| January 11, 2008 – Zehra says: I saw many of you posting in other topics that Anne was girlish and stupid while some coming in fierce support of her (including me). I personally like her. What do you guys think of her? |
| January 14, 2008 – Laura says: I never really liked her, but I don't think that she was particularly stupid. Rather, she was very much a quiet girly girl, and her lack of an adventurous spirit annoys me. However, she was needed in the books to act as a foil to George's tomboyishness, and she could be brave when needed - like with Wilfred in Mystery to Solve. |
| January 28, 2008 – Ritu says: Well, we all have a guess that Anne had to be a little girlish to be opposite to George. I never actually had any liking to Anne - but yeah, she really has had some brainwaves which helped the gang to solve some cases. |
| February 29, 2008 – Mimsy Kirana says: Sensible or stupid? What an unfair comparison, if you ask me! I do think that she is quiet and silly and shy when I read of the series at first, but I have enough affection of her now to stand up for her to those who accused "my Anne" to be a stupid girl. She is undoubtedly not a popular character or a favourite, but do you have to criticize the low-profile characters just because she isn't like George, or Julian or anyone else? Come on, read the books again! |
| March 14, 2008 – sumedha says: Well I think I like Anne, she is my fave. And I think she's a girl so she's just a bit scared. I feel like slapping the people who call Anne a cry baby or stupid or anything of that sort. Mimsy Kirana you may think she is silly, but she is one of the most sensible members. Well like duh! She is going to be girly. She is a girl for crying out loud. She does not want to be a boy like George. And I support her a lot. |
| February 6, 2009 – Ruchi says: I think she is not stupid, but definitely silly. She is way too girly, and cries about really minor things, acts scared of everything, and doesn't ever stand up to anybody which (like Gwen! Haha) I think is somewhat important. Especially in case of Julian here. She does have her good qualities, but is very out of place in an adventure series. Or maybe that's just my personal dislike of overly girly and stereotypical female characters :). |
| February 21, 2009 – Mr Goon says: Anne is definitely very sensible. At least she, unlike that Toad of a Boy and his friends, doesn't interfere with matters concerning with the Law. Yes! The 'Five' are so much nicer than that interfering 'Fatty' and co. , even though I must admit that Timmy reminds me of that dog who was mad and ought to be reported (one is left wondering that whether anyone shooted him or not). I have a dislike of dogs since then. Ho - then that mad tomboy - what's her name? - couldn't like me. Who am I? Ho--I am the respectable policeman of sleepy Peterswood - Mr GOON!!! |
| February 21, 2009 – Tuba says: Well Anne is not stupid. She is actually realistic as she is quite scared of adventures but still was brave and came up with brainwaves. She also likes doing housework so although I think she is babyish, she is not exactly wasted. Also she is only 10 so how brave could a 10 year be? For me she adds a realistic touch to the story. |
| November 12, 2009 – Sharika says: You cannot say she is stupid. She acts quick and brave in many adventures even though she says that she hate adventures. |
| March 6, 2010 – Daisy Dakin says: I think Anne is very stupid. She is so boring and I don't like her. Most girls are not like that. I'm not. I'm more adventuresrous. And Anne is such a cry baby. I like George the best. Why did EB have to make such a stupid Charester. |
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Fatty says: Charester? Maybe it's a good thing Anne didn't try typing! |
| March 10, 2010 – Farrell says: You mean Character, Daisy. Anne's not too bad. I don't like George. Too annoying. Actually, I prefer Bets! |
| March 10, 2010 – Alicia says: Ah, I thought George was a terrible character but looking at this topic, Anne could probably give her a run for her money. I don't like Anne much to be honest but she's a nicer character than George. . . |
| May 9, 2010 – April June says: Anne is definitely not stupid nor silly. She simply hates adventures, unlike the others -- they can't all like adventures, can they? Tuba is right -- Anne does add a realistic touch to the story. She's kinder than George. And she always cooks for them on their adventures, and helps make wherever they're going to stay homey as she organizes everything. She takes all the food they have and always finds a nice spot to store it. I just wish that Enid Blyton had made Anne. . . Well, a little more interesting. Anne could do with a bit more. . . Personality! ; -). |
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Fatty says: I'm in total agreement, AJ! :-) |
| November 21, 2010 – Winky says: I like Anne she is quite brave and sensible. Although I'd get annoyed if I were her when Julian sometimes treats her as a baby. |
| December 21, 2010 – Jayde says: Anne's sudden outbursts of crying and scaredy-cat ways can get annoying, especially in the 2nd book where she was sucking up to Mr. Roland like a goody two shoes, which she is. But you have to say she is the most sensible, like look how in Five Go Off in a Caravan, she cooks, cleans, makes beds, and enjoys playing 'houses'. George will always be my favourite character. :) |
| December 26, 2010 – Maxine says: I think Anne is a scaredy cat, and I much prefer Bets. George is a more of a straight-forward character and even though Anne gets some brainstorms in the adventures, it is very rare. Done to a different view, every story needs someone like Anne in it, girlish as she is, the Famous Five would be complete withour her. If Anne wasn't in the Famous Five, George, Julian and Dick would be staying at the island with lots of mess, and without Anne's house ideas and cleaning, the wouldn't get through. And if Anne didn't see the face at the window in Five Fall into Adventure, the mystery would be remained unknown and the part of the face-at-the-window was one part that lead them to the end of the solution. In my opinion, now that I am thinking of it, Anne is a great character to have and to everyone who says that she is a bad character, well, if you do think that, then just don't read Anne's parts, but you can just pretend that another very-good-adventurer replaces Anne and they stay messy, careless and crazy without the sensible world of Anne. |
| January 22, 2011 – Aditi.varshini.chandra says: I think Anne had to be there to tidy things up and be forgiving and kind. Otherwise when the Five were on their own,who will help them? Anne is also brave at times. But sometimes she gets awfully worried, Anne has been silly sometimes, like in the book Five go off to Camp when she thinks she sits on a volcano and when the boys get captured and George disappears. |
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Fatty says: Can't boys wash up, then? I certainly can! |
| June 2, 2012 – Farwa says: Are people out of their minds? Of course Anne isn't stupid. In fact, she has a wonderful contrast of being peaceful, yet brave. I wish I was Anne. |
| June 25, 2012 – Jey says: Well, I think Blyton tried to involve all possible characters in a group of people. For example, Julian was the 'responsible adult' , Dick the 'mischievous one yet could be brave if needed'. The difference was that George is not a typical character, (especially considering the times!) Anne hence HAD to be a little timid, to provide a foil against which George could stand out. She's more like the typical girl, the one who has to be reassured a LOT. But a more aggressive Anne would have damaged the series rather badly. Who agrees? :). |
| June 26, 2012 – Jeni says: ". The typical girl, the one who has to be reassured a LOT." Really? So the typical boy doesn't need reassurance then? |
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Fatty says: I did - and do! I think many girls lacked the 'dare-devil' confidence that boys had in pre and post-war Britain. |
| June 26, 2012 – Farwa says: What a silly comment, Jey. Ok, you don't like Anne, and think she's timid, but you can't say that she 'had' to be timid. This is a place for STATING your opinion, but not making it final. You can be wrong, you know. |
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Fatty says: As can you Farwa! I rather agree with Jey, I think the mix Enid achieved was spot-on. Opinions aren't about right and wrong, just a personal view. Incidentally, Jey didn't say she didn't like Anne, did she? |
| June 27, 2012 – Jeni says: Fatty, I just thought that was a very 'broad' statement, that the "typical girl needs lots of reassurance". When you make a statement like that, you don't include boys, who oftentimes need just as much "reassurance" as girls, but are too shy, bashful, or ashamed (call it what you will) to ask for "reassurance". I place it in the category as the old/outdated, mistaken belief that boys/men aren't supposed to cry. The inability to cry, has created horrific psychological and mental issues for so many men and this in turn has led to major problems in their personal lives. All of this can be backed up by further research on a thing known as the "internet" : -D. |
| July 15, 2012 – Stephen Isabirye says: The Anne character is very complex and intriguing. Obviously Anne is very intelligent. For instance in Five Go Adventuring Again, we are told that she is the only kid that does not need coaching from Mr. Roland, in Five Go Off In A Caravan, she is the first to notice the riderless elephants pulling a caravan, in Five on A Hike Together, she rescues Timmy, by lifting his hind legs from a fallen tree branch, in Five Have A Mystery To Solve, she is the first to notice the escape ventilator while the kids are imprisoned in a dungeon, and the list of her exemplary accomplishments goes on. She also happens to be a moderating influence in The Famous Five group vis-a-vis Julian who is authoritarian, Dick who is a dare-devil, and George, a tomboy. I discuss the Anne character more in my book, The Famous Five: A Personal Anecdotage as well as an accompanying blog, titled, "Anne, The Real Conscience of The Famous Five," [link]).. |
| July 17, 2012 – Farwa says: Wrong. George noticed the elephants pulling the caravan. All the same, Anne is intelligent. |
| July 18, 2012 – rogoz says: Anne makes the others appear a bit one dimensional with her complex nature. She grows up the fastest and even shows promise as a Medium as she conjures up past visions of places. On the other hand, the 'Anne Function' as Blyton saw it, was to use any typical female powers required by the plot at any given moment, even if they contradict her previous behaviour. No wonder she's complicated! |
| July 18, 2012 – Farwa says: No, Rogoz. Anne, poor girl, is innocent and simple and you guys pretend she has a very complex nature. Shame, shame. P. S: Rogoz, you could spell your name with a capital letter next time. |
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Fatty says: I say, that's a tad rude, what? |
| July 30, 2012 – rogoz says: No Farwa - rogoz is computer geek speak for the literary Rogoz. Its stands for Roger from Oztralia in case you wondered. P. S - you have to study Anne though all 21 books and she ends up Captain of Games. Hardly faint hearted! I bet she biffed everyone with hockey sticks. |
| September 20, 2012 – Toni says: I believe Anne is one smart cookie, even if timid and not at all adventurous. Often it is she who spots an anomaly or makes a suggestion as to how to get out of a pickle. Add to that all her very obvious domestic talents, and her kind-hearted nature and you get yourself the perfect role model for women of that time. She was charming, pretty, admired the boys, brought out their protective instinct, but could also be brave when necessary and besides all that she knew how to set up a run a home efficiently That's a pretty good list of talents in anyone's books. (But she's still my least favourite character, and I especially dislike the fact that she is often portrayed exhibiting the behaviour of a six year old and being treated as a baby). |
| January 1, 2014 – Skyla says: I don't think Anne is stupid, really. One is inclined to think so because she is not crazy about adventures like the others are. Besides, how can she be stupid? She does the housework, cooks the food, makes sure that the others wash and make their beds in the morning- also, it often turns out for the best that she doesn't like adventures, look at ''Five go off to Camp''. If she hadn't stayed out of the tunnel because she was scared, she couln't have gone to find Mr. Luffy and then the others would never have gotten out!!! She's not my favorite character, though. I like George best. |
| January 27, 2015 – Evie M says: I like George best too, but Anne is second- I actually think she is pretty cool! Mostly I don't like female shy characters like her but Anne is different to the other characters. I like her, she never complains and she is sensible. |
| July 19, 2015 – jess says: I prefer George, but if Anne was more, well less girly, then George woudn't be so special in the book, but Bets is much more likable then Anne. Especially because Bets doesn't cry when she's scared. Oh and Daisy's one of my fave girl characters. |
| December 31, 2017 – Paul says: I don't know why Anne is regarded as "wet" by some for being shy and liking things like dresses and perfume and flowers. |
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Daisy says: I didn't know that some referred to her in that way! |
| January 6, 2018 – Paul says: I'd say it's sexism, Daisy. Anne is seen as boring and stupid because she likes feminine things. Sadly a lot of girls go through that "I'm not like the other girls, I don't like pink". It's not until they are older that they realise that they can wear all the dresses they want and still solve the mysteries and defeat the criminals. |
| September 11, 2018 – Rashna says: Dear fellow Enid Blyton readers: I just want to alert you to my chapter on Enid Blyton in my book on children's literature and Empire: [link] If you would like further information please contact me on this site. Thank you, Rashna B. Singh. |
| September 26, 2023 – Anonymous says: Daisy Dakin, I am not trying to offend you in any way, but people can differ from each other. Some can be more adventurous than others. I appreciate your quality of being adventurous. Well, I think that Anne is unique in her own ways. I admit, she was a smart girl. For instance, in the story "Five Go Adventuring Again" could they have found Uncle Quentin's three missing papers if Anne did not get the idea (agreeing with Skyla on this point that a few adventures would have not been the same without Anne and she had indirectly saved them in some of their adventures. )? I think a story needs a character of every type, but yes, her crying in every story was a bit far-fetched. And yes, I totally agree with Paul and Toni. It is totally Anne's choice what she wants to wear and play. Some girls are tomboys while others are not. |
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Daisy says: Enid has a good mixture of characters in all her books, which makes them all exciting. |
| September 26, 2023 – Aurora says: Daisy Dakin, I am not offending you in any way, but, I think every person is different and unique. Some are more adventurous than others. Skyla and Toni, I am totally with you! It is Anne's choice. You can't control what she wants to wear or play? Paul (January 6, 2018) is correct. Well, some girls like pink while others don't. Jey is correct. A good story needs characters of every type. I write books, so I myself have experience with that, being an author. Daisy Dakin, you cannot criticize Enid Blyton to add a character like Anne. If you are an author, you would know and it would feel right to you. Sorry if you were offended. Check out Toni and Skyla's points, which say what I feel as well. Some adventures would really not be the same without Anne. |
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Daisy says: Daisy Dakin wrote that reply in 2010, Aurora. Maybe she has changed her mind on Anne's character now, who knows? |
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