The Enid Blyton Society

I think Pete was [trying to] be funny, Chrissie!

You still haven't explained why you can't read a paperback novel.

I explained it in a previous post, Nigel. I'm near-sighted, but can read books without glasses (my eye doc told me to do that, because I already have prescription sun glasses, prescription computer glasses and prescription movie watching glasses which are also good for driving on those very few days when it's not sunny in Massachusetts, so most of the time I drive with my sun glasses).

The font in paperbacks is generally (there are some exceptions) too small for me too read and gives me a headache. Plus the distance between the lines/rows of text is not large/wide enough.
So the other issue is that my eyes jump back and forth between two rows of text (sorry, I can't explain it any better).
Reading a paperback usually takes me almost twice as long than reading the same novel as a hardcover copy.

Chrissie, I assume an eye doctor is the same as an optician here in the UK? If so, I'm really surprised at their advice to you. If you find the text jumping about and end up with a headache, to me that screams out that you DO need glasses for reading. Maybe you should consider getting a second opinion?

I wear glasses as I'm short-sighted, but over the past few years I've also become long-sighted too, so vari-focals have been mentioned. Although after discussing it, I don't think they would suit me. At the moment the simple solution is for me just to remove my glasses for reading, but long term I'll probably need a pair for reading. Another alternative is vari-focal contact lenses which apparently are self adjusting, or 'normal' contact lenses, and then having a pair of glasses for reading.

I also have prescription sunglasses, so if I went for the contact lens option, would need to buy some ordinary sunglasses.

Thanks, Chrissie. I can only say I agree with Katharine's comments, so won't add to them!

Thanks, Chrissie - I must say I agree with Katharine and Nigel too!

Courtenay wrote: I don't believe I've ever noticed that paperbacks have much smaller print than hardcovers on average, although some probably do. I have a non-fiction paperback here at my elbow, and it has what I would consider slightly larger than average print - even though the book is almost 700 pages long!
Why then should all paperbacks be ruled out instantly as unreadable, especially when one hasn't seen the print size of the book in question? And again, why not try glasses? I know if I started to find I couldn't read normal-size print, I wouldn't hesitate to do something about it - I couldn't bear not being able to read!!

Hi Courtenay, Nigel and walter raleigh (did I forget somebody?),

I read only in bed and since my back surgery 7 years ago I can only read on the side, no longer on my stomach. So I'm pretty close to the book pages. My eye doc (they have opticians in the US, too, but they only find out how many dioptries you need and sell frames for glasses) told me that reading glasses wouldn't make any difference and for now I can skip reading glasses as long as the book is that close to my face.

Well, I read many paperbacks over the decades when they were not published as a hardback and there is a big difference. I would estimate that in at least 80% the font is visibly smaller than in hardcovers and the distance between each text line/row is way too small compared with hardcovers, even though I have a hardback by Rosamunde Pilcher (her best novel) called "Coming Home" and as it has 1100 pages, the font has to be smaller .
I absolutely love rereading the novel, but struggle with the small font. It takes me weeks to finish it.

Oh, I'm able to read, just not paperbacks. That's all.

I have At Seaside Cottage in this version -

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... de+Cottage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Better than nothing! Also the Secret Seven short story collection in hardback, which has a much better cover than that paperback version higher up the thread!

Poppy wrote:Yes, I have a copy of the Secret Seven Short Story Collection. From what I remember, the edits are minor and occasional, and it is a nice book; being a collection of all the Secret Seven short stories. You can pick a copy up brand new from WHSmiths or Waterstones for £3.99, or it's going quite cheaply on ebay: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... AsnBHUWqvw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wonder if they still have the Soper illustrations in the newer editions?

Not according to The Cave

Thanks, Nigel. Then I'll keep searching for the original.

But the illustrations by Max are beautiful.

I agree, and very much in the style of the original Secret Seven illustrations

I've just been reading about why you can't manage to read paperbacks, Chrissie, and I have to say I find the Doctor's advice really odd! If you need glasses for reading, then have them. There's no point in straining your eyes or damaging them. They've got to last you for life!

Sorry, to say this, but the doctor's advice doesn't make sense!

I must agree with Julie. I wear glasses all the time, varifocals as I'm long and short-sighted, but I don't have a problem reading paperbacks at all.

Chrissie777 wrote:Thanks, Nigel. Then I'll keep searching for the original.

Well, I suppose something like this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Secret-of-the-Ol ... 4ad5ab3a92