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March 9, 2024: Naughtiest Girl - Would Elizabeth and Julian have married?
I can see Arabella growing up to be Angela Favorleigh of St Clare's. Elizabeth and Julian might have got married but how long would they have been able to put up with each other? I found his treatment in the book thoroughly nasty- especially William's unpleasant strictures to a boy of about eleven! —Mark Taha
March 8, 2024: Famous Five - Whatever Happened to the Famous Five?
I think Julian marries Marybelle and becomes a detective, Dick marries Jo and they move to Smuggler's Top and Dick becomes a policeman and George marries Sooty and they live on Kirrin Island and Anne marries Richard Kent and opens a tea-shop. —Anika
March 4, 2024: Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series - Bets and Fatty - wedding bells?
Bets: "The Savoy! Nothing but the best! " Fatty: "I'm sorry but Julian Kirrin bagged the Ritz." —Mia
March 3, 2024: Barney Mysteries - Does anyone else prefer the Barney mysteries to the Famous Five?
I love the 'Adventure' books too, but I'd have to re-read them to see whether I'd put them above Barney or below. After these two would come the Five Find Outers, then 'Secret Of' and FF and Secret Seven last. I enjoy some of them but the Famous Five and Secret Seven series are just not as enjoyable for me as the other series. —Mike
March 1, 2024: Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series - Bets and Fatty - wedding bells?
I hope Fatty will spend plenty for a good hotel suite for the wedding night. —Mia
PC Goon says... PC Goon says: Knowing Fatty, it will be a suite at the Savoy!
February 29, 2024: St Clare's - Malory Towers vs. St Clare's
I prefer St Clare's because of Angela. —Mary Wong
February 28, 2024: Famous Five - Whatever Happened to the Famous Five?
I believe that julian becomes a dci for the dorset police and marries a nice houswife, dick becomes an explorer and marries jo, anne marries a successful lawyer. They buy red towers house and renovate it and finally george lives in kirrin cottage and timmy has 2 litters. —sidney
February 26, 2024: Barney Mysteries - Does anyone else prefer the Barney mysteries to the Famous Five?
The Barney mysteries appear to have been aimed at slightly older children and also have the sophisticated and poignant story arc of Barney's search for his father. The resolution to his search at the end of the fourth book is one of the few occasions in an Enid Blyton Book where the emotion really gets to me. They're lesser known, presumably as there were fewer of them and sadly are out of print (outrageous!) whereas other series' aren't! I think that the best of FF - e. G. Smuggler's Top are a match for them but I agree with you that overall they're better stories. I'd actually vote for the 'Adventure Books' in first place, then Barney R, FF, FFO, 'Secret of' and Secret 7. —Ian
February 25, 2024: Barney Mysteries - Does anyone else prefer the Barney mysteries to the Famous Five?
The Famous Five and the Five Find Outers are probably the most well-known of Blyton's kids solving mysteries books. I love the Five Find Outers, but I've never been a big fan of the Famous Five even as a kid. I much prefer the Barney mysteries and think Barney and Snubby are much more interesting characters than any of the Famous Five or even the Secret Seven. —Mike
February 25, 2024: St Clare's - Malory Towers vs. St Clare's
I love both books. As a kid Carlotta and Alicia were my favorite characters. I wanted to be as acrobatic as Carlotta and as clever as Alicia, but recently when I re-read both series, I would have to say that Claudine is my favorite character both series included. Darrell Rivers probably had the most growth in the whole series, but Claudine has to be the funniest and most charming character in the series. —Mike
February 24, 2024: Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series - Bets and Fatty - wedding bells?
Another point of view. If you read the Find Outers books from the time Eunice appears in them, you can detect that Fatty and Bets relationship changes. Whilst Fatty and Eunice at first are at loggerheads, they do appear to me as a more equal couple. Eunice doesn't take all this hero worship of Fatty that Bets and the others, to a lesser degree, give him; which is far more healthy in a relationship, than idolisation from one side. I am not saying that Fatty and Eunice would end up as a couple, but someone not so starstruck as Bets, would work better long term. They would always be friends, as would all the Find Outers. —Steinway
February 24, 2024: Malory Towers - Pamela Cox Sequels
I have just re- ‘read ‘ all the MT on audiobooks- kept me company on the way to work. And very comforting they are too. I was a bit wary about reading Pamela Cox’s books but I think they flow seemlessly from EBs. And I really liked book 12. I thought EB’s second MT book was a bit odd … out of step with the others. Wish St Clare ‘s and MT had played each other at lacrosse!! —Frances Ford
February 24, 2024: St Clare's - Malory Towers vs. St Clare's
I read both sets of books in school (in the 70’s and 80’s ) and think I preferred MT as I think I read them several times over. I’ve happily discovered the new books ( and I was sceptical) but love them also. I listen to them in the car while driving to work. I’m part way through 5th in St Claire’s and wondering why Mirabel is so good at games as I thought she was great at music!!! I wonder if EB had got mixed up!!! Loved the reunion book at the end of MT / so glad Gwen got settled and made a friend. I remember my primary school teachers being a bit snobby about us all reading EB books in that they thought the vocab was so limited. But I think the books are fine. I love the style of them and the nostalgia. Feel like MT is a posher boarding school. —Frances Ford
February 23, 2024: Naughtiest Girl - Would Elizabeth and Julian have married?
I think Julian and Elizabeth would be amazing! —Anonymous
February 22, 2024: Famous Five - Whatever Happened to the Famous Five?
Quite right Fatty. But you have to agree, George does seem to have more negatives than positives. Like, she will loose against Jo (for me) in all aspects. Why, George did not even spare Jo on the field of studies in Five Have Plenty of Fun. To make Jo feel down, she asked Jo to write the letter and rudely asked if she really knows how to read and write. This is no good behavior. And on the friend thing, FATTY, she WAS a friend of Jo. But her loyalty towards her was not so good. —Arka
February 21, 2024: Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series - Bets
Bets does not deserve criticism, however she helped in The mystery of the Pantomime Cat by thinking of the idea that someone was in the cat costume and in The mystery of the Strange Bundle it was Bets idea of to have a quick look in the cloths 1 more time and therefore she found the small handkerchiefs. I honestly always thought Bets and Fatty were the best books. —Huhu
February 21, 2024: Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series - Bets
I always liked Bets and Fatty, I feel like Larry And Daisy don't get to be there much and the girls have less fun stuff to do while the boys on the other hand can do everything I understand that girls should do less dangerous activities but I do think Daisy should have got more jobs to do. What are your thoughts? —Bets
February 19, 2024: Unlisted - Enid Blyton in general - Which Blyton would you like to be in?
Oh, I'd definitely be in either the Adventure series or Malory Towers. I used to have dreams of being one of the 4 in the Adventure books and it seemed so fun! I would love to attend a school like Malory Towers as well. Luckily my school is kind of similar and I even play lacrosse! —Florence
February 16, 2024: Adventure Series - What happened to Jack, Philip, Dinah and Lucy-Ann?
I know it's been years and years since this has been last spoken on but here goes: I feel like Jack would be a photographer for magazines and newspapers. I actually disagree with those saying Phillip would be a vet because, although he loves animals, I just can't picture him working in an office with dogs and cats coming in. No, I think he would work in the wilderness, perhaps a naturalist. I think Dinah couldn't be a housewife, but she would be a journalist for crime stories, because she got inspiration from Bill. I agree with everyone saying Lucy-Ann would be a housewife, because she wasn't the most adventurous of the 4. Marriage-wise, I think they would all marry. Jack would definitely marry a woman who loves birds aswell and given his childhood and he would want to have a very stable and happy family. (Thanks Victor from 2008 for that idea). He would probably have 2 kids. As for Phillip, he also married an adventurous woman who soon got used to all the pets he was constantly bringing home. He would have 2 kids aswell (who also found that they had a knack for animals too). Dinah would have had a lot of boyfriends but not found the right one, but finally found her true love in her late twenties. They would have 2 kids too. Lucy-Ann married young and had 6 children. All of them lived close in the country and Lucy-Ann and Jack were next door neighbours. The kids went on to have adventures together like their parents. —Florence
February 16, 2024: Famous Five - Whatever Happened to the Famous Five?
Me and my big sister love the Famous Five, we think everyone who ships the cousins and sibling are wrong and unbelievable as they are blood relations. What we think happens is of course dick married Jo, Julian met his wife at uni (she knows how to deal with bossy boots ju), Anne meets a lovely man and gets married to him (he loves her as everyone should) and finally George grows out of her Tom boy phase and marries Alf the fisherman her childhood friend. George and Alf build a house on her beloved Kirrin island so Alf can still be a fisherman which is his dream. Anne becomes a housewife as it was her favourite game growing up and she Always expressed that she wanted to be one. Julian becomes a professor as he was always very good at telling people what to do but he also paints masterpieces as a side hobby. Dick and Jo run a circus as that’s what Jo loves and grew up with, dick (always expressing his love for all food and hunger) makes allllll the food for the circus! Uncle Quentin (Who felt guilty for all the times he bullied poor tim) developed a diet to make Timmy live a very long happy life. (Timmy lived on to 50 human years old and had many a pup in his life time who alllll are on the amazing diet) George owns a dog shelter to help poor stray dogs and all Timmy’s pups live there. DISCLAIMER - WE DO LOVE GOOD OLD JULIAN VERY MUCH, SO MUCH INFACT WE MESSAGED THE ACTOR WHO ACTUALLY REPLIED!!! ANYWAYS WE LOVE GIRL BOSS JULIAN SO MUCH HES JUST A BIT OF A BOSSY BOOTS WHEN HE WANTS TO BE. Famous five 4lyfe. —Down by smugglers cove 4life
Fatty says... Fatty says: Not quite sure what "ships the cousins and sibling" means, but you have obviously gone to some trouble to write this post, so we will approve it. Some interesting points.
February 12, 2024: Famous Five - What are your views on Jo?
First of all, I would like to you hank for creating this thread. As I have said, we do need to have discussions on supporting characters as well. To be honest, I am quite surprised that no thread has been made for this tomboy until this one. Anyway, let's start. I am not a George fan. I don't like George very much. I mean, I do like her, but not very much. Why am I talking about her? Uhh, you know the answer. Jo and George are VERY similar. Their scowls, their expressions, their frowns and even their anger. The most surprising thing was that Timmy was also fond of Jo. We can see this in Five Have a Wonderful Time. Jo is a tomboy, we know. She is quite furious and brave as well. I don't I need to talk about them. But yeah! She definitely did not have much manners. But who cares? Like, she should I know. But we are least interested in that, are we not? Well, from all the rubbish I said above, I would still say I like Jo. Why? I don't know! I don't like George but I like Jo. I guess one reason is maybe that she did not get sulky as easily as George. Another reason is that she wasn't at all like George when it comes to jealousy. Like, in Five Have a Wonderful Time, when George gets to know that Jo is nearby, she does not sound much pleased. In fact, when Jo asks George to lend her some clothes so that she can look like a boy again, George refuses because she was JEALOUS that Jo was already looking more boyish than George even with the girl's clothes. Also, I noticed that it was always George who felt jealous of Jo, who treated Jo as a competitor rather than a friend. In the same book, just to show that she is not a scared kid, she starts washing the snakes of Mr Slither, which leaves everyone else bored to see this stupid fight. But even after all this, Jo referred to The Famous Five, including George, as her best friend. She even played a major role in rescuing George in Five Have Plenty of Fun. Their faces must have been ALMOST IDENTICAL as well, cause in Five Fall Into Adventure, the villains thought Jo as George (when Jo was wearing George's clothes). Jo undoubtedly is the supporting character who has been given the most importance in the series. In fact, whenever Jo was with the Famous Five, it never felt to me that she was not a part of the group. To be honest, I don't even think that I would have minded if she became a permanent part of the group (after book 11). Thank You. P. S. This is NOT my first and last post on Jo. She is a character whom we can have discussion for quite a long time. —Arka
Fatty says... Fatty says: It is important to focus on the positives, not the negatives. George's redeeming feature is her loyalty. Once you are her friend, she will always be your friend. None of us is perfect.
February 12, 2024: Famous Five - Famous Five - How it is so modern yet written so long ago
I agree all the way. I too, lie on the younger side of Enid Blyton fans. I am from India. And although the sales of Ends books are decreasing with every new generations, almost 40? of the children started reading with Famous Five. My first book was Robinson Crusoe, no doubt. But even after finishing that, I was not in the world of books until I read the Famous Five. The adventure, the writing, the build up! It's all too good to be true. The reason it still remains modern is MIGHT be due to its realism. Whenever I read Enid's book, it never feels that it is some kind of imaginary stuff. Another reason MIGHT be its simplicity and characters. The stories are adventurous and thrilling, even quite simple to understand, imagine, and feel. It's characters never feel too perfect to be true. Yeah! Her villains do show some unrealistic features, but I guess it can be ignored. The above reasons I mentioned MIGHT, might be the reason. I am not sure. But I am absolutely SURE of 1 reason, due to which, they still feel to modern. And that is, Enid's style of writing. I bet you never felt that her writing didn't touch you or felt unrealistic or absurd. Some of her books may fall flat in their story, but never her writing. Her writing is capable of making one forced to feel the thrill. To live the adventure. To think the mystery. To experience the suspense. To understand the excitement. Her humorous books (like FFO) shows that she can go out of her regular niche as well. The Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair serves stand out as a being out of her style. Her school series and the Naughty Girl is out of the box niche altogether. That makes Enid who she really is. —Arka
February 8, 2024: Mystery (Five Find-Outer) Series - Bets
Whilst the series carried on Bets would probably have changed School at around 11 years old. Like her brother, Pip, wouldn't she have gone to Boarding School, like all the other Find Outers? —Ivanhoe
February 5, 2024: Unlisted Series (Miscellaneous) - The Riddle Series
Can anybody please tell me where can I find the riddle series section in this website? —Tyla
Daisy says... Daisy says: Not all of Enid's series are on this website, but if you go into the link provided you will see the Riddle Series in the Cave of Books Enid Blyton Society
February 5, 2024: Unlisted Series (Miscellaneous) - The Riddle Series
Hello Tyla. I am guessing that you have read the Riddle Series/Young Adventures. If you have, can you please provide an opinion about it? Like, if it is good or not. If it is worth read. If it is a mystery series or an adventure series etc etc. Actually, there are not much pages on it and it would actually help people like me to understand a bit about it. Thank You in advance. —Arka
Daisy says... Daisy says: The Riddle Series was a set of 6 books. These books were books that were written originally by Enid Blyton. And this Riddle Series are the same 6 books but were brought more up to date and a few changes had been made. You can see the books by searching in The Cave of Books through the link I've provided. Just put in the search box Riddle and they will come up. Enid Blyton Society