Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

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Yak
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Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Yak »

My favourite chapter has always been the chapter of the midnight feast in Fifth Formers at St Clares, where poor Mam'zelle goes on a nighttime prowl and encounters far more girls, burglars and ghosts than she had bargained on. I love the way that she decides that Felicity is a spirit and runs away from her :). I never get tired of this chapter, no matter how many times I read the book.
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Rob Houghton »

Its difficult because I can't just pick one!

As a child, one of my favourite scenes was in 'The Adventures of Binkle and Flip' - in fact the whole chapter - 'Bing-Bong, The Paw Reader' - which I found very amusing - as I found most of the Binkle and Flip stories.

Later on, I have two favourite scenes and they're both in the same book - the scene where Barney goes with Mr Marvel to meet his 'father' on the rocks is one of my favourite scenes in all of Enid's books - and the final scene of the same book - which is one of the most touching scenes Enid ever wrote. :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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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Great question but, as Rob said, it's difficult to pick just one chapter/scene! Here are three that have stayed with me strongly since I first read them as a child:

1. Jack Trent claiming to have spotted a Great Auk on the Isle of Gloom (The Island of Adventure). This made a huge impression on me when I was a girl. I loved birds already and the idea of discovering something unexpected, especially something thought to be lost forever, stirred me and made me long to go adventuring.

2. Elizabeth Allen buying presents for her friend Joan Townsend in The Naughtiest Girl in the School, but pretending they're from someone else. Her actions have far-reaching consequences, leading to some of the most tense and emotional scenes Enid Blyton ever wrote.

3. The chapter 'The Gang' in The Six Bad Boys. My heart goes out to Bob Kent when he looks through the windows of lighted living-rooms, longing to be part of a loving family. And then he stumbles upon "a home from home" (or so it seems), completely unaware of what lies ahead. All quite dark for Enid Blyton but with some heartwarming moments.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by John Pickup »

The final scene in Rubadub when the children melt away leaving Barney to meet his father. Enid at her finest.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Rob Houghton »

John Pickup wrote:The final scene in Rubadub when the children melt away leaving Barney to meet his father. Enid at her finest.
definitely! :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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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by pete9012S »

Definitely not as moving as John's choice - but whenever I read this passage again it always makes me smile! :D
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Yak
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Yak »

Ah yeah I like that one too :) I also like the scene in which Goon and the children have a temporary truce and end up eating cake and macaroons together in Fatty's shed. I was sorry that the friendliness seemed to have gone by the next book though, alas.
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by mynameisdumbnuts »

I love when Mr. Farrell comes home in House-at-the-Corner and everyone gets a happy ending, including Greta the maid. There are so many wonderful lessons in this book about doing the right thing, working hard and not taking anything for granted. It's so satisfying to see everyone rewarded.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Rob Houghton »

The ending of The Family at red Roofs is another satisfying ending - it especially was as a child. As I said in a Journal article once, the book has many parallels with The Railway Children, and I often wonder if Enid read that book. She would have been 8 or 9 when it was published. (it was serialised in The London Magazine in 1905 and published as a book the following year).
'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: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Lucky Star »

The Valley of Adventure scene where they enter the treasure caves. The journey through the caves of stalactites. stars and then into the actual treasure caves of statues, books, paintings and gold is magical.
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Ah yes - that's a favourite of mine too, John (Lucky Star). I still have vivid memories of reading The Valley of Adventure for the very first time (aged nine) and wishing I could find caves full of such marvellous and mysterious treasures.
"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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Yak
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Yak »

If we're on the Adventure series I do love the scene in which Ally and Bill get engaged ... even though it seemed a bit unexpected to me. I presume that they had been fond of one another before this though :)
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by John Pickup »

Surely one of the most memorable scenes in the Adventure books is in Mountain when the helicopter takes off and a familiar voice says, "Don't forget Bill Smugs."
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Jack400 »

That's also a favourite scene of mine, John. Another is where (can't think which book) the FF are staying with a scientist friend of Quentin's -( Professor Hayling?) who asks the maid "can't you control the children? What do I pay you for?" To which she replies "cleaning, cooking, and washing!"
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Re: Do you have a favourite chapter/scene of ALL?

Post by Wolfgang »

Yes, it's "Five are together again".
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