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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 18:58
by John Pickup
Thanks to Rob and Tony for another exciting magazine instalment.
Seven Ripe Plums is a very moral tale and it was refreshing to hear the war mentioned and Mr Trim's gallantry.
I didn't care for the story about the tortoise, it seemed a bit absurd to me, although at first I thought there might have been a kitten trapped in the shed.
Enid mentions the pony books and I noticed one was by Geoffrey Lapage. I have a book by him called Strange Holiday which is quite a thrilling adventure story.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 20:12
by Courtenay
Thanks as always, Rob and Tony. I was also wondering when Enid might have seen a fire sweeping through the countryside — gosh, she should be glad she didn't live in Australia!! :shock:

Good to read the three uncollected stories. I agree with what others have said, Something Funny Going On was a bit odd and disappointing (and the illustration at the start was a bit of a giveaway!). Still, the ending, "and when she told me how it was they had been given to her, I really thought I must tell you, too!" makes me wonder a little. I know Enid quite often finishes her stories with the implication that she personally knows or has spoken to some of the characters (even sometimes the obviously make-believe ones!), but maybe she really did base this story on the experience of someone she knew? That might explain where she got the idea for what is a relatively mediocre story by her standards.

The Very Peculiar Word was simple but lots of fun and gives Enid a chance to throw in a couple more word puzzles for her readers! I didn't even think of the other meaning of the word "tinkle" while I was reading (as indeed I wouldn't have when I was a child — I don't remember ever hearing it used in that way when I was little)... I was more perturbed by the implications of Grunty Pie and what might be in it. I hope not pork... :shock:

Seven Ripe Plums is indeed an excellent story with a moral message. It's good to see how Enid gives us a main character who's not essentially a "bad" child, but who gives in to the temptation to do something that he knows is wrong for his own gain (as most children, and indeed many adults, do at times) and has to take the consequences — but he learns his lesson and more than "rubs out" his mistake. Very interesting to hear of Mr Trim's background and what makes him a worthy friend. What struck me, too, was that he offered Patrick the ointment for the wasp sting even when he already knew what Patrick had done — he could easily have let him suffer the pain of the sting as a punishment, but he acts with generosity rather than spite, while still not letting Patrick off lightly. I'm also surprised that one was never reprinted.
Rob Houghton wrote: Our Letter Page highlights letters from The Famous Five Club. One letter, from Susan Younger from Wylye in Wiltshire tells us how she is enclosing a cuddly dog for the Children's Home which I bought with some money I got by fining my Daddy whenever he eft his shaving brush or soap or anything else about' :lol:
:lol: An enterprising young lass indeed — good on her! :wink:
Rob Houghton wrote: I also found it interesting to read what Enid has to say about 'Pony Books' - one of the few genres for children she never wrote. She explains - You would be surprised how many children as me if I will PLEASE write them a book about ponies or horses, because they love them so much. But as there are already some fine writers of horse books, there is no need for me to add to them! You will see two new pony books on page 43, so if you are a horse lover, do make a note of them because I think you will like them' The new pony books are A Red Rosette by Geoffrey Lapage and The Second Mount - by Christine Pullein-Thompson. Enid sounds quite generous, pressing horse-lovers to buy these books by other authors...but I'm not taken in by her excuse that there are so many horse books, why should she add to them! That never stopped her with school books, or magic, or adventures etc - so I'm guessing horses were not Enid's strong point. I seem to recall that she got most of her horse-knowledge from Imogen! ;-)
.

Now that's interesting, because Enid did write one pony story — Snowball the Pony, which according to the Cave was published in 1953 (some four years before this issue of EB Magazine), after being serialised in Playways. I haven't read it, but just from the first part of the review (I don't want to read too far and hit spoilers!), it sounds like it's quite a good one and I'd love to give it a go. I wonder why Enid didn't remind her readers that she had written a pony story a few years earlier? I can only guess that she indeed didn't feel that horses were her strong point and/or she couldn't think of enough new ideas for any further pony books!

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 20:36
by Daisy
And didn't want to be pestered for more, perhaps.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 23:58
by Rob Houghton
Also 'Snowball the Pony' is very much aimed at younger children - like the Caravan Family books, The Boy Who Wanted A Dog and the Adventure of the Secret Necklace etc. :-) It only has around 12 chapters. :-)

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 25 Apr 2017, 14:38
by Rob Houghton
Thank you for your comments everyone. They really do mean a lot, because every time I write this thread each fortnight I think 'this is the last one I'm going to write I think - not many read it!' and each time so far I've been encouraged to keep it up.

I just hope there are a few others who read it but don't comment! Hopefully not too many just use my thread as a way to get the link to The Cave! 8)

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 25 Apr 2017, 19:42
by John Pickup
I hope that you carry on with this thread, Rob. I read every review you put up and thanks to Tony's links, I am able to read the uncollected stories I have never seen. Thanks for doing it.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 25 Apr 2017, 21:02
by sixret
Thank you.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 25 Apr 2017, 21:11
by Daisy
Yes Rob. Being able to read the stories is a real bonus. Thanks very much.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 12:25
by Tony Summerfield
Rob Houghton wrote:Thank you for your comments everyone. They really do mean a lot, because every time I write this thread each fortnight I think 'this is the last one I'm going to write I think - not many read it!' and each time so far I've been encouraged to keep it up.

I just hope there are a few others who read it but don't comment! Hopefully not too many just use my thread as a way to get the link to The Cave! 8)
I was pleased to see that you got a few more comments this time, Rob, as I know exactly how you feel! I took a huge amount of trouble on the 80 Years ago thread and spent over 12 hours doing it with over a hundred scans. As there were no uncollected stories at all, people weren't the slightest bit interested in it and it was a complete waste of my time. I am rapidly losing enthusiasm for doing anything and that includes the Journal, which judging by the number of views was the least successful in recent years. I don't go by the number of comments as so many have nothing to do with what is in the Journal.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 12:48
by Moonraker
I read the Journal from c2c, I only wish I had the time to read all of the goodies that Tony laboriously puts up. Unfortunately, I haven't. I envy some of you who spend so much time posting and submitting articles. Rob's EB Magazine articles and links do look inviting, I simply do not have enough time to give them the attention they deserve. We are spending more and more time away - we have another week in London in two weeks time. Add to that the time away spent 'child-sitting' and the time I have at home has to be spent in many ways other than sitting in front of a laptop. I really hope I will be able to spend time in the future looking at Rob's magazine links and wallowing in the vaults of the Cave. For now I can't. I am joint administrator in a new beer and pubs forum which I have recently set up as well as running and jointly administrating another forum. I have a pile of new books to read as well as old favourites. I can't even join in with the read-a-thon at the present. That doesn't mean to say that because I don't post a copious amount of threads praising all that everyone does, I don't appreciate the hard work involved by Tony, Rob and others concerned. I just can't keep up with it all. On top of all this, I have World Snooker to watch! I must dash off now, I have got a lawn to mow....

Regarding the Journal, sales (ie subscriptions) can be the only real bench mark as to whether or not it is viable. Comments on a forum, although welcomed, cannot truly measure enjoyment and/or success. The Malcolm Saville Society has no forum, so it is down to sales to prove its worth. Once the Journal reaches a print run that is economically unsound, then it is regrettably time to call it a day. I hope that day is a few years away.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 13:04
by sixret
Hope the journal reaches no. 100. Another 38 more to go.
2 more journals this year.

Then it will be 36 more journals at the rate of 3 journals each year. It means that another 12 years to reach journal no. 100.

Hope the journal will keep on going.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 13:26
by Daisy
I like your optimism, Sixret!

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 17:23
by Rob Houghton
The trouble is - and I have to say it - some people obviously think £10 a year is not a good deal. That's less than £1 a month.

I know some people can't afford this...and its different for overseas members of course...and I shouldn't bring it up...but £1 a month? :?

That's about the price of two four packs of beer or a couple of bottles of cheap wine. Hardly a fortune.

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 17:24
by Moonraker
sixret wrote:Then it will be 36 more journals at the rate of 3 journals each year. It means that another 12 years to reach journal no. 100.
Let's hope Tony finds the elixir of youth!

Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Posted: 26 Apr 2017, 17:35
by Julie2owlsdene
Rob Houghton wrote:The trouble is - and I have to say it - some people obviously think £10 a year is not a good deal. That's less than £1 a month.

I know some people can't afford this...and its different for overseas members of course...and I shouldn't bring it up...but £1 a month? :?

That's about the price of two four packs of beer or a couple of bottles of cheap wine. Hardly a fortune.
I think I've mentioned this before, a society my hubby is in, is £30 a month, and the magazine is much thinner too, so the Journal is excellent value for money. And another thing to be considered is the society my hubby is in, they also have a few people running it. Secretary, chairman, vice chairman, etc etc, and Tony does it all himself, with the help of Anita on the forums. :)

8)