Blyton Questionnaire

[Chloe]

So I was just wondering

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?

How many books are in your Blyton collection?

what is your best bargain Blyton find?

In which book do you wish you could have been in?

Which character is most like you?

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.

[Chloe]

I supppose I should answer

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?
The magic faraway tree. It was my Dads favourite book as a child and he read it to me when I was about 5. and then had to read them over and over again

How many books are in your Blyton collection?
About 700 but there are lots of copies. I dont really go in for beautiful first editions - its mostly battered 70s paperbacks or jacketless hard backs. I like my books to be well loved and have lots of stories about the children who have read them before me.

what is your best bargain Blyton find?
A very battered first ed Enchanted Wood for a few pounds from an antique book seller. Its probably not even worth that but I love it. I recently found a 2nd ed Amelia jane for 20p at a car boot too

In which book do you wish you could have been in?
The Enchanted wood - I always wanted to go to the land of birthdays. Mallory Towers would have been fun too.

Which character is most like you?
Hmmm I actually dont know. A combination of George and Anne perhaps

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?
70s Famous five all the way!!!

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?
Malory Towers!!! Please BBC hear my prayers and do it properly set in 1940s Cornwall with no added storylines and make it beautiful. And do one book each year for 6 years so we can see the characters grow up

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?
I probably would have begged for another Faraway tree book.

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.

The Enchanted Wood
The Magic faraway tree
The folk of the faraway tree
5 run away together
The secret island
The ratatat mystery
The 3 golliwogs
The secret 7
Gallianos circus
In the fifth at malory towers

[Dick Kirrin]

Here is my answer:

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?

The first contact was the 1970s TV series of the Famous Five, then came "Five get into trouble" as my first book.

How many books are in your Blyton collection?
At present there are 11. It used to be more, but I gave some away to children who might like them and just kept my favourites.

what is your best bargain Blyton find?

a copy of "Famous Five get into Trouble" which I got as a present from one of my teachers in grade 1 or 2.

In which book do you wish you could have been in?

"Five fall into adventure", "Five go off to camp" and "Five get into trouble"

Which character is most like you?

Doesn't my user name give it away? Dick, with a bit of Julian.

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?

The 1970s TV series of the Famous Five.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?

I'm still waiting for the ultimate Famous Five series. Something like the 70s series with more screen time per episode. If they turned the Barney Mysteries into 45-60' films, I'd watch these, too.

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?

I don't know, I'd probably have been to stunned to ask her anything.

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.

Five fall into adventure
Five get into trouble
Five go off to camp
Five on a Treasure Island
Five on a hike together
Five go to Billycock Hill
Five on Kirrin Island
The Barney Mystery series

[Rob Houghton]

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?
My mom read 'Amelia jane' stories to me. My first book was probably 'Fireside Tales'

How many books are in your Blyton collection?
At a rough guess, about 500 or possibly more

what is your best bargain Blyton find?
Best bargain was probably a DW second edition of 'The Rilloby Fair Mystery', bought at a school jumble sale in 1981 for 10p!

In which book do you wish you could have been in?
The faraway Tree books: I'd love to climb up the tree and visit all the characters and lands!

Which character is most like you?
Don't know...probably Fatty!

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?
Five on Finneston farm, the 1990's version.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?
The Five Find Outers series


If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?
If I could have her autograph!

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.
Not sure of the actual order, but in any order my top ten would be:

The Rubadub Mystery
Mystery of the Pantomime cat
The Enchanted Wood
The Naughtiest Girl in the School
The Family at Red Roofs
Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm
Holiday House
The Adventures of Binkle and Flip
The Story of My Life
The Six Bad Boys

[Wayne Pyer]

I won't relist the questions(it's hard work on the mobile), but here go the answers.

1. My mother introduced me to 'Those Dreadful Children' when i was six.
2. I have nearly 400 books.
3. I picked up a first ed 'mountain adventure' in 'Hay on Wye' for a couple of quid.
4. I would like to have in 'valley of adventure'.
5. I think i'm like fatty more any other.
6. Definately the 70's FF.
7. I would to see the adventure series into film, as long as it stayed true.
8. I think i would ask EB what happened to the main characters when they grew up.
9. Valley of adventure
Sea of adventure
mystery of burnt cottage
mystery of hidden house
mystery of invisible thief
rubadub mystery
ratatat mystery
five on a treasure island
claudine at st clares
castle of adventure.

Wayne.

[Fiona1986]

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?
Reading some Famous Fives that were handed down from my mum and her sisters.
How many books are in your Blyton collection?
About 150, all hardbacks from 1964 or earlier.
what is your best bargain Blyton find?
About 90% of my books were less than £5 and some of those are first editions.
In which book do you wish you could have been in?
As a child I always wanted to be in the Famous Five, but now I'd love to be in any of the farm books.
Which character is most like you?
Elizabeth Allen, but my naughty days and nice days are not as extreme as hers.
What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?
I like the 90's Famous Five series thatw as shown on citv.
What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?
The Secret Island, complete with swimming cow.
If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?
Nothing - I would have been to shy and embarrased to talk.
List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.
Hardest question last.....
Ummm.....
Five go to Smugglers Top
Circus of Adventure
Third Year at Malory Towers
Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm
Hollow Tree House
Those Dreadful Children
Five go Down to the Sea
Five on a Hike Together
Five go to Demon's Rocks
The Secret Island

[Kitty]

I've really enjoyed reading all the replies to this great thread

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?

Randomly picked one at the library - I think it was a Secret book - Moon Castle or Killimooin. I might be wrong though - it was a while ago

How many books are in your Blyton collection?

Not sure - a few hundred. I haven't read most of them, though I keep meaning to do it...

what is your best bargain Blyton find?

When you tell people you're collecting EB, they bring out their old copies and donate them without you having to ask - so all of those. Also a Mountain of Adventure with Tresillian wrapper when I was 7, for 20p, as it made me love authentic illustrations. Oh, and I found an Enid Blyton Scrap Book for £1 on holiday last year, and the child owner had pasted lots of nature illustrations and notes inside it, which I found very touching, so that was another favourite bargain.

In which book do you wish you could have been in?

I want to live in Peterswood, in Pip and Bets' house, please. So maybe Secret Room? Or Malory Towers, but the energetic sports might be slightly too much for me

Which character is most like you?

Mrs Trotteville

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?

I don't like any of them - I like the sound of the Aussie radio plays though.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?

The Find-Outers. In all its privileged, vintage, middle-class glory, without irony or PC additions/subtractions.

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?

Seen Alison Uttley lately?

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.

It changes. In no particular order - Ring O'Bells, Fifth Formers at St Clare's, In the Fifth at Malory Towers, Spiteful Letters, Ship of Adventure, Invisible Thief, Vanished Prince, Missing Man, Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book, Rubadub

[Timmylover]

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?

My elder sister bought me 'Noddy goes to Toyland' for Christmas 1949 - so it was a first edition.

How many books are in your Blyton collection?

Not really sure. I have all the Famous Five series and all the older Noddy books plus odd titles of Malory Towers, Barney, Adventure, Secret Seven etc. I still haven't sorted out the Blytons from my children's old collections which I still have. I remember them having the Naughtiest Girl, Amelia Jane, Six Bad Boys, Three Golliwogs, Bimbo and Topsy etc.

What is your best bargain Blyton find?

First editions of 'Five on a Treasure Island' and 'Five go Adventuring Again', with dust jackets, 5p each from an early 70s jumble sale. My children never got their hands on them!

Which book do you wish you could have been in?

Any of the Famous Five adventures, although I'd probably have reacted like Anne did at some of the more dangerous moments.

Which character is most like you?

Probably aspects of Dick, George and Anne - certainly not Julian.

What is your favourite film or TV series adapted from Blyon?

No contest for me (predictably). I loved the 90s TV series - it really captured the whole ambience of the 40s/50s and was so beautifully filmed. I can appreciate that those born in later decades may prefer the 70s, as it was part of their childhood, but not mine of course. The Five dressed in flares and trainers, and all those 70s cars (the acting was a bit dodgy too) - really grated on me.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?

A Malory Towers TV film or series would be wonderful - but an authentic 'period piece' please.

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?

What, apart from her amazing imagination, were her influences, and which writers did she enjoy reading when she was a child?

List your top 10 favourite books:

1) Five get into Trouble.
2) Five go to Smuggler's Top.
3-10) Yet more Fives - can't put them into any special order off the top of my head.

[shadow]

Great thread, felt compelled to reply although I should be starting to make tea. (or should that be high tea?)

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?
My mother had a small collection of books that she'd bought in the 50's, not sure which was the first I read but probably adventure stories (containing two of the Mary Pollock books)

How many books are in your Blyton collection?
Just over 200 in a mix of old hardbacks, very few with dustwrappers and 70's/80's paperbacks

What is your best bargain Blyton find?
All the ones that my mother gave me as some are first editions, sadly without dustwrappers.

Which book do you wish you could have been in?
I would have loved to have gone to the secret island but missing out the horrible aunty bit at the beginning.

Which character is most like you?
According to the character checker it Bets Hilton!

What is your favourite film or TV series adapted from Blyon?
Never watched any of these, they seemed to have passed me by.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?
Five find outers but it must be genuine 40's/50's setting and stay true to the books.

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?
I'd probably have said "Ccccccould I pppppplease have your aaaaauttttttograph" before fainting away.

List your top 10 favourite books:
The Secret Island
The Island of Adventure
The Rubabdub Mystery
Shadow the Sheepdog
The Children of Kiddilin
Mischief at St Rollos
Five get into Trouble
Six Bad Boys
The Mystery of the Strange Messages
The Mystery of the Secret Room

[70s-child]

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?
- It was so long ago, I can hardly remember (I must have been about 4 when I first read her), but I am almost certain it was a Noddy book.

How many books are in your Blyton collection?
- There was a time when my bookshelf had only Blytons. Sadly I gave them away later. I am beginning to collect them again now. Have managed around 30 or so now, and have some way to go.

what is your best bargain Blyton find?
- All the recent lot have been a good bargain as far as base price is concerned. I managed to get most of them for under a dollar (I prefer the editions I grew up with). But the shipping costs have been a killer.

In which book do you wish you could have been in?
- Any of the mystery/adventure books. I would love to hang out with any of that gang.

Which character is most like you?
- No one person in particular. If you could isolate some of the personality traits of Dinah/Lucy Ann/Fatty/Susie it might sort of be like me (it might also sound like I have multiple personality disorder, but never mind that).

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?
- Haven't seen any I am afraid. I found snippets of Valley of Adventure on You Tube when I googled it. And, personally I hated it. I prefer my own imagination thank you very much.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?
- *IF* and only if, they stick to the original story line and don't add their own little modifications, then any of the adventure/mystery stories (I am a purist).

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?
- I think I would too star struck to ask her anything. But if I had my wits about, then an autograph and maybe a photograph.

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.
- No particular order, but these are among my favorites:
Valley of Adventure
Castle of Adventure
Treasure Hunters
Rilloby Fair Mystery
Ring O'Bells Mystery
Adventures of Binkle and Flip
The Enchanted Wood
Mystery of the Strange Bundle
Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage
The Secret Island

[Boodi]

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?
My parents bought me one of the Noddy books when I was very little.

How many books are in your Blyton collection?
I used to have a huge collection, but my mother gave them away when she (and I) thought that I had out-grown them. I started collecting again when my son was small and I probably have about 50 books.

what is your best bargain Blyton find?
They were all bargins!

In which book do you wish you could have been in?
The Six Cousins or any of the Five Find-Outer Mysteries.

Which character is most like you?
I'm a mix of Mrs. Hilton and Linnie Longfield, but also bear some similarities to Jane and Susan Longfield.

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?
I don't have one, as I've never seen any of the films or TV series. I prefer to read the books.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?
The Six Cousins or any of the Five Find-Outer Mysteries.

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?
I would ask her if she would allow me to thank her for the endless pleasure she has given to me personally and no doubt to countless other generations of children/adults.

List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.
The Six Cousins at Misteltoe Farm
The Six Cousins Again
The Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage
The Mystery of the Invisible Thief
The Mystery of the Missing Man
The Ring'O Bells Mystery
The River of Adventure
The Island of Adventure
The Secret of Moon Castle
Enid Blyton's Brer Rabbit Book

[Anita Bensoussane]

This thread makes fascinating reading!

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?

In the summer of 1974, some relatives came to stay and gave me a present – Mr. Pink-Whistle's Party (Dean & Son edition, with a cheery orange cover). I was four and a half and, having learnt to read with Ladybird books, I devoured Pink-Whistle at a gulp and was left hungry for more.

How many books are in your Blyton collection?

A few hundred, the core of my collection being the 1970s paperbacks and Dean & Son/Purnell laminated hardbacks of my childhood. As an adult I've also acquired a selection of nature, educational and religious books, many of which are vintage hardbacks minus the dust-jackets. I'm especially delighted with my collection of Enid Blyton's Magazine, which I bought from eBay and at Enid Blyton Days.

What is your best bargain Blyton find?

I’ve picked up a number of 1960s-70s Blyton books for less than 50p each in charity shops.

Which book do you wish you could have been in?

The Sea of Adventure. I'd be in my element in that boat amid the Scottish isles, exploring and camping and bathing and bird-watching and enjoying the sounds of the sea, the wind and the gulls.

Which character is most like you?

I aspire to be like Jack Trent but I'm probably more like Lucy-Ann.

What is your favourite film or TV series adapted from Blyton?

I find the 1970s Famous Five TV series very nostalgic.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?

I'd like to see lavish period productions of some of Enid Blyton's gripping and dramatic "family and society" stories, e.g. The Family at Red-Roofs, The Six Bad Boys and the Six Cousins books.

If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?

1. Which book or series are you particularly proud of having written, and why?

2. Could you tell me anything about the storyline of your unpublished adult novel, The Caravan Goes On?

I'd also love to be able to show Enid Blyton this website!

List your top 10 favourite books.

The Valley of Adventure – Excitement, shivers and a touch of melancholy.

The Ring O' Bells Mystery – An atmospheric and alarming mingling of fairytale with reality.

The Mystery of the Strange Bundle – Hot chocolate and macaroons galore, humour and intrigue, Fatty and Bets enjoying one another's company.

The Six Bad Boys – A startling study of home-life and its effect on children, with unforgettable scenes of warmth and brutality.

Six Cousins Again – A convincing exploration of the tensions within a family.

The Folk of the Faraway Tree – It's a captivating fantasy story, but then so is The Enid Blyton Book of Brownies which is another book I've always loved.

The Naughtiest Girl in the School – The defiant but kind-hearted Bold Bad Girl is one of my favourite Blyton characters.

The Land of Far-Beyond – An enchanting and imaginative allegory.

Tales of Long Ago – Vivid re-tellings of ancient tales. I read this book repeatedly as a youngster and it instilled in me a lasting interest in myth and legend.

Enid Blyton's Book of the Year – An entertaining book which can be dipped into again and again.

Anita

[hope189]

How were you introduced to Blyton and what was your first book?

My mother used to read Blyton when she was young (she still does). She was the one who introduced me to the books. My first Blyton book was an Amelia Jane short story. But, I was so young when I read it that I can't remember reading it at all.


How many books are in your Blyton collection?

Hundred and something. Most of them are recent editions. But I do have some lovely hard backs that used to belong to my mother.


what is your best bargain Blyton find?
An entire set of FInd-outers books. ( I had to bargain with my parents to buy that one )


In which book do you wish you could have been in?

Faraway tree, Famous five, Whyteleafe


Which character is most like you?

George. And maybe Fatty- I often get a bit too full of myself.

[hope189]

What is your favourite film or tv series adapted from Blyton?

I have never watched any except for the Disney cartoon series and I am not a big fan of that.

What book or series do you wish they would make into a film?

Faraway tree, Find outers, School stories.


If you could have met Enid what would you have asked her?

An autographed first edition.
I'd love to know what she thinks of the changes made in the new editions.


List your top 10 favourite Blyton books.

I'll have to think about this. All her books are just fantastic.
But some of my favorites ( in random order ) are:
Family at red roofs
Faraway tree series
Naughtiest girl goes to school
Five run away together
Five go on a hike
Secret island
Mystery of missing necklace
In the fifth at malory towers
Twins at St'Clares
And the list goes on and on and on and on................

[Chloe]

It was so nice to come back to this thread and find so many interesting answers Thank you for replying xx