The Enid Blyton Society

I'm sure most people on the forums are aware of the fan-fic over on our sister site, but I can't find any comments on a FFO continuation novel The Mystery of Fitzjames Manor by Richard Humphreys, it's well written and very funny, the chapter where Ern does some detective work is hilarious. If you've missed it it's well worth a look.

http://www.enidblyton.net/fanfic.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I read this a few months ago and yes, it is a very good. I really enjoyed it.

I followed the link but ended up engrossed in Julie's Find Outer continuation stories instead! - I'd read most of them a while back but always good to reread! Brilliant stuff!

Thanks, Robert.

I did start to read the Fitzjames Manor, but sadly only got about three chapters in. Sadly for me, it didn't flow in the Blyton way, and many things that Fatty said in this story, just wasn't what the 'real Fatty' would say, I thought.

So sadly it wasn't for me.

I started to read it earlier today and have to admit I agree with you, Julie. No offence meant to the author, but it just doesn't sound like Blyton to me. That said, it can't be easy to write in another author's style and sound consistently like that author (and without descending into parody!), so I admire anyone who gives it a go.

I felt the same - his style wasn't at all like Blyton. Perhaps continuation novels don't need to be like the originals - but in my opinion they should be. It's difficult to write in another writer's style, but surely that's the point? Again, I'm not criticising the writer - his style was good, and no doubt the story was good, but as it didn't echo Blyton's style I soon gave up on it.

I must take some responsibility in this, as Keith asked me to read it first and give my opinion as to whether it was good enough to appear on the website. I did, and told Keith that although it wasn't written in quite the same style as Enid, I felt it a worthy addition to Keith's fan-fic section. I also proof-read it, so any mistakes are my fault, too.

I am re-reading it now on my Kindle, which doesn't have the annoying (to me, anyway) double spaces between paragraphs. It is laid out as a proper book.

I agree - I find the layout with the spaces between paragraphs a little off-putting. All the serials on here get that treatment - although initially I typed mine in proper paragraphs with indents. In a way the spaces spoil the flow, in my opinion, but I guess that's a website convention!

I have just finished re-reading the story and thoroughly enjoyed it. It flowed like a Blyton, and I find it a far better story than Banshee Towers. Apologies for all the typos - I was sure I had proof-read it, but if so made a ham-fisted job of it.

Moonraker wrote: and I find it a far better story than Banshee Towers.

That's a backward compliment if ever I saw one!!

I always think it is hard to proof read something, especially if you are enjoying the story. And sometimes, your brain doesn't see the mistakes, as it corrects them as you read.

I think that is certainly true when you're re-reading your own writing - because you know what it should say. I also think you're right Julie, that if you're enjoying the story your brain just tells you what a word really should be, and you may not register that it it wrongly spelled.

I agree - it's really difficult proof-reading your own work - I always miss errors in my own writing. Slightly easier in other people's work, but I agree, if you get carried along with the story it's different. My main complaint about Mystery of Fitzjames Manor was that it didn't read like Enid Blyton - it seemed too modern in tone.

Rob Houghton wrote: My main complaint about Mystery of Fitzjames Manor was that it didn't read like Enid Blyton - it seemed too modern in tone.

I don't remember feeling that, but it is some time since I read it.

I think, rather than 'modern' as such, it was just the use of very short sentences and dialogue. Enid rarely used short pieces of dialogue, and she would have explained who 'she' was right from the beginning of the chapter. I only read the first few pages and then gave up, but I will try it again sometime and see how I get on.