This week, I’ve been following the twists and turns of Novak Djokovic’s visa problems and attempt to play in the Australian Open. I won’t try to record them all or my views on them, ( Read more... )

Jane Runs Away from School: Joanna Lloyd. Blackie (inscribed 11 Oct 1947)

This book is set in the Bramber Manor/Catharine (Kate) Maitland series, focused on new girl Jane Duncan. ( Read more... )

Terry’s Only Term: Ethel Talbot, Blackie

I had a quick look at what I’ve had to say about Ethel Talbot’s books in the past, and realised how much she likes this ‘Girl’s name descriptive word Term’ formula for titles. ( Read more... )

A quick word on the tennis, first, mainly the US Open. ( Read more... )

Bright Island: Mabel L. Robinson, Hutchinson

You make assumptions when you pick up the next book on your ‘to be read’ pile, some of them encouraged by its design and age. In my defence, Hutchinson boasts that this is published in the same series as ‘Christine, Air Hostess’ and ‘The Intelligence Corps Saves The Island’, which I’ve read, although I ( Read more... )

A Little Princess: Frances Hodgson Burnett, Puffin 1073 reprintRereading February has been happening this year again (although I’m counting it as between 8 February and 8 March). This is the third book I’ve reread as part of that. I’d put it on the reread pile a while ago, although knowing there’s a new adaptation of ‘The Secret Garden’ arriving ( Read more... )

Triplets at Royders: Margaret Biggs and Jacqueline Blairman, Sampson Low.I’m presuming that this book preceded Brent-Dyer giving Joey Maynard triplets! This is based on internal evidence in this book about the effects of what has to be the first world war. It’s a look at what it is to be a triplet as well as a good school’s influence on girls’ ( Read more... )

Audrey’s Awakening: E.L. Haverfield Oxford, 1924 reprint.

This is a book with improving quotes at the head of each chapter, and it has much to say to ‘bibliomaniac girls’ who are so involved in their reading that they’re selfishly guarded and reticent with others, but I was quite out of charity with the author on one character. ( Read more... )

Gillian of the Guides: Winifred Darch, Oxford, 1929.

This is the best girls own book I’ve read so far this year. It’s much more thoughtful about human nature and depicts it rather more credibly than the last couple of books I’ve reviewed. Also, ( Read more... )

The Head Girl’s Deputy: Brenda Page. 1930, Cassell

This book features a lot of the elements you’d expect or hope to find in a girls boarding school story, even a new girl whose ideas of school life have been influenced by reading school stories, although that isn’t a strong strand. Up to the end, ( Read more... )