Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

The books! Over seven hundred of them and still counting...
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thought I'd highlight these new anthologies of stories, which Tony has now added to the Cave. All look good - but I particularly like the idea of 'Wizards and Witches' and I also look forward to buying 'Christmas Treats' as its great to be able to read themed stories on the approach to Christmas, without having to sort through hundreds of books to find Christmas tales!

I bought the Christmas collection last year and enjoyed reading a story each night leading up to Christmas. This new one has 29 stories.

Although I'm not a fan of the covers really (although I rather like the Wizards and Witches cover - very atmospheric!) the contents are great - and going by last year's offering, they are hardly altered from the original versions, regards money values etc, which is a bonus. :D

Image

Image

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... mas+Treats
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 19 Sep 2017, 11:40, edited 1 time in total.
'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)



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Courtenay
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Courtenay »

Those look great, Rob. I don't mind the covers — Mark Beech's style is very similar to Quentin Blake's, which I always liked as a child and still do. For me it depends, as I was saying elsewhere, on what's being illustrated. For stories with a lot of fantasy and fun and magic elements, there's nothing wrong with a "zany" style of artwork. I'm less happy with it for more "serious" stories like the Famous Five, but I'm not the one buying the books anyway... :wink: Thanks to Tony, too, as always, for adding these to the Cave and letting us know where the stories were first published.
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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)
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

Yes - in this instance, I don't mind the covers half so much as for stories like The Famous Five...At first I didn't like the Christmas cover depiction of Father Christmas, but seeing the bigger image in the cave, it really isn't so bad - better than the cover for last year's Christmas collection. I actually think these are better than Quentin Blake (is that heresy?!) - and the witches are captured brilliantly. :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)



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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I very much like these themed/seasonal compilations as I think collecting stories together in this way helps keep them fresh and relevant. Mark Beech isn't my favourite artist but I agree that his style is fine for these kinds of books and his illustrations will no doubt appeal to many youngsters.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Lucky Star »

As others have said these look like interesting and useful themed collections and I may well buy them both myself if I find them at reasonable prices. The covers are modern and I am firmly with Rob on the subject of modern covers but nonetheless these do look slightly better than the usual modern efforts.
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Eddie Muir
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Eddie Muir »

They look very interesting. I have all the other themed collections and will be looking out for these. :D
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by pete9012S »

Image
First edition: 1960
Publisher: Chivers
Illustrator: Robert Tyndall
Category: Noddy Chivers Albums
Genre: Geography
Type: Painting and Novelty Books
http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... +to+Travel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See some of the books contents here:

https://imgur.com/a/H81BO" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Moonraker »

Rob Houghton wrote: Although I'm not a fan of the covers really (although I rather like the Wizards and Witches cover - very atmospheric!)
Yes, if you follow the Society on Twitter, Enid Blyton Official, the official Enid Blyton feed from the publishers, uses this illustration for their header and logo (they don't seem to be on Facebook). We have retweeted some of their posts. Our Facebook page has also plugged Rob's magazine thread thread on the forums again, but he has yet to "Like" it! :roll:
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thanks Nigel -- that's because the notifications for the Enid Blyton Society on facebook rarely come up, for some reason. I generally only see Society stuff on facebook once a week or so.

I'm not on Twitter, and have no intention of being so, lol. I spend too long on Social Media without adding twitter to my itinerary!! :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)



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Rob Houghton
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Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

I've now 'liked' it and left a brief comment. I had to actually visit the Enid Blyton Society facebook page, though, as I have had absolutely no notifications - yet I have notifications and updates for all the other pages I follow constantly. Maybe the Enid Blyton Society just gets drowned in the flood!
'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)



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sixret
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by sixret »

Thank you, Pete. :D

Like Rob and Anita, I love the themed/seasonal compilations. And like Eddie, I will buy all the collections in this series except five titles. :D
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Daisy »

Rob Houghton wrote:I've now 'liked' it and left a brief comment. I had to actually visit the Enid Blyton Society facebook page, though, as I have had absolutely no notifications - yet I have notifications and updates for all the other pages I follow constantly. Maybe the Enid Blyton Society just gets drowned in the flood!
The same happens for me - I had to go to the face book page although I had seen it on my wall earlier but when I hunted again for it, it just wasn't there!
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

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sixret
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by sixret »

Image

Who has Will The Fiddler?

Have you read all Enid Blyton’s books apart from short stories collection and poem collection?
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!
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I haven't read (or got) Will the Fiddler but I love the lively cover by Grace Lodge.
"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.


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Rob Houghton
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Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
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Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

It's one I haven't got, but I must admit its rare that I would buy 'thin' books unless very cheap! 8)
'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)



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