What Katy Did, and At School, and Next
Ahhh, childrens books you read as a kid: there’s just something cosy about them. And a litte bit wierd, you realise when you look back.
Spoliers ahead, but really, I don’t see the need to hide the rest of the post.
What Katy Did: Katy Carr, whose mum is dead and, along with her younger brothers and sisters is looked after by her aunt (her father is around, but he’s a man, so can’t look after them). Anyway, Katy falls off a swing and becomes laid up in bed. Then her aunt dies. Luckily, she has an invalid cousin, who tells her all about “The school of pain” where god teaches patience. She becomes a nice person and then is able to walk again. The end.
What Katy Did at School: Katy is too serious so she and her sister Clover are sent off to boarding school. They have japes. Katy, despite having founded a society against flirting and unladylike behviour, is accused of giving a note to a boy. Thanks to her hard work, sensible attitude and general responsibility, by the end of the school year the teachers decide that she probably didn’t do it. The end.
What Katy Did Next: Katy goes to Europe to help a widowed mother look after her young child. They run into Katy’s nasty cousin who is trying to catch the widow’s brother as a husband. The child almost dies. The brother realises the cousin is frivolous and selfish and falls in love with Katy. The end. (no wedding or anything) (they’re not even in the same country at the end of the book) (I mean, really, that’s supposed to be it?)
My God. Katy shouldn’t be allowed out of the house. Her parents die, then her aunt dies, then she has a nasty cousin. She must be a right piece of work. Also, my curiousity is peaked. Who DID write the note to the boy? And why was it such a sin?
Comment by Arsela Undress — January 5, 2006 @ 9:33 am
They don’t write books like that nowdays. It’s all wizards and things unreal. Bring back the real life true stories I say.
Comment by Elaine — January 5, 2006 @ 10:38 am
THE SCHOOL OF PAIN. I believe Chuck Norris studied there.
Comment by Linus — January 5, 2006 @ 11:19 am
The note was written by another, younger girl in the school. She wanted the boy to throw some cake over the wall to her, and didn’t think he would for her, but he’d know who Katy was. She confessed this to Katy at the end, and Katy forgave her, of course.
Comment by Is — January 5, 2006 @ 12:31 pm
First comes the notes about cake then the binge drinking and thongs appear. Also it appears that Katy doesn’t do that much at all except be a pain in the ass.
Comment by Donal — January 5, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Throw some cake over the wall? Man, the English are weird. That plot sounds very Nano, ie random.
Also Katy sounds like that annoying goodie two shoes person you couldn’t stand in school.
Comment by Arsela Undress — January 5, 2006 @ 4:00 pm
See, at school, I think that person may have been me, which might explain (a) the appeal of the books, and (b)why I had no friends and turned to chocolate.
Comment by Is — January 5, 2006 @ 4:12 pm
That’s turned to chocolate as in used it to comfort myself, not literally turned to chocolate. If the latter had happened I would have eaten myself and I would no longer be with you.
Comment by Is — January 5, 2006 @ 4:16 pm