Adventure series vs Secret series vs Barney Mystery Series

[Mara]

Which of these three series do people think is the best? I love all three. If I had to pick a favourite it would be a toss up between the Adventure series and the Barney Mystery series. What order were they published in ?

[deepeabee]

I like them all too but I like Barney the best. I'm not sure of the order but I'm pretty sure some one here could tell you. Or you could look it up in the cave of books. it's a very exciting place and I often get lost in there!

[Daisy]

I think most of us here like all 3 series. Here is a link to the Cave of Books where you will find all the information you will probably ever want about all the books.
http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/adventure-series.php.." onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
This will show you all the Adventure books. Have a look around the cave and you will find the Barney series there as well giving you all the dates of publication.

[Rob Houghton]

It all depends. While the Adventure series is consistently good, I only really love the first four books in the Barney series...but my favourite two books of Enid's happen to be in the Barney series - Rilloby Fair and Rubadub Mystery.

The Secret series is probably my least favourite of the mystery/adventure type series. As a series its just not as strong as either of the other two mentioned, although it does have some strong books within it.

[Machupicchu14]

I have never read the Secret Seven. But I think the Adventure series and the Barney series win.

[Mara]

By the Secret series I meant Secret Island, Secret of Spiggy Holes etc. By the Adventure series I meant Island of Adventure, Castle of Adventure, Valley of Adventure etc. Just to clear up any confusion.

[Machupicchu14]

Well, then. I think the three of them are excellent!!!

[Rob Houghton]

Yes - the secret series is definitely the least strong of the three in my opinion - although I enjoy them, particularly Secret Mountain and Secret of Moon Castle.

[Daisy]

I assumed you meant the Secret series Mara and agree with the others that it is a great set of books which seem not to be so well known as some other of Enid Blyton's books. It is certainly hard to say which would be my favourite. Asking myself if I could only have one of the three I think I would say I would keep the Adventure series, in reality I should hate to be without any of them. I reread them all at regular intervals.

[Anita Bensoussane]

All three series are excellent in my opinion. My order of preference is as follows (though I love them all):

1. Adventure
2. Barney
3. Secret

Enid Blyton started writing the Secret series first, then the Adventure series and then the Barney series. However, she carried on with each series for several years so they overlapped.

[Francis]

It is always the 'Adventure' series for me but I am an 'Adventure' series nut who grew up reading these wonderful books (with the original illustrations of course).

[Courtenay]

I would say it's the Adventure series for me too — I first read them only a few years ago, as an adult, and was absolutely hooked — but as I've only read one of the Barney series and none of the Secret series, I can't exactly compare them!! But I'll get to those one day.

[Julie2owlsdene]

You've got a lot of catching up to do with reading some of Blyton's books, Courtenay. You're missing out on some fantastic books.

[Wolfgang]

For me it's the adventure series as well (big surprise, I know ). The secret series ia badly spoilt in German, and I can't say I'm particularly fond of Snubby, so I never warmed up to the Barney series. I had quite early a dramatised audio book of Rubadub, but that never hooked me the same way (and as tightly) the Famous Five audio books did.

[John Pickup]

The Barney series just shaves it for me but only just from the Adventure series. Choosing a favourite series doesn't really prove anything, they are all great and different people will always have different opinions.