Author Archives: Fiona

Enid Blyton Christmas Gift Guide 2025

This is my 8th Christmas Gift Guide – you can find the previous seven here. New books I say ‘new’ in a loose sense. Most of these are not really new, but old stories collected together or retellings of Blyton’s … Continue reading

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Monday #778

It’s December! Elf has returned to wreak havoc and I realise that I haven’t put together my yearly Enid Blyton gift guide. I aim to fix that oversight this week – and get on with my Christmas shopping too. Enid … Continue reading

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Famous Five 90s Style – Our live reactions to Five on a Treasure Island part two

Welcome to part two of our opinions on pullovers, parenting and picnics. [While Uncle Quentin naps in his chair Julian sneaks into the study and knocks over a stack of books] Fiona: You’re supposed to be finishing a book in … Continue reading

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October 2025 round up

With Halloween over I’m starting to think ahead to Christmas. At work this week I was stamping for the 1st of December which means that’s three weeks today. What I read I did a bit better reading-wise in October than … Continue reading

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Monday #775

After somehow failing to post this last week I took it as an omen that I should take the week off, but at least try to prep for this week. Did I prep for this week? Actually I did, a … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 78: From volume 4, issue 15.

Previous letters pages can be found here. NB – a warning again for the use of wording that is considered derogatory and offensive in the UK (and potentially elsewhere) today. As I am transcribing these letters exactly as written by … Continue reading

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Famous Five 90s Style – Our live reactions to Five on a Treasure Island part one

To cheer ourselves up after enduring Peril on the Night Train Stef and I decided to watch some of the 90s Famous Five and started, naturally with Five on a Treasure Island. I don’t know if you’ll be able to … Continue reading

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Monday #773

The clocks went back yesterday so it got dark even earlier. At least it leant a spooky air to the halloween party we were at after school. Letters to Enid part 78 and Famous Five 90s Style: Five on a … Continue reading

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Famous Five 2020s Style: Peril on the Night Train part 2

I am expecting this to be shorter than my usual lengthy posts when it comes to books and TV adaptations that I have not liked. I can hear the collective sighs of relief already. I think I had such low … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 77: From volume 4, issue 14.

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 4, issue 14. August 1st – 14th, 1956. OUR LETTER PAGE A letter from Janine Pike, Falmouth, Cornwall. Dear Enid Blyton, During my stay in Northern Rhodesia I often … Continue reading

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Monday #772

Having been on holiday last week (to Burntisland, which is neither burnt nor an island, go figure) I, at the last minute, thought I should get on with my Monday post before it became Tuesday. And that’s when I noticed … Continue reading

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September 2025 round up

The year is flying by – it’s already October and shops are full of both Halloween and Christmas stuff! What I read September was also a bit slow for reading, I did a lot of listening, though. I’ve dropped back … Continue reading

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Monday #770

It’s October, it’s autumn and the schools are off. I did think about trying to write a fuller review of Peril on the Night Train this week, but (like last time) I don’t think I can bear to revisit it. … Continue reading

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The Secret Seven covers through the years, part 3

I’ve already done two posts here and here, and this is the final one. Continuing from where we left off We may have entered a new millenium, but the first Secret Seven covers don’t change drastically from the last 90s … Continue reading

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Monday #678

Stef and I obviously had many, many thoughts on Peril on the Night Train as the transcription of our watch ran to some 3,000 words. And yes, I feel like there’s still more to say. So this week’s list may … Continue reading

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Famous Five 2020s Style: Peril on the Night Train

Last time Stef came to visit me we subjected ourselves to the first episode of the new Famous Five series. That was over a year ago and neither of us had watched any more – until Stef came back up … Continue reading

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The Secret Seven Covers through the years part 2

Last time I got as far as 1987 which means we are heading into the 90s and the sort of covers which were around when I was a kid. But first… I missed this last time – the mystery of … Continue reading

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Monday #677

Stef has returned home (boo), I’m back at work (ugh) it’s cold and rainy (sob). On the plus side Stef and I watched an episode of the 90s Famous Five last week so I can bring you our thoughts on … Continue reading

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Monday #676

No (other) posts this week as Stef is visiting me. We have just watched Peril on the Night Train (the second episode of the new Famous Five series, not that it sounds like it) together though, so look out for … Continue reading

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Reading the Secret Island to Brodie

This one we read from October 26th to November 9th, 2024. I’m catching up, slightly! I had to double check my dates as two weeks seemed rather quick for The Secret Island, but they are correct. You can just make … Continue reading

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