Books: A Chalet School Reunion
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#1: Books: A Chalet School Reunion Author: jenniferLocation: Taiwan PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:05 pm
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The last of the holiday books.

Grizel is coming back to Europe after the death of her rather nasty stepmother, to deal with the estate. Deira has married the man Grizel fancied, and left Grizel with all the paperwork tying up their business while they are on honeymoon. Grizel is unhappy and near a breakdown, and wants nothing more than to relax in peace with friends.

Naturally, Joey takes this as an opportunity to arrange an impromptu reunion of the oldest of the old girls, complete with paper games, nap times and expeditions. Grizel rescues Len from a fall, and badly injures her back in the process. As a result, she finally gets her doctor, handsome Neil Shepphard.

Doris Trelawny dies of TB, and Verity gets married, freeing Mary-Lou to pursue her career.
---

Do you like the reunion storyline and the views of the various old girls? Too much old girl gossip, or a nice reminder of the early parts of the series? What do you think of the final redemption of Grizel and her doctor? Is it sweet, or contrived, and will her redemption stick this time?
Is Joey a thoughful, considerate hostess, a bit batty in her attempts to relive the past, or verging on hyperactive?

Any other thoughts or reflections?

#2:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:14 pm
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I was really glad to see Grizel get her happy ending, although it was definitely very contrived!

The first time I read this, I misunderstood Joey's comments about Grizel being unhappy about Deira's remarriage and thought at first she meant that Grizel fancied Deira - I've got no idea why I thought that, but I soon realised that I'd got it wrong!

I'd like to have seen more Old Girls there: several "key" people seem to be missing - Juliet for one and Elisaveta for another - but I appreciate that EBD couldn't include everyone. However, I thought it was a shame that we didn't hear more about the Old Girls - I love hearing about the people from the early days! - and what they were doing, rather than getting a load of stuff about Len and Con which could've gone in another book.

Joey was a bit mad as a hostess - I don't know that she needed to divide everyone into groups and send them off on walks as if they were kids on a school trip - but never mind!

#3:  Author: KatherineLocation: London, UK PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:20 pm
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Hmmm. I was a bit disappointed by this. I thought it would be a great opportunity for remeniscing, and it was to a certain extent, but I got
rather bored by Len who always seemed to be dragging them off on a rather dull excursion.
I like the start with the discussion between Joey and Rosalie and I like the Grizel storyline; she deserved a break and Neil was just what she needed at that time.
Still, it was nice to catch up with people again, there just seemed to be a few missing.

#4:  Author: MiaLocation: London PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:25 pm
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I've just re-read this. On the whole I quite liked it and Neil Shepherd is clearly King of the Doctor-SLOCS. Reunion actually made me like Grizel, because previously I disliked her, but in this I felt sorry for her.

The reunion is nice and it's good to see Corney & Evvy back, I quite like the way Corney falls into the stream and ruins her expensive skirt and they all tell her off. Juliet barely registers in this, does she, she might as well have stayed away!

This is a little like Triplets in that EBD tries to cram an enormous amount of action into a short timescale when really she could really have done with Len going over the edge or Margot in the lift, not both...

Neil Shepherd is lovely though but his proposal is of the Entwistle school. I always wondered what he was doing carting a volume of babies' names around Europe though, he must have been quite keen to settle down!

Joey is a bit exciteable in this but she's also really kind as well (to Grizel and to M-L and Verity). I like the way she deals with M-L who isn't grieving properly.

#5:  Author: KathrynWLocation: London PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:40 pm
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This was one of the few later books I had when I was younger and I always really liked it although I know exactly what Mia means about EBD trying to cram too much in.

I always felt that it was quite a lot more grown up than most of the other books mainly because of the way that EBD deals with Grizel at the start of the book and the stuff with Mary-Lou.

Actually, I think it's one of my favourites. I might go and re-read it now Very Happy

#6:  Author: TanLocation: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:54 pm
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I quite liked seeing a different side of Grizel in this, and felt quite sympathetic towards her.

I was disappointed though, as I really would have liked to find out more about what happened to some of the old girls (I can't remember if this is the book with the passing aside regarding Carla?) I had quite forgotten that Juliet makes an appearance at all!

I felt that the Mary Lou storyline could perhaps have gone elsewhere, although it was a nice way to show Grizel's compassionate side.

Joey, well maybe hosting a party for someone on the verge of a breakdown was not necessarily the most appropriate thing to do.

I quite liked Neil, although the proposal left a lot to be desired - romance was definitely not the forte of EBD.

#7:  Author: jenniferLocation: Taiwan PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 10:52 am
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I find Grizel one of EBD's more realistic and rounded characters. She comes from an emotionally abusive background, and *isn't* cured by a term at school and a good talking too - she still carries mental scars years after she's left home, and never reconciles with her father and stepmother - her father attempts to control her life after his own death.

She's a prickly personality - she's not demonstrative, and not empathic and has trouble interacting with people. I can see her feeling inadequate around Joey, both as a girl and woman, the one whom everyone loves and has masses of friends and family and a husband she adores and a career she loves and all the things Grizel is denied.

She's forced into a career which she doesn't want from two different perspectives - she's not particularly fond of music, and she doesn't have the patience or temperment to ever enjoy teaching. And she becomes bitter as a result, rather than facing everything with a cheerful Pollyana grin and a good attitude.

I get the feeling that all her life Grizel has desperately wanted to be first in someone's life. Her father doesn't like her, her stepmother hates her and both are emotionally abusive. Madge is kind, but has Joey and Juliet and the Robin and later Jem and her own children all before Grizel. Joey had hordes of friends, and Robin and Madge and later Jack and her children. Deira has her daughter, and later marries the man Grizel had feelings for.

Joey actually comes across as a bit pathetic in this book. All the other old girls have moved away from the school, and have lives and families independent of it, and there Joey is, still living next door to it, and up on all the Middles' gossip, and arranging expeditions and paper games and naps for all her old school chums, trying to act like school girls again. She comes across as very caring, but rather frenetic, and intent on being in the centre of the action and showing off her life. And arranging a reunion/house party for someone who is near a nervous breakdown strikes me as very thoughtless.

#8:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:42 pm
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On rereading for this discussion, I find I agree with KathrynW - it is a much more adult book than EBD's usual. With a very little tweaking it could be a standard Mills & Boon type romance.

I think I'd have been driven mad by Jo's need to organise every single minute, down to paper games and charades when the weather was bad. I think I'd have retreated to my room with good book. And it was a bit much to expect the triplets to devote a large chunk of their holiday to entertaining their mother's friends.

We have Jack behaving in typical high handed EBD doctor fashion, letting Grizel believe her injury is worse than it really is, for her own good. What kind of disciplinary action is appropriate for a doctor who lies to a patient? Plus the lack of patient confidentiality in that he tells Jo about it.

I find Grizel's assessment of the triplets interesting:
Quote:
“Margot has the more showy looks,” she thought, “but there’s something in Len’s face that appeals to me far more. What is it? A steadfastness, I think. I doubt if I’d trust Margot as far as I could see her; and Con’s writing looks like always coming first with her. Len is different. She feels people, just as Joey always has done."

Now, Grizel doesn't have a great deal of insight into other people's characters. But the way she sees Len is how EBD wants her readers to see Len. So are we the readers supposed to agree with Grizel's opinions of Margot and Con? Does EBD want us to think that Margot is untrustworthy?

I did like the friendship that was developing between Grizel and Mary Lou. I like the idea of Grizel going to stay with ML and then the two of them taking a motor tour together. I think they'd be quite well suited. Grizel wouldn't allow ML to boss her around, while still respecting her strong mindedness. (Plot bunny free to good home.)

#9:  Author: Fiona McLocation: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:41 am
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JayB wrote:
We have Jack behaving in typical high handed EBD doctor fashion, letting Grizel believe her injury is worse than it really is, for her own good. What kind of disciplinary action is appropriate for a doctor who lies to a patient? Plus the lack of patient confidentiality in that he tells Jo about it.


I can understand why Jack does what he does. Grizel is on the verge of a mental breakdown and they do want to prevent it. I think it's better to stop her from having a nervous breakdown rather than letting her go to England and have one there. I think part of what is behind telling Joey is because to a certain degree Grizel considers Joey and Madge as family and doctors do tell families a lot of what is going on
On a side issue this was the last book I needed to own the entire set of the Chalet School series. I enjoyed the book but wished they had more about the old girls. When I read what KB didn't put in her book Peace I wished there was a book that contained stories of what happened to the old girls of the school.

#10:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:18 pm
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I didn't really enjoy this book. It showed Jo at her worst. Grizel comes to stay, and yes, Jo tells her she can have a home at Freudesheim for as long as she wishes to, then ignores her exhaustion, and arranges a massive reunion.

What Grizel needed was some pampering and a week's sleep. not ot be dragged hither and yon on some singularly uninteresting walks.

I always had a soft spot for Grizel, I think EBD gave her a raw deal, so I was glad that Neil finally proposed, though I think any self-respecting feminist would hit him over the head with a frying pan to be on the receiving end of such a proposal.

#11:  Author: Fiona McLocation: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:12 am
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Jennie wrote:
I always had a soft spot for Grizel, I think EBD gave her a raw deal, so I was glad that Neil finally proposed, though I think any self-respecting feminist would hit him over the head with a frying pan to be on the receiving end of such a proposal.


Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing
If I could find the little faces that jump up and down I would put them here.
I just got such a vision of Grizel doing just that and the look on Joey's face when she goes back out into the garden again and finds Neil prostrate at Grizels feet knock out cold because of the way he proposed to her!

#12:  Author: KateLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:11 am
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I quite liked his proposal. Embarassed Embarassed I'm a very bad feminist.

I hated Reg's though.

#13:  Author: LizzieLocation: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:34 pm
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I've come somewhat late to the party, in the sense that this thread was started ages ago, but also in the sense that I've only just read Reunion for the first time. I thought it was great, although I will agree with the point that Grizel doesn't want a big shindig and Jo organises one anyway, and there's shamefully little mention of Juliet, who I really like.

Mia wrote:
Neil Shepherd is lovely though but his proposal is of the Entwistle school. I always wondered what he was doing carting a volume of babies' names around Europe though, he must have been quite keen to settle down!


I thought that! Laughing

#14:  Author: Lisa A.Location: North Yorkshire PostPosted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:41 am
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I haven't got this book - could someone post Neil's dreadful proposal?

#15:  Author: KateLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:51 pm
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Quote:
Meanwhile, Neil Sheppard had sat down beside Grizel, who felt suddenly breathless and shy. Gently he put a hand under her chin and tilted her face to his.
"Is it 'Yes', Grizel?" he asked quietly.
She glanced up and what he saw in her eyes gave him his answer.
"Jack's going to have a little more practice in giving brides away this summer," he said when at last they could think of more mundane things.
"How – what do you mean?" Grizel stammered. "I – we must wait till I'm absolutely fit, Neil."
"Wait nothing! You can walk now and that's all that's necessary."
"But – but – there's all Steppy's business."
He silenced her firmly and for a minute or two no more was said. Then he replied,
"You're not going to England to be away for weeks on end from me. I'm coming with you and we'll make those solicitor chaps get a move on. Then, when everything's in train, we'll summon everyone and have a nice little wedding in England before we wind up the loose ends. When that's done, we'll come back here to take over the chalet I've just nailed and settle down as an old married couple."
Grizel was scarlet, but the eyes she lifted to his were brimful of happiness. "Am I to have no say in the matter?"
"None at all. There's no need to wait, my darling. We've been two lonely people, but now we've found each other. Let's be lonely no longer." His voice deepened. "I want the right to take care of you, beloved."
"Oh, Neil!" And with that, Grizel surrendered.

#16:  Author: RóisínLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:10 pm
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*swoon*

#17:  Author: Loryat PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:41 pm
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Not very feminist is it? What about the book of baby names?

#18:  Author: Lisa A.Location: North Yorkshire PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:08 pm
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Thanks Kate. Oo-er. I see what you mean.

#19:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:43 pm
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Loryat wrote:
Not very feminist is it? What about the book of baby names?


Quote:
"It's a very good name," he told her. "Len is pretty, I grant, but your proper name is musical and stately. Has a good meaning too."


Quote:
....... "It means a torch - a light. Don't you know Charlotte Yonge's History of Christian Names? I must introduce you to it. ...... Others that she says are obsolete or nearly so have been revived and are all the rage, while those that were popular in her day ... are hardly ever heard unless they happen to be bestowed on hapless infants because they're family names."


Quote:
......... "I'm Neil Albert. They tacked my grandfather's name on to "Neil" ... it has a fine meaning and one that the lamented Prince Consort exemplified throughout his life."



Quote:
....... "What does Aunt Grizel's name mean, Dr Sheppard?"

"Stone heroine," he said.

"Oh -o -oh" Len was rather taken aback. "Well, at least it means heroine," she added hastily. "And what does your "Neil" mean, Dr Sheppard?"

"A champion," he replied.



Quote:
"Well, keep the book to yourself;" he warned her. "It's old and worn. It won't stand a lot of knocking about."



EBD must have been reading Charlotte Yonge's book just before she wrote this Wink !

#20:  Author: RóisínLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:32 am
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And it could be looked at more as a history book than a 'baby name' book, which is far more masculine for Neil.

#21:  Author: JoyceLocation: Hong Kong PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:12 pm
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I always thought Joey planned the party to get Grizel's mind off things and to meet her old friends who have not seen her in over 15-20 years.

But yes, I suppose it could be seen as a bit thoughtless to have a massive crowd for someone who wants peace and quiet. Grizel does say to herself at the beginning that if it's too much, she can always go to a hotel. So it's not like she doesn't consider other options.

What always struck me as weird was the part when Grizel is organising a stram crossing and she puts on her bossy voice which they all instinctively obey because it takes them back to when she was Head Girl. Highly unrealistic given it was over 20 years ago since they were at school. Why can't EBD just say they obeyed her because she was the only one who kept her head.

And I loved it when Grizel offers Len a cigarette. I would have loved to seen Joey's face if Len took one and then blamed her subsequent addiction on Grizel!

Cheers,
Joyce

#22:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:33 pm
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Quote:
What always struck me as weird was the part when Grizel is organising a stram crossing and she puts on her bossy voice which they all instinctively obey because it takes them back to when she was Head Girl.

I don't think they were all even at school when Grizel was Head Girl. And she wasn't the only one there who had been Head Girl, was she?

#23:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:06 pm
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Just checked the book - with Len and Grizel on that expedition were Marie, Frieda, Spohie Hamel, Cornelia, Evadne and Stacie Benson. Cornelia had also been Head Girl but, at the time Grizel exerted her authority was worrying about a flooded stream. Stacie wasn't at School when Grizel was Head, but the others were (except Len of course).

#24:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:30 pm
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And Stacie would likely have been used to obeying Grizel as she (Stacie) was a pupil at the Annexe for such a long time.

#25:  Author: Liz KLocation: Bedfordshire PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:37 pm
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I too would have liked more reminiscing in this book rather than too many expeditions.

#26:  Author: LizzieLocation: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:16 pm
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I would have liked more Juliet. She's barely there, and we don't find out anything about her family, which is a shame, because I really like her. Seems that EBD sort of forgot her, or maybe got bored of her?

#27:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:08 pm
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Lizzie wrote:
I would have liked more Juliet. She's barely there, and we don't find out anything about her family, which is a shame, because I really like her. Seems that EBD sort of forgot her, or maybe got bored of her?


I do find that weird. When Hilda mentions (in New Mistress) that Juliet's niece is coming to the CS, it's phrased in a way that suggests that Juliet isn' t really in touch with anyone from the CS on a regular basis any more. Yet Madge was Juliet's legal guardian before Juliet came of age, Jo seems to regard her almost as an elder sister in And Jo, and she was also very close to Grizel who presumably was in touch with Jo. I suppose we've all lost touch with people over the years, but it seems weird that there's so little mention of her when she was once so close to the main characters.

#28:  Author: RóisínLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:48 pm
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I think EBD got sick of her. And I don't know why, because Juliet was a character full of potential, with her distressed past and problem-strewn engagement. She's *in* the house during the whole book but I don't think we have one piece of dialogue from her (although I couldn't swear to that, don't have the book handy).

#29:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:01 am
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I think it was because she became less interesting. When she was a rebel, or was doing her best for Madame out of gratitude, or at the school, she was very interesting. When she went up to the Annexe, she was less interesting and so only appeared every so often. After Exile, she was no longer employed by the school, and furthermore she lived in Ireland, so it was somewhat natural that she would fade away.

#30:  Author: LottieLocation: Humphrey's Corner PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:16 am
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The same thing happens with the Robin, who is probably more part of the family than Juliet, because she was taken in when she was so much younger. After she enters the convent in Toronto we hardly ever hear of her, apart from the somewhat unlikely rescue of Adrienne.

#31:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:17 am
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I think there was just no way, realistically, to keep all these characters in the story once they'd become adults.

The Robin was in her mid twenties by the time she became a nun, wasn't she? Unless she'd come back to teach at the school, the most that EBD could have done with her otherwise was to have her periodically coming to spend holidays with Joey, and like Juliet in Reunion, she have just been there, with nothing particular to say, unless EBD came up with a specific storyline for her each time.

Juliet could have been kept in the story if she'd stayed on as a teacher, but by that time EBD had introduced Hilda and Nell, so maybe she thought she had enough strong adult characters. And maybe she didn't expect to go on writing CS once Jo had left school, and so wanted to give Juliet a happy ending.

She had the same problem with Mary Lou, and I think a lot of us agree that EBD's method of keeping ML in the story isn't very satisfactory.

#32:  Author: RóisínLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:25 pm
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KB wrote:
I think it was because she became less interesting. When she was a rebel, or was doing her best for Madame out of gratitude, or at the school, she was very interesting. When she went up to the Annexe, she was less interesting and so only appeared every so often. After Exile, she was no longer employed by the school, and furthermore she lived in Ireland, so it was somewhat natural that she would fade away.


But why bring her back at all so?! Was it a whim at the start and then it slipped her mind for the rest of the book? Sad

#33:  Author: ClareLocation: Liverpool PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:32 pm
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JayB wrote:
Juliet could have been kept in the story if she'd stayed on as a teacher, but by that time EBD had introduced Hilda and Nell, so maybe she thought she had enough strong adult characters. And maybe she didn't expect to go on writing CS once Jo had left school, and so wanted to give Juliet a happy ending.

She had the same problem with Mary Lou, and I think a lot of us agree that EBD's method of keeping ML in the story isn't very satisfactory.


I think Juliet would have been kept in the story if Madge had been the central character throughout. However, Joey has taken centre stage by the war, and one could argue Juliet had a lot more to do with Madge than she did Joey.

Regarding popular characters after leaving school, it seems as though EBD can't win! Either we don't hear about them, or they pop up like a jack-in-the-box and get on some people's nerves.

#34:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:49 pm
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I think it's if the characters are there for what appear to be spurious reasons - Hilary Graves and Biddy are both still there and accepted. The occasional visits from others are also acceptable. But when a character appears for what seems a very lame reason, then proceeds to solve all problems with ease, when professional school teachers and matrons with far more experiencs cannot, it does rather grate.

#35:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:42 pm
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JayB wrote:

. And maybe she didn't expect to go on writing CS once Jo had left school, and so wanted to give Juliet a happy ending.


That's really interesting - would New House have been a sensible ending point? Was there any other sensible stopping point in the series?

#36:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:14 pm
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francesn wrote:
JayB wrote:

And maybe she didn't expect to go on writing CS once Jo had left school, and so wanted to give Juliet a happy ending.


That's really interesting - would New House have been a sensible ending point? Was there any other sensible stopping point in the series?

I think EBD was struggling to decide what direction, if any, to take the series in after New House. Did she want to continue to write school stories, or did she want to do as EJO did and follow her central character(s) into adult life? New has very little school in it, and India (presumably) wasn't about school at all but about the young adult Joey, and was rejected by the publishers. That might have been the end of the Chalet School if real life events hadn't intervened.

I think it was the war which saved the series, by giving EBD the plot for Exile, setting the series off in a new direction and also establishing Joey as a wife and mother and determining her future relationship with the School. Then in Goes To It we're firmly back in the school story genre, and from then on there was no reason why the series couldn't continue as long as EBD was willing to go on writing the books.

If ever she, or her publishers, felt it was getting stale, well, she'd already had to move the School twice due to outside events; there was no reason why she couldn't move it again for her own purposes.

#37:  Author: macyroseLocation: Great White North (Canada) PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:00 pm
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I remember reading somewhere, perhaps in EBD's biography, that EBD might have considered stopping the series after Jo Returns to the Chalet School and the ending paragraphs of that book do have a feeling of finality about them:

Quote:
She ran off, scarcely waiting for his farewell, and was at once surrounded by a throng of girls, all begging her to come back next term, and go on teaching them.
‘Not likely!’ said Jo calmly. ‘My book is accepted, and I’ve got to start a new one—Well, of course I shall! Think I’m going to stop short now? We’ve seven babies in the nursery, and even with Rosa and a Mamsell, I shall be needed. Oh, I’ll come down to see you—often. But as a regular thing, I really have finished with school now.—There’s Jem calling me: I must go! Good-bye, everyone, and a happy Christmas to you all!’
She wriggled free, raced to the car, and sprang in. Dr Jem started her, and, waving her hand, her eyes not so clear as they might have been, Joey drove away from the Chalet School.


I don't have the biography with me right now (or any of the others about EBD like The Chalet School Revisited) so I can't see if any of them mention if there was a reason why EBD decided to continue the books after Jo had left school. I agree with JayB that the upcoming war gave something fresh for EBD to bring to the series with the adventures in leaving Tyrol and starting afresh in Guernsey and then England, and then the life of a boarding school during wartime. And after the war books the "series factor" had definitely kicked in.

As for Reunion I would have liked to have heard more news about the Old Girls and their families.

#38:  Author: Cath V-PLocation: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:18 am
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According to Helen McClelland, Chambers suggested that the series should come to an end - sales were falling, and they felt that with twelve in the series by the time they made this suggestion, there were quite enough of them!

#39:  Author: macyroseLocation: Great White North (Canada) PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:21 pm
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And number twelve was Jo Returns. So I did remember correctly! Cath, was that in the biography (if so can you please tell me in which chapter) or something she wrote elsewhere?

#40:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:13 pm
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So what made her write New? I can understand the impetus for Exile but there's still a book in between....

*now wants a copy of EBD's biography*

#41:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:27 pm
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francesn wrote:
So what made her write New?

And what made the publishers accept it? If sales were falling and they wanted to bring the series to an end, I don't see what there was about New to make them change their minds. I think it's the weakest of the Tyrol/wartime books.

I've just checked - New was published in 1938, two years after Jo Returns. It would be interesting to know when in 1938 - ie, had EBD already come up with the idea for the first half of Exile, and was that what convinced the publishers to continue? Or was it the publishers who decided, after the Anschluss, that the series couldn't be left there?

#42:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:38 pm
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Well why did she have to write New in between? Couldn't she have shoved Exile forward a year, or just left a gap like she did between other books?

#43:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:03 pm
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Well, Exile, or at least the second half, couldn't have been written before late 1939, and thus not published until 1940. That would have left a four year gap between books.

Maybe New was originally rejected along with India, then revived so the publishers would have something to fill in the gap while waiting for Exile. Of course, that only works if New was published late in 1938. If the publishers were already planning it before the Anschluss, it has nothing to do with Exile, because no-one knew then that EBD was going to write it.

#44:  Author: Cath V-PLocation: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:07 am
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Macyrose, this is in ch XVIII of the bio.

New CS was published in April 1938, a month after the Anschluss so the idea of Exile would not have been possible. And in the bio, there is a suggestion that in 1938, EBD was working on a historical novel that never saw the light of day, plus 1938 was the year in which she opened her own school in Hereford.

#45:  Author: macyroseLocation: Great White North (Canada) PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:45 am
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Thanks, Cath! Very Happy I wonder if it was also around this time that she wrote Two Chalet Girls in India?

ETA: I just reread JayB's post so I guess that answers my question.

#46:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:05 pm
    —
The historical novel was on Margaret Roper, wasn't it? I'm sure I remember reading that somewhere.

I've always rather liked Reunion and since Len has always been a favourite (she might be practically perfect in every way, but if you told her so she'd advise you to get your head read, whereas Mary-Lou would calmly agree)...the focus on the triplets never bothered me. Besides, my very first CS book was 'Triplets', so I've always had a very soft spot for them. I enjoyed seeing the old girls- although the part about people obeying Grizel because she'd been HG seemed implausible. I couldn't understand why Stacie would obey her in those circs, but after someone pointed out the Annexe connection, it's clicked.

And there's a number of ideas here for funny drabbles.
1. 'Reunion' written as either Mills and Boon OR written as a satire on 'ship fic. All the cliches.... rofl rofl

2. Grizel hitting Neil with a pan. Query: where would she find the pan, since if I remember rightly, she was in the Salon or the garden at the time, and not terribly mobile? If the pan was already there, WHY was it there? What was Joey doing with it?

#47:  Author: ElleLocation: Peterborough PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:03 pm
    —
Lisa_T wrote:

2. Grizel hitting Neil with a pan. Query: where would she find the pan, since if I remember rightly, she was in the Salon or the garden at the time, and not terribly mobile? If the pan was already there, WHY was it there? What was Joey doing with it?



Maybe Joey was planning a pancake race and had taken it out into the garden to practice with? Assuming it was a frying pan that is.



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