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Bab: A Sub-Deb
Bab: A Sub-Deb
A graphic picture of the adolescent American girl, brave and loyal, innocently daring, trustful alike of her vagrant impulses and of people, warm hearted and impulsive. She is quite right when she complains that her family does not understand her. Most parents do not understand their daughters of that age. Therefore this is a book that mothers and fathers of girls ought to read, for it will help to enlighten them. Also, they, and all others, will find it the most clever and amusing of all Mrs. Rinehart's books." -New York Times
Book Excerpt
ting their wraps on in the lower hall, I counted my money. I had thirteen dollars. It was enough for a Plan I was beginning to have in mind.
"Go to bed early, Barbara," mother said when they were ready to go out.
"You don't mind if I write a letter, do you?"
"To whom?"
"Oh, just a letter," I said, and she stared at me coldly.
"I daresay you will write it, whether I consent or not. Leave it on the hall table, and it will go out with the morning mail."
"I may run out to the box with it."
"I forbid your doing anything of the sort."
"Oh, very well," I responded meekly.
"If there is such haste about it, give it to Hannah to mail."
"Very well," I said.
She made an excuse to see Hannah before she left, and I knew THAT I WAS BEING WATCHED. I was greatly excited, and happier than I had been for weeks. But when I had settled myself in the Library, with the paper in front of me, I could not think of anything to say in a letter. So I wrote a poe
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This is not a contiguous novel, but rather a collection of short stories about Bab that are all linked. Bab is a fabulous character and one keeps reading to see what sort of trouble her well-meaning intentions will get her into next. I just wish that there were more Bab stories. Happy reading!
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This book was tons of fun and has many laugh out loud moments. Cute picture of what life was like long ago.
01/29/2011
This one brought me back to when I was 17. Thoroughly enjoyable and will keep you laughing the whole way through.
12/09/2010
I was in the mood to read a mystery this weekend, and the title of this book intrigued me. It turned out not to be a mystery, but a delightful comedy! What a fun, light weekend read!
Miss Barbara "Bab" Archibald is a strong-willed, feisty teenager who gets into a series of scrapes in this novel; which isn't so much of a straight narrative as a series of five novellas. The fifth chapter, or story, is the funniest one and ties the loose ends of the previous stories together.
Even though this book was written about 90 years ago, the themes of independence, young love and sibling rivalry still resonate today. If you were a teenager once, or if you have teenagers in your life, you will love this book!
Miss Barbara "Bab" Archibald is a strong-willed, feisty teenager who gets into a series of scrapes in this novel; which isn't so much of a straight narrative as a series of five novellas. The fifth chapter, or story, is the funniest one and ties the loose ends of the previous stories together.
Even though this book was written about 90 years ago, the themes of independence, young love and sibling rivalry still resonate today. If you were a teenager once, or if you have teenagers in your life, you will love this book!
05/11/2008
superlative.
MRR brings alive the prewar upper-class england alive through the eyes of her "on the verge" debutante. the travails of bab some time seem true even now. after all the problems of the guys, school, elder siblings and chequebook are still relevent and all engrossing even today.
though towards the last one does get to know the working of babs mind so soem of the incidents/surprises are not so surpising. but still the sincerity of the bab wins the day.
MRR brings alive the prewar upper-class england alive through the eyes of her "on the verge" debutante. the travails of bab some time seem true even now. after all the problems of the guys, school, elder siblings and chequebook are still relevent and all engrossing even today.
though towards the last one does get to know the working of babs mind so soem of the incidents/surprises are not so surpising. but still the sincerity of the bab wins the day.
12/11/2007
This book is charming. It's the story of a young heiress who is impatient to make her debut into society, and her troubles with boys and cars, her sister, her checkbook, the Theatre and German spies. It's like a kinder Gentlemen Prefer Blondes -- both the narrators can't spell and leave a cloud of destruction behind them, against which their charm and joie de vivre glitter even more. Full of period detail and gentle social observation, the book is a slice of upper-class life from the time of our entrance into World War I.
08/09/2006