tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post6861962739761093028..comments2024-03-21T21:37:03.772-05:00Comments on Series Books for Girls: Final Thoughts on the Cherry Ames SeriesJennifer Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405593758228423001noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-64863287876813596052022-06-22T18:43:20.989-05:002022-06-22T18:43:20.989-05:00Yes, Julie Tatham wrote all of the Ginny Gordon bo...Yes, Julie Tatham wrote all of the Ginny Gordon books.Jennifer Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10405593758228423001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-64350473046125932232022-06-22T15:35:02.061-05:002022-06-22T15:35:02.061-05:00Was Julie Tatham the writer of the Ginny Gordon bo...Was Julie Tatham the writer of the Ginny Gordon books?At Home Togetherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02338360129527995619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-45482487023806059522015-07-12T15:55:40.197-05:002015-07-12T15:55:40.197-05:00I am not much of a Cherry Ames fan either (the Sue...I am not much of a Cherry Ames fan either (the Sue Barton series is better) but I was reading one of them and a set of twins - a brother and sister - were described as "identical twins!" Bad enough in any series, but inexcusable in a nursing series..<br /><br />re Ginny Gordon - the series did flop, compared to Trixie, especially, but how can you not love a series book in which the kids set up a Lending Library! If you are going to try the series again, go with that title first...Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18350515426529446805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-24828547573854297392015-06-27T05:45:23.139-05:002015-06-27T05:45:23.139-05:00I need to get my few out again and see if they wer...I need to get my few out again and see if they were as wonderful as I remember! Have a great weekend. A Candle to Read Byhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581762892452867756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-43824184398820443342015-06-25T08:23:40.589-05:002015-06-25T08:23:40.589-05:00I read a Ginny Gordon around 10 years ago and didn...I read a Ginny Gordon around 10 years ago and didn't like it, which is kind of surprising since Julie Campbell Tatham wrote them. I believe most Trixie Belden fans like Ginny Gordon. I'd like to give Ginny Gordon another try, hopefully sometime in the next year.Jennifer Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10405593758228423001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-34850409247563224942015-06-25T07:45:19.379-05:002015-06-25T07:45:19.379-05:00I have probably asked you this before, but have yo...I have probably asked you this before, but have you read/reviewed the very short Ginny Gordon series? I think that is probably the first such mystery/series I read--it was my Mom's, and I really liked it. I see them here and there at book stores. A Candle to Read Byhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581762892452867756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-26261059189985743462015-06-24T23:24:07.437-05:002015-06-24T23:24:07.437-05:00I didn't take your comments as critical; it...I didn't take your comments as critical; it's that I've been feeling bad about not liking this series much. In the day or so before this post published, I decided to write a comment containing something similar to what I ended up writing. I knew I had disappointed fans of Cherry Ames, several of which had really wanted me to review the series.Jennifer Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10405593758228423001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-14306885342908460822015-06-24T22:07:45.430-05:002015-06-24T22:07:45.430-05:00I really enjoy your reviews--sorry if I sounded o...I really enjoy your reviews--sorry if I sounded otherwise. I understand your thoughts about hospitals as well. Thanks for sharing all you have learned and experienced from these series with us! A Candle to Read Byhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581762892452867756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-84753974173651259212015-06-24T09:54:37.852-05:002015-06-24T09:54:37.852-05:00My original reason (10-20 years ago) for not wishi...My original reason (10-20 years ago) for not wishing to read the Cherry Ames series was a strong aversion to anything having to do with hospitals. I am not certain from where the aversion came. It probably was linked to the time I got stitches in the emergency room when I was seven, and the doctors and nurses questioned me because they thought my parents had hurt me. No, I jumped off the heavy swing set glider, stupidly sat up, and it whacked me in the face just like I kept saying. They didn't believe me, but at least they finally let me go home. Additionally, my grandmother was hospitalized for quite some time before her death when I was a teenager, and that was unpleasant since we knew she wasn't going to get better. Hospitals are stressful places.<br /><br />I don't watch television hardly any these days; I'm too busy reading. But when I did watch television, I never chose shows with doctors and hospitals because of my aversion to the setting. I don't watch television hardly any these days; I'm too busy reading. But when I did watch television, I never chose shows with doctors and hospitals because of my aversion to the setting. I always chose westerns or shows like the Waltons that were set in the past, like what I like to read.<br /><br />And I've mentioned that I am not interested in medicine or nursing in the slightest. I had gotten past my aversion to the setting enough that I was finally able to read the books, but I still didn't like them much.Jennifer Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10405593758228423001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-73973978439203463482015-06-24T02:19:39.656-05:002015-06-24T02:19:39.656-05:00I've only read a few of the Cherry Ames books ...I've only read a few of the Cherry Ames books myself. As someone who had to visit the doctor excessively as a child, it's difficult for me to read books or watch television and films about the medical profession. While the medical descriptions were probably to add depth to the text, I was surprised how much the medical issues did not bother me. Perhaps the profession just isn't interesting to you.<br /><br />As to mentioning the church frequently, the historical time must be taken into account. 'Going to church' in the 1960's was something everyone did, like going to school or the grocery store. It was also the center of social life. The best comparison (from the series I know best) is how often in the Dana Girls series the books mention the girls head to class. It's an every day way to change setting and move onto the next step in the plot. I also wonder if since the books were written for children, perhaps a bit of morality may have been thrown in as well. I think the church mentions pop out to our modern eyes is because so few books today and in the past few decades mention church at all, let alone visiting frequently, I imagine to be inclusive and not offend.Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05097441437159417314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-38688363441539274752015-06-23T09:18:25.226-05:002015-06-23T09:18:25.226-05:00I agree that the changing venue is interesting, an...I agree that the changing venue is interesting, and no doubt it is a positive to many readers. <br /><br />I am neutral on the reference to church, but it always jumps out at me when mentioned just for the sake of mentioning it. <br /><br />As I read Cherry Ames, I thought about how a series would play out if it were based on a teacher. I think it would be just as rough on me if done in a similar style to Cherry Ames. I can imagine my boredom while reading multiple chapters on how to plan lessons, how to teach students on all levels, and how to motivate students. Yuck. And yes, I am a teacher, but I don't want to read about it in great detail. I avoid all online teacher groups because I don't want to immerse myself in it in my spare time. I also don't want to read about math, either, for the same reasons. I like teaching it, but I have better things to do in my spare time.<br /><br />As an aside, I read recently on Facebook that Rudy Nappi (Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys cover artist) never painted again after he retired because it was his work. I'm like that with respect to my profession.<br /><br />I do like books set in schools, but I don't want to read great detail like I had to regarding Cherry's profession. I am glad that all of the nurses who love Cherry Ames are able to appreciate the descriptions. <br /><br />On that subject, my reviews of this series have likely been disturbing to many people who love it. I apologize if that was the case. I recall that I have had several readers clamoring for me to review the Cherry Ames books over the years. I probably disappointed them. We don't all like the same things, and not everyone will like all of the different series. Most of the appeal of this particular series completely escapes me. It's just not my thing.Jennifer Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10405593758228423001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157530669780468545.post-68323534558242814882015-06-23T08:31:53.273-05:002015-06-23T08:31:53.273-05:00Given the time they were written, they certainly w...Given the time they were written, they certainly were designed to appeal to one of the few professions acceptable for young women. Don't you think the changing venue was to add interest as with Nancy? I should think it a challenge to combine continuity with enough change to be interesting. I am surprised there wasn't a series about a young teacher--maybe there was, and I just don't know about it--but a teacher wouldn't offer as many opportunities for exotic locations or exciting scenarios. <br /><br />Do you oppose the inclusion of references to Church? I noted quite a few, as you mention, in the Nancy Drew series. <br /><br />Thanks for your review. A Candle to Read Byhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581762892452867756noreply@blogger.com