We thought of Aarham earlier today whilst in Woolworth's. They had a large 'cuddly' Noddy that sang!Ming wrote: I had to read Here Comes Noddy Again! to Aarham, half an hour ago, hoping he'd fall asleep - he did not.
I've no objection at all to a cuddly Noddy toy. It's only the stories that I don't much like!Moonraker wrote:[thinks: Christmas pressie for Anita?]
Yes, Anita, one outgrows EB's 'Noddy' books, as I did at about the age of 7, going on 8. But, if some of them were among the very first books one read independently as a youngster, the 'Noddy' books are likely to leave such a powerful impression that you reach for them when years later you're looking for books to read to a 3-year-old. * Looking for his 'I Came Back to NODDY' T-shirt *I've no objection at all to a cuddly Noddy toy. It's only the stories that I don't much like!
That would keep a psychiatrist busy for hours!Aurélien wrote: Would you care to share with us what went wrong in your case, Anita, so that you dropped Noddy for good?
Aurélien wrote:Would you care to share with us what went wrong in your case, Anita, so that you dropped Noddy for good?
Edit:
* Clarifying his question * I mean, did you either not read the Noddy books as a young girl, or did you find them less than satisfying in some way when reading them?
I feel as if I'm lying on a psychiatrist's couch or something! I so agree there, Anita. That is one reason why I get irritated with the Famous Five. Why is the Five portrayed with such favour? Whwen is the last time you read in the press "...Enid Blyton, one of the most prolific of children's authors, writer of The Five Find-Outers and Dog series as well as Six Bad Boys..." - it's always Noddy, Famous Five and Secret Seven!Anita Bensoussane wrote:
Probably what I object to most about Noddy is that he is so prominent these days. Everyone seems to have heard of Noddy but not of Mr. Twiddle, Mr. Galliano, The Six Bad Boys, etc....
Anyway, I haven't "dropped" Noddy and may well return to the books one day, especially as I haven't yet read the whole of the main series. But I have to say that I'm not in any hurry to do so!
That explains it, then, Anita. In my case, those 'Noddy' books I met in my early years had considerable impact 'cos:Have to admit that the fact that I didn't own any Noddy books as a child may be a factor. I read a handful at friends' houses when I was about six (Noddy and Tessie Bear being one of them, I recall) but, although I liked the colourful illustrations, I found the stories dull and over-long. Funnily enough, at that time I didn't even realise that the Noddy books were written by Enid Blyton.
Hmmm...are they actually being overpromoted, Anita, or is it possible that the prominence of the Noddy books has grown out of the great (and long-lasting) significance our early experiences have for us?Probably what I object to most about Noddy is that he is so prominent these days. Everyone seems to have heard of Noddy but not of Mr. Twiddle, Mr. Galliano, The Six Bad Boys, etc. It's a pity (in my opinion, at least!) that, of all Enid Blyton's creations, Noddy is the one that is promoted above all others!
Ah well, our Ming had no such qualms!Aurélien wrote: * Thinking: I wonder what Tony's childhood memories of the Noddy books are, and especially I wonder if he had the same burning desire to get behind the wheel of Noddy's car.
If I had come across the Noddy books slightly earlier it may be that I too would feel more nostalgia for them and like them better (even if, looking at them as an adult, I judged other Blyton stories to be tighter and better-paced.)Aurélien wrote:In my case, those 'Noddy' books I met in my early years had considerable impact 'cos:
- some of them were read to me before I learnt to read;
they were among the first books I read independently, at about 4 and a half;
the colourful illustrations had a strong impact; and (one you didn't mention)
I desperately wanted to drive Noddy's car.
Hard to say, but I think it could be the eye-catching and much-loved illustrations by Beek and other artists that have helped keep Noddy "alive" for so long.Aurélien wrote:Anita added:Hmmm...are they actually being overpromoted, Anita, or is it possible that the prominence of the Noddy books has grown out of the great (and long-lasting) significance our early experiences have for us?Probably what I object to most about Noddy is that he is so prominent these days. Everyone seems to have heard of Noddy but not of Mr. Twiddle, Mr. Galliano, The Six Bad Boys, etc. It's a pity (in my opinion, at least!) that, of all Enid Blyton's creations, Noddy is the one that is promoted above all others!
This is where I lost out,…of course, continuing to like/returning to Enid Blyton books beyond the usual age-limit is more than simply a nostalgia trip. There are some Blyton titles which I only discovered as an adult, several of which are now among my favourites…
Anita, and it was entirely my own fault. I moved on from EB's books at about the age of 16, and only came back to them in my early 60s after retiring, when I began cataloguing my personal library. Oh in the years between I did flip through several dozen Blyton's sighted at book sales and in shops selling second-hand books, but - and this was a tad off-putting - even on the rare occasions when they were titles I had read as a kid they were almost never my editions, with the familiar, fondly remembered illustrations. all those missed opportunities to build up a reasonably good Blyton collection. Not having access to most of the original texts is dreadfully limiting, but I've only myself to blame. 
Yes, as a youngster I loved those brightly coloured pix in the 'Noddy' books, even though the coloration now seems a little too basic.… I think it could be the eye-catching and much-loved illustrations by Beek and other artists that have helped keep Noddy "alive" for so long.
she can stop wasting time consulting on-line English dictionaries, and get back to her homework assignments...and her posting.Aurélien wrote: And, talking of Ming, will someone please reassure her that the words "lively" and "spritely", which I used to describe her postings here are neither insults nor intended to be patronising. Then
Good points, Moonraker and Anita. I also get irritated by the Famous Five being so very popular at the moment, having two TV series (three if you count the new cartoon one) while the Find-Outers have none. How I would love to see a TV adaption of this series done properly. Could this happen? I don't think so, since the Find-Outers are far less popular than the Famous kids. We can but dream though!Moonraker wrote:I so agree there, Anita. That is one reason why I get irritated with the Famous Five. Why is the Five portrayed with such favour? Whwen is the last time you read in the press "...Enid Blyton, one of the most prolific of children's authors, writer of The Five Find-Outers and Dog series as well as Six Bad Boys..." - it's always Noddy, Famous Five and Secret Seven!Anita Bensoussane wrote:
Probably what I object to most about Noddy is that he is so prominent these days. Everyone seems to have heard of Noddy but not of Mr. Twiddle, Mr. Galliano, The Six Bad Boys, etc....
How about a TV series of the Barney Mysteries and Secret series as well? And how about some film of some of the shorter series, such as the Six Cousins, and the one-offs such as House-at-the-Corner? I have never read Noddy (as mentioned several times elsewhere), and I'm not in any hurry to do so (with what you say about them, Anita!); but the other short series' collections look interesting. Our bookstore has some Popular Rewards books such as "The Enchanted Table", and others.Anita Bensoussane wrote:I was familiar with her short story collections like Chimney Corner Stories and Mr. Pink-Whistle's Party etc (Deans) and Everyday Stories etc (Purnell Sunshine Library), finding the tales in those collections concisely-written, tightly-plotted, varied and stimulating. I devoured them eagerly, ever-hungry for more. And I had also read several Blyton novels, including The Enid Blyton Book of Brownies , the Galliano's Circus books and the Naughtiest Girl series. Compared with those, the Noddy stories seemed long-winded, repetitive and banal. As an adult I've read several more and still find them disappointing. When my son was little I read him a few Noddy titles (he quite liked them but wasn't mad keen), one of the most boring - as far as I was concerned anyway - being You Funny Little Noddy. I didn't consider Noddy to be at all funny in that story - only dreary as he moped around feeling sorry for himself. Having said that, some Noddy stories appeal to me more than others. Noddy and His Car is one I rather enjoy, being particularly well-constructed and containing some quirky passages/conversations which could have come from one of Lewis Carroll's "Alice" books.
Anita
I'll check them all out, they might be far interesting than SS! It will be amusing, though, when you look into it: first I read Famous Five and Secret Seven and the rest of the major series, and then some of the family novels, and suddenly I read short story books and the Popular Rewards whixch I should have read long ago! It's like getting up and up, and then going down! 
I had a dream, last night, that I was directing the Mystery movies. Each movie was over 2 hours long, set in the proper period, no alterations but certain additions. And that some of them were the "Movies of the Year".Philip Mannering wrote: How I would love to see a TV adaption of this series done properly. Could this happen? I don't think so, since the Find-Outers are far less popular than the Famous kids. We can but dream though!
