best imitators of EBD (I think!) - but overall, she rather seems to have missed the point of the GGB fill ins - that they are supposed to be authentic and sympathetic and etc.

Thanks for transcribing, Mia - heroic efforts.

#25: Author: Aquabird, Location: North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:25 pm
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rofl

at Lexi letting the dinner burn!

I read Juliet a couple of months ago and liked it very much, and one of the first things I noticed about it was how EBD-ish it seemed. And IMHO if Joe public likes it, then it's a success, because you've given them what they want, so who cares what the critics think?

#26: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 6:27 pm
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It isn't a very good book review. Particularly I am annoyed by her changing her mind half way through and exchanging what she really thought, for what is basically a soundbite that she thought it might be neat to end on. IE

Quote:

for German is one of the best imitators of the Brent-Dyer style

Quote:

It just isn't EBD.

I don't agree whatsoever that the majority of EBD's characters are just 'dropped in, fully formed' -> the list of characters who develop in different ways (either by growing up, or gaining more experience) is so so long. How can she claim that at all?!

Am I imagining it or is that sentence about the "requirements of GGB" a little bit of a slur on them? Is she implying that they restrict the authors too much? If so, then she is being unprofessional. If she means that, she should come right out and say it. If she doesn't, then she should be clearer, and manage the tone of her piece more carefully.

It is a well-structured review, in that she has provided enough summary so that someone who hasn't read the book itself can follow it, but it's far too subjective to be of interest to, well, anyone but herself really. Presumably she's writing for the journal so that she can give the other members an idea of what to expect. If that is the case then the phrases 'for me' should not be repeated as often as it is here.

#27: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 6:42 pm
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It seems that reviewers all feel that they have to criticise, and the two things are totally different!

#28: Author: Woofter, Location: Location? What's a location?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:34 pm
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rofl

at Lexi's dinner burning.

i really need to get a copy of this!

#29: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:52 pm
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One we have mostly all read, and fairly recently too! I hope we are not done talking about it though Laughing

Blurb from GGB:

Quote:

‘I don't care what you say—it's not the same ! I sure wish Gisela had never left!' declared Evadne, glowering around the big schoolroom.

When Juliet hears that she is to be the Chalet School 's second Head Girl, she is filled with dismay. How can she ever take Gisela's place? Will the girls respect her? Will she justify Madame's faith in her? And the girls themselves do nothing to boost her confidence, but set out to challenge her at every turn.

How Juliet rises to that challenge, learning by her mistakes and gradually coming to recognise that, as Madame put it at the outset, ‘My dear girl, we don't want another Gisela—we want you!', is told in this delightful new book by Caroline German, set in the autumn term before The Princess of the Chalet School.

Caroline has successfully recreated the genuine Chalet atmosphere—you can almost smell the coffee and taste the soup—and her story has all the ingredients we associate with EBD at her best: wicked middles, a bumptious prefect, a new mistress with much to learn—and two new girls who have something to hide.

Caroline German is the author of the highly acclaimed The Chalet School and Robin (now out of print).

The author is, of course, able to chat right back to us in this thread, so this might be an opportunity to unload those burning questions you had for her.

So, how do you think this filler compared with previously published fillers? Would you recommend it? Did it leave anything out that you were hoping it might deal with? Could the book have been written a completely different way, with different storylines and main characters, and yet still fill that term that it was supposed to?

Please join in Very Happy

#30: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:53 pm
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From Bee:

I love this book!

When I first read it (and I admit, it's been a while) I forgot that it wasn't written by EBD, which I think is a great credit to Caroline. Juliet is one of my favourite characters, and I always wished we had seen her as Head Girl - and here, we do! I like that so many of the old characters play such major roles. And it has all the vital elements of the perfect Chalet School book in Tyrol - wicked middles, Joey getting involved and helping, a Head Girl who is unsure of herself but turns out to be wonderful, fears for the Robin's health, a mystery surrounding new girls, expeditions that go wrong...

I also really like Juliet's problems at first, and the way she handles them. Not only is she uncertain of her own aptitude of taking Gisela's place, but the school in general doubts her as well. IMO Juliet manages to do an exceptional job, and I loved reading about it.

Thank you, Caroline. Very Happy And I think I'm going to go and re-read it now....

#31: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:53 pm
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From Fiona McC:

One thing I loved was Simone not being made into a wet blanket. I quite like Simone and she tends to get made more sentimental than what I really see she is. She's a far better friend to Jo than what Jo is ever to her in a lot of places and I really liked how the friendship developed between Jo, Simone, Frieda and Marie. Loved how the book flowed. I really liked Robin and didn't think it was too episodic (which has been said before by others: see in Anything else about Fill-ins) but there did seem a confidence with this book that wasn't there with the last one which is understandable being Caroline's second book. I also liked how Juliet developed and we got to see more of her. I had always thought she and Grizel were better friends but maybe that is something that developed over the years and by the time the two reached teaching the Annexe were really close because Grizel is very protective of Juliet in places like Camp. Also loved the differentiation between the older and younger middles. Now dislikes. There is only one and thats Evadne-I always saw her as being a very easy going kind of a kid. I could see her ragging Juliet but not so much being so jealous of Margia being friends with Lonny and as Evadne is kind of a favourite character of mine I would have prefered to have her written in a more positive light. However that said I did like the situation that you wrote about between the three girls and being an only child I guess it is fairly understandable. Overall I thought it was a good book and interesting to see Nell Wilson being indecisive at times. All in all highly recommended. (As an aside I wonder if some fill in are more popular than others because we like how the characters are drawn as in they are similar to how we imagine them to be).

#32: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:54 pm
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From Kathy_S:

I quite enjoyed this book, particularly the growth of Juliet and Miss Wilson in their respective positions. I thought the Grizel situation was beautifully handled, and was especially happy to see Madge as her old self. The added foundation for later references was also a big plus, e.g. portrayal of the quartet as more of a quartet, and providing Jo with the Ste. Therese statue. The only problem was that Evvy in the jealous role really jarred for me. It's a good story line, but I wish it could have been assigned to someone else, both because it seems so out of character for Evvy and because I found repeated reference to "the little American" in this context extraordinarily irritating. It's too much, too close to Corney's inauspicious beginning. (Actually the young Corney'd have fit the role far better, had she been available.)

#33: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:55 pm
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From Caroline:

As you might imagine, I'm really interested in know what everyone thinks, so thanks to those who have taken the time to comment so far.

Regarding the Evadne story line, I have to say it wasn't one that I came up with in advance, it seemed to grow organically as I was writing - one of those situations where a character goes off and does something completely unexpected.

I think it grew out of the fact that Evvy is this indulged only child who (as far as we know) has never been to school before, and therefore (by EBD's usual standards) could reasonably be expected to have the odd teething trouble settling down to a new environment etc. But in the first couple of books, everyone is new together (ish) and they are all so keen on being "the Chalet School", and everything seems to run along very smoothly with everyone being friends together. It seemed to me that this was rather a false state of affairs, and once the novelty began to wear off and maybe the school got a bit bigger - e.g. there was change, there were new girls who weren't in from the beginning, the forms were split differently, etc. - some of the girls might have the odd problem adjusting.

Evvy just seemed to come naturally to the forefront here - everything had gone her way before, but suddenly half the middles she was friends with were in another form (Jo and Co.) and her own chum, Margia, was spending loads of time with a new girl. I didn't mean to make her out to be nasty, just feature her a bit more than other books of this time do...

Wierdly, the storyline which caused most debate during the writing of the book was actually Bill's. I had much more in about Bill's background and angst and so on, but we had to take it out, basically becuase it just wasn't what EBD did at this point of the series - we know very little about the background of any of the staff other than Madge! - so it wasn't authentic.

-----------------------------------------------------------

In terms of a book discussion generally, I'd like to pose a few questions (apologies, Róisín, if I am treading on toes!).

What do you think of Juliet as Head Girl? Do you buy her reformation and her doubts? Does Juliet here gel with Juliet in Princess - the confident, reliable HG, Madge's right hand woman? What do you think about her relationship with Joey?

What do you think of Eva and Dorota's introduction and family background? Did you guess their secret? Did you care what their secret was?

Is Joey too nice (Ruth says I write her too nice.... Rolling Eyes )?

What about Grizel - do you think it reasonable to have her reform here only to relapse again in future books? Is it one false dawn too many for Grizel?

And finally Miss Wilson: do you like seeing her with doubts and making mistakes or would you rather she were always the infalliable, omnipotent Bill we know and love?

#34: Author: Bee, Location: Canberra, Australia

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:48 am
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I'm going to answer your questions in order, Caroline Very Happy

Juliet as HG: as I said in my earlier post, I think you portrayed it magnificiently. I think anyone following Gisela would have felt uncomfortable at the start - the first generation of girls had left, and of course Juliet would have suffered with feelings of inadequecy and self-consciousness, particularly with memories of her terrible start, what she owed to Madame, and the Middles' treatment of her. It would have been so hard to admit there was a problem to the other prefects (esp with Grizel present)! The only part that I questioned was Juliet's seeking Jo out - it put Jo in an awkward position, turning on her friends, but at the same time Jo knew what they were doing was wrong, and she and Juliet were very close. And I liked seeing their relationship in this way - they actually seemed like sisters.

Eva and Dorota: it was an interesting sub-plot, but I didn't find it as interesting as Juliet or Evvy's problems, say, simply because I knew so little about Eva and Dorota and they featured so little throughout the rest of the books. I guessed they knew each other, of course, but I didn't guess exactly what the secret was! And I'm pleased they worked things out with their family.

Joey: I like Joey a lot in this book, although she probably is too nice (eg. her patience with Simone) if you compare it with following books. I did like seeing the friendship between Jo, Marie, Frieda and Simone, though!

Grizel: I didn't like Grizel at all through this book. Her treatement towards Juliet is, frankly, quite disgusting, and the way she treats the younger girls is intolerable for someone who holds a position as important as games prefect. I think perhaps Caroline took Grizel's hardness too far - although she reforms, she plays up again later, and if I take this book into account it really makes me question Madge and Mademoiselle's decision to elect Grizel Head Girl. Having said that, the storyline was definitely one of my favourites - it affected so many characters, especially Juliet.

Miss Wilson: I think it would have been ridiculous to see her as the Bill we've come to love straight off. After all, it was her first post as a teacher! She was at a new school and didn't know just where she stood. I just loved seeing her first term and found her mistakes and self-doubts realistic and refreshing.

And finally... Evvy: I know a lot of people have said they didn't like seeing Evadne portrayed in this manner, and I can understand why, because she's one of my favourite characters too! However, I really enjoyed reading about Evvy's problems this term. She and Margia were best friends, and all of a sudden Margia buddies up to Lonny - so where does that leave Evvy? As Caroline said she was an indulged only child, then grew used to having Margia to herself. Of course she would have a hard time sharing! And the fact that there were so few fights about friendships and such in EBD's early books is something I find lacking - girls fight among each other all the time! They can be jealous and catty and talk about each other behind another's back... that's what happens with teenage girls. I'm not saying this should take over, just that I would have liked so see more of the jealousies with friendships portrayed (and not just the admiration and wishing to be someone's friend, then jealous that the new girl gets that coveted spot - as happens so often in the Swiss books!) And I don't think it made Evvy seem worse in any way - just that she struggled with her own doubts and insecurities, began to feel unwanted and alone, and as a result lashed out at others. That's not blackening Evadne's character! Rather, I think it makes her more real, lets her grow and I like her even more after this book.

And once again, thanks Caroline! I am in the middle of re-reading Juliet, and like it even more the second time round.

#35: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 10:35 am
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Thanks for the comments, Bee - very interesting.

One of the reasons I wanted to feature Evvy a bit was that, actually, she doesn't show up much in Jo of. She kind of joins the school and is just there. I'm actually re-reading that book at the moment, and I think the first time we actually hear her speak (rather than other people talking about her and her slang Rolling Eyes

) is the Shakespeare chapter - and that's chapter 9!

I think it was someone on the CBB who pointed out the lack of Evvy originally, so whoever it was, thank you very much! And look, I respond (it was someone on Girlsown who waxed lyrical about loving Letters chapters, so I wrote one of those, too)! Tell me what you'd like in the next book, and you never know, it might appear...

#36: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 10:44 am
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Personally, the lack of Evadne always annoyed me, so I was glad to see her feature in Juliet as a real person. Evvy always seems to be mentioned at the beginning, but never appears. Her name crops up when they are counting pupils, and when they are talking about who is in what division, but we never see her, so I was delighted to see her taken up by Caroline.

Another thing about Juliet - for all the criticism levelled at her as a character, at least Juliet appears here as a real person, with real selfdoubts and real ways of assuring herself. A little bit like Robin was in that fill-in, but definitely not a second Robin. We really see inside Juliet's head in this book. Before, she was either a Bad Girl, or an impossibly reformed Model Girl. I'm not saying EBD was wrong in either representation, but surely the latter didn't come about by itself - there was some period of development of Juliet herself - and it's good to see that bit filled in by Caroline.

#37: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 11:09 pm
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I think it develops Juliet as a character. EBD says herself that Juliet was a very human girl who doesn't become perfect overnight. So I think Caroline shows that.

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