Could Enid have been a better writer?

[Courtenay]

By contrast, my mum has always said that in her school library — this was in a suburb of Melbourne largely populated by post-war European immigrants in the 1950s — "there was nothing to read but Enid Blyton!" But it obviously gave her a good start in life, as she still loves Blyton books to this day and made sure my sister and I grew up on a steady diet of them too.

[Rob Houghton]

I don't think my mom had any Blyton books as a child in the 1940's, but she did have Sunny Stories from about 1940 - 1946 - which is where her love of Enid Blyton came from. She bought Blyton books for my sister and me because of her memories of The Farway Tree etc and read them to us from a very early age.

[zaidi]

Its a pretty interesting thread, especially since I've been focusing too much on writing. I really consider and relate to all the techniques and features I've been taught for my IGCSE English. I dont think these things, like character development, climax and all that stuff was even thought of around in 1940s.

As a young child, I was always told that lots of vocabulary makes your writing good,but now I disagree.
I think the most important part of the story is, what it is in itself. The content, the message and the originality. ( Realized this with Fifty Shades trilogy too, which was pretty simple language)

Enid is the reason I started reading(around grade3, about 8 years of age), I even forced myself to read other boring authors for the sake of reading. Her writing has brought me up, my love for countrysides, adventures and all the sporty interests have been because of reading her. I remember, how hurt once I felt when one of my too over mature class girl cameup and said Enid Blyton is a babyish writer and I should be reading something more elderly.

Lots of people here in my country, dont even know the correct name but they have read Famous Five.

My love for Enid, has genuinely proved to be a milestone in my life(one of those things is this forum). I wish , people who underestimate her and those who dont understand that' writing isnt just maturity', should seriously talk to you all, and Anita and Tony especially.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Absolutely disgraceful, but our school didn't have any EB books .

Same here. Maybe the teachers thought children read enough Enid Blyton books in their free time and decided to promote other authors in the school library?

Interesting that you went to a Welsh school, IceMaiden. I've got an Enid Blyton book in Welsh - one of the Llyfrau Natur series (Nature Readers).

As to reading an Enid Blyton in one sitting, I could do so if I wanted, but I never would. I want to savour every detail, get lost in the illustrations and be swept away in the story not rush through it.

Except for short books like Noddy or Mary Mouse, I don't think I've read an Enid Blyton book in one sitting either. I enjoy lingering on certain scenes and stopping to ponder about things or simply revel in the atmosphere.

As a young child, I was always told that lots of vocabulary makes your writing good,but now I disagree.
I think the most important part of the story is, what it is in itself. The content, the message and the originality.

I think style is an important part of storytelling. With Enid it's not so much her vocabulary that stands out as her general phrasing and manner. Her style is warm and lively and flowing - it comes across as very natural and seemingly effortless. I also love the way she incorporates personal observations and appeals to the reader (e.g. when she finishes a story by saying something like, "I wish I could see it. Don't you?") When I read the books as a child, it made me feel that Enid Blyton viewed me as a young friend who was on her wavelength and shared her interests and secrets.

Having said that, I do agree that content, message and originality are important too. Enid Blyton was aware that it was essential to create worlds which would grip and inspire children and she provided wonderfully imaginative settings and happenings, fast-paced plots, intrigue and conflict, engaging characters, thoughtfully-presented lessons in life and plenty of variety.

My love for Enid, has genuinely proved to be a milestone in my life...

Yes, a milestone indeed. I honestly can't imagine my childhood without Enid Blyton! Her books have been an enormous influence on me.

[Rob Houghton]

As to reading an Enid Blyton in one sitting, I could do so if I wanted, but I never would. I want to savour every detail, get lost in the illustrations and be swept away in the story not rush through it.

Except for short books like Noddy or Mary Mouse, I don't think I've read an Enid Blyton book in one sitting either. I enjoy lingering on certain scenes and stopping to ponder about things or simply revel in the atmosphere.

For me, opening an Enid Blyton book is like going off on holiday - such an enjoyable experience that I don't want it to end! I never feel I want to rush through an Enid Blyton book - the goal is never to reach 'The End' quickly, but to enjoy the journey.

[IceMaiden]

My secondary school was better than the primary one, it had a wonderful library. I remember when we were taking on a 'tester day' to look around and see what it was like, I wanted to just stay in the library all day and see what they had. I wasn't disappointed when we finally got taken to look around in there during English class, and I was pretty delighted to see they had some Famous Fives (paperbacks with the 70's TV images on the cover). Of course, by then I'd already read them all at home, so had no real need to borrow them, but as each book was stamped on removal so they could keep tabs on what was popular and what wasn't but not who they were booked to, I borrowed them out repeatedly to make Enid Blyton look as popular as she fully deserved to be .

Our town library had a great range of EB's, including most of the find outers and adventure books, which we didn't have at home, and I often struggled to stay within the limit of 8 books at a time. Luckily, I knew the librarians and went there so often they'd relax the rules a bit and let me add another book if I really wanted one.

I don't think my mom had any Blyton books as a child in the 1940's, but she did have Sunny Stories from about 1940 - 1946 - which is where her love of Enid Blyton came from. She bought Blyton books for my sister and me because of her memories of The Farway Tree etc and read them to us from a very early age.

I know my mum and her sisters had Blyton books, as I've got them all. I was helping my gran tidy up her attic one day and she handed me a box of books, saying I could have them if I wanted, or bring them back if I didn't. When I got home and looked through them I realised with that they were all Enid Blytons, all with my auntie's names and address's in them from when they were little. Needless to say, they never went back!

I remember, how hurt once I felt when one of my too over mature class girl cameup and said Enid Blyton is a babyish writer and I should be reading something more elderly.

Tell that to my dad, he's 60 and would still rather have an Enid Blyton book over anything else on the planet, and come to think of it, so would I .

[Machupicchu14]

My school library only has 1 Enid Blyton book!!

[zaidi]

In my family and friends, and even my students. Know my obsession with Enid Blyton, that they associate me with her. My aunt calls me Enid to make fun of me .

[Machupicchu14]

Just as that happens to you, my family sometimes call me Georgina!!!

[zaidi]

Hahaha! Glad there people like me out there

[Moonraker]

My family often call me Dick.

[Lucky Star]

Perhaps they have seen your awful new avatar?

[John Pickup]

I quite like it but wasn't the cow supposed to jump over the moon?

[Courtenay]

It's cute, but the problem is I don't register it as Nigel.

[Lucky Star]

It's cute, but the problem is I don't register it as Nigel.

I think that's my problem too.