Deja Vu?

The books! Over seven hundred of them and still counting...
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Rob Houghton »

In my imagination, the gates would be solid iron with no footholds whatsoever!! :D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26772
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I always think "Yikes!" when Blyton characters assume that a bundle of sacks will be enough to prevent them being impaled by sharp spikes embedded in the top of a high wall. I wouldn't like to try it! :shock:
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Daisy »

I always assumed likewise Rob ... and thought that the illustration didn't really give the right impression of impregnability.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Rob Houghton »

Anita Bensoussane wrote:I always think "Yikes!" when Blyton characters assume that a bundle of sacks will be enough to prevent them being impaled by sharp spikes embedded in the top of a high wall. I wouldn't like to try it! :shock:
I agree - that's usually my first thought on reading things like that - although I suppose there are 'Spikes' and there are 'spikes' - perhaps you and I imagine big 6 inch long lethal spikes, while Enid's were more just half an inch!! :lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26772
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Joseph Abbey's spikes look lethal! Poor Pip!

Image
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Rob Houghton »

Pip does look a bit pained or in shock!!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
sixret
Posts: 4130
Joined: 16 Aug 2006, 14:25
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by sixret »

Those spikes are meant to penetrate! Not for decoration! :lol:
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by John Pickup »

I tend to agree with Fiona. Not all the illustrations will match up to Enid's interpretation of the situation. In her mind, the walls and gate at Owls Dene were probably much taller than the ones at Gringos.
Society Member
User avatar
db105
Posts: 362
Joined: 14 Jan 2017, 18:35

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by db105 »

Exactly. Illustrations are just one person's interpretation. The actual story is the text. If the text says that the walls could not be climbed then I would accept that...
----------------------------------
“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
― Stephen King, The Body
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by Rob Houghton »

It's interesting though, as I think ENid often took a major interest in the illustrations and sometimes had them altered if she didn't approve? Well, I thought so anyway!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
IceMaiden
Posts: 2290
Joined: 07 Jan 2016, 18:49
Favourite book/series: Too many to mention! All of them!
Favourite character: George
Location: North Wales

Re: Deja Vu?

Post by IceMaiden »

I'm going to go with the simple explanation I've always believed from looking at the illustrations. The gates to Gringo's have got a very helpful horizontal bar right in the middle to stand on and hoik yourself over (something I have done myself on many occasions after getting the idea from that very drawing), whereas the gates to Owl's Dene haven't. The ones you could try in desperation have got spikes on and below them making them impossible to stand on, or unwise to try, just in case you happen to be tall enough to manage it otherwise :twisted: .
Society Member

I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the sweet and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And A̶n̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶h̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶a̶i̶r̶e̶
Image
Post Reply