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#1: Books: Prefects of the Chalet School Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:58 pm
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There is a synopsis here.

This is the Maynard triplets' last term. The first regatta since St. Briavel's is planned, though without motor boat races. Jo is consulted by the mistresses about how to make the pupils understand that using the motor boats would be dangerous. Jack Lambert grows responsible by taking on the job of explaining these reasons to Jocelyn. There is a lot of discussion about The Future by the triplets. There is even more about Reg and Len. There is a terrible storm, in which Reg goes missing. The Sale has a 'Seasons' theme. The book ends with a prolonged farewell from the students to the School and, of course, with Len's big news.

So! The last book in the series! (sniffle) Did it live up to your expectations? Were there any story strands that you thought EBD might have given us some closure on, or did she tie it all up nicely? Was Jack's growing up believeable? And the big subject of this book that we all love to discuss endlessly - The Proposal. Did you "like it, darling?" Laughing

#2: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:48 am
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I'll start by listing the relevent Reg Entwistle quotes cause I know they'll come up. Very Happy

From Reunion

Quote:

Joey nodded. "He's hinted to me once or twice that he finds our young
Len more than attractive. Whether it'll come to anything or not, I
couldn't tell you. Len isn't seventeen yet and she's far too occupied
with school affairs to think about that sort of thing. She likes boys
all right as chums, but as far as I know, she hasn't begun to think of
them in any other light. I don't doubt it'll come, but as yet she's
chiefly preoccupied with being a prefect and looking forward to Oxford
and teaching. She really does want to do that, you know."

"Then what are you talking about?" Mollie Mackenzie demanded.

"Well, don't let anyone know I've told you, but last Sunday Reg and
Jack had a talk. Reg, it seems, wanted to know if we'd mind if he
spoke to her in a year or so's time."

"What did Jack say?" Mollie asked curiously.

"Told him that it would depend on Len herself. She certainly isn't
ready for anything of that kind at the moment. In a year or two, she
very well might be. She's fond of Reg, I know. She always has been
since they were tinies of four and he was fourteen or
thereabouts. Whether that's a good enough foundation for anything as
serious as marriage is more than I can say. It worked in our
case. Jack and I were pals from the time I was thirteen. It might very
well work out the same way with Len and Reg. However, Jack made him
promise to say nothing to her until her schooldays ended. Besides, he
ought to have more to offer her than he has at the moment - and I'm
not referring to money. Reg's old great-aunt left him all she had and
it was a shock when we heard how much it was. He has quite a nice
little private income apart from anything he may earn. And Len will
have her share of Grannie Maynard's legacy when she comes of age. So
far as all that goes, it's good enough. But they're both too
young. He's not twenty-six and this is his first job. If he makes good
in it and she cares enough, there's no reason why they shouldn't make
a go of it later on. But she hasn't met a lot of boys so far and she
ought to before she comes to a final decision. Oh, Winifred Embury's
crowd and Roger and Roddy Richardson, of course, but they don't
count."

From Adrienne

Quote:

He attended to all the minor casualties, and it was then that Len
Maynard realized that her future was settled, once she had finished
her formal education, though she said nothing about it to anyone for
some months to come. She had burned two fingers in helping to tear
down the scenery and had sustained a bad bruise on one arm as well.
As the doctor finished bandaging the fingers, she looked up at him to
say rather shakily, "Well, a thrilling time has been had by all,
whether it's good or not." What she saw in his eyes as they met hers
told her volumes. Joey Maynard always vowed that Len grew up
completely in those moments.

From Althea

Quote:

Reg Entwistle had first met the Maynards when he was a boy of twelve
and the triplets were only three. He was by now one of the family's
closest friends. He liked all the three elder girls but for the past
two years Len had been his favourite. Lately he had realised that
when she went to Oxford she would miss her very much indeed: a distant
friendship would not satisfy him, he wanted something much more than
that. He knew, however, that Len had no such thoughts. She was far
too thrilled at the prospect of going to Oxford to think of anything
else. Reg knew that it was a question of waiting, and with the quiet
dogged persistence which was one of his characteristics her settled
down to do this.

One thing he had done. He had spoken to the doctor in no uncertain
terms, but neither Jack nor Joey was anxious to have the present
situation changed, at least until Len was older and more mature. At
present she was still very much a schoolgirl and though, unknown to
her parents, she had begun to think of her future rather more widely
than before and leaving school life behind her. Nevertheless Reg
hoped to have a firmer understanding before she went to Oxford in the
autumn.

Quote:

Len paused to say, "Hullo! So you've come to help. Good!"

"Don't I always?" Reg demanded in injured tones.

"No, not always," Len returned firmly. "I've known occasions when
you've simply slid out of it."

"Not for several years now," Reg said, giving her a meaning look.

Len went faintly pink. "Don't talk nonsense," she said sharply. "In
any case I can't stop to talk at all. I must run," and she sped off.

Reg looked after her and sighed. "I wish she'd grow up," he said to
himself. "It's all very well being matey, but I want more than that. A
heck of a lot more than that." However, it was no use wishing. He
could only wait and, as far as possible, see to it that no one else
took his place, and it wasn't going to be easy once Len had gone to
Oxford.

and

Quote:

She gave a gasp of relief as Reg Entwistle sprang forward and caught
Ailie. "You know," she said later to Vi, "I rather think Reg will get
what he wants. He's certainly got all his wits about him."

Quote:

(Joey)"I'm not so sure. Reg knows what he wants, but I'm not certain about Len, and I don't mind telling you that it's about the first time in her life that I haven't been sure. Reg is a dear boy, but-" and with
that she departed, leaving her sister wishing it were possible to give
her a good shaking on the spot.

Quote:

Len nodded. "Yes, I found that out when Reg went missing. I don't want
to be married yet. I want my college course. A degree is a useful sort
of thing to have, particularly in these days. Once I've got that if
Reg still wants me then I'm his."

"What do you mean exactly by that?" Jo demanded. Then she added, "Mind you, Len! You're not going on playing fast and loose with that poor
boy."

"I don't mean to," Len said. "If nothing else will satisfy him, I'll
be engaged. But I won't be married at once."

"I should think not!" her mother exclaimed. "You don't get married
until you've graduated and that's that!"

and

Quote:

Meanwhile upstairs Len had entered the room where Reg, very sore and
aching, was lying. As she appeared round the door he looked at her
with startled eyes. "Len!" he said incredulously.

She went very pink. "Reg!" she said. "Oh, you poor dear, how dreadful
you look! Are you badly hurt?"

"I don't think so," he returned. "Merely wrench and strain." Then as
she came up to the bed he caught her hands. "Does this mean-"

Len nodded. "I suppose so. Yes!"

Reg pulled her to him and Len sank down beside the bed. His arms went
round her, then he held her from him and looked at her searchingly.

"I take it we're engaged. Like it, darling?"

Len chuckled. "So much I can't think why I didn't know it before. It
all seems absolutely natural and very nice! Yes, of course we're
engaged, only it must be kept dark until term ends."

#3: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:11 am
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All that "getting what he wants" stuff really grates on me - at other times Reg comes across as a reasonably nice person, hard-working with a good sense of humour, but in Prefects it just seems that Len's getting pressurised into agreeing to an engagement because "nothing else will satisfy him". At that point they haven't even been out on a date together (bearing in mind that it's c 1958 by then).

As for that excuse for a proposal .... Rolling Eyes

Apart from the Len-Reg stuff, how many people agree with the theory that EBD didn't actually write Prefects herself? I'm never sure about it. The book does seem very final somehow, but then it was bound to because of the triplets leaving school: if the series'd carried on with the Ailie/Judy/Janice gang or Jack Lambert's gang as the main characters then Prefects probably wouldn't seem any more final than New House, Jo Returns or Theodora do. Or maybe EBD did write it herself but made it all seem final because she'd realised she wouldn't be able to write any more because of ill-health.

It's nice to see Madge and Jem back at the school for a visit, but I'm always surprised that EBD let Mary-Lou carry on with her career rather than pairing her up with a nice doctor. Maybe Mary-Lou was actually going to be allowed to "do her own thing" at least for a few years ... or maybe EBD was just waiting to fix her up with either Rix or David.

#4: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:16 am
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I can easily believe that EBD didn't write parts of this, and possibly the last couple of books too.

The Len and Reg thing - ick. Joey/Jack doesn't bother me that way, but Jack at least waits until Joey has been out of school for a few years, interacting with him as an adult, and has had a trip to India, before he makes his move. Joey was also not planning on going to university or moving away from home, either.

Reg stakes his claim by declaring his intentions to Len's *parents* when he is 26, a professional in a successful career. She is an overly contientious, extremely sheltered, rather naive sixteen year old whose parents have deliberately kept her young. And, she is planning on going to university, which does change a person's outlook and will potentially seriously affect her outlook on life, her family and moving back to the Platz.

It just seems rather stalkerish - like when Reg reflects on how he wants Len to grow up and see him as more than a friend, and how he wants a commitment before she heads of to university and meets other men - she's seventeen, for crying out loud, and still in school. I get the feeling the adults in her life (and the author) are conspiring to match her up to this suitable man, and aren't really considering her all that much. I think she cares for him as a friend, as an admired older man (but not ancient) man who she's known since childhood. The difference between that and a spouse, lover and life partner is huge.

I could see the combination of Len's naivete and contientiousness forcing her to go through with the marriage, now that she's engaged, even if she changes her mind, or realises that this isn't really what she wants.

And the proposal Rolling Eyes

I think it's safe to say that EBD was not good at writing romantic scenes or courtships in general, and this is one of the worst.

#5: Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:43 am
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This book seemed so different from its predecessor. There is less focus on Althea, and she seems to have a new group of friends.

I did quite like how Jack was starting to grow up - and be able to start to see things from a more adult point of view.

I am one of the group that really dislikes the whole Len-Reg situation. While Reg might be genuinely fond of Len, he doesn't give her the opportunity to explore the world outside of the Platz before making her commitment. I also feel that her parents should have made this a stipulation. As has been pointed out, Joey at least had had the opportunity to work (albeit within the Chalet School) and had been given the opportunity of travel.

When Len has the discussion with Miss Annersley there is a lot of pressure put on her. Basically she is told she is not allowed to change her mind at all - I am a little disappointed by this.

Most of the storylines do seem to be wrapped up - whether that is because it is the last book to feature the Triplets at school, I am not sure.

I did like the Sale, particularly Bruno's role. I also enjoyed seeing Vi again (did Mary Lou actually ever go to University?)

#6: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:35 pm
—

Alison H wrote:

All that "getting what he wants" stuff really grates on me - at other times Reg comes across as a reasonably nice person, hard-working with a good sense of humour, but in Prefects it just seems that Len's getting pressurised into agreeing to an engagement because "nothing else will satisfy him". At that point they haven't even been out on a date together (bearing in mind that it's c 1958 by then).

I've never read it like that, I have to admit - for me, it comes across as Reg longing and longing for Len to see him as more than just a friend, someone she's known all her life. "What he wants" is basically EBD's way of putting it - you know how awful she is at writing romantic scenes!

#7: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:54 pm
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I feel very sorry for Len. Even her mother tells her not to' play fast and loose with that boy's feelings' It seems that she has been brought up to believe that you say yes to the first presentable young man that comes along. He's asking to marry her, not for a dance or a date! As for the legacy business grr! Does no one in the CS world manage on their salaries or if they do they are 'struggling' like 'poor' Peter Chester.

#8: Author: Tiffany, Location: Is this a duck I see behind me?

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:18 pm
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I'm another who thinks the Len - Reg thing is a bit creepy. I like how Jack made him promise not to say anything while Len was at school - that seemed pretty sensible, but the idea seems to have been abandoned by Prefects. Was the hurry perhaps because EBD (or whoever finished the book) realised that this was the last one, and that Len, the main character of the last part of the series, ought to be fixed up tidily before the end?

It's funny how we mind much more about Len than about early characters like Wanda, Gisela, Bernhilda, Marie, who all marry the first man they meet, straight out of school. Is it because we see so much more of Reg and his creepiness? Or because social conventions have moved on, but EBD / Joey haven't?

Had the series continued, what would books have focussed on? Do you think there was any possibility of a book developing the triplets as adults at university? Or was this too far from EBD's experience?

#9: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:04 pm
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I'm going to stand up for Reg here and say that I enjoy the little romance between him and Len. It is one of the things that keeps me reading from one book to the next, in the last few books of the series. I like him - I think he is genuine, and I think it must be hard for him to live among the Gornetz Platz community, knowing that he came from a poor background and had to be given a leg up by the Maynards. I don't think *they* made him feel like that, but he has the sort of brooding character that would dwell on it. So yes, I'm glad he got his girl in the end.

#10: Author: Tamzin, Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:06 pm
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As a child reading "Prefects" I just found the Len/Reg thing a little soppy and unnecessary. Essentially I still see it that way! Realistically I think that Len would have outgrown the relationship once she'd left home although it's just feasible that her sense of duty would have made her stay with him anyway. I'd hope that Con would talk her out of any stupid feelings like that though. I rather think that adult Con would have taken on the role of making Len see sense about her over-developed feelings of responsibility and guilt. I can't see her letting Len marry Reg if she knew that her heart wasn't in it. Margot would be less likely to take this role if she did become a nun as she'd be less accessible to her sisters to give advice. However if that was also a passing fad (I can see Con intervening there too) then I think she'd help Len to follow the right path for her. Actually once free of their mother and the CS I can see Con and Margot really providing support and advice to Len in a way that they had previously been unable to do because of the roles they crystallised into at school. It would do all 3 good to realise that they all need each other and that Len's uber-conscientious viewpoint (the one endorsed by the CS) is not always the correct one. Perhaps I should write a story about it myself.....?

Anyway - back to the book. I don't think that the hint of Len's future romance was a necessary part of the story and I would have preferred it not to be there whether this was the last book or not. I guess the writer (whoever that was) wanted to settle things and for once Con got the best deal. For her you really feel that her future is wide open and full of possibility - the 60's are just round the corner and I can imagine her enjoying them. The other two just seem to have rather bleak plans.

Last edited by Tamzin on Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:09 pm; edited 1 time in total

#11: Author: macyrose, Location: Great White North (Canada)

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:06 pm
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This was the final book I read of the Chalet Series (I bought the books in the order I could find them and coincidentally this was the final one). I remember the feeling of sadness that there would be no more new Chalet books to read (this was in the days before the fillers) but I was disappointed in the book itself.

I didn't like the way Len had to become engaged while still at school - Jo contradicts herself in that in Reunion she says "But she hasn't met a lot of boys so far and she ought to before she comes to a final decision." (and it's never shown or talked about that she did while still at school) but by Prefects she's saying "What do you mean exactly by that?" Jo demanded. Then she added, "Mind you, Len! You're not going on playing fast and loose with that poor boy." So Len has to get engaged.

I think it was because of the times that it was more acceptable that the early girls like Wanda and Gisela get engaged/married so young (and even so rarely got engaged while they were still in school - only Marie von Eschenau and Len did) and also most of the early girls were Continentals who, with a few exceptions, were expected to go home until they married, but by the late sixties I thought this attitude was out of date.

I also found it funny how Len grows up twice in Adrienne, once in chapter 10 - "Her cheeks were very pink and there was a light in her eyes that would have told the Head or her mother that she had left the last of her childhood behind with that brief chat." and later on in the quote mentioned by Jennifer "What she saw in his eyes as they met hers told her volumes. Joey Maynard always vowed that Len grew up completely in those moments."

I always thought the "marriage is forever" discussion between Hilda and Len was because Len (and EBD) were Catholics, plus even in the sixties and early seventies divorce still wasn't as common as it is now, so Len would have to be very sure of the man she was planning to marry.

As for the proposal, I don't think writing romantic scenes was one of EBD's strengths as I thought this proposal as poor as the one between Grizel and Neil.

Like Alison, I thought it strange that Mary-Lou (being one of EBD's top three favourite characters, Jo and Len being the others) wasn't
"rewarded" with marriage, especially since she's older than Len.

I also was disappointed in how Con's future was settled in relation to Len and Margot's. Margot makes the big reveal that she's going to be a nun and Len gets engaged but even though we're pretty sure Con's going to be a writer she can't even decide on the period she's going to focus on, she has to ask for Len's opinion.

All in all, it has a definite feel of trying to quickly tie up any loose ends.

Last edited by macyrose on Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:36 am; edited 2 times in total

#12: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:07 pm
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Tiffany wrote:

It's funny how we mind much more about Len than about early characters like Wanda, Gisela, Bernhilda, Marie, who all marry the first man they meet, straight out of school. Is it because we see so much more of Reg and his creepiness? Or because social conventions have moved on, but EBD / Joey haven't?

I think also because none of those girls planned to do anything but go and live at home, whereas Len had a career planned out from quite early on.

Quote:

Had the series continued, what would books have focussed on? Do you think there was any possibility of a book developing the triplets as adults at university? Or was this too far from EBD's experience?

I think she tried to follow her characters away from the school when Jo grew up, but her publishers didn't go for it. I definitely don't think she knew enough about modern students and college life to write about it. Plus it probably wouldn't have appealed to her established readership of girls aged around 8-14. I know when I was that age I didn't like reading about girls who were too much older than me as I couldn't identify with them. Reading about girls of 16-ish was just about OK, but girls of 19-20 were too old.

I think over the last few books she was planning for Jack Lambert to be the next central character a la Mary Lou and Len, and had just begun to develop Felicity to be the centre of the new crowd of Middles in a couple of years.

#13: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:20 pm
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I wonder how much our view of Prefects is coloured by the sequels that other people have written? ie Chalet Girls Grow Up or New Beginnings. If we had never read those would we still think that say Con would become a career girl/ marry Roger etc?

And maybe I am thinking of this with Reg in mind too. He is SUCH a monster in CGGU - this might be the Reg that some people think of - in the same way that she negatively portrays Margot as an adult.

#14: Author: skye,

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:04 pm
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Róisín wrote:

I wonder how much our view of Prefects is coloured by the sequels that other people have written? ie Chalet Girls Grow Up or New Beginnings. If we had never read those would we still think that say Con would become a career girl/ marry Roger etc?

And maybe I am thinking of this with Reg in mind too. He is SUCH a monster in CGGU - this might be the Reg that some people think of - in the same way that she negatively portrays Margot as an adult.

I've just been rereading Jo to the Rescue and dislike Reg even in that book. He comes across as both obsessive and possessive, and I can hardly believe that EBD held him such esteem that she would inflict him on poor Len! In many ways he is more like the obsessive young doctor who pursued Joey. It makes me wonder if EBD had been in better health towards the end of the series if she would still have paired off Len and Reg?

#15: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:58 pm
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I certainly think it was only New Beginnings that ever made me link Con and Roger: to me they never seemed at all well-suited in the CS books.

With Len's engagement, it isn't so much her age or even her lack of life experience that I don't like about it as the fact that she seems to be being pressurised into agreeing to something that she's not ready for. Although Gisela, Wanda et al married young, there was never any suggestion - even with Marie who mentions Eugen "speaking to" her father - that they were pushed into making a commitment before they were ready to do so.

#16: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:18 pm
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I had the impression Eugen and Marie had already come to an understanding and 'speaking to Papa' was a formality.

And the age difference was less, so the creepiness factor was lessened. I think Eugen was only about 22 and Marie 17 when they met - I think it's said that he'd only just finished university.

I haven't read any of the fill ins, so am not influenced by them. I agree that it seems Len is pressured to make a decision. Jo saying "You're not going on playing fast and loose with that poor boy." When has Len, of all people, ever done that, and why is Reg a "poor boy"? She hasn't asked for or encouraged his attentions; there's no reason why she should be made to feel guilty if she doesn't return his feelings.

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

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:42 pm
—

skye wrote:

Róisín wrote:

Number 1: I always thought Con should have remained single. She states very clearly in Triplets she would loathe getting married young and yet everyone pairs her off which I think is unfair to her and not true to the books. (I can't see EBD protraying Roger as any more than a brother and if anything Hamilton in Reunion seem a more likely candidate, but I digress)
Number 2: I don't see Reg as the evil ogre as everyone else does and I have read CGGU so that didn't influence me. Yes he was a sulky kid at times in Rescue but Phoebe had always been his on confidante and he her only friend outside Debbie that I could understand him being upset that three girls had taken over and he had been left out. It's no worse than Simone or other characters. I don't have a problem with the fact he met and fell in love with Len while she was still young and he probably felt like he had been waiting forever for her and having to make do with just being friends which would have been really hard. My bone of contention is with Joey over her higher concern for Reg not Len. She should have said no he had to wait or they could date for awhile (but I guess that was out of their range of experience) instead she is pretty brutal and tells her she has to make her decision one way or the other which seemed a bit harsh and contradicted all her earlier statement. I guess that's why a lot think EBD wanted to tie up loose ends

#18: Author: macyrose, Location: Great White North (Canada)

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:34 am
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I too would have liked to see Con remain single had the series continued and can't see her paired with Roger since even though they weren't blood relations he would have been like a brother to her after the Richardsons were taken in by the Maynards and a romantic relationship between them seems, well, a little too incestuous. Although Con states that she doesn't want to marry young in Triplets, Peggy Bettany says something similar in Oberland, that she hopes that men won't interest her in "that way" until she's at least ten years older but then she too gets married quite young. So perhaps the hint about Hamilton in Reunion might have been taken up later if the series had gone on further, regardless of what Con had said earlier.

Something that leaped out at me while rereading Prefects tonight was Len's interaction with the maid Miggi after she's heard Reg is missing:

Quote:

As it turned out Len already knew that Reg was missing. One of the maids had told her. It was a nasty shock but she had plenty of self-control. She went white but she kept her head. “Miggi,” she said severely, “don't repeat that sort of gossip. It is just gossip, and you could get into trouble for spreading it. Now remember what I say, or I must speak to Karen.” That was quite enough for Miggi. She hurriedly promised not to say a word...

Such cheek from a student (even if she is the Head Girl) to an employee of the school! I can't imagine Len talking that way to any of the mistresses.

#19: Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:22 am
—

macyrose wrote:

Something that leaped out at me while rereading Prefects tonight was Len's interaction with the maid Miggi after she's heard Reg is missing:

Quote:

Such cheek from a student (even if she is the Head Girl) to an employee of the school! I can't imagine Len talking that way to any of the mistresses.

I don't see it as cheek - I think Len (who is always more grown-up and responsible than she should be) was simply reprimanding a servant (who was probably two or three years younger than herself). A domestic servant would have been considered as quite different from a mistress. It's certainly a slightly old-fashioned way of looking at it now, and it probably would have been for when it was set, too, but it's fairly obvious that, despite the odd attempt, EBD never did really manage to become more up-to-date.

#20: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:13 am
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I think there is a big difference between marrying young when you are returning home after leaving school and marrying/getting engaged young when you are heading off to university.

Wanda and Gisela and Bernhilda and so on - they are returning home with the expectation that they will meet a suitable, parent approved young man, get married and start a family, at a fairly young age. They are going to be living in the same sort of environment and social class that they grew up in, with the same roles and expectation. That is true even of Joey when she left school.

Len, on the other hand, is going from an isolated town 20 years behind the times to the full spread of modern university life - no parental supervision, dating, men who aren't related to you and whom your parents don't know, sex, makeup, rock-n-roll, and a whole slew of people from different backgrounds and with very different behaviour and views on life.

It can go either way. I have cousins who moved from small towns to the city for university and panicked. They hated being away from home, they were way over their heads, and they were back home within a year to marry young. Other people I know loved the broader environment and
wouldn't go back to their small town if you held a gun to their head.

Con I could see staying single for a long time and settling into a childless marriage and keeping her profession, maybe marrying another writer, or a journalist, or an artist. They'd have an untidy flat in the middle of London, full of books and half finished manuscripts and painting canvasses, and hang out in coffee shops debating philosophy, or drink wine and listen to experimental jazz. I don't see her with Roger at all - I think he would be more of a foster brother or cousin than a potential husband.

Personally, if my 26 year old colleague was stating his intentions for my naive, beautiful 16 year old daughter I'd be thinking restraining order rather than giving her my blessing, and I'd certainly be pressuring her not to make any commitment at all until she's experienced university life for a while. I guess it's the way were expected to feel sorry for Reg because he has to wait for Len to grow up before he can marry her, when he's the one with the life experience and the power. I just have this mental image of a guy marking the girl's birthday on the calender for when she's legal and he can pursue her without it being considered statutory rape - think Quagmire in Family Guy repeatedly asking Meg "So, are you 16 yet?"

#21: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:41 am
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Another point is that Jo should remember that she was whisked off to India when a certain Doctor Hunter was showing interest in her. Madge presumably didn't urge her not to play fast and loose. It's possible that Madge knew about Jack's feelings, but she seems genuinely surprised in Exile.

#22: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:12 am
—

Mel wrote:

Another point is that Jo should remember that she was whisked off to India when a certain Doctor Hunter was showing interest in her. Madge presumably didn't urge her not to play fast and loose.

Well presumably the inference is that Jo did not want to marry her persistent doctor and Len doesn't give a definite yes or no answer until Prefects when she decides yes, therefore leaving Reg dangling a bit.

I'm sure if she had turned around and said she wasn't interested in getting married to Reg full stop then it would have come to an end. But then you wouldn't have her future decided in an EBD way.

#23: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:38 am
—
I know nothing about EBD the woman, and haven't read her biography, but having read most of the books in the series at least once (and some of them many, many times Very Happy

), she comes over as rather unsure of herself when it comes to writing about things like relationships and romantic feelings, and having babies. It was probably EBD being delicate, but all the babies just appear, especially David, when Jo appears not to even have known that Madge was pregnant.

Jo and Jack's relationship sort of 'happens' (although I guess the events in Exile do sort of push it along) and I remember going back to try and see if there was any indication that Jo even liked Jack before the SLOC moment (which prompted me to write it instead Laughing

). Len and Reg's engagement in Prefects also feels a bit like that too, and although he's a nice guy, and I like a good romantic storyline, it feels a bit contrived.

#24: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:11 pm
—
For me, the creepy thing about Len and Reg is that he's known her since she was about four. If they had met at 14 / 24 (as Joey and Jack do), and then Reg started having "feelings" for her a few years later (as Jack does), I could just about accept it, given the times and customs of the era. But 4 and 14? Yack.

In Exile, EBD says of Jack:

Quote:

He had known Jo since her stormy youth; had seen her grow up from a mischievous imp of thirteen to charming young womanhood of nearly twenty-one; and, for the last two years, had been quite decided about what she meant to him. Whether Jo would look on things in the same light or not was another matter.

This is not entirely dissimilar to Reg's sentiments. The difference is that Jack's feelings for Joey have become fixed when she is 18/19 and he has known her for 4 or 5 years; Reg's feelings for Len seem to have come to the fore when she is about 15, and he has known her for more than ten years. Which does seem a bit stalkerish.

I guessing this whole thing was just EBD's concept of the ideal romance, with none of that pesky dating or breaking up or uncertainty or making mistakes involved. You go straight from platonic friendship to being engaged, with none of the angst in between... Rolling Eyes

It's very Victorian. Which EBD was.

#25: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:35 pm
—
Weeell... I can't quite believe I'm sticking up for Reg, but how much interaction would he actually have had with Len during their respective childhoods? Is it stated anywhere?

I know Jack is paying his fees but I can't really see Reg bopping over to the Gornetz Platz or even Carnbach very much (if at all?) until he finishes his training and comes out to join the San. Maybe Jack would only have sent him the odd letter or so at school, to be honest. He was busy at the San and had a huge family of his own anyway. A sort of mentor figure rather than anything else.

So really Reg wouldn't have had any interaction with Len really apart from that one holiday until he met up with her again in Switzerland when she was 15. A little better....?

#26: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:04 pm
—
This is slightly OT, but when I watched the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma recently it really struck me (don't know why because I've read the book umpteen times and seen both recent film versions several times!) that there was something rather horrible about Emma marrying someone who'd known her since she was born and he was 16, and who actually said that he'd held her when he was 16 and she was a newborn baby Shocked

#27: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:21 pm
—
Definitely a little better - thanks Mia for pointing that out!

Maybe I'm mixing up EBD!Reg with Village Boy!Reg, where he sees quite a lot of the Maynards when they live in England. I guess, though, even if you assume he sees them in the school holidays when they live at Plas Gwyn, they move to Switzerland when the Triplets are, what, 10 or 11? So there would have been a bit of a gap before he meets Len again.

I'm still not keen, though. I think Joey had it spot on in Reunion where she talked about Len not having had a chance to meet other boys and the Richardsons / Emburys not really counting. Jo herself had a pretty sheltered childhood, but even she had seen much more of the world and of relationships with men (OK, not her own, but her contemporaries such as Juliet, Marie, Gisela, Bernhilda, Bette, Wanda and various of the other CS girls had fallen in love and married when still part of Jo's social circle, enabling her to see love from the outside, at least, and often to have made a friend of the husband as well as the wife) than Len has done, thanks to the social isolation of the Platz.

#28: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:55 pm
—

Caroline wrote:

Jo herself had a pretty sheltered childhood, but even she had seen much more of the world and of relationships with men (OK, not her own, but her contemporaries such as Juliet, Marie, Gisela, Bernhilda, Bette, Wanda and various of the other CS girls had fallen in love and married when still part of Jo's social circle, enabling her to see love from the outside, at least, and often to have made a friend of the husband as well as the wife) than Len has done, thanks to the social isolation of the Platz.

At school Joey and her friends have a lot of conversations about 'growing up', albeit short ones once Joey gets onto her mantra about not wanting to grow up. Even though EBD doesn't go into much detail, they probably did speak about marriage and relationships as it was the 'expected' thing to do for some of Joey's contemporaries. Len has no experience of this, other than Joan, whose engagement is kind of looked down on.

#29: Author: Loryat,

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:58 pm
—
I think I'm interpreting the Len/Reg relationship differently than everyone else. For a start, I don't see Len as being pressurised at all. She herself is attracted to Reg and I think it's the confines of school that prevent her from realising this and then acting on it. While in some ways Len is very young, in others she's extremely mature and I wouldn't have said she was more naive than any other girl of her class probably would have been in that period. Lots of girls were married more or less straight out of school. I'd also say she's had a lot more contact with men and boys her age than Joey ever did.

When Joey says to Len she's not to play fast and loose with Reg I read it that she's saying don't commit to him if you're not really sure about your feelings. Joey, IMO is not too keen on the relationship but has the sense to see that her opposing it will probably have entirely the opposite effect to what she'd like. She is however reminding Len that whatever her feelings are Reg is deeply attracted and Len therefore shouldn't mess him around. The way I see it, Reg and Len are going beyond the boundaries the Maynard parents built. Len's feelings are more developed than her parents ever expected them to be.

Len's comment that the school mustn't know is revealing IMO. Obviously partly Len doesn't want the attention but at the same time she's not much older than Joan Baker was when she was being 'cheap' for talking about boys. It is not appropriate in CS land for seventeen year olds to be lusting after boys the way Len clearly is.

#30: Author: Hannah-Lou, Location: Glasgow

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:35 pm
—
I have a huge gap in my collection from around Jane to Prefects, so I was expecting it to feel different from the other books because it was in isolation and I hadn't read the run-up to it. This meant that:

1) I hadn't met Reg since Rescue, where I think he is a perfectly ordinary 13 year old. A bit sulky and awkward, but realistic, and the relationship between him and Phoebe is lovely. As an adult he seemed nice enough, though I was always slightly disturbed by the age gap. I now think it's absurd that Len got engaged before going out and experiencing the big bad world, and naive of her parents to let her (assuming they had some real say in the matter), but it ties up her story nicely, and I think that's the point of this book.

2) The up-to-date-ness of this book didn't grate, because I had no idea what had gone before. The mention of washing machines rather than wash-tubs just made me say, "Oh yes, things have moved on, hasn't the school been around a while!" The motor boats were a little incongruous, but I was more struck by the fact that I didn't know any of the girls involved in that storyline.

I have no idea whether or not EBD wrote this book; I tend to be a bit naive about things like that - if it says EBD wrote it, then EBD wrote it! The style never struck me as odd (unlike Althea, which I recently got from GGB, which does read strangely to me, but that's another thread). I think the purpose of this book is to tie up loose ends and round off the story, and I think it does it well. Not in a way the readers, who have become fond of the characters and have modern ideals, might want, but in an EBD-definition-of-happiness way. The storylines are not particularly exciting or novel, but they're sort of just there to provide a background against which to send the main characters into happily-ever-after.

#31: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:25 pm
—
I think I'm siding more with Loryat's point of view on this.
EBD (or whoever finished off the series) was writing a children's series and I can't see or her publishers being too enthusiastic about filling the books with details of who Len has met while on holiday or at home and how much time she's spent with Reg since he came out to the San. I always felt that Len (and Con and Margot) were very comfortable around boys/young men.
Len's used to having lots of brothers and although EBD never mentions it (again not of interest to the intended reader age), I suspect that some of their friends would have been to stay. Roger and Roddy are part of the family in one way, but she didn't meet them until they were teenagers and obviously felt very comfortable with them from the first meeting. Not to mention the Embury's who had lots of boys. Also there must have been a lot of young doctors on the Platz who she would meet.
Yes, there is a large age gap, but I don't think that matters if you truly feel you have met the right person. I think that both Jo and Hilda are aware that Len has very strong feelings for Reg and are trying to support her while saying "this is serious, think about it carefully and you know where we are if you want to talk it through further, but it has to be your decision".
And yes the proposal is appalling, but EBD never had any practice in that line herself - I suppose we should be grateful that she did attempt to write something, rather than just having Len announce to someone that they were engaged! Rolling Eyes

#32: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:33 pm
—
As a slight aside, seeing as it is the fact that 'Len wouldn't have had a chance to meet other boys because she's 18 when she gets together with Reg' that puts some people off about their romance ... how many of us have been with the same person since they were 18? I have, and maybe that colours my view of Len and Reg's relationship? Confused

#33: Author: annah, Location: Liverpool UK

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:47 pm
—

Róisín wrote:

As a slight aside, seeing as it is the fact that 'Len wouldn't have had a chance to meet other boys because she's 18 when she gets together with Reg' that puts some people off about their romance ... how many of us have been with the same person since they were 18? I have, and maybe that colours my view of Len and Reg's relationship? Confused

I have too and I'm now 49. However if one of my daughters announced an engagement (and they range from 18 to 23) I would be horrified! I am inclined to think that the whole Len/Reg relationship would have fizzled out when Len went to university and had a chance to sow a few wild oats.
Wink

Anna

#34: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:02 pm
—

Alison H wrote:

At that point they haven't even been out on a date together (bearing in mind that it's c 1958 by then).

It depends exactly what you mean by a 'date' - he might not have taken her to the cinema or whatever, but I'd like to think that in the school holidays they might go rambling together (like Gilbert and Anne) and have plenty of opportunity to talk about life, the universe and everything.

I'd be interested to know why Jo dismissed the Embury boys as not counting - I can see she might think the Richardsons are too much like family for any of the girls to see them any other way, but not the Emburys.

#35: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:12 pm
—

LizB wrote:

I'd be interested to know why Jo dismissed the Embury boys as not counting - I can see she might think the Richardsons are too much like family for any of the girls to see them any other way, but not the Emburys.

I assumed it was because they were younger than the triplets. Are their ages given anywhere? I certainly got the impression they were younger.

IMHO the series should have ended with Mary-Lou's engagement Cool

#36: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:19 pm
—

Mia wrote:

LizB wrote:

I assumed it was because they were younger than the triplets. Are their ages given anywhere? I certainly got the impression they were younger.

So did I. I think the eldest was about Steve's age, which would be too young for the triplets by CS standards.

#37: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:24 pm
—

Mia wrote:

IMHO the series should have ended with Mary-Lou's engagement Cool

Ah, but you wrote it so well Very Happy

#38: Author: Karry, Location: Stoke on Trent

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:31 pm
—
Annah and Roisin wrote

Quote:

Róisín wrote:

Quote:

I have too and I'm now 49.

My former boss and his wife had been together since he was 15 and she was 12(!), they married when she was 18, and had just celebrated their 28th anniversary when he died suddenly. They were engaged when she was 16 and had never considered anyone else!

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

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:27 pm
—
My son and dil started going out when they were in the Sixth Form at school. They were each other's first proper boy/girl friend, and have now been together extremely happily for about thirteen years. And a retired former colleague of mine met her husband when they were both eleven(!) and neither has ever looked at anyone else! Both pairs survived separation at University etc, and I guess it's quite unusual, but it's rather nice!

#40: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:08 am
—
My parents met when my mum was sixteen and my father twenty two. He fell for her immediately, but she wasn't interested, although they became friends. When my grandfather died very suddenly (and my mother, a trainee nurse, had to cope with having tried to resuscitate her dad, my grandmother, and her 13 year old brother, who had stood and watched her try...) they renewed their friendship. My mum was eighteen. They got engaged when she was nineteen and married on her 20th birthday. They will be married 30 years next month.

Now I think of it, I think I'm inclined to not vilify Joey too much. As someone said, she doesn't give the impression at any stage of being overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the Reg/Len match- and Miss Annersley too sounds a note of caution about being 'very sure'. If Joey had been desperately keen to see her eldest daughter married, she wouldn't have sounded so reluctant about it or Madge, or insisted that Len wait until she'd graduated, at least. I see this as Joey respecting Len's feelings and wishes now, but providing her with room for growth and a get-out clause if it should be necessary in the future.

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

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:08 am
—
Thinking about it - my brother and sil started going out when they were both 16 - they will be forty this year.

#42: Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:43 am
—
I met James when I was 16 and he was 20 - we got engaged on my 19th birthday, and are getting married this year. So I don't find the not-meeting-other-boys thing wierd at all. I've been through university and various jobs and have met other boys and become friendly with them, but none of them even come close to James (IMO). Laughing

Maybe Len was the same?

#43: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:19 pm
—
My parents met when mum was 18 and dad was 22, got married just before mum's 21st birthday, and will have been married 39 years this year.
(incidentally, they met because dad's younger sister was going out with mum's step-cousin (although he was more like a brother to mum, as he lived with my grandparents for about 8 years as a kid). They married the month after mum and dad, and are also still together.)

So the Reg/Len thing never really struck me as odd. Okay, the proposal was not exactly romantic, but I never felt the aversion that so many people seem to feel for the whole situation.

#44: Author: cara, Location: barnsley

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:37 pm
—
I met my husband when i was 17 and he was 25, we were married 15 months later, and have been married 16 years this year. I never really thought the age gap was much of a problem, I still tease Mick that I came complete with Family allowance as I was still at college when I moved in with him, my mum gave me the family allowance book to take with me as my contribution to the household income Shocked

Come to think of it my oldest brother's wife is 8 years older than him and my younger brother is 8 years older than his girlfriend, who was 16 when they met. So an age gap of 10 years and the ages of the characters never really bothered me.
Having said all that, I felt the whole book was contrived and really written to round up the series as the publishers knew there would be more.

#45: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:18 am
—
It's interesting - I've never found the Jack/Joey age difference and marriage at all distasteful, or the Madge/Jem difference, and other young marriages in the series don't bother me - Bernhilda, Gisela, Frieda, Wanda, Marie, etc. Similarly, Laura in the Little House books marries an older man she's known since she was about 14.

I think with Len it's partly the personalities involved - what we see of Reg's internal thoughts are his impatience to have her grow up so he can make a move on her, and his dodged determination to get her. I don't see much of a regard for her opinions and growth. *That* combined with the ten year age gap, Len's general naivete and inexperience in the world outside the Platz, her lack of knowledge of other unrelated men, and the fact that she's heading off to a three year university course in England immediately after the engagement, squicks me out.

I know people who got married at a similar age/difference, and are still blissfully married 40 years later. I also know people who got married under similar circumstances and had messy divorces when the younger, more vulnerable, partner grew up and became more of an equal. What I do know is that relationships, in general, are really vulnerable at the going off to university stage - it's not unusual for highschool sweethearts to last until mid fall before one or the other breaks it off. In the US it's sometimes referred to as the Turkey Dump, because it tends to occur at the Thanksgiving long break, which is often the first time they've seen each other since leaving.

It can be hard to predict how someone will grow when they head out on their own for the first time, but it can be a very big change, and things that seemed like a good idea at 17 before leaving for univerity can be totally wrong a few years later. I don't see Len being given that option - I can't see her breaking an engagement she's promised.

#46: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:22 am
—
I can see Len going through with it too, because she has promised. But on reading these posts, I can see how tempting it would be for Jack and Jo, (who have lived a very secluded life themselves on the Platz for eight years) to have Len settled. They have been so used to knowing prospective partners for years, or they are siblings of friends even in that second generation, Peggy marries Polly Winterton's brother.

#47: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:34 am
—
Yes, Len would have lots of experiences at university that might change her mind about her engagement BUT chances are that she knows all the time she is there that she WILL eventually come back to the Chalet School, and therefore the Gornetz Platz, to teach. She says this herself - that she wants to come back and be languages teacher, but not til her contemporaries have left school. So, she knows she'll be back on the Platz, living there as an adult. I think Reg being a doctor there fits into her plans - it would be hard to meet someone else to marry, who works in the same English colony as her (as it were) - so this would stay in her mind through her university career.

#48: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:54 am
—
This is one I’ve only read in transcript, which always makes something a bit harder to enjoy. *Pleased that GGBP has announced it*

At this point, the motorboat saga seems reasonably EBD to me, and I quite like having the middles informed in no uncertain terms that mistresses helping with sports etc. are going above and beyond what they’re paid for. The sale is, well, a sale (my usual reaction, I fear). As for the much maligned romance, if I hadn’t read the prior books I’d have been a little startled. As it is, it seems by the end of Prefects that the relationship has grown naturally to the point that the “proposal scene” depicts the two of them reading each other’s minds. Actually, I think the real proposal took place off stage, and Len has been mulling it over for some time, waiting to answer until she is “very sure.” How else do you explain the “Does this mean-” “I suppose so. Yes!” exchange? I think it’s probable the relationship will last, though I admit to being more confident because I trust the Reg of ‘Village Boy’ than just because Len seems the sort to be content with the ‘boy next door.’ At any rate, as Len herself says, “There's plenty of time to think it over.”

Aside: It took Beany Malone an entire book (Tarry Awhile, 1962) to become as sensible as Len, and agree with her anti-early-marriage father and boy-next-door-true-love that jumping into marriage during one’s university career is a bad idea. Engagement, that’s the thing…. My conclusion is that both the Beany volume and Len’s “I'm doing nothing until I've got my degree, that's flat.” are responses to a bona fide fashion for early marriage.

Some things about Prefects do strike me as not overly EBD. One of the oddest is that Miss Annersley doesn’t seem quite herself – uncooperative during the splinter removal, glaring at Bruno while Nell sees the funny side, snapping at Jo during the Reg disappearance. Plotwise, several promising episodes seem to fizzle before their proper conclusions. I was disappointed when there was no confrontation after the policeman knocked and gave the all clear regarding the gang out to kidnap the heiress. I also felt the washed out roads and railway were wasted. A little more drama in departing at the end of the last term would have been an excellent way to tie things up.

One last outstanding question. Does anyone have, or has anyone ever seen, a copy of Tomakin and the Golden Jujubes? Very Happy

#49: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:59 pm
—
Those are all good points, Kathy. You're right about Miss A, too. That scene in the salon at the end with Mary-Lou- she sounds uncharacteristically bitter and negative about the world in general. Which is ironic since according to internal chronology, 'Prefects' takes place in 1957/8, but I imagine when EBD was writing it she was thinking of 1968. It's the only way that Miss A's comments about students causing trouble makes sense.

I have to say Reg/Len never bothered me until I joined this board. I've taken part in my share of SSOR drabbles, but even now, the idea still doesn't bother me unduly. Although- if Len wants to wait until everyone who has known her at school has left (presumably including all her sisters)- that would mean she'd probably want to give it ten years before coming back, as Nancy Wilmot did. I wonder what she'd do in the meantime? Get married and do the odd bit of supply at the school? Work in St Mildred's or St Hilda's- which would allow her to stay on the Platz? Maybe she'd go and work in one of the international schools. Or stay on at uni and do a PhD.... the possibilities are endless! Laughing

Your other comments have given me an idea...
*off to post said idea elsewhere*

#50: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:08 pm
—

Lisa_T wrote:

I have to say Reg/Len never bothered me until I joined this board. I've taken part in my share of SSOR drabbles, but even now, the idea still doesn't bother me unduly. Although- if Len wants to wait until everyone who has known her at school has left (presumably including all her sisters)- that would mean she'd probably want to give it ten years before coming back, as Nancy Wilmot did. I wonder what she'd do in the meantime? Get married and do the odd bit of supply at the school? Work in St Mildred's or St Hilda's- which would allow her to stay on the Platz? Maybe she'd go and work in one of the international schools. Or stay on at uni and do a PhD.... the possibilities are endless! Laughing

Your other comments have given me an idea...
*off to post said idea elsewhere*

In my private universe, Reg and Len decide to leave the Platz, and work in an inner-city area of Birmingham, Reg as a GP and Len as a teacher (and ultimately Head) at a comprehensive. She retires when Reg does, though, and they buy a camper-van and become "Old Age Travellers" around Europe (which is what I want to do when we retire).

I wrote a couple of drabbles about Len & Margot in the future, which are in the archives. Pauses to go and look. Yes, here and here

#51: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:44 pm
—

Kathy_S wrote:

One last outstanding question. Does anyone have, or has anyone ever seen, a copy of Tomakin and the Golden Jujubes? Very Happy

In my deep-in-the-gutter-mind this book title is definitely Top Shelf, probably published by Black Lace and definitely not approved of by Those In Charge. In fact, no good Chalet girl, or indeed, mistress should know of its existence - let alone have read it Twisted Evil

#52: Author: Charity,

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:03 pm
—

Kathy_S wrote:

Some things about Prefects do strike me as not overly EBD. One of the oddest is that Miss Annersley doesn’t seem quite herself – uncooperative during the splinter removal, glaring at Bruno while Nell sees the funny side, snapping at Jo during the Reg disappearance. [/i]? Very Happy

I just finished it today, for the first time, and noticed that too. She is described as looking "furiously" at someone (Nell or the dog, I think) which really jarred, as did "snapping". Made me think of interesting drabble potential - menopause? Would that cause this behaviour? I don't remember the splinter removal, so assume it wasn't in the pb?

But I did find the romance believable and really quite sweet. My husband and I met at 18, and got married as soon as I finally finished being a student (age 25). It makes sense that Reg's near disaster shows Len how much he does mean to her, and she is the type of person who likes to do things conventionally and have everything planned and settled years in advance.

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

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:14 pm
—
Post-menopausal women of the world unite! It does not send you barking mad or cause you to snap and glare furiously, unless you'd do that anyway! Wink

The process is, for most of us, just a minor inconvenience (with sympathies for those women who really do suffer badly), and the consequence is glorious liberation ... apart from the fact that other bits then start falling off and not working, but hey, that's life!

I definitely think we ought to reclaim Hilda's character though. Step forward, drabble-writers.

#54: Author: Charity,

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:05 pm
—

Tara wrote:

Post-menopausal women of the world unite! It does not send you barking mad or cause you to snap and glare furiously, unless you'd do that anyway! Wink

I'm very glad to hear that. My mother-in-law used to blame all her unpleasant behaviour on it Rolling Eyes

#55: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:08 am
—
I figured Len meant that she would teach at another school in the meantime, possibly in England, and return to the CS after gaining experience somewhere else, not that she would return to the Platz and hang around waiting for her old schoolmates to leave.

#56: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:41 am
—

jennifer wrote:

I figured Len meant that she would teach at another school in the meantime, possibly in England, and return to the CS after gaining experience somewhere else, not that she would return to the Platz and hang around waiting for her old schoolmates to leave.

I thought that too. I thought she'd do her degree and then get a job in a school in England for a few years, then come back to the CS. I could never work out where she'd fit marrying Reg in... I can't imagine he'd be too happy getting married and then her living in England for ten years.

#57: Author: LizzieC, Location: Canterbury, UK

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:53 am
—

Clare wrote:

I thought she'd do her degree and then get a job in a school in England for a few years, then come back to the CS. I could never work out where she'd fit marrying Reg in... I can't imagine he'd be too happy getting married and then her living in England for ten years.

That's how I saw it working too, but I end up with the feeling that at most she will complete her degree and then come back to the Platz and marry Reg, giving up her idea of teaching. I've always felt that it was even possible that she wouldn't even finish her degree Confused

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