Author Archives: Fiona

Five Go to Smuggler’s Top

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Fiona

Here we are at book #4 in the series and, as I’ve probably said a hundred times or more, this is my absolute favourite Famous Five book. It won first place in my list of favourite Blyton books, and unsurprisingly … Continue reading →

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Inscriptions in books 2: this book belongs to

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Fiona

I’m not one for writing my name inside books. I’ve done it on a few over the years, or for a while I had little stickers, but I rarely felt the need to declare ownership. Perhaps I would have if … Continue reading →

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Monday #294

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Fiona

Inscriptions in books: this book belongs to and Five Go to Smuggler’s Top Dick Kirrin on seagulls: If they can mew like cats, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t bark like dogs. – Five Go to Smuggler’s Top (seeing as … Continue reading →

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Inscriptions in books 1: Introduction and prize giving labels

Posted on November 17, 2018 by Fiona

Inscriptions in books are a divisive topic, or so I’ve found. Some people absolutely hate them, to the point of refusing to buy an otherwise perfect and affordable copy of a cherished title just because it says ‘Mary Smith’ inside … Continue reading →

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Jack Arnold, part 2

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Fiona

Previously I looked at Jack’s origins and all his clever ideas for running away. Jack the captain Being the oldest and most responsible Jack is quickly declared captain of the little group. The children obey him without question and, in … Continue reading →

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Monday #293

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Fiona

Jack Arnold, part 2 and Inscriptions in books “Gosh,” said Irene again, with a comical air of dismay.”I’m nuts! I go and interrupt my own bit of composing, and rush off to do a job I’m not supposed to do … Continue reading →

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Noddy and the Case of the Amazing Eyebrows

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Fiona

Another very un-Bytonian episode title from Noddy, Toyland Detective. I have previously reviewed episode #1 The Case of the Broken Crystal Memory Game and episode #29, The Case of the Toyland Mischief Maker. Mischief makers are not unexpected in the original … Continue reading →

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Jack Arnold

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Fiona

I had initially intended to just feature Jack Arnold as my character of the week a few Mondays ago (and in fact I did) but I wrote so much for what should have been a 2-3 hundred word paragraph that I realised … Continue reading →

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Monday #292

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Fiona

It’s bonfire night, tonight. Don’t forget to have a look at our post on Blyton’s Bonfires, Guys and Fireworks, it’s perfect for today. Jack Arnold and Noddy, Toyland Detective “That’s what I was afraid of. I thought you would pick up … Continue reading →

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October 2018 round up

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Fiona

WHAT I HAVE READ I only have two more books to reach my Goodreads target of 80 books! The Day the Crayons Quit – Drew Daywalt A Trail Through Time (A Chronicles of St Mary’s #4) – Jodi Taylor Red … Continue reading →

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Malory Towers, continued

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Fiona

If you ask me, a Blyton purist, how many books there are in the Malory Towers series I would instantly tell you there are six. If you asked a modern reader they might well say twelve. Twelve?? That’s double! This … Continue reading →

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Monday #291

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Fiona

It’s a busy time in the UK at the moment, we have Halloween on October 31st and then Guy Fawkes Night on the 5th of November. If you need some Blyton to get you in the mood for either occasion, … Continue reading →

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Putting the Five Find-Outers books in order, part 3

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Fiona

I’ve covered my top Find-Outer books and my middling Find-Outer books so now it’s time for my least favourites. As I put in the first post least favourite doesn’t mean books I dislike. It just means I like them a bit less … Continue reading →

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Five Run Away Together, part 2

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Fiona

Part one of my review can be found here. The Mystery of the Black Trunk While on the wreck they find a curious thing – a little black trunk, well locked. They guess it has something to do with smugglers, … Continue reading →

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Monday #290

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Fiona

Five Run Away Together, continued and Putting the Five-Find Outers in order part 3 Lacking an adventure or mystery in Go Ahead Secret Seven, the seven set to practising their skills of shadowing, observing and spying. This gets George into … Continue reading →

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Jolly Good Food by Allegra McEvedy

Posted on October 20, 2018 by Fiona

Allegra McEvedy is a Blyton fan. I hate reading that when about to read or watch a work based on Blyton’s books. I hate it because it always gives me hope that this one will be good, and inevitably it … Continue reading →

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Miss Grayling’s Girls 5 – the successes

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Fiona

So far I have introduced Miss Grayling and the role she plays at Malory Towers, looked at some failures, experiments and girls who almost messed up their schooling. Now I’m going to have a look at the girls who can … Continue reading →

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Monday #289

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Fiona

Miss Grayling’s Girls – the successes and Jolly Good Food, the Enid Blyton Children’s Cookbook What is the good of a pretty face if there is a spiteful heart beneath it? Has Prudence any real friends, dear? She knows the … Continue reading →

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Five Run Away Together

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Fiona

I’m not doing all that well at reading through the Famous Fives am I! Once upon a time I could devour the 21 books in a matter of weeks, now I’m lucky to get through one a month. But here … Continue reading →

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Putting the Five Find-Outers books in order, part 2

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Fiona

Recently I started putting these books in order of favourites, and I did my top five from the series. Now I’m going to have a look at the five books I am putting in the middle. My middling favourites, if … Continue reading →

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