The Saturdays (Melendy Quartet)
by Elizabeth Enright
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Book Summary Information
Author: Elizabeth EnrightBrand: Square Fish
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-01-22
ISBN: 0312375980
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Square Fish
Book Reviews of The Saturdays (Melendy Quartet)
Book Review: A Children's Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I am now in my fifties, but my memories of the fond hours I spent in the company of Elizabeth Enright's Melendy family are still sharp. The bright sparkling personalities of Mona, Rush, Randy, and Oliver enlivened many hours for me, and I'm glad to see that they are still readily available.
Its the early 1940s, and the Melendy children live in a brownstone somewhere in New York City. Their father is often away on business and their mother died many years earlier. Their caretakers are their housekeeper Cuffy and handyman Willy Sloper. The Melendys spend most of their spare time in their Office, a large attic room with a skylight. One Saturday they begin the Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Club, or I.S.A.A.C. Every Saturday they pool their allowances and one of the four gets to spend the afternoon on a solitary adventure.
The Melendys are highly intelligent children, so its not surprising that an art gallery and grand opera are the focus of two of the adventures. But there's also room for more traditional childhood pursuits, such as a day at the circus and going rowing in Central Park, and for experimenting with more adult interests, like getting your hair cut and permanent waved. In the end everyone learns something about themselves and others.
There are plenty of touches that are true to the time period like references to World War II and rationing which add additional historical interest to this already fine tale. The best thing about this story and all the Melendy books is that the children are smart, aware, and well read and not afraid to show it.
Summary of The Saturdays (Melendy Quartet)
Meet the Melendys! The four Melendy children live with their father and Cuffy, their beloved housekeeper, in a worn but comfortable brownstone in New York City. There's thirteen-year-old Mona, who has decided to become an actress; twelve-year-old mischievous Rush; ten-and-a-half-year-old Randy, who loves to dance and paint; and thoughtful Oliver, who is just six.
Tired of wasting Saturdays doing nothing but wishing for larger allowances, the four Melendys jump at Randy's idea to start the Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Club (I.S.A.A.C.). If they pool their resources and take turns spending the whole amount, they can each have at least one memorable Saturday afternoon of their own. Before long, I.S.A.A.C. is in operation and every Saturday is definitely one to remember.
Written more than half a century ago, The Saturdays unfolds with all the ripe details of a specific place and period but remains, just the same, a winning, timeless tale. The Saturdays is the first installment of Enright's Melendy Quartet, an engaging and warm series about the close-knit Melendy family and their surprising adventures.
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