The Enid Blyton Society

I've started reading The Naughtiest Girl in the School for the first time. Very interesting so far — Elizabeth's naughtiness is a little annoying (only a few chapters in), but I'm sure we'll soon find out what the consequences are!

One thing that did surprise me was that when Elizabeth, using the swings after hours, stuck out her foot and kicked the boy who came to tell her off, he shook her off the swing and pulled her hair. And this guy is supposed to be a monitor and enforce good behaviour?? I know corporal punishment was the accepted thing in schools back then (we've also been told that monitors can spank misbehaving students with a hairbrush), but that boy's response to Elizabeth's physical attack doesn't come across as very professional, to say the least... But I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

IceMaiden wrote:I'm on Mountain in the Adventure series. I'm enjoying it, but I can't help thinking that Bill and Mrs Mannering wouldn't really have let the children have a guide who they couldn't even communicate with on a basic level and who didn't understand them either!

Isn't there a saying that in love and war everything's allowed?

I don't remember the suggestion of a spanking with a hairbrush - even though I have all the original texts. It seems odd, as later on its made quite clear that corporal punishment isn't often used at Whyteleafe.

I'm not sure how well Enid knew the geography of Wales and how often she visited /stayed there?
I've always been happy with the topography described in Five Get Into A Fix, also set in Wales.

I do agree,the expedition into the mountains in the adventure books gives the impression the Welsh mountains are almost as vast and unknowable as The Himalayas!

pete9012S wrote:I do agree,the expedition into the mountains in the adventure books gives the impression the Welsh mountains are almost as vast and unknowable as The Himalayas!

I've always felt this way, too, Pete - which is maybe one reason why I don't rate the story as high as the others in the series. Its not just to do with the science-fiction type plot, but the whole thing seems a bit unreal.

I've just finished The Naughtiest Girl in the School (which I started yesterday). Awww! What a great story! A few surprises in the plot, but of course everything comes right at the end, this being Enid Blyton.

I have to admit, though I've rarely been deliberately naughty myself (I hate getting into trouble), I can really relate to Elizabeth Allen. I almost wish I'd discovered her as a younger reader — I might have picked up a few hints about how to be a nicer person, as Elizabeth herself has to learn. Very much looking forward to reading the next book!

I can't believe that you have finally read her books in other genre apart from the bookd in adventure/mystery genre. By the way, have you finished reading Five Find-Outer series in order? I vaguely remember that you set yourself a goal to read the series in order.

Courtenay wrote:I've just finished The Naughtiest Girl in the School (which I started yesterday). Awww! What a great story! A few surprises in the plot, but of course everything comes right at the end, this being Enid Blyton.

I have to admit, though I've rarely been deliberately naughty myself (I hate getting into trouble), I can really relate to Elizabeth Allen. I almost wish I'd discovered her as a younger reader — I might have picked up a few hints about how to be a nicer person, as Elizabeth herself has to learn. Very much looking forward to reading the next book!

I expect you have been naughty some times but nice' with it!

The Naughtiest Girl In The School series is by far my favourite Blyton school series - and there is much to enjoy in books 2 and 3 -- especially, I personally think, in book 3, which is the best of the lot!

Ooh, sounds like I have plenty to look forward to, then!

yes - I think so! I only reread them about a month or two ago and really enjoyed them. It struck me, actually, that in book 3 Enid is really hitting her stride in the series, with some quite complicated characterisation in the character of Julian, and its amazing she didn't go on to write another two or three.

Rob Houghton wrote:I don't remember the suggestion of a spanking with a hairbrush - even though I have all the original texts. It seems odd, as later on its made quite clear that corporal punishment isn't often used at Whyteleafe.

A spanking with a hairbrush seems to be a popular choice in EB books, I recall Loopy receiving this punishment in Ring O'Bells and Loony getting the same, or at least threatened with it!

pete9012S wrote:I'm not sure how well Enid knew the geography of Wales and how often she visited /stayed there?
I've always been happy with the topography described in Five Get Into A Fix, also set in Wales.

I do agree,the expedition into the mountains in the adventure books gives the impression the Welsh mountains are almost as vast and unknowable as The Himalayas!

Yes! I've always felt that way about Mountain, that the way they tower upwards in vast peaks for miles into the distance makes them seem much more exotic and far away than Wales! I think that is possibly why it is the least 'thrilling' of the Adventure books for me, unlike a foreign valley, deserted islands in the middle of the sea, or far away countries, being stranded in the welsh mountains isn't exactly hair-raising . Maybe that's why Enid exaggerated the size and image of them, to make them seem more foreboding than they really are for the story? A bit like a tv crew making a normal house seem creepy using clever camera angles.

Courtenay wrote:I've just finished The Naughtiest Girl in the School (which I started yesterday). Awww! What a great story! A few surprises in the plot, but of course everything comes right at the end, this being Enid Blyton.

I have to admit, though I've rarely been deliberately naughty myself (I hate getting into trouble), I can really relate to Elizabeth Allen. I almost wish I'd discovered her as a younger reader — I might have picked up a few hints about how to be a nicer person, as Elizabeth herself has to learn.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Naughtiest Girl in the School, Courtenay. I love Elizabeth and often find myself empathising with her, even though I was never hot-headed or rebellious (I'm more reserved and cautious, though I share Elizabeth's hatred of bullying and injustice). I like her ability to (eventually) see the funny side of things directed against her and to laugh and forgive and be generous. It's something to aspire to, even if I can't always manage it.

sixret wrote:I can't believe that you have finally read her books in other genre apart from the bookd in adventure/mystery genre.

If I remember correctly, Courtenay has read quite a few Blyton books that aren't adventures or mysteries - the Galliano's Circus series, The Adventures of Pip, Tales of Toyland, The Land of Far-Beyond, etc.

sixret wrote:I can't believe that you have finally read her books in other genre apart from the bookd in adventure/mystery genre.

I'm sorry to admit I wasn't originally going to answer this comment, Sixret, as I found it a bit uncalled-for — I'm assuming it's just the language barrier and you were only meaning to be funny.

Anita Bensoussane wrote: If I remember correctly, Courtenay has read quite a few Blyton books that aren't adventures or mysteries - the Galliano's Circus series, The Adventures of Pip, Tales of Toyland, The Land of Far-Beyond, etc.

I have indeed — those and many, many more, right from when I first learned to read. In fact, the school stories are probably the only major Blyton genre I hadn't read at all till now.

As for the other question, I put the Find-Outers read-through aside while reading other things and haven't been back to it for a fair while, but I'm working my way through gradually. The next book on my list, though, is definitely The Naughtiest Girl Again!

Out of interest ( as I'm going on holiday next Saturday) may I ask what Enid Blyton books is everyone here planning to read next?
I always like to take at least two,but more likely three to read whilst I'm away.

I shall be in Mid Wales (near The Himalayas) but I'm quite open to read absolutely anything!