January 2026 - The Saturdays > Likes and Comments

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
Published: 1941

Summary: " It is the first of four books in the Melendy family series, introducing the four Melendy children who determine to stop wasting their Saturdays, pool their allowances, and take turns having adventures in pre-World War II New York City." - Wikipedia

Well, I've begun this one and I have to say, so far it's not measuring up to the Moffat family books. The children aren't so quickly engaging and for me, I prefer books set in small towns (well, except for the All-of-a-Kind Family books, which are set in New York and I love them). In any case, I'm only halfway through chapter 2, so I suspect it will get better.

Cleo wrote: "Well, I've begun this one and I have to say, so far it's not measuring up to the Moffat family books. The children aren't so quickly engaging and for me, I prefer books set in small towns (well, ex..."

That's too bad--I thought they were engaging in the second book, but I haven't read the first one so can't compare.

I’m really enjoying this now. I like how each of the kids are interested in something meaningful: music, dance, drama. It was a little over-the-top that their house got gassed, set on fire and flooded. But other than that, a really cute story!

Has anyone else started this yet?

I'll be reading it next week.

I just read it the night before last and was planning to come here. It was a bit slow at the start, but I enjoyed it. I'll be giving it 4 stars.

This is a longtime family favorite, along with the rest of the series. I agree that it's nice to see culture thoroughly integrated into the lives of the children. It's not something shoved down their throats by teachers or parents. Remember, this was published in 1941 (before America entered WWII) and that was well before the invention of the "teenager" - so there wasn't the plethora of so-called "pop culture" that would completely dominate the lives of real and literary children in the ensuing decades and that would set up kids and grown-ups as enemies.

The names that get dropped are Artur Schnabel, Rudolf Serkin, Josef Hofmann, Deanna Durbin, George Bernard Shaw, Helen Hayes, Ethel Barrymore, Katherine Cornell, Lillian Russell, Wagner, Shakespeare, and books like The Heir of Redclyffe (1853) and Under Two Flags: A Story of the Household and the Desert(1867). Then there are the great classics of the piano repertoire - and the songs, which are not hit parade numbers, but old chestnuts that everyone knows and can join in to sing. It's great to see a family (and others) who can entertain themselves by participating, and not just by being spectators.

Another thing that I particularly appreciate about it is the interactions with non-parent adults like Mrs. Oliphant, Cuffy, Willy, Zenaida, Miss Pearl, the policeman (in fact, I think the only other kid we encounter is the dreadful Marleen at the circus, and Oliver doesn't really interact with her) - also, of course, the glorious independence of these free-range kids.

Michael wrote: "This is a longtime family favorite, along with the rest of the series. I agree that it's nice to see culture thoroughly integrated into the lives of the children. It's not something shoved down the..."

Yes, these are great points. While I was by no means a perfect parent, I made sure my kids had time to be bored and learned how to entertain themselves which seems to be a dying art in cities and towns now.

Mrs. Oliphant was one of my favourite adults who completely turned Randy's idea of who this old lady was and became endeared to the kids.

Michael wrote: "This is a longtime family favorite, along with the rest of the series. I agree that it's nice to see culture thoroughly integrated into the lives of the children. It's not something shoved down the..."

Yes, it certainly struck me how easily the children seemed to interact with adults and made me wonder why children are so awkward with adults today. My husband taught guitar and I could easily pick out a public school kid from a private school kid and a homeschool kid. For the most part, the latter two would look you in the eye and talk to you whereas the former would usually not make eye contact and appear uncomfortable. It's a regression that has a negative effect on our society.

I remember going out and riding my bike all over by myself. I just needed to check in occasionally. Again, this freedom is something important that has been lost to our complete detriment.

Cleo wrote: "Michael wrote: "This is a longtime family favorite, along with the rest of the series. I agree that it's nice to see culture thoroughly integrated into the lives of the children. It's not something..."

I'm not sure how much has changed with adults and kids, but some kids have always been more interactive with adults than others, I think, but there has been some shift. Nowadays it seems to be that kids who interact well with adults have been homeschooled, but not always. I suspect it has to do with what kids are doing when they're not in school if they go to brick and mortar schools plus other factors.

Well, I finished and what was going to be a 3.5 star book, ended up as 4 stars. In fact, when they arrived at the seaside, it just got going for me and I wished she'd continued as there would have been so many interesting adventures that they could have had.

I particularly liked this quote about saving their allowances over the summer:

"We might do good deeds with it," Randy said. She was so happy that she wanted to do something about it. Perform a noble action or give a present to somebody, or be good for the rest of her life. Of course, when the opportunity came she would go down before temptation as soon as anyone else, but just now she didn't believe it.

It's quite a complex paragraph. Hopefully wanting to would translate to doing it eventually and perhaps an understanding of sacrifice would get instilled in her heart.

In any case, a great book! Thanks, Karin, for the suggestion!

Cleo wrote: "Well, I finished and what was going to be a 3.5 star book, ended up as 4 stars. In fact, when they arrived at the seaside, it just got going for me and I wished she'd continued as there would have ..."

I'm glad you liked it!

There is at least one book with summer adventures; that's in the third one, although there are adventures in the second :)

I've read the first chapter-it looks promising.

It keeps getting better, Rosemarie!

Cleo wrote: "It keeps getting better, Rosemarie!"

Agreed :)

That's good to hear!

I've read two more chapters-this book is good!
I've seen the opera Siegfried-it's long. I think Rush enjoyed it more than I did. I liked it, but not as much as others I've seen.

What is your favourite opera, Rosemarie?

I really liked Il Trovatore, with the famous Anvil Chorus.

Oooo, I’ll have to check it out! Thanks!

I hope you like it-the music is wonderful.

I just watched an excerpt with the Anvil Chorus. Wonderful!

Have you seen Così Fan Tutte or La Bohème? And if so, did you enjoy them?

I've seen a student production of La Boheme without all the large choruses, etc. The music is lovely. Way back in the 90s we had a suscription to the Opera company in Toronto for a couple of years, until it got too expensive. We also went to the Toronto Operetta Theatre productions where I discovered that I liked Gilbert and Sullivan. We saw a lot of fun productions for a number of years and stopped going a few years before Covid. They discovered that showing favourites like The Merry Widow more often brought in a bigger audience, which was needed because everything kept getting more expensive.
I've never seen Cosi Fan Tutte but have heard certain bits and pieces.

Thanks, Rosemarie. Vancouver Opera has both of them coming up. Boy, the tickets have become expensive though. Phew! 😅

That's another reason we stopped going. Both our daughters were in university at the time; fortunately, they both lived at home and went to the University of Toronto.

I've just finished the book-it was such a fun read.
The children were nice, but not perfect. It was good to see their interactions with the adults in their lives and their adventures were entertaining.

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Rosemarie!

I still like The Moffats a little better but there are still more books to go.

I was thinking of other family children’s books and right away I thought of All-of-a-Kind Family. Have either of you read that one?

I read the first in the series a long time ago. I don't remember any details but I know I liked it.

I read All-of-a-Kind Family years ago. I do want to say that the books after The Saturdays are better as they no longer live in the big city, especially Then There Were Five which I finished this week. I haven't read the last one yet.