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celiaedf12's review
4.0
I think this book (7 in the series) was possible the first Chalet School book that I read, or perhaps it was one I re-read many times - it's certainly the one that I have the clearest memories of.
Joey is now a fairly reluctant head girl, although they have an exciting term planned - there's a camp planned (which occurs in the next book, I think - The Chalet School in Camp), and the school is going to the Passion Play in Oberammergau (a full day of re-enactment of the life of Christ) for Madge's birthday celebration.
I think I found the description of the Passion Play quite affecting when I was younger - Joey's face "grey with strain", and her fainting at the end of the day. Now I found it all a bit silly, with all the mentions of the "simple" people of the area and their consequently more moving religious faith. And Grizel not being as deeply involved as the others because of her "hardness".
Joey also intervenes in order to encourage the engagement of Juliet and Donal (a young Irish man who has jilted her at the beginning of the story - although it appears that it is his sister Kay whom Juliet had a true affection for). I find this a bit irritating - Donal has dumped Juliet because his sister doesn't think Juliet's family is good enough for him, then after a talking to by Joey, he takes her back. Juliet is quite delighted over all this, of course, despite his previous behaviour - I think I found this more touching when I was younger too!
Oh, and then there's the ridiculous adoption of little Irish Biddy by the Guides company, and the musings that perhaps they could train her as a maid for the Robin, or maybe she could be trained as a hairdresser, "which would suit her well". Hello snobbery! I saw it pointed out that this is particularly ridiculous after Jo's outrage at Donal & co's snobbery towards Juliet, but this obviously doesn't occur to Brent-Dyer at all.
Despite all this, this is one of my favourite books in the series simply because of familiarity, I think. The next few books in the series are ones I haven't read, so I'm looking forward to those.
Joey is now a fairly reluctant head girl, although they have an exciting term planned - there's a camp planned (which occurs in the next book, I think - The Chalet School in Camp), and the school is going to the Passion Play in Oberammergau (a full day of re-enactment of the life of Christ) for Madge's birthday celebration.
I think I found the description of the Passion Play quite affecting when I was younger - Joey's face "grey with strain", and her fainting at the end of the day. Now I found it all a bit silly, with all the mentions of the "simple" people of the area and their consequently more moving religious faith. And Grizel not being as deeply involved as the others because of her "hardness".
Joey also intervenes in order to encourage the engagement of Juliet and Donal (a young Irish man who has jilted her at the beginning of the story - although it appears that it is his sister Kay whom Juliet had a true affection for). I find this a bit irritating - Donal has dumped Juliet because his sister doesn't think Juliet's family is good enough for him, then after a talking to by Joey, he takes her back. Juliet is quite delighted over all this, of course, despite his previous behaviour - I think I found this more touching when I was younger too!
Oh, and then there's the ridiculous adoption of little Irish Biddy by the Guides company, and the musings that perhaps they could train her as a maid for the Robin, or maybe she could be trained as a hairdresser, "which would suit her well". Hello snobbery! I saw it pointed out that this is particularly ridiculous after Jo's outrage at Donal & co's snobbery towards Juliet, but this obviously doesn't occur to Brent-Dyer at all.
Despite all this, this is one of my favourite books in the series simply because of familiarity, I think. The next few books in the series are ones I haven't read, so I'm looking forward to those.
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