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spectacledbear's review
4.0
Back to my re-reading of the Chalet School. It opens on a grumpy Jo grumping about her impending head-girlship and adulthood (and, judging by most of the CS alumnas (alumnae?), engagement, marriage, and motherhood within three years of leaving school). Needless to say the grumpiness doesn't last long: after she's had the chance to percolate a gentle pep talk from Gisela, she slips seamlessly into the role of the sensible head girl, but (of course) without losing her essential Jo-ness.
In some ways this is quite a lighthearted instalment. I mean, apart from the worry over Robin's health (nothing new, but in this case it is an immediate concern for the grownups at the sanatorium; some of the writing as Jo reacts to learning this is EBD at her best, and really quite affecting) and the Middles' mischief-making, which is an ongoing theme throughout: despite apparently peaking when they cause havoc in Oberammagau the day before they attend the Passion Play, they manage to outdo themselves by sort-of kidnapping (with her full cooperation) an Irish orphan who has such an Oirish 'bedad bejabbers and begorrah' accent I'm surprised it wasn't printed in green ink.
The fact that this is a reprint doesn't mean that all of the problematic language has been removed - Jo's hair is compared to that of a [well known type of doll used to advertise Robinson's jam back in the day] on several occasions. (I've said in previous reviews that I don't get offended by language 'of the time' being used in books, and I don't, but that doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally bring me up short.)
A thoroughly enjoyable visit back to the Tiernsee - perfect for a slightly damp afternoon.
In some ways this is quite a lighthearted instalment. I mean, apart from the worry over Robin's health (nothing new, but in this case it is an immediate concern for the grownups at the sanatorium; some of the writing as Jo reacts to learning this is EBD at her best, and really quite affecting) and the Middles' mischief-making, which is an ongoing theme throughout: despite apparently peaking when they cause havoc in Oberammagau the day before they attend the Passion Play, they manage to outdo themselves by sort-of kidnapping (with her full cooperation) an Irish orphan who has such an Oirish 'bedad bejabbers and begorrah' accent I'm surprised it wasn't printed in green ink.
The fact that this is a reprint doesn't mean that all of the problematic language has been removed - Jo's hair is compared to that of a [well known type of doll used to advertise Robinson's jam back in the day] on several occasions. (I've said in previous reviews that I don't get offended by language 'of the time' being used in books, and I don't, but that doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally bring me up short.)
A thoroughly enjoyable visit back to the Tiernsee - perfect for a slightly damp afternoon.
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