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Monday 20 July 2015

B stands for Enid Blyton,

As a child I was an avid reader and one of my favourite authors was Enid BLYTON . She wrote a myriad of books, the ones I enjoyed  most were The Famous Five and The Secret Seven.



The Famous Five consisted of four children and a dog called Timmie, he was George's dog. George was a girl but rather a tomboy, I think her real name was Georgina. The other three characters were Julian,  Dick and Anne.

 In the summertime, they all returned home from their respective boarding schools to stay with their  Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin. Unfortunately Aunt Fanny was taken ill and had to go to a far away hospital for specialised treatment, with Uncle Quentin at her side.

 Arrangements were made for them to be cared for by Aunt Fanny's temporary cook Mrs Stick, her ghastly husband and sly son Edgar.

They disliked their guardians so much that  they decided to run away to Kirrin Island.......... thus, the adventures of  The Famous Five invaded my life.

 As soon as there was a new copy published of their latest adventures I was down to the local library to order it. My parents and family purchased many of  Enid Blyton's  books for me, on special occasions, such as Christmas and Birthdays.

 Famous Five stories  kept in the bookcase by my bed.

 
 
 
 
 

Another set of  Enid Blyton stories that I loved were The Secret Seven, yet more exciting adventures for me to read under my quilt, with a torch.....During school days I was in bed at 8pm and then allowed to read until 9pm.... then it was 'lights out'.... Or rather, 'light's on',  in my case! Naughty girl!

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However, unknown to the parents I had a torch under my quilt and carried on reading. Unfortunately, one night there was a power failure and my Father got very cross because he couldn't find the large torch I had 'borrowed' for my nocturnal reading! Reluctantly, I had to hand it over..... not to be thwarted, I borrowed a torch from my brother so I could carry on with my favourite pastime,  reading!

 

Then came The Secret Seven.


 

I read a lot of novels in a very short time.

  The storyline here was about a group of juvenile detectives. Peter was the leader, then there was Janet his sister.  Jack who was Peter's best friend, then Barbara, George, Pam and Colin. They would all meet up in an old shed and use secret passwords for entering. They also had badges with SS engraved upon them.         

 

 

 


When the school holiday arrived my brother and l formed a similar  sort of club with our local friends, our headquarters based in the father's shed. With the help of our elder sister we made badges and played all summer with our very own Secret Seven.

 Big sister set out a trestle table for us  with Sandwiches fairy cakes and jelly and ice cream and cups of cream soda... after all this was devoured she would read us a passage or two out of our beloved ENID BLYTON'S  Secret Seven Stories.

 

My humble tribute to a Bountiful author who helped me expand my knowledge of the English language and also indulge in a little escapism, imagination and fun during my childhood years. 

Enid Blyton

1897- 1968
 
My sincere thanks to the BUBBLY Denise for devising ABCW and to the BOUYANT
Roger for keeping us all afloat.
Many thanks too, to the band of helpers.
Best wishes,
Di,
.ABCW team.

 

 

 

 


 


 



 


44 comments:

  1. Here in Canada, we read the Bobbsey Twins books, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and the boys loved The Hardy Boys. I have heard of Enid Blyton but haven't had the pleasure of reading her books. They sound like just the sort of reading young people would love. I have also done "books" this week, but more on an adult level. You may have heard of the authors I chose. Have a great week!

    Leslie
    abcw team

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  2. Now that sounds like a series of books I would enjoy. This is the first I've heard of Enid Blyton and I will keep my eye out for any books by her that I might be able to find. Probably not an easy task here in the states!

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  3. My school library had 'Enid Blyton' and 'Malory Towers'. I started reading with these books gradually moving over to 'Nancy Drew' but by the time I was in fifth grade I started reading 'Hardy Boys' too as I had read almost all the books in our little library. Reading is still Fun!

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  4. What a wonderful entry for the letter B.
    And yes, i remember those stories well.
    In my childhood i read the books too (in Dutch ofcourse) and saw them on tv too.
    In later years they were repeated and i watched them with my childeren, my daughter read the books too.

    The Secret Seven is not known to me but i can image they were fine to read as well.

    Thank you for this entry, have a nice day!

    ♫Mel☺dy♫ (ABC-W-Team)

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  5. Famous Five remain my favourite still but I must have read up all of Secret Seven too. I also loved the Five Find Outers - oh and she had the Faraway tree series that was so delightful not to mention St Clair's and Malory Towers. Oh I could go on and on. I once did a post on her too. You can find it here if you are interested. http://obsessivemom.blogspot.in/2014/04/e-has-to-be-for-enid-blyton_5.html

    BeatAboutThe Book

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  6. Interesting reminder of the days,when i used to bring adventure stories for girls by Enid Blyton, for my daughter. Very readable tales which kept the suspense till the end. A bright choice for letter B!

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  7. Hi leslie,
    I am surprised you didn't get to read Enid Blyton's books when you were a youngster, her stories were translated world wide..
    What a shame.
    My girls loved her, as I'm sure your girl's would have.
    I bet Erin would enjoy her stories too!
    Good to hear from you,
    love Di.
    ABCW team,

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  8. Hi Ellen. I'm so surprised Enid Blyton's books didn't seem to arrive over the Atlantic from the UK.
    As I've just said to Leslie in Vancouver BC,that Blyton's works were translated into several foreign languages, of course that wouldn't be necessary in the US and Canada, except in the French speaking Canadian provinces, I know it was translated into French,
    Quelle` surprise !

    Thanks for stopping by,
    best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  9. Ira PT:
    Hi,
    I'm so pleased you were able to access some of Enid Blyton's books at school,
    she was such a great writer, I must have read most or if not all of her books,

    Thanks for stopping by,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  10. Your early reading has served you well!

    ROG, ABCW

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  11. Hello Melody,
    So good to hear from you again and I'm delighted to learn that you were able to
    read Enid Blyton's stories when you were a child and then passed on the tradition to your daughter too!
    I loved reading 'The Secret Seven', because, as they were always having secret adventures, I wwould pretend I was with them when I snuggled up under my bed covers with my father's torch.
    I used to pretend I was camping in a tent, as they
    often did.
    I used to long to go camping but my parents wouldn't entertain the idea!

    best wishes,
    Di,
    ABCW team.

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  12. Hello Tulik,
    So good to hear from you again,
    I am delighted that you had the opportunity to read Enid Blyton's books.
    The two stories that I mentioned were just two of several,
    including Mallory Towers, although I don't remember The Faraway Tree,
    I must look that one up !

    best wishes,
    Di,
    ABCW team.

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  13. Hi Uppal,
    Thanks for your comments, I'm so pleased you had the opportunity to read
    Enid Blyton, such a fun writer for children and adults alike,
    Thanks for your comments,

    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  14. Hi Roger,
    I have figured out by now that you are a man of a few words, so.....
    Thank you,

    Best wishes,
    Di.xx
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Interesting. Sadly when I was growing up we didn't have much access to books.

    My ABC WEDNESDAY

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  16. I never heard of this series, but I did always enjoy books that were about kids on actual adventures, like Nancy Drew. My daughter is 26 and was exactly Harry Potter's age when he first entered Hogwarts. She learned to love reading through J.K. Rowling, and I am forever in her debt. Thanks! Glad to be back after a rest. Amy

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  17. The books look so fun especially the illustrations. It would be so wonderful to have the complete set.
    Ann

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  18. One of my favourites too, when I was young...

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  19. She was my fav too. Wonderful collection.

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  20. Yes I enjoyed those too - as well as lots of others. I was a greedy reader and still am! X

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  21. Photo Cache,
    I'm sorry to learn that you didn't have access to many books when you
    were younger, I do hope you've made up for it now,
    Good to hear from you again.

    best wishes,

    Di.
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sharp little Pencil:
    Hi Amy,
    good for you to be back again and I hope you feel refreshed
    after your rest!
    So pleased to read that JKR inspired your daughter into reading,
    she's a superb and imaginative writer.

    best wishes,

    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  23. Hi Ann,
    Thanks for stopping by, good to hear from you again.
    The original copies of Enid Blyton's books fetch a lot of money on the collector's
    market.

    best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Hildred,
    thanks for dropping by and your comments, I'm so glad you
    got to read Enid Blyton's books when you were younger.


    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Indrani,
    I'm so pleased that your favourite writer was Enid Blyton,
    I couldn't get enough of her wonderful writing.

    Best wishes,
    Di,
    ABCW team,

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Flowerpot,
    Being an avid reader has held you in
    good stead thus turning you into such
    a good writer.
    Thanks for stopping by,
    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  27. No matter how many books we read as adults, the books of our childhoods stay with us!

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  28. love her books especially the SS and FF. we even called ourself FF.

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  29. Nancy Drew was what I read as a kid. I didn't care too much for her, but I liked her adventures. I still like to read children books so I went and checked if they are still available. Yup. I read that someone planned to make a movie of the Famous Five in 2014. Wonder if it's done. Something else to look up. :-)

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  30. I read all her books when I was a child ! I think she made me love crime stories ! Her books have been translated in all languages I have her books in German !

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  31. Enid Blyton was also a favourite of. my children and myself. We read them in Dutch of course!

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  32. Lea,
    Thanks for stopping by, I find the older I get
    the more I can remember of my childhood reading
    matter. It's a good job we had a good local library
    as my parents would never have been able
    to keep up with my thirst for literature!
    Whenever there was a list of new books out, I would be
    first on the doorstep of the library eager to get my
    order in !

    best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  33. Ann Chen Ji,
    Good to hear from you again.
    Enid Blyton must have inspired so many youngster in forming
    their own little secret and adventure clubs.
    We had a club but the name changed all the tine, depending
    upon who was the 'boss kid' at the time. No particular name
    comes to mind at present !

    Best wishes,
    Di,
    ABCW team.

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  34. Susie..eeee :
    Hi, thanks for stopping by again, always good to hear from you.
    I've heard of Nancy Drew but never read any of her stories.
    I still enjoy reading children's books which I can do, with our younger grand children. mind you they're growing up so much and are beginning to prefer the
    technology that's thrust upon them !
    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hello Gattina,
    good to hear from you again.slated
    I know that Enid Blyton's books were translated into many languages,
    including German, so I'm delighted you had the opportunity to read
    her wonderful stories.

    Best wishes,
    Di,
    ABCW team.

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  36. Hello Wil,
    Good to hear from you, I hope you are having/ or have had an enjoyable holiday in Australia, with your family.
    I am pleased you got to read Enid Blyton's stories when you were a youngster.
    She brought so much to my younger years, I'm grateful that I had the pleasure of
    escaping into the fantasty world of The Famous Five etc.

    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  37. I'm not familiar with Blyton's work, but based on your synopsis of her character's situation, I can see why it would be great for children. Blessings!

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  38. Hello Arnoldo,
    Thanks for stopping by, it's always good to hear from you.
    It seems a lot of my friends in the US and surprisingly Canada
    haven't heard of, or, had access to Enid Blyton's delightful
    children's stories , such a shame.
    Her works were translated into scores of foreign languages too.

    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Diane .. Well this is a post for me. I absolutely loved Enid Blyton books, was always reading them. Hope my granddaughters read some. My favourite was Malory Towers about Boarding schools and I really wanted to go. My mum wouldn't let me but my brother went and to this day it still peeves me.

    Thanks for your support xox anne

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  40. Hi Anne,
    Good to hear from you.
    I too, loved Mallory Towers but didn't like the thought of
    Boarding school, I was very much a home bird then,
    In fact
    the only Boarding School I knew of then, was a place called Colomendy in
    North Wales where disruptive kids were sent, so that certainly
    didn't appeal to me!
    Love,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  41. She is my sons favorite author.

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  42. Also a first for me for I never heard of this author until now that is. I also when a child used to read under the covers with a flashlight.

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  43. I do not know this author at all, and thank you so much for the introduction! I loved Nancy Drew, and was also a secret reader! Now I must find a book or two and see if one of my grands will be interested.

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I usually like to reply to your comments but for some reason when i do post a reply it just diappears, any advice would be most welcome,Thanks Di x

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