Category Archives: Book reviews

If you like Blyton: The Flying Classroom by Erich Kästner, reviewed by Chris

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Fiona

Much as I love Enid Blyton’s stories, and often as I re-read them, my very favourite children’s book is The Flying Classroom by Erich Kästner. It is a Christmas story, which I re-read every Christmas Eve and even now – … Continue reading →

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Five Have a Mystery to Solve part 2

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Fiona

Last time I talked a bit about the places and people the story was based on and how annoying I find Wilfrid. Now on to more of the plot (perhaps!) Mistakes and foolish decisions I think the reason this is … Continue reading →

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Blyton for grown-ups: Rules and Lessons by Jenny Colgan

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Fiona

I recommended the first in this series – Class – recently, and having read the other two in the series I thought I’d just write a little bit about those as well. Class A quick reminder of Class – Maggie … Continue reading →

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Five Go to Demon’s Rocks part 4

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Fiona

Phew, my fourth – and hopefully last review for Demon’s Rocks. I’ve never written a 4 part review for a Famous Five book until now and I didn’t really expect it. George as a boy George’s desire to be seen … Continue reading →

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Five Go to Demon’s Rocks part 3 – Fanny, Quentin and Professor Hayling

Posted on October 8, 2022 by Fiona

In part one I looked at Demon’s Rocks as a location and in part two I looked at Jeremiah Boogle and the wreckers. Now, in part three I want to look at the endlessly amusing triangle of Uncle Quentin, Professor … Continue reading →

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Blyton for Grown-Ups: Class by Jenny Colgan

Posted on October 1, 2022 by Fiona

This is my first Blyton for Grown-Ups post – all the rest were written by Stef. To preface – I am always looking for books set in bookshops and libraries. I recently found The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan … Continue reading →

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Enid Blyton and Queen Elizabeth II – The Story of Our Queen

Posted on September 24, 2022 by Fiona

I have found myself a bit emotional at times in the past weeks, since the announcement was made that the Queen had died . She had been monarch for my entire life – my parents’ entire lives – forever, or … Continue reading →

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Five Go to Demon’s Rocks

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Fiona

I have now reached book #19 of 21. A lot of Blyton fans seem to feel that the latter books in the series are the weakest. I would certainly say that books 20 and 21 – Five Have a Mystery … Continue reading →

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If you like Blyton: The Primrose Railway Children by Jacqueline Wilson

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Fiona

Having covered the controversy of Jacqueline Wilson writing a new Faraway Tree book, and then reviewing that book you may be tired of seeing her name popping up here. Regardless, I have just recently read The Primrose Railway Children – … Continue reading →

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Five on Finniston Farm part 3

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Fiona

And now for my miscellaneous musings and nitpicks! The food For an adventure set on a farm the Five don’t actually seem to do a lot of eating, at least, not on-page. As I’ve mentioned already they do visit the … Continue reading →

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If you like Blyton: The Adventurers and the Continental Chase by Jemma Hatt

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Fiona

As you might remember I have reviewed three of Jemma Hatt’s books already: The Adventurers and the Cursed Castle The Adventurers and the Temple of Treasure The Adventurers and the City of Secrets I listened to all of the above … Continue reading →

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Five on Finniston Farm part 2

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Fiona

I spent the whole first part of my review imagining what it would be like if The Famous Five booked their holidays through Airbnb. Now for (hopefully) more commentary on the plot and so on. Janie’s gossip Before they even … Continue reading →

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Five on Finniston Farm

Posted on August 14, 2022 by Fiona

Here I am at book 18 now of the series, some four years after I began these reviews. It has been over ten years since I last read this book (though there are still some post-its stuck on the pages … Continue reading →

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If you like Blyton: The Wreck of the Argyll by John K Fulton

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Fiona

I happened to see this on the returns trolley in the children’s library where I work, and I picked it up because of the lighthouse on the cover. I like lighthouses and tend to associate them with Blyton, despite only … Continue reading →

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The Magic Faraway Tree: A New Adventure by Jacqueline Wilson

Posted on August 7, 2022 by Fiona

I finished the book earlier in the week, so finally I have finished the review! The style and setting I think the first thing I will say is that Jacqueline Wilson does not attempt to mimic Blyton’s writing style. This … Continue reading →

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The Diary of the Naughtiest Girl

Posted on July 2, 2022 by Fiona

I celebrated a little presumptuously a few months ago when I finished the Naughtiest Girl continuations by Anne Digby. I then remembered I also had The Diary of the Naughtiest Girl. By remembered I mean found the book behind the sofa. I borrowed … Continue reading →

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If you like Blyton: The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Fiona

I first heard of this book when the cover artist (Gillian Gamble) posted about it on Facebook. I saw the lighthouse and was immediately interested, as somehow, despite only featuring prominently in one book that I can think of, I … Continue reading →

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The Naughtiest Girl continued: The Naughtiest Girl Wants to Win

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Fiona

I am finally subjecting myself to the penultimate Naughtiest Girl continuation book. I know it will be bad but the question is, how bad? The blurb I’m already rolling my eyes just reading the blurb. Elizabeth is furious when a … Continue reading →

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Bizzy and the Bedtime Bear

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Fiona

I borrowed this book from the library some time before the pandemic started, and it has been sitting behind the sofa in a pile of my ‘to reads’, along with some other Blyton continuation books I borrowed around the same … Continue reading →

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If you like Blyton: Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Fiona

The character of Mary Poppins is no stranger to me, but I admit that I am primarily familiar with the film version, as played by the wonderful Julie Andrews. I have also seen the Emily Blunt version, but only once. … Continue reading →

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