Tag Archives: The Secret Island

Blackberries

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Fiona

Like lighthouses I associate blackberries with Blyton, even if they only feature prominently in the odd book. For lighthouses that is, of course, Five Go to Demon’s Rocks, while for blackberries it is The Hidey Hole. Blyton’s blackberries Blyton’s children … Continue reading →

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Posted in Food and recipes, Personal Experiences | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

If you like Blyton: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Fiona

I was convinced that I had read this as a child, and in fact I did have a copy of the book – one of those Parragon Children’s Classics with no illustrations. However I was certain I’d read it at … Continue reading →

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Posted in Book reviews, Other Authors, Reading Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monday #430

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Fiona

I completely failed to post my Hollow Tree House blog yesterday – and in fact when I went to check what had happened later in the day I realised I hadn’t even finished it! (It’s not good to publish posts … Continue reading →

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Monday #354

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Fiona

If you like Blyton: A guide to other authors and The Naughtiest Girl updated part 4 If I do try hard to be good, and do everything I ought to, will you please ask Miss Belle and Miss Best to … Continue reading →

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Eleven things I’ve learned about camping from Enid Blyton

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Fiona

I’m on holiday this week, so I’ve managed to prewrite a few things to keep the blog going while I’m away. I’m not actually camping, though. In fact, here’s a secret: I’ve never gone camping. Ever. I like electricity and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Plot Devices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monday #333

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Fiona

11 Things I’ve learned about camping from Enid Blyton and Letters to Enid volume 12 Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed. Jack doesn’t ask for much on their Secret Island, just a comfortable bed and no rain! … Continue reading →

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My top Blyton locations

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Fiona

I had, initially, intended this to be a top ten. But knowing how they almost always turn into top elevens, example A (top Famous Five moments) and example B (Top Adventure Series moments), I missed the number out of the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Locations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Secret Series covers through the years

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Fiona

I recently looked at the different covers used for the Famous Five books and The Adventure Series. One series. Five books. Four cover artists. The Secret Series is perhaps unusual due to how many different cover artists the series had. While … Continue reading →

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Posted in Illustrations and artwork | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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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Posted in Characters | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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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Posted in Characters | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Monday #288

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Fiona

Putting the Find-Outers in Order and Five Run Away Together Mr Galliano’s Circus is more of a thing than a place but I think it can count for location of the week as wherever the circus folk set it up it … Continue reading →

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The Secret Island – an audio review

Posted on September 1, 2018 by Fiona

A while back I noticed that Audible were now doing both The Secret Series and The Adventure Series in audiobook. I’m a member and get one book a month for about £8, so I got both The Secret Island and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Audio Books and Audio Dramatisations | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Blyton’s homeliest secret homes

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Fiona

There are many sorts of homes in Blyton’s books. Many of them are perfectly average (for the times they were set) rural or village cottages, farms, suburban houses, boarding schools and so on. There are also the slightly more unusual … Continue reading →

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Monday #264

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Fiona

  The Magic Faraway Tree part 3 The Secret Island is only a secret to most of those who live near the lake it is on – the rest of us have read the book and know all about it. … Continue reading →

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Putting the Secret Series in order

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Fiona

I have already ordered the Famous Five (in four parts!) and the Adventure Series and so now I’m going to do another favourite series of mine, the Secret Series. I’m hoping this will be quite an easy one as there … Continue reading →

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Posted in Personal Experiences, Reading Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A prize for the most updated of Enid Blyton’s text

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Fiona

As you will probably know I have written several series of posts on the updatings to Blyton’s texts, looking at the first book of a series (and a few Noddys). I would now like to award a (dubious) prize to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Updating Blyton's Books | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Secret Series on TV – The Secret Island

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Fiona

Tonight I’ve sat down to watch the first episode of the Secret Series as adapted by Umbrella Entertainment in the 1990s. It should be an interesting experience as judging from the back of the box, the programme bears little resemblance … Continue reading →

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Reblog: 10 Signs You Read Too Much Enid Blyton as a Child

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Fiona

This is not what I promised to bring you today but in my defence I have been busy lugging my enormous book collection to my new flat. I nearly packed the Noddy I planned to review – it’s one of … Continue reading →

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Posted in Personal Experiences | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Secret Island – How has Blyton’s original text fared in a modern edition? part 6

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Fiona

This will be the last post in this series as I’ve reached the last four chapters of the book. All the previous parts can be read here – part one, two, three, four and five. The original text I’m using is from the … Continue reading →

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The Secret Island – How has Blyton’s original text fared in a modern edition? part 5

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Fiona

I got a far as chapter thirteen last time so it’s on to chapter fourteen of The Secret Island this week. The original text I’m using is from the sixth impression from October 1949 and the updated text is from an Award … Continue reading →

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