I have a new appreciation for Blyton right now, because I’ve been reading some early Angela Brazil novels, and, well.

Brazil was one of the pioneers of the girls boarding school novel as a genre in its own right, but her early stuff, at least, hasn’t aged well. I don’t just mean the old-fashioned, episodic narrative structure, I mean the bit where the heroine’s sister writes minstrel songs for a hobby (a … different term is used), or the long digression about the inhumanity of the Chinese. I have a new appreciation for Blyton’s “everyone is white, and we’ll just be prejudiced against the Europeans who aren’t English” approach.

(“Appreciation.”)

Anyway, stay tuned for more about Brazil in the podcast I’m launching with my friend Heidi in the new year. Yes, it’s about boarding school stories. Obviously.

When we left Malory Towers, scholarship girl Ellen was flouncing out in tears after Daphne makes a just-barely-inaudible jibe about her limited finances.

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers – Chapters 13 and 14” →

When we last saw Daphne, she had managed to get out of a long walk in the rain and mud by volunteering for extra French coaching from Mam’zelle Dupont.

Needless to say, her afternoon doesn’t quite go according to plan…

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers – Chapters 9 and 10” →

Previously: Alicia and Betty play a trick so nice, they try it twice — with an unwanted twist from Darrell. Alicia, based on no evidence whatsoever, decides that Sally put Darrell up to it.

Just one chapter this week, because I’m trying to get back into that nice, logical odd-even two-chapter post pattern.

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers – Chapter 8” →

These chapters have more butt action than a Chuck Tingle ebook*, without mentioning bottoms, bums, buttocks or derrieres even once.

* not remotely true, BUT they have more butt action than the rest of Blyton’s entire oevre put together, and Blyton was almost as prolific as Dr Tingle.

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers – Chapters 6 and 7” →

Chapters 6 and 7 make a good pair, so I’m just doing 5 this week — in which Daphne’s less personable side makes an appearance.

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers – Chapter 5” →

Chapter 2 ended with Gwen dooming new girl Daphne to guilt by association:

“Hallo, everyone! This is Daphne Millicent Turner, a new girl. She’s in our form and in our dormy. She travelled down in my carriage and I’m sure she’s going to be a favourite with all of us in no time!””

Oh, Gwen.

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers” →

Stephanie’s out of the country, which means … IT’S SQUID TIME! And also, you know, time to relaunch the Malory Towers readthrough.

You can find previous posts in the series here.

Second Form at Malory Towers! Let’s go!

Darrell, Sally, Gwendoline, Mary-Lou and all the other girls from the First Term at Malory Towers are now in the second form and they are as lively as ever. Mam’zelle Dupont is still trying to be strict, Alicia plays a terrible trick with invisible chalk and Gwendoline and Daphne inevitably get into trouble.

Thanks, blurb!

Continue reading “Second Form at Malory Towers – Chapters 1 and 2” →