Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
Apologies if this thread is discussed anywhere else!
What is your least favourite series of books? For me it has to be The Secret Seven, I have just never really enjoyed these.
They are too many main characters to sustain; A megalomaniac leader; Most of the characters are very generic (the girls add nothing really, George & Colin only come to the fore very occasionally); Even Scamper is a bit pointless (and is no comparison to Timmy or even Buster); I can never remember what happens in any book from the title, and the books' most memorable character (Susie) is not even part of the group (see elsewhere for my defence of Susie!).
What does anyone else think?
What is your least favourite series of books? For me it has to be The Secret Seven, I have just never really enjoyed these.
They are too many main characters to sustain; A megalomaniac leader; Most of the characters are very generic (the girls add nothing really, George & Colin only come to the fore very occasionally); Even Scamper is a bit pointless (and is no comparison to Timmy or even Buster); I can never remember what happens in any book from the title, and the books' most memorable character (Susie) is not even part of the group (see elsewhere for my defence of Susie!).
What does anyone else think?
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26895
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I think it's probably the Caravan Family series for me. Although the books contain some interesting observations and lovely incidents, on the whole they're pretty tame and their main purpose seems to be to teach young readers about life on a cruise ship, in the USA, on a farm, on a canal, etc.
"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.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- 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: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I don't think I really have a least favourite series. If I was pressed, it would probably be the St Clare's series followed by Malory Towers, which I find less interesting as they were written for girls rather than for everyone.
'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
- Deej92
- Posts: 212
- Joined: 03 Aug 2016, 00:08
- Favourite book/series: Five Get into Trouble (Famous Five)
- Favourite character: Dick
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I don't believe I have a least favourite series either. I actually quite liked the Secret Seven books. I'd agree with Rob, probably the Malory Towers and St Clare's series for the reasons outlined, although The Naughtiest Girl is one of my favourites.
- Francis
- Posts: 7275
- Joined: 17 Nov 2009, 21:13
- Favourite book/series: Mountain of Adventure / Adventure and Famous Five
- Favourite character: George and Timmy
- Location: Guildford, Surrey
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I haven't found my least favourite series yet. I just have a lot of favourite series in order of my liking them!
Society Member
- 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: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I agree that The Naughtiest Girl series is one of the best! I'm quite surprised that Enid did the St Clare's and Malory Towers series and deliberately excluded her male fans...but never wrote a series just for boys! And they say Enid was sexist? Hmmmm....sexist against boys, maybe!!Deej92 wrote:I don't believe I have a least favourite series either. I actually quite liked the Secret Seven books. I'd agree with Rob, probably the Malory Towers and St Clare's series for the reasons outlined, although The Naughtiest Girl is one of my favourites.
'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
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26895
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
It was at the suggestion of Methuen that Enid Blyton began writing the St. Clare's and Malory Towers series. In Enid Blyton - the Biography, Barbara Stoney says that the success of the first Naughtiest Girl book "decided her [Enid Blyton] to take up the suggestion of Alan White of Methuen that she should write other girls' school stories with a more conventional background." Traditional school stories typically involve single-sex establishments, but it's a pity that Enid's attention was diverted from the Naughtiest Girl. Much as I like the Malory Towers and St. Clare's books, Whyteleafe is special and I'd like to have seen Enid set more than three full-length books there.
I can't help noticing that all the naughty children in the Mr. Pink-Whistle stories are boys - and of course the six young offenders in The Six Bad Boys!Rob Houghton wrote:And they say Enid was sexist? Hmmmm....sexist against boys, maybe!!
"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.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- 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: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
If they'd been gollies they would have been banned by now, lol!Anita Bensoussane wrote:I can't help noticing that all the naughty children in the Mr. Pink-Whistle stories are boys - and of course the six young offenders in The Six Bad Boys!Rob Houghton wrote:And they say Enid was sexist? Hmmmm....sexist against boys, maybe!!
'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
- Daisy
- Posts: 16632
- Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
- Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I have read the Stoney biography, but hadn't remembered that point Anita.. It is a good reason to suggest Enid was certainly not sexist - that she chose a mixed sex school to write a school story about and it was her publisher who suggested the more conventional school story.Anita Bensoussane wrote:It was at the suggestion of Methuen that Enid Blyton began writing the St. Clare's and Malory Towers series. In Enid Blyton - the Biography, Barbara Stoney says that the success of the first Naughtiest Girl book "decided her [Enid Blyton] to take up the suggestion of Alan White of Methuen that she should write other girls' school stories with a more conventional background." Traditional school stories typically involve single-sex establishments, but it's a pity that Enid's attention was diverted from the Naughtiest Girl. Much as I like the Malory Towers and St. Clare's books, Whyteleafe is special and I'd like to have seen Enid set more than three full-length books there.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
Society Member
Society Member
- Machupicchu14
- Posts: 2031
- Joined: 06 Feb 2016, 15:57
- Favourite book/series: The Famous Five/The Naughtiest Girl
- Favourite character: George Kirrin/ Elizabeth Allen
- Location: Sweden
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
Rob! Really??Rob Houghton wrote:I don't think I really have a least favourite series. If I was pressed, it would probably be the St Clare's series followed by Malory Towers, which I find less interesting as they were written for girls rather than for everyone.
"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love."
(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
Society Member
(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
Society Member
- Machupicchu14
- Posts: 2031
- Joined: 06 Feb 2016, 15:57
- Favourite book/series: The Famous Five/The Naughtiest Girl
- Favourite character: George Kirrin/ Elizabeth Allen
- Location: Sweden
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I think I like all of them. They are very nice!!!
I just can't find one that is not very good.
I just can't find one that is not very good.
"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love."
(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
Society Member
(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
Society Member
- Fiona1986
- Posts: 10546
- Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
- Favourite character: Julian Kirrin
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
Mine would have to be The Secret Seven. I never read them as a child, and as an adult I find that they all blur into each other and I can't remember many plots. There are also a lot of children to keep track of, they are also hard to tell apart. Particularly the girls who don't have many identifying features.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
- Lucky Star
- Posts: 11496
- Joined: 28 May 2006, 12:59
- Favourite book/series: The Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: Mr Goon
- Location: Surrey, UK
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
Her series' are like apples and oranges. Each is unique in its own way so it's impossible to say that one is worse than another. The Secret Seven can incur many criticisms but they are aimed at very young children and are actually perfect for that age group.
My own least favourite would probably be St Clare's simply because I didn't read them until I was an adult so they have little resonance with me. If I'd read them as a young girl it would likely have been quite different.
My own least favourite would probably be St Clare's simply because I didn't read them until I was an adult so they have little resonance with me. If I'd read them as a young girl it would likely have been quite different.
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero
Society Member
Society Member
- Daisy
- Posts: 16632
- Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
- Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I echo Fiona's sentiments.... I only read the first 2 books in the series as a 12 year old and liked them well enough, but the other series do eclipse the Secret Seven for me. I am quite unable to attach any title to any particular story although I do have the whole series now and I reread the books every so often. Many of the plots are good and I think were probably a great introduction for younger readers.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
Society Member
Society Member
- John Pickup
- Posts: 4895
- Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
- Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
- Favourite character: Snubby
- Location: Notts
Re: Least Favourite Enid Blyton Series?
I was introduced to Enid's work via The Secret Seven books and I believe it's an excellent series aimed at younger readers. I don't really have a least favourite series and I can't comment on the Malory Towers or St Clare's ones as I haven't read them all. If I was pressed to make a decision it would probably be the Noddy books.
Society Member