The Enid Blyton Society

Well, I've just finished TMot Strange Messages, and I have a small question. In Rob's review in the Cave, he says Mr.Goon employed Ern to infiltrate the Five and sort of spy on them. However, in my edition, which was probably published some time around 2006 or 7, he is employed solely to look out for someone coming into the garden to place the messages, when Mr. Goon is not at home. Perhaps the editors had the same point as that in the questions Rob has raised in his review, about Mr.Goon knowing that Ern was friendly with the Five and thought the world of them, hence making it pretty clear that he would not be an effective spy. Even so, isn't that a pretty big edit?

Recently I read that same book and it's just as Sunskriti says.

Currently reading 'The Ring O'Bells Mystery' (again!) and thoroughly enjoying it (again!). I had a chuckle when I read Enid's description when Snubby looks out of the window on the first morning at Ring O'Bells village and sees a cat who 'stuck its leg in the air and began its morning wash' - Enid has such a delicate way of putting things! Not to be rude, but there's only one place a cat is washing when it sticks it's leg in the air! I'd never noticed that description before, even though I've read the book a number of times. Shows how there's always something new to discover in a Blyton book! Good old Enid Blyton!

I'm mainly reading these books to soak up the characters, as I'm currently writing about them - but I'm enjoying the rereads very much! However, I don't plan to read Rubadub until later in the year. I have a few other books I fancy revisiting first - and one that I bought the other week that I've never actually read - Feefo, Tuppeny and Jinks! I do have the later version - Tuppeny, Feefo and Jinks - but I've never read it! Sadly, I don't have 'The Green Goblin book'.

Glad you're enjoying it Rob.
I think I will start a re-read of the book today too as I've just finished a FF,'Mystery To Solve' and would be glad to read a book written when Enid was on top of her game.

I'm reading The Boy Next Door for about the umpteenth time. Enid was certainly on the top of her game writing this book, I think.

I totally agree (and I haven't forgotten who introduced me to it, Julie ).

A agree too - a very good story and one that I happily return to every so often.

I agree with you, Julie. The Boy Next Door is one of Enid's best books.

Its a story I never rated much, but i must admit when I read it last year I really enjoyed it!

I have started on the Find Outer books. I've finished Burnt Cottage and am now on the Dissapearing Cat. I've just got to the part where Mr Goon goes storming up to the children's picnic expecting to find Luke and instead runs into his own boss The FO books have a lot of humour in them, as all Enid's books have, but these in particular I think are very witty in a way that perhaps only Snubby comes close to matching.

Rob Houghton wrote:Currently reading 'The Ring O'Bells Mystery' (again!) and thoroughly enjoying it (again!)

You've probably finished your re-read by now Rob.I'm half way through mine and it's been a really good to read Ring O'Bells again.
I'm enjoying all the little details I had forgotten about the book.Enid manages to make the book ever so slightly spooky,even during the daytime - as well as weaving some of the area's history and the book's characters mischievously around the tale of Little Red Riding Hood.




I think I will definitely carry on reading a Barney book after this one.But which one to choose???

pete9012S wrote:
I think I will definitely carry on reading a Barney book after this one.But which one to choose???

How about Rook's Rock!

pete9012S wrote:
You've probably finished your re-read by now Rob.I'm half way through mine and it's been a really good to read Ring O'Bells again.
I'm enjoying all the little details I had forgotten about the book.Enid manages to make the book ever so slightly spooky,even during the daytime - as well as weaving some of the area's history and the book's characters mischievously around the tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

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I think I will definitely carry on reading a Barney book after this one.But which one to choose???

No - I'm still reading it, Pete! You've probably over taken me, as I only read about 1 or 2 chapters a day! I'm really enjoying it.

Any Barney book is a good choice, Pete.

For me the best Barney books are Rubadub, Ring O Bells and Rilloby Fair.