Books: Stepsisters for Lorna
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#1: Books: Stepsisters for Lorna Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:35 am
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Now, this isn't a book I have read myself, so I'd be grateful if someone who has, could raise some discussion points Very Happy

This book was written (or published anyway) just one year after Lorna at Wynards, in 1948. There is a full summary here.

Quote:
Kath Arnold is troubled by the news from her sister Bess Carey in Madeira. Not only is Bess going to marry again, but her new husband has two daughters, Rosemary and Marigold Corbett, who are in desperate need of schooling after a series of ineffectual governesses. Bess believes that much the best thing for the two girls will be for them to be enrolled at Wynyards, the well-known day school where Bess's own daughter Lorna goes. In turn that means that Rosemary and Marigold will live at the Arnolds' house, just as Lorna does.
Even easy-going Kath feels that Bess is imposing upon her here, but the alternative is that Rosemary and Marigold would have to board all year round among complete strangers.
But even as Kath is pondering how best to break the news to Lorna, the job is taken out of her hands. Rosemary, the elder girl, takes it upon herself to write to Lorna to welcome her into their family.
Lorna is deeply upset. It is less than a year since her father died and she does not like the idea of acquiring two stepsisters who will live with her at all. But a year with the Arnolds has taught Lorna unselfishness and she prepares to make the best of things.
Things might have gone smoothly, for Rosemary turns out to be friendly, and eager-to-please. But Marigold is a little wildcat. She cares little for her lessons, she is jealous of her sister's affection and she greatly resents Lorna's place at the heart of the household. Soon Marigold is at daggers drawn with everyone: her schoolmates, Lorna, Kath Arnold, even her beloved sister. But in one foolhardy act of disobedience Marigold brings upon herself a worse punishment than any of her elders could have devised for her, and eventually, she finds it within herself to control her temper and think of others. New Chalet Club
#2:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:01 am
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This one's interesting - and the stepfamily issues are very relevant today. I can certainly understand that Lorna is so upset that her mother has remarried so soon after being widowed, as she feels that it's disrespectful to her late father: we've possibly all come across similar cases in RL. Also, I'm not surprised that she isn't very pleased about 2 girls she's never met suddenly moving in with her and her aunt and cousin.

However, I think that the stepsisters get a raw deal. They are banned from addressing Lorna's aunt, with whom they move in, as "Auntie" and have to call her "Mrs ...", because that's what Lorna wants. And they're told that they mustn't tell anyone at school that they're Lorna's stepsisters, in case it upsets her. I understand that Lorna was upset, but it wasn't their fault, and especially given that they'd been packed off to live with strangers in a country where they didn't know anyone (they'd previously lived abroad) I think that they deserved better - Lorna's aunt should have seen that.

The good sister-bad sister thing is fairly standard - think Gillian and Joyce Linton - and Marigold's bad behaviour is "self-punished" by an accident on her bike which leaves her laid up - straight out of Eustacia and What Katy Did and I really think EBD could've found a more original way of "reforming" her.
#3:  Author: roversgirl, Location: France PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:17 pm
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Along with the other Lorna book, I did really enjoy this one. I had never ever considered it unfair that the other two aren't allowed to call Mrs Arnold "Auntie". I just accepted the fact they couldn't because they aren't her nieces. But you do have a point. still, I did really enjoy this book as it does show that Lorna is a normal little girl struggling with normal problems. I can totally understand her being upset at her mother's remarriage and struggling with the consequences. all in all, a nice one Smile
#4:  Author: Cryst,  PostPosted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:46 am
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Hi, I've just finished this and enjoyed it, particularly the whole description of how they live day to day, which seems very quaint/nostalgic. Like laying trays for afternoon tea, and cooked breakfasts, Mrs Monty's comings and goings, having coffee in the hotel as a treat, not playing board games on Sundays. Do you think it is realistic of its time/class?

The day school angle is good, little details like the walks to school, and what they do when the weather is bad. Seems quite true to life to me, even judged by my own schooldays, which must have been years later. (What year do you think this book is set? Are there any clues? I wasn't reading it that carefully.)

The stepsisters are very like the Lintons, and she could perhaps have made them a bit more individual rather than out-of-the box characters. Lorna's character has a bit more complexity though, I think. The "Auntie Kath" thing would have been OK as a little illustration of the growing relationship, rather than being played up into such a major thing. It would have been OK if it was about calling a step mother "Mummy", but it just seems over the top for a step-aunt relationship.

The thing that seems really out of place to me is the whole business of the parents handing off the three girls so completely. Why don't they go to Malta for holidays? Why don't the parents come over in the summer? Lorna's mother is pretty horrid really, despite the fact that she is described as wanting to spend her time caring for people.

The back injury thing, I agree, is not very original

It would be interesting to knowwhat happens to them all after this, particularly Marigold. There isn't another book, is there? Has anyone drabbled it?
#5:  Author: claire, Location: South Wales PostPosted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:33 pm
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It's the last one, there are just the two in the series (if you can call it that) - the closest thing to dating is it does mention the CS and that Joey has the triplets and Stephen (noted as a baby) - only problem is that puts it smack in the middle of WW2 and it's obviously not
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