What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
-
- 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: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Well done, Eddie!
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19309
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
All right, everyone, I've just run across a previously undiscovered treasure trove (well, at least I certainly didn't know about it beforehand)...
I'm currently having a quiet couple of days in Norwich, and along beautiful Elm Hill — the best preserved medieval street in the city — I discovered the Dormouse Bookshop. Funny, I don't remember going in there before, although I've visited Norwich several times and I'm sure the bookshop was always there (it doesn't look new); I guess I just didn't take much notice, for some reason.
Anyway, I had the thought of going in to see what their collection of classic children's books is like. It's BIG — a row of huge bookcases right in front of your face as you walk in the door — and there are LOTS of Blytons and heaps of other well-known authors. I would venture to say it's on a par with Alton Secondhand Books, at least.
What hit me in the eye almost as soon as I started browsing the Blytons was the trio of Naughtiest Girl books — all in excellent condition with dust jackets. They're all 1960s editions, but presumably identical to the originals, or nearly so (I don't mind if there are very minor changes). In fact, they all have the same name written neatly inside them — Karen Bedson — so she must have collected the set and kept them in such good nick. (I wonder where she is now and how her books ended up in a secondhand shop, rather than being passed down fondly to her children or other young relatives? Maybe she fell for the old lie that Enid Blyton books are babyish and smart people grow out of reading them... )
Anyway, I have been wanting to read the Naughtiest Girl series for ages — it's another one I missed as a child — and here are the three main books (yes, I know there's a fourth that was added later) in brilliant condition... £10 each. Sold. AND the Third Enid Blyton Magazine Annual, also with dust jacket in good condition for £12.50, which I debated over for a long while — it's not one I really need for myself — but I was eventually won over by the thought that my mum will just love it for Christmas.
I told the gentleman behind the counter that I'm a member of the Enid Blyton Society and would let our online forum know he has such a great selection, so he'll be hoping for more custom from us. If any of you happen to be in Norwich, don't miss this place! Highly recommended!!
(Here's a photo — courtesy of TripAdvisor — just so you can see what a gorgeous little street Elm Hill is. The Dormouse Bookshop is the pink building on the left. The white building with the pointed roof in the background, by the way, is the Britons Arms cafe, my favourite place to have lunch in Norwich. Right, I'll stop the advertising now. )
I'm currently having a quiet couple of days in Norwich, and along beautiful Elm Hill — the best preserved medieval street in the city — I discovered the Dormouse Bookshop. Funny, I don't remember going in there before, although I've visited Norwich several times and I'm sure the bookshop was always there (it doesn't look new); I guess I just didn't take much notice, for some reason.
Anyway, I had the thought of going in to see what their collection of classic children's books is like. It's BIG — a row of huge bookcases right in front of your face as you walk in the door — and there are LOTS of Blytons and heaps of other well-known authors. I would venture to say it's on a par with Alton Secondhand Books, at least.
What hit me in the eye almost as soon as I started browsing the Blytons was the trio of Naughtiest Girl books — all in excellent condition with dust jackets. They're all 1960s editions, but presumably identical to the originals, or nearly so (I don't mind if there are very minor changes). In fact, they all have the same name written neatly inside them — Karen Bedson — so she must have collected the set and kept them in such good nick. (I wonder where she is now and how her books ended up in a secondhand shop, rather than being passed down fondly to her children or other young relatives? Maybe she fell for the old lie that Enid Blyton books are babyish and smart people grow out of reading them... )
Anyway, I have been wanting to read the Naughtiest Girl series for ages — it's another one I missed as a child — and here are the three main books (yes, I know there's a fourth that was added later) in brilliant condition... £10 each. Sold. AND the Third Enid Blyton Magazine Annual, also with dust jacket in good condition for £12.50, which I debated over for a long while — it's not one I really need for myself — but I was eventually won over by the thought that my mum will just love it for Christmas.
I told the gentleman behind the counter that I'm a member of the Enid Blyton Society and would let our online forum know he has such a great selection, so he'll be hoping for more custom from us. If any of you happen to be in Norwich, don't miss this place! Highly recommended!!
(Here's a photo — courtesy of TripAdvisor — just so you can see what a gorgeous little street Elm Hill is. The Dormouse Bookshop is the pink building on the left. The white building with the pointed roof in the background, by the way, is the Britons Arms cafe, my favourite place to have lunch in Norwich. Right, I'll stop the advertising now. )
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
- Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 16:54
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five, Adventure Series, Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: George Kirrin, Jack Trent
- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Courtenay, Elm Hill looks gorgeous!!!Courtenay wrote: Here's a photo — courtesy of TripAdvisor — just so you can see what a gorgeous little street Elm Hill is. The Dormouse Bookshop is the pink building on the left. The white building with the pointed roof in the background, by the way, is the Britons Arms cafe, my favourite place to have lunch in Norwich. Right, I'll stop the advertising now. )
I hope we can include it in May 2018 to our trip.
Chrissie
Society Member
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
Society Member
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19309
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
I hope you can too, Chrissie! Norwich is a lovely little city — a bit out of the way of the more popular tourist areas in England, but very historic and well worth visiting.
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- John Pickup
- Posts: 4894
- Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
- Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
- Favourite character: Snubby
- Location: Notts
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Thanks for sharing that information, Courtenay. I hope to be spending some time in Norfolk next year and that's a brilliant recommendation. Well done with those purchases.
Society Member
- pete9012S
- Posts: 17649
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
- Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
- Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
- Location: UK
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Yes, It does sound like a nice set up - a brilliant bookshop alongside a decent boozer/cafe. What more could you ask for!
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- Eddie Muir
- Posts: 14566
- Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
- Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Brighton
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Thanks for the Norwich link, Courtenay. I intend to add the information to my list of bookshops to visit.
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.
Society Member
Society Member
- IceMaiden
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: 07 Jan 2016, 18:49
- Favourite book/series: Too many to mention! All of them!
- Favourite character: George
- Location: North Wales
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
That sounds like a marvellous shop Courtenay, with great prices! I've not seen any of the Naughtiest Girl books with wrappers that cheap, especially ones in good condition - you got a bargain . I wonder if they take telephone orders and post items as I'm after some of the Holiday Books in dj's and a couple are proving very difficult and expensive to get hold of .
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19309
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
I should advise that the Britons Arms isn't licensed — there are plenty of pubs and licensed cafes in the area as well, don't worry — but I can recommend their Cromer crab tart! They always have a good selection of cakes, too, and a lovely little terrace garden to sit in.pete9012S wrote:Yes, It does sound like a nice set up - a brilliant bookshop alongside a decent boozer/cafe. What more could you ask for!
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- 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: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Looks - and sounds - like a marvellous bookshop! rather sounds like Stella's Books in Tintern - which has literally hundreds of Enid Blyton books - many at quite reasonable prices.
'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
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
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19309
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
This one didn't run to the hundreds, but certainly quite a lot of Enid and many, many other classic children's authors — more than a lot of secondhand bookshops I've seen, put it that way. I had Stella's on my list for an upcoming trip to Wales, but unfortunately that hasn't fitted in this year. Maybe next year...
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
- Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 16:54
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five, Adventure Series, Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: George Kirrin, Jack Trent
- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Courtenay, yesterday I requested the Collins Road Atlas for the UK at our public library to see if we want to purchase the newest edition via amazon.co.uk for our trip (as these GPS/navigation systems have a way of not working in rental cars every now and then).Courtenay wrote:I hope you can too, Chrissie! Norwich is a lovely little city — a bit out of the way of the more popular tourist areas in England, but very historic and well worth visiting.
If Norwich is near London on the way towards the Yorkshire Dales, Kidderminster and Bamburgh Castle/Northumberland, we might be able to include it.
I seem to remember that Norwich has a famous cathedral?
Chrissie
Society Member
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
Society Member
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- 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: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Kidderminster is near Worcester, which is just below where I live (well - about 22 miles from where I live in Kings Norton, Birmingham) but Norwich is further east, about 190 miles from Worcester!
'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
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
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19309
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Norwich Cathedral is beautiful and well worth visiting, Chrissie (I was there today too). It's not on the way to Yorkshire, though. You can see where it is in relation to York (and indeed Birmingham!) on this map:
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
-
- 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: What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?
Well done, Courtenay!