Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

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Poppy
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Poppy »

burlingtonbertram wrote:This was an era when children could organise their own bonfire and buy fireworks. Not a single mention of risk assessment or proof of age!
Things have certainly changed a lot!

In one of my more recent editions of this book, there is a firework safety guide at the beginning reminding children that you have to be 18 years or over to buy fireworks!
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Daisy »

Thank goodness they didn't just alter the text or ban the book altogether!
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I agree that adding an explanatory note at the front of the book is sensible, Daisy, rather than altering the text.
burlingtonbertram wrote:It's very odd but as a younger reader, I always felt the Secret Seven lived in a more urban town but on re-reading them, they clearly don't. Janet's father is a farmer with fields and a wood. They have a Hedger and Ditchman helping out. Strange how you can get the wrong impression entirely, isn't it?
A more urban area features in some of the books, with canals, alleyways, warehouses, yards and a seedy café.
burlingtonbertram wrote:This was an era when children could organise their own bonfire and buy fireworks. Not a single mention of risk assessment or proof of age! Oh, and that's not to mention having an oil lamp in their shed.

I remember you had problems trying to get a copy of Good Work, Secret Seven, BurlingtonBertram, but in that book the children use a lighted candle stuck in a bottle to look through their fireworks in a wooden summerhouse!
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Courtenay »

What amazes me is that fireworks are readily available in supermarkets in the UK even now (for over 18s). In Australia it's illegal to buy or sell fireworks for any purpose without a special government permit!!! :shock:
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Deej »

Enjoyed reading all your reviews. I wrote a few for Stef and Fiona's World Of Blyton blog a while back. Need to get back to writing them some time.
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Moonraker »

Yes, great reviews which persuaded me to read Good Work, Secret Seven last night. I read it in one sitting and really enjoyed it. I liked it for the same reasons as stated above, so won't repeat them. I just wondered what "cheap fruit" was. It was also irresponsible for Peter's father to leave the keys in the ignition.
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Is the "cheap fruit" being sold at the end of the day? It might have been reduced in price because it's becoming slightly over-ripe and won't be good enough to sell before long. Or if it's being sold from a stall or barrow, it might be cheap because the seller doesn't have the same overheads as a shop-owner.
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Daisy »

Moonraker wrote:It was also responsible for Peter's father to leave the keys in the ignition.
Did you mean "irresponsible" Nigel?
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

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Oh dear, yes, I did, Daisy. I will correct it now! :oops:
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Moonraker »

If you've run out of Bonfire Night reading, you could do worse than trying Agatha Christie's Murder in the Mews.
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Chatte »

Excellent idea! I loved it! Too bad I couldn't read the book in time for November 5th,
but I still remember a lot of the plot because I've read it two or three times before.
It's a very nice story. I make believe I'm one of the gang! It's so exciting!
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

I started to read Good Work S.S. last night. It's a good book, and one I remember well.

I was amused to read that Jack was checking his fireworks, which were in his 'drawer'. Couldn't do that these days!!!

And I did pick up on the fact that the meeting was at 5.30pm and the children went along in the dark. It says that it was a week before Bonfire Night, and so still end of October. Well it doesn't go dark where I live, at 5.30pm that early. Even last night (5th Noveember) it's going dark at 6pm. So obviously the S.S. live in a village over to the east of the country, and the far west, doesn't go dark that early. Mind you it will do soon middle to end of November!

Anyway, I'm enjoying the read, and think I may start the whole series again once I've finished this book. :)

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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Poppy »

Julie2owlsdene wrote:And I did pick up on the fact that the meeting was at 5.30pm and the children went along in the dark. It says that it was a week before Bonfire Night, and so still end of October. Well it doesn't go dark where I live, at 5.30pm that early. Even last night (5th Noveember) it's going dark at 6pm.
Really? It gets dark here at roughly 4pm now the clocks have gone back. 4.30pm at the latest!

I went on to read other books, in the series, too, Julie. I really do enjoy the Secret Seven reads when I get into them. They are short, easy to read and always highly amusing!
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

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Yes, Cornwall will be lighter later than Maidenhead, and the further north you go will be darker to at this time of the year. It is dark where I live - central south - at 5pm. It is 5.32 now, and pitch dark outside.
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Re: Secret Seven Readathon for Bonfire Night

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

It's dark here too, now! :lol:

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"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

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