A question for the big boys ...
- lizarfau
- Posts: 387
- Joined: 06 Dec 2006, 10:57
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five
- Favourite character: George
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
A question for the big boys ...
Just reading the Nancy Drew thread, I came across this great comment by Stephen:
Wow - Nancy Drew! Along with Malory Towers, St Clare's and the Bunty/Mandy/ Tammy et cetera annuals, an excuse to sneak into my sister's room and read some great literature!
And I was wondering ... There seem to be one or two blokes on here who really enjoy the girls' own genre, and I was wondering how they got into it. Was it a matter of, as Stephen says, sneaking into their sister's room and reading her books? And at what point did it stop being a furtive habit and came out into the open? Did it ever come out into the open? Were girls' boarding-school stories something to be kept hidden under the bed, like porn?
I'm interested because I always thought it was less usual for boys to be into girls' lit than for girls to be into boys' lit. Since being on a number of girls' own-style forums over the past six years, though, I've realised there are plenty of blokes who are really into girls' own. I know my mom once whinged when I asked her to buy me some Malcolm Savilles, because she looked at the cover of Wings Over Witchend and thought it looked as if it was for boys, and therefore disapproved - just like she disapproved/still disapproves of my love of football and cricket. So I assume blokes would have an even harder time asking for a copy of The Naughtiest Girl in the School (or perhaps not ).
Hope no-one is offended by this and apologise in advance if they are. I'm just curious about how the blokes first started reading girls' books and whether it was a source of embarrassment to them or not. (And you're perfectly entitled to ask the girls a cheeky question in response.)
Wow - Nancy Drew! Along with Malory Towers, St Clare's and the Bunty/Mandy/ Tammy et cetera annuals, an excuse to sneak into my sister's room and read some great literature!
And I was wondering ... There seem to be one or two blokes on here who really enjoy the girls' own genre, and I was wondering how they got into it. Was it a matter of, as Stephen says, sneaking into their sister's room and reading her books? And at what point did it stop being a furtive habit and came out into the open? Did it ever come out into the open? Were girls' boarding-school stories something to be kept hidden under the bed, like porn?
I'm interested because I always thought it was less usual for boys to be into girls' lit than for girls to be into boys' lit. Since being on a number of girls' own-style forums over the past six years, though, I've realised there are plenty of blokes who are really into girls' own. I know my mom once whinged when I asked her to buy me some Malcolm Savilles, because she looked at the cover of Wings Over Witchend and thought it looked as if it was for boys, and therefore disapproved - just like she disapproved/still disapproves of my love of football and cricket. So I assume blokes would have an even harder time asking for a copy of The Naughtiest Girl in the School (or perhaps not ).
Hope no-one is offended by this and apologise in advance if they are. I'm just curious about how the blokes first started reading girls' books and whether it was a source of embarrassment to them or not. (And you're perfectly entitled to ask the girls a cheeky question in response.)
- Ming
- Posts: 6057
- Joined: 14 Nov 2006, 16:58
- Favourite book/series: Adventure/Mystery
- Favourite character: Fatty, Bill Smugs, Kiki
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Contact:
Re: A question for the big boys ...
I'm sure Nigel will reply in this thread....
Last edited by Ming on 02 Jul 2007, 11:10, edited 1 time in total.
Society Member
- lizarfau
- Posts: 387
- Joined: 06 Dec 2006, 10:57
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five
- Favourite character: George
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Don't know about that, Ming! He doesn't seem to enjoy girls' school stories ... Or perhaps he just can't admit to it yet?
- Ming
- Posts: 6057
- Joined: 14 Nov 2006, 16:58
- Favourite book/series: Adventure/Mystery
- Favourite character: Fatty, Bill Smugs, Kiki
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Contact:
Re: A question for the big boys ...
He just can't admit to it yet...... (or maybe not! I may be wrong!)
I remember him saying in the Yahoo! Group that he was "so saturated with MT that he has started to wear skirts and tunics........"
Knowing him as well as I do, I can tell you that he WILL reply in this thread - maybe not to answer your question, but ask the girls a really cheeky question in return!
And if he doesn't.... well, I'll make him.
I remember him saying in the Yahoo! Group that he was "so saturated with MT that he has started to wear skirts and tunics........"
Knowing him as well as I do, I can tell you that he WILL reply in this thread - maybe not to answer your question, but ask the girls a really cheeky question in return!
And if he doesn't.... well, I'll make him.
Society Member
- lizarfau
- Posts: 387
- Joined: 06 Dec 2006, 10:57
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five
- Favourite character: George
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Oh, dear - already the thread is going downhill ... And the boys haven't even replied yet!Ming wrote:I remember him saying in the Yahoo! Group that he was "so saturated with MT that he has started to wear skirts and tunics........"
Nigel, we want to see pictures of you dressed up in a tunic!
- Lucky Star
- Posts: 11485
- Joined: 28 May 2006, 12:59
- Favourite book/series: The Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: Mr Goon
- Location: Surrey, UK
Re: A question for the big boys ...
I was never really into girls stories all that much. I did read Malory Towers but I think i did so in secret. I had no sisters so as far I remember I read a couple of them in a quiet place in the library and bought the others from a second hand bookshop pretending they were presents for my non existant sister.
I certainly would not have liked my friends to have known about it even though I suspect that at least one of my buddies had read them too. I'm not sure if my parents knew about them, my mum never tended to look in my Blyton drawer as far as I know.
I certainly would not have liked my friends to have known about it even though I suspect that at least one of my buddies had read them too. I'm not sure if my parents knew about them, my mum never tended to look in my Blyton drawer as far as I know.
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero
Society Member
Society Member
Re: A question for the big boys ...
I was never into boys' stories. My mum once got me four large volumes of stories especially for boys - and I NEVER read them apart from trying out the odd chapter. I didn't want to be informed I should be into football and Tintin-style espionage - subjects which don't interest me at all! Mixed arrangements like the Famous Five and the Five Find-Outers were much more to my taste. I would identify with the boys but sympathize with the girls. But stories with just boys? To paraphrase Elizabeth, nasty horrid creatures!
Hard to say when my Malory Towers reading came into the open. I suppose I was just matter-of-factly making out over time "Oh well, I'm a Blyton fan, there isn't a problem with me reading this." I've got to say a few years ago as a fully grown man in my early 30s, I got some MT out of the library without any worry.
But it's not the sort of thing I've told anyone outside my family about. Perhaps a few drinks might do it...
Hard to say when my Malory Towers reading came into the open. I suppose I was just matter-of-factly making out over time "Oh well, I'm a Blyton fan, there isn't a problem with me reading this." I've got to say a few years ago as a fully grown man in my early 30s, I got some MT out of the library without any worry.
But it's not the sort of thing I've told anyone outside my family about. Perhaps a few drinks might do it...
- peppermint peppy
- Posts: 536
- Joined: 05 Mar 2007, 18:58
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Hi lizarfau,one of my traits is that I'm interested in many things.I grew up in a conservative environment but resisted to take over one or two convictions.
I always wanted to keep open mind and heart for new things.In my younger days I read all the books of Blyton I could get.They were the reason and the beginning to study the girl's literature.I devoured them just as all the rest of Blyton's books
I never made a difference between books for girls or boys.Main point is the books are
interesting and enthralling.
Nowadays I enjoy it to visit the movies and libraries in company with my daughter.
Stories about horses,witches,elves,boarding-schools...boys .....enchant me
in almost the same manner.
I always wanted to keep open mind and heart for new things.In my younger days I read all the books of Blyton I could get.They were the reason and the beginning to study the girl's literature.I devoured them just as all the rest of Blyton's books
I never made a difference between books for girls or boys.Main point is the books are
interesting and enthralling.
Nowadays I enjoy it to visit the movies and libraries in company with my daughter.
Stories about horses,witches,elves,boarding-schools...boys .....enchant me
in almost the same manner.
- Ming
- Posts: 6057
- Joined: 14 Nov 2006, 16:58
- Favourite book/series: Adventure/Mystery
- Favourite character: Fatty, Bill Smugs, Kiki
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Contact:
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Hmmm.... well...lizarfau wrote:Nigel, we want to see pictures of you dressed up in a tunic!
Society Member
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Well, I seem to be at the centre of discussion in this thread - and that is before I have posted a comment!lizarfau wrote:Don't know about that, Ming! He doesn't seem to enjoy girls' school stories ... Or perhaps he just can't admit to it yet?
Very well, I will come out of the closet and announce to the world that I love Blyton's Girls' Stories! Like PP, I read All Blyton's, irrespective of which gender they are written for. I think Enid knew too, that her school stories were read by boys, just as much as girls.
I am so glad that I have Ming to view my opinions, maybe I should call myself Mingraker
I am quite a girly person, at heart, with a strong feminine side (What would Chantel (of eb.net) make of that?) Give me a strong, classic weepie anyday compared to tosh such as Lord of the Rings or some nasty gangster film. Any adverse comment made on threads concerning girls' school stories are mainly triggered by me reaching saturation point with Moose's continual promotion of them!
Seriously, the closest I came to wearing a skirt, was at a school fete in 1959. It had a Scottish theme, and I wore a kilt. Unfortunately, I no longer have the photograph. Fortunately, Ming has put one up, to whom I am eternally grateful.
Liz - you seem to have some porn under your bed - what is that? Us Brits used to keep Jerries under the bed. I guess porn is a kind of Australian jerry.
I was going to blast you, Liz, for being right down sexist; but as you apologised in advance, I guess I can't now! Anything else you want to know about me? Then I suggest you ask Ming!
Society Member
- lizarfau
- Posts: 387
- Joined: 06 Dec 2006, 10:57
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five
- Favourite character: George
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: A question for the big boys ...
So you did!Ming wrote:I told you Liz! I knew he'd reply!
And that was a great pic you posted too!
Good to see him admitting to liking girls' school stories too.
I wish I could come out about liking boys' school stories. But I don't. So I can't.
PS No 'jerry' (had to look that one up!) or porn under my bed ...
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Talking of beds, has anyone bedded down with heather? It seemed a favourite mattress with the Five, but I've never tried it.
Society Member
-
- Posts: 6386
- Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20
Re: A question for the big boys ...
I will avoid the obvious retort to this, as our friend in Australia may be reading it!moonraker wrote:Talking of beds, has anyone bedded down with heather?
I am sure it would be most uncomfortable and I bet Enid never tried it. It may be pretty to look at, but I suspect that there would be countless sharp bits sticking into you all night. There's plenty just down the road in the New Forest though, Nigel - you must let us know what it was like when you have tried it out!!
- Ming
- Posts: 6057
- Joined: 14 Nov 2006, 16:58
- Favourite book/series: Adventure/Mystery
- Favourite character: Fatty, Bill Smugs, Kiki
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Contact:
Re: A question for the big boys ...
Tony Summerfield wrote:I will avoid the obvious retort to this, as our friend in Australia may be reading it!
Yeah, I don't think bedding down on heather will be very comfortable. I'm not gonna try it!
Society Member