The Valley of Adventure

[John Pickup]

There's no wonder that Enid wasn't interested in the views of anyone over the age of 12. When I was ten and eleven I wasn't bothered about anomalies in the plot or time lines that didn't make sense. All I wanted was to read as many of her books that I could lay my hands on because they were rollicking good stories that kept me entertained for hour upon hour.
Who cares who the enemy was in Valley of Adventure? Or how sturdy the door was? The fact remains that her books were some of the best ever written for children and as they are still selling in large numbers I'm not the only one who thinks this.
What we think of her books as adults is irrelevant. They weren't written for us. When we read them as young children did we analyse every book and see the occasional mistake? No, we devoured them because they gave us what we wanted, thrills and excitement, good against bad, a roller coaster ride which we all wished we could be part of.
Enid wouldn't give two hoots what we think. Unless we were under 12 years of age.

[Barnard]

Replying to the previous post. John is absolutely right.

[pete9012S]

I agree with John - who wouldn't be scared not too!

The only thing that made me think about the sturdiness of doors was in the second Famous Five book.

I think the police suggested leaving them (the baddies) locked up together in a Kirrin bedroom for a few days because of the snowy weather.

Did they have access to water?
There may have been a sink with running water in the room?

Bodily functions - again as one or two men may know - the sink could be used for a number of purposes, mainly number one's only I would have imagined...

But, and it's a big but. Look at the cover of the superb Betty Maxey version of this book - any observations...

[John Pickup]

Yes, my parents had a carpet like that when I lived at home.
And it's on the wrong thread.

[pete9012S]

[db105]

There's no wonder that Enid wasn't interested in the views of anyone over the age of 12.

That's true, of course. Things that you notice when reading as an adult: isn't it awful how some of those parents only see their children in the holidays and still seem eager to get rid of them? When reading as a kid you only think, great, the Five are allowed to go on vacation on their own. How fun!

However, I think you can do both things at once. Appreciate the cool stories with your inner child and at the same time have fun noticing and pointing out these things from an adult perspective.

[Anita Bensoussane]

When I was ten and eleven I wasn't bothered about anomalies in the plot or time lines that didn't make sense.

Although my sister and I weren't generally bothered by any anomalies (and didn't notice them all by any means), some of them did have us puzzled. However, they didn't affect our enjoyment of the stories.

All I wanted was to read as many of her books that I could lay my hands on because they were rollicking good stories that kept me entertained for hour upon hour.

Hear, hear!

[Boodi 2]

I agree that as a child I just enjoyed the stories and never noticed any anomalies.

[Irene Malory Towers]

I remember reading Five go to Billycock Hill as a child and wondered how the 2 pilots had managed for 2 days in the hole without a toilet but it never occurred to me to wonder about the many other situations EB wrote about, like the Valley of Adventure (plenty of wild spots there), etc. By the way my parent's lounge carpet was very similar to the one in Betty Maxwell's illustration. Is the younger child supposed to be George or Anne ? If Anne I thought she had blond hair, if George she looks too feminine.

Back to Valley of Adventure, I have just reread it for the umpteenth time and Bill's diary. It must be one of the longest adventures, apart from the Adventurous Four (Andy, Tom, Mary and Jill). It must be one of her best. I slightly prefer the Sea of Adventure but I love the way the action starts almost immediately. It has to be one of the most exciting starts ever.

[Anita Bensoussane]

The Valley of Adventure was the first title I read in that series (aged 9), and I was so gripped by the opening chapters that I could hardly bear to put the book down even to eat. I didn't really want to talk to anyone either, for fear of breaking the spell. I was immersed in the world of the story to the extent that it felt far more real than reality! I've been pulled into many fictional realms over the years, but only a few books have drawn me in so completely and powerfully and kept me riveted from the first page to the last.

[Barnard]

The Valley Of Adventure is just a stunning story. I read it every year.

[pete9012S]

I remember those times well Anita.
I felt very similar reading The Castle Of Adventure for the first time.

People interrupting whilst I was in the middle of the book to ask what I was reading really used to annoy me!!

[Anita Bensoussane]

I know how you felt, Pete! It was mainly my grandparents, aunties and uncles who asked about the books I was reading, when we went to stay with them. I wondered why they didn't want to read them themselves, and felt quite anxious at the thought that I would be grown up too one day, and would no longer want to read Enid Blyton. Little did I know...!

[John Pickup]

Valley is one of those rare books that never fails to excite me. Stuart Tresillian's illustration of the children at the foot of the blocked pass is simply magnificent and is a stunning example of scale in a drawing.

[pete9012S]

Little did I know...!

Stuart Tresillian's illustration of the children at the foot of the blocked pass is simply magnificent..

He's no Betty Maxey John, but each to their own -