Beany Malone

Rating:
Summary: Reissued edition of a 1950-1960s classic
Review: Popular juvenile writer L.M. Weber wrote 15 books about the Malones from 1943-1969, which are now reissueed by Image-Cascade. The books are sturdy editions of the classics which even have the pictures from the dustcover printed on the paperback bindings, a particularly nice touch for those of us who remember the classic dustcovers. If you want to buy them all you might buy directly from the publisher as they offer a discount if you buy the entire series.

On the books: this is a very wholesome series from the post-war, baby boom days when older teenagers of the middle classes were just beginning to debate the question of dating behavior, independence from parents, early marriage and sexual activity. Each book centers around one sort of moral dilemma that organizes the action of the characters In this book we are introduced to the Malone family when their widowed father has to be away for sometime and their stepgrandmother comes to pick up the slack and organize their lives for them. How each of the Malone children from the oldest, recently married Elizabeth, to horseriding Mary Fred, historian Johnny, and determined housewifely youngest daughter Catherine Cecilia or "Beany" as she is known to all and sundry, deal with the question of independence and self-determination is the theme of this particular book. The series carries us through several of Beany's boyfriends and her search for an ideal, sensible mate, ending in a last novel that discusses a point very early in her marriage to Mr. Right, Carlton Buell. The plot devices of the books are rather formulaic; they often turn on information one character has and does not share with the others, or a belief that one character has that turns out to be wrong. Characterization is very flat and unsophisticated and as the series goes on, there is a great deal of repetition of characterization devices that takes up more and more of the book each time. But these books were beloved in their age and are definitely nostalgic to read again. Still, they take us back to a point in American history that has a reputation of being a peaceful era and we see that even before Vietnam and the 1960s teenagers were dealing with moral dilemmas and wondering how best to grow up. Beany and her siblings also provide good moral examples, since they always struggle but in the end do the right thing. Strongly recommended, even they are a bit oldfashioned nowadays.

Rating:
Summary: Reissued edition of a 1950-1960s classic
Review: Popular juvenile writer L.M. Weber wrote 15 books about the Malones from 1943-1969, which are now reissueed by Image-Cascade. The books are sturdy editions of the classics which even have the pictures from the dustcover printed on the paperback bindings, a particularly nice touch for those of us who remember the classic dustcovers. If you want to buy them all you might buy directly from the publisher as they offer a discount if you buy the entire series.

On the books: this is a very wholesome series from the post-war, baby boom days when older teenagers of the middle classes were just beginning to debate the question of dating behavior, independence from parents, early marriage and sexual activity. Each book centers around one sort of moral dilemma that organizes the action of the characters In this book we are introduced to the Malone family when their widowed father has to be away for sometime and their stepgrandmother comes to pick up the slack and organize their lives for them. How each of the Malone children from the oldest, recently married Elizabeth, to horseriding Mary Fred, historian Johnny, and determined housewifely youngest daughter Catherine Cecilia or "Beany" as she is known to all and sundry, deal with the question of independence and self-determination is the theme of this particular book. The series carries us through several of Beany's boyfriends and her search for an ideal, sensible mate, ending in a last novel that discusses a point very early in her marriage to Mr. Right, Carlton Buell. The plot devices of the books are rather formulaic; they often turn on information one character has and does not share with the others, or a belief that one character has that turns out to be wrong. Characterization is very flat and unsophisticated and as the series goes on, there is a great deal of repetition of characterization devices that takes up more and more of the book each time. But these books were beloved in their age and are definitely nostalgic to read again. Still, they take us back to a point in American history that has a reputation of being a peaceful era and we see that even before Vietnam and the 1960s teenagers were dealing with moral dilemmas and wondering how best to grow up. Beany and her siblings also provide good moral examples, since they always struggle but in the end do the right thing. Strongly recommended, even they are a bit oldfashioned nowadays.

Rating:
Summary: Fun girl reading that tackles tough issues
Review: This series of fourteen stories about teenage life and growing up were written in the style of "popular fiction" for young people in the 50s and 60s. I think the stories are rather groundbreaking for their day in that they're sort of anti-Leave it to Beaver. Rather than a "perfect" and orderly household that's just-so middle class we have a hectic family of four teen and young-adult children and a widowed father who is frequently out of town. While there father is loving and they have a substantial "support system" in each other and in friends and neighbors, many of the conflicts and plot-lines center around very real confusions, temptations and philosophies that teens struggle with. It's nice to see ideas like the value of earning your own money, the dangers of "going steady" too soon, the difficulties of early marriage, the beauty of a simple wedding and the importance of love and understanding in dealing with "difficult children" incorporated into engaging stories. Teens will benefit from grappling with these ideas in a story before they face them in real life.

The stories are very girlish - there's a lot about dating and clothes. They're not great literature, but they have a lot of heart, they're a lot of fun, they're easy to read and I think you'll be glad you met Beany and all the Malones.