Exploits of the Chalet Girls

Another re-read, and another I didn't recognise terribly much of. It was a bit early in the series for the peak of my interest. A good one, very good to begin, but not the best - the ending brought it down a bit for me. I just get bored with final chapters that are just the school play, and not even funny stuff going wrong during said play - but just a description of its story and who played whom and when it's not even an interesting play... yeah, yawn.The first half or so though was great because OMG THEKLA!! She is SO uppity and snooty and rude and it was hilarious to read. Especially when she called someone (one of the prefects, I think?!) a "Schweinhund", haha. And there was all this Austria/Germany rivalry, and it was no wonder show more Germany had lost the war with people like HER as its citizens or something... ouuuuch!! Thekla looked down on everyone in the rudest of all possible ways, and I admit I was totally hoping she'd stay that way and not become a good little schoolgirl like all the rest. (Probable sequel to her tale: Thekla Joins the Nazi Party.) show less

Another re-read, and another I didn't recognise terribly much of. It was a bit early in the series for the peak of my interest. A good one, very good to begin, but not the best - the ending brought it down a bit for me. I just get bored with final chapters that are just the school play, and not even funny stuff going wrong during said play - but just a description of its story and who played whom and when it's not even an interesting play... yeah, yawn.The first half or so though was great because OMG THEKLA!! She is SO uppity and snooty and rude and it was hilarious to read. Especially when she called someone (one of the prefects, I think?!) a "Schweinhund", haha. And there was all this Austria/Germany rivalry, and it was no wonder show more Germany had lost the war with people like HER as its citizens or something... ouuuuch!! Thekla looked down on everyone in the rudest of all possible ways, and I admit I was totally hoping she'd stay that way and not become a good little schoolgirl like all the rest. (Probable sequel to her tale: Thekla Joins the Nazi Party.) show less

This one started with a strong storyline, which was left hanging halfway through the book. After that midpoint, the book is just a string of detailed descriptions of entertainments: tableaux, games evening, Christmas pageant.

I would have given this book five stars, for I truly loved most of it, but the last chapter. As someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas instead I celebrate Jesus' birth. May I call the last chapter a positive essay on the problems of Christmas.

Ninth in the lengthy Chalet School series. A new and rather snooty girl called Thekla arrives and creates a lot of problems since she doesn't want to mix with many of the girls. However, she appears to become gradually more accepting (and nicer) without a lot happening.

I used to wonder if some significant sections of this book were removed in the paperback version, but apparently it's uncut. I find it a somewhat run-of-the-mill book, not one I would recommend starting with, or to anyone who isn't already a fan of the series. There's really nothing that stands out.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/11/exploits-of-chalet-girls-by-elinor-...