Readathon - Smuggler Ben and Cliff Castle

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Tony Summerfield
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Tony Summerfield »

Internally they seem to have a quick change of costumes as they go inside the cave! :lol:

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Rob Houghton
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Rob Houghton »

:lol:

Amazing! I wonder why nobody noticed that and got the illustrator to make up their mind?! :lol: Personally I think the shorts look better! 8)
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Rob Houghton wrote:Smuggler Ben is a good one...and maybe we could include Cliff Castle as a follow-up, as they are such short books!! :wink:
I've got the double issue (Collins) which contains Smuggler Ben and Cliff Castle so it'll be easy enough for me to read both.
Tony Summerfield wrote:A good choice of book and one of the few Blyton books that brings the war in.
I can barely remember the story so I'm looking forward to that aspect of it.
Tony Summerfield wrote:You also have all the internal illustrations of both E.H. Davie and G.W. Backhouse.

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... uggler+Ben" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It's interesting to compare the two. My copy of Smuggler Ben is illustrated by G. W. Backhouse and I always think the pictures have a slightly fuzzy look to them, like a bobbly jumper.
Tony Summerfield wrote:Internally they seem to have a quick change of costumes as they go inside the cave! :lol:
Curious!
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Rob Houghton »

The way they change their clothes when they enter the cave, maybe the book should be re-titled 'Mr Ben'... :lol:
'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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Liam
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Liam »

Wish I could take part in this readathon, but I need an eBook version, and the publishers haven’t gotten round to putting these one-off books into Kindle form. But I’ll read everyone’s comments, and maybe even offer my uninformed opinion. :)
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by sixret »

The changing of the clothes must be told somewhere in the written text?
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by pete9012S »

I'm totally flexible on the start date.
A date that gives all the chance to get hold of the two books,Smuggler Ben & Cliff Castle is fine by me.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Rob Houghton »

Here's an ebay link. I did a search for 'Enid Blyton - Mystery Stories' and quite a few of the double-title book came up - including paperback - should anyone wish to buy it fairly cheaply. :-) Keep scrolling, as there are other 'mystery books' dotted in between! They range from 99p to around £12.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?&_from ... %20Stories

Plus mine I'm selling of course - which doesn't come up in this search for some weird reason - £4.50 to anyone on here!! :-(

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Enid-Blyton-M ... SwHMJYCQmr

:twisted:
'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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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Wolfgang »

Tony Summerfield wrote:A good choice of book and one of the few Blyton books that brings the war in. I do love the Tower House covers, although in this case I am not sure if E.H. Davie has them in hot pants (even the boy!) or if they are wearing swimming costumes underneath!
Maybe it was one of the shortages during the war as well, Tony ;-).
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by snugglepot »

I have the double version with "Cliff Castle" too.
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

sixret wrote:The changing of the clothes must be told somewhere in the written text?
I suppose we'll find out soon!
Liam wrote:Wish I could take part in this readathon, but I need an eBook version, and the publishers haven’t gotten round to putting these one-off books into Kindle form. But I’ll read everyone’s comments, and maybe even offer my uninformed opinion. :)
What a shame these one-off novels aren't available as ebooks. Remind us next time we have a Readathon, Liam, and I'm sure we'd be able to pick a title that's been done as an ebook.
pete9012S wrote:I'm totally flexible on the start date.
A date that gives all the chance to get hold of the two books,Smuggler Ben & Cliff Castle is fine by me.
How about a fortnight from now - i.e. Friday 21st April? That should give people enough time to get hold of and read the books. Also, are we going to start with Smuggler Ben and then move on to Cliff Castle when the Smuggler Ben discussion peters out? Of course, if people can't join in with both discussions it's fine for them to join in with just one.

If anyone would prefer a different date, shout out!
"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."
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Courtenay »

I'm happy to start April 21st and to do Cliff Castle as well, since I'll have the double volume.
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pete9012S
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by pete9012S »

That date and discussing the two books sounds like a great idea.
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by Nicko »

Thanks to everyone for choosing a book that is available to as many people as possible (and more importantly to me! :wink:). I look forward to reading Smuggler Ben, as I can't recall having read it previously.

I will also try to get hold of Cliff Castle before the comments begin.
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sixret
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Re: Anyone fancy a nice juicy Spring Readathon?

Post by sixret »

I'm reading Smuggler's Ben now.
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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