What books to read next

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Freddy Strang
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Favourite book/series: Famous Five-Five On A Treasure Island
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What books to read next

Post by Freddy Strang »

The famous five series has always been my favourite books since I was a kid in the 70's and I currently have 3 different set's of them,i read all the secret seven books as a kid but don't remember much about them,would they be worth buying again as I can get the full new new very cheaply.

Also what other series of books by Enid would folks recommend,mystery and adventure books were always my favourite.

Regards.........
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Eddie Muir
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Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: What books to read next

Post by Eddie Muir »

I'd definitely recommend the Mystery series (15 Five Find-Outers and Dog books), Fred. Even if you've read them before, they are well worth reading again. :D
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

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Rob Houghton
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Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: What books to read next

Post by Rob Houghton »

To ease yourself from Famous Five to another series, I'd recommend the Barney Mysteries. :-D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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sixret
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Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

Re: What books to read next

Post by sixret »

I recommend Adventure series, Five Find-Outers series and Barney series. :D
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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John Pickup
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Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: What books to read next

Post by John Pickup »

The natural progression for me from the Famous Five books was the Adventure series. But, as others have said, the Find Outers and Barney Mysteries are equally as good.
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Anita Bensoussane
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Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: What books to read next

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Like others, I'd particularly recommend the Adventure, Barney and Find-Outers series.
Freddy Strang wrote:...i read all the secret seven books as a kid but don't remember much about them,would they be worth buying again as I can get the full new new very cheaply.
I can never resist reacquainting myself with childhood books, if I get the chance. The Secret Seven books have some very enjoyable elements although they're clearly aimed at younger readers so the mysteries are not too complex and the characterisation isn't as strong. I've always loved the cosy shed, the night-time sleuthing and the various tasks the children do, like looking for clues and shadowing people. For me, part of the enjoyment lies in revisiting the editions I had as a child so I'm not sure whether a brand new set would feel quite the same - though of course I'd rather have any copies than none at all.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Rob Houghton
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Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: What books to read next

Post by Rob Houghton »

I always loved The Secret Seven as a child and read many more of them than The Famous Five back then. I find them interesting as a series, mainly because they are probably the one series that I enjoy less as an adult. I still enjoy them, but I've come to realise that much of the detail in them was created in my own imagination and wasn't actually written in the text! I seemed to furnish the stories with many details - as Anita said, the cosiness of the shed, the crisp autumn days, smelling of wood smoke and dry leaves, the mysteries that seemed to stretch out through many days, furnished with many dangers. Although all these are still evident in the stories, somehow I seemed to have created much more detail in my own mind as a child than what is really there! 8)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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pete9012S
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Re: What books to read next

Post by pete9012S »

Freddy Strang wrote: Also what other series of books by Enid would folks recommend,mystery and adventure books were always my favourite.

Regards.........
Freddy, here's six books by Enid Blyton I really enjoyed reading when I was young.They are still among my favorites today.
It may give you a starting point to explore her other series/stories and see which ones you like:


Image..Image
Image..Image
Image..Image

I have re-read these books many times and never tire of them.Hope this short list gives you some possible choices for your next purchases.
All these books can be read and enjoyed as standalone stories without interfering with the series of books they are from.

Regards

Pete

(I'm sure others here could easily recommend different but equally good choices for you to consider too.)
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

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sixret
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Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
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Re: What books to read next

Post by sixret »

I strongly agree with Pete's suggestion. They are strong entries in each series and stand alone novel. I would like to add The Boy Next Door, a one-off novel next to The Treasure Hunters. :D
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: What books to read next

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I also love practically all the books on Pete's list, though I'm not as keen on The Treasure Hunters as I am on the others.

Regarding The Rubadub Mystery, I wouldn't recommend that people read it until after they've read The Rockingdown Mystery, The Rilloby Fair Mystery and The Ring O' Bells Mystery (in that order). The Rubadub Mystery was actually the first Barney title I read as a child (in the edition shown in Pete's post) but I wished I'd come to the books in order as there's a thread running through the first four volumes which is slightly spoilt by starting with Rubadub.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Rob Houghton
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Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: What books to read next

Post by Rob Houghton »

Great choice, Pete - although I confess that the only one of those I actually read as a child was the Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage! All the other titles I didn't come across until I was in my mid to late 20's! I feel quite ashamed to admit that! :oops:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Courtenay
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Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
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Re: What books to read next

Post by Courtenay »

Rob, I was over 30 when I first discovered the Adventure series — and it immediately became my favourite of all time and the one I'd most highly recommend to anyone — so don't feel ashamed!! :wink:
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: What books to read next

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I'm pleased to have come across a number of Enid Blyton books for the first time as an adult, including some that gripped me so much I found them hard to put down (e.g. The Land of Far-Beyond, House-at-the-Corner, The Put-Em-Rights and some nature books and short stories). If I'd read everything as a child, I'd always wonder whether my deep appreciation of Enid Blyton was mainly a matter of nostalgia. However, I know it's more than that because, like Courtenay, I've found that some of the books I only discovered as an adult have become firm favourites.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Rob Houghton
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Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: What books to read next

Post by Rob Houghton »

Same here. Many of those I class as favourites, I read for the first time as an adult - the Rubadub Mystery, The Secret Mountain, The Sea of Adventure, The Circus of Adventure, House At The Corner, the Put-Em-Rights, The Mystery of the Strange Messages, and quite a few others! 8)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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pete9012S
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Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
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Re: What books to read next

Post by pete9012S »

There aren't many Blyton's I came to as an adult that I hadn't hunted down in my youth.
Two I read as an adult that I enjoyed for the first time were Spiggy Holes and The Secret Island..

Don't quite know how I didn't get them when I was a child,but it was great to find Blyton's that I had never read before!
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

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