Alexi

I only finished Rebecca two weeks or so ago - such a fantastic read. I'm sure you'll love it whenever you get to it - it was on a lot of my lists too p

I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca - full review to follow but definitely a 5/5! I then spent the rest of January rereading the Malory Towers series - wonderful nostalgia. I've been having book jar envy so I've now made my own - well, I have a book box not a jar I won't always use it because I do have some library books out (including another Du Maurier ) and they have deadlines but I have now made my first selection. The box of destiny picked The Jewish Candidate by David Crossland. It's a bit different to what I expected but really good so far.

Great reviews - you've had a great month! The Giver and Just One Damned... Have both gone onto my wishlist!

And me I've now finished Malory Towers and about to make my first book jar choice

Ooh, I loved that one! Yay for a nice book jar. Hope you enjoy it, Kay

Hello ladies! Are we planning to start in February, or delay a little after we all got so excited about the Malory Towers group (re)read? I'm easy, just thought I would check what the plan was.

Sorry Janet - I completely missed your reply! No, I hadn't guessed that - at least, not until a few pages before the reveal, but only being marginally quicker than Ralph doesn't seem much to crow about!! Did you?

Nice jar Kylie! Shame about the cheap paper, it looks like a really nice gingham cloth in the photo

I haven't read it either

I also went ahead with my binge and am just starting Last Term... Still, I am excited to finish because I have made my very own book jar!

We've had a snow day here today, so I'm now at the end of book five as well I agree on your last point Claire. I think I was 8 or maybe 9 when I was introduced to these books by my Mum (who was rather strict on such things and banned me from watching My Girl 2 when I was about 10 ) I also loved Darrell as a kid and these books made me desperately want to go to boarding school. She's not perfect but she tries hard at everything she does. As an adult, the high levels of conformity are a bit more disturbing. There are a couple of bits in the fifth book I highlighted - notably that if you're "sensible and NORMAL" then you aren't homesick - even on the first night! Homesickness isn't normal? Bit disturbing! Similarly, the focus on games and the mocking if you're not good at them is a bit weird by today's standards. It's ok to not be good at everything you know Enid...

Sorry my post was a bit convoluted! There are traditionally three terms in a year - although, confusingly, I think Darrell spends four terms in the first form? Which means Alicia must have been in the first form for bloody ages! I was never sure why she started in the summer term either. But we only see them in one of their three terms, which I think is why it ends up quite confusing as they go through the years. To confuse the issue further, there is mention in book 4 that Connie should be in the lower fourth, not the upper. What and where is the lower fourth?!

There's definitely no mention of boys in any of Enid's children's books - in the Secret Seven the main characters are of both sexes but they're all friends and that's definitely IT! The only thing I would say about the lack of music/popular culture discussion would be that dates books very quickly - was Enid trying to avoid this? They were first published in the 1940s so the music would have been very alien to us - not even realy a recognisable Elvis or Beatles equivalent at that time. We only get one book a year and yet they are in the class for three terms, so I think Enid is trying to give us a sense of what went on in the other two terms with Gwen fawning over Mavis etc. As a kid, I think I would have preferred 18 books That would have made this read a long go on rather long though....!

Now you've said about the sea I have a recollection that was Malory Towers but I think it might have been later - I seem to remember Darrell's little sister being at one by the swimming pool? If you couldn't tell, I also reread the Malory Towers books repeatedly as a kid I only ever read the first three in the St Clare's series though for some reason. I'm plowing on with book 4 now.

I'm glad the first day went so well Janet A well-earned three days off now!

I've just finished Third Year and wondering whether to buy the rest and have a massive binge read

You've got some great looking titles ahead of you - a few are on my TBR as well. I've just finished Rebecca having read Jamaica Inn last year. I loved both but agree Rebecca just pips it for me Have a great reading year!

Good luck J! x

Where are you guys all up to now? I'm starting to wonder if the midnight feasts were more in the St Clare's books, because we haven't yet read about one and I seem to remember a lot of them

*snort* Brilliant post! Yes they did have very high conformity standards! I find it very weird how the head girl has so much respect and authority - our head girl at school wasn't a bit like that. No talking! Surely a bit of whispering after lights out won't kill you I don't think they'd have liked me - apart from playing goalkeeper in hockey I was hopeless at sports. One thing that has confused me is that in book 1 we are definitely told there are separate dining rooms and common rooms for each tower - and Betty is in West, but in the second book she seems to constantly be in the common room and dining room. What's that about?

I got stuck on a train so I'm now halfway through book 2! Very much enjoying the nostalgia trip. I love how beast is a massive insult and how being sensible is one of the best compliments! Alicia doesn't come out of book 2 at all well. I think in book 1 she comes across as a bit of a fair weather friend, but in book 2 she seems a bit nastier really.

Interesting review I definitely agree about the name Go - that really irritated me! I really enjoyed it but felt the ending was by far the weakest part of the book. I wasn't entirely sure how I wanted it to end, But then, the writer is supposed to decide that for me

I'm just starting the first one but expecting to have it finished fairly quickly. Not sure whether to plough on or halt there!

Claire's recommendation of The Dynamite Room put it on my wish list and yours has now pushed it onto the TBR.... Whoops. Hope you enjoy the book club choice J. I used to read quite a few of hers although I haven't for years. I find it much easier if I try and forget they're supposed to be accurate though!

I agree too. I used to get some decent bargains there but it hardly seems worth it now - they're all very samey and uninspiring.