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Confession time! Tell us your literary sins to win an entire set of 20 Puffin Classics

383 replies

EmilyMumsnet · 13/04/2015 10:57

Literary shame is a powerful thing - if you've ever nodded sagely while your friends discussed Bleak House or chuckled knowingly about the The Wizard of Oz - the film is the same thing isn’t it? – you'll know what we're talking about. But now we're giving you the chance to 'fess up! Tell us which Puffin Classic you have never actually read, and you'll be in the running to win the entire set.

The Puffin Classics are back, and with a bold new look – twenty brand new covers for the classic tales, from Huck to Dorothy to Alice to Peter. One lucky poster will receive all twenty, while 5 randomly-selected runners-up will win a copy of their never-read tale.

Here's the full set list:
The Call of the Wild, Tom Sawyer, The Wizard of Oz, King Arthur, The Jungle Book, Black Beauty, Huckleberry Finn, Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, The Odyssey, A Little Princess, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, The Wind in the Willows, Treasure Island, Heidi, Peter Pan, Little Women, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

This competition is now closed. And the winners are:

Belo - full set of Puffin Classics
happysouls - The Call Of The Wild
Punkatheart -Heidi
Miisty - Tom Sawyer
Pigeonpea - Huckleberry Finn
kohl - Wind In The Willows

Thanks for all your contributions, we'll be in touch with the winners shortly

Confession time! Tell us your literary sins to win an entire set of 20 Puffin Classics
OP posts:
georgedawes · 23/04/2015 15:52

The Wind in the Willows (very ashamed!)

Donthate · 22/04/2015 18:57

I was a member of a book group. I started one book and I just couldn't get into the book so I googled reviews of the book and totally winged it. The book was Captain Corelli's Mandolin and it was my choice Blush

strawberrisc · 22/04/2015 18:48

I am ashamed to admit that I did not even know that The Wizard of Oz was a book Blush

cooljammer37 · 22/04/2015 14:02

I have never read Journey to the Centre of the Earth, even though I pretended I had and didn't have a clue what people were talking about!

MimsyBorogroves · 21/04/2015 14:27

The Odyssey. I read a few sentences and the Cliff notes and managed to do a piece of A Level work on it though. Hmm

pepicola3 · 21/04/2015 14:16

The Call of the Wild, Tom Sawyer, The Wizard of Oz, King Arthur, The Jungle Book, Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, The Odyssey, A Little Princess, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Peter Pan, Little Women

yourgrace · 21/04/2015 11:22

Anne of Green Gables

katehig · 21/04/2015 08:42

There only seem to be 18 in total... But I haven't read many. The main one I feel I ought to have read, as it comes up so often, is Huckleberry Finn.

Jenzer · 20/04/2015 19:58

Huckleberry Finn. I don't know why, it's one of the few that has escaped me!

DuchessofMalfi · 20/04/2015 19:26

I haven't read through the whole thread, so apologies if I'm repeating something already said, but what are the other two books from the list? There's only eighteen on the original post. Just counted them twice, in case I'd miscounted Blush.

Anyway, I've read nine, and have nine unread ones. I've read Tom Sawyer, Black Beauty (remember that one as a bedtime story with my dad reading it to me as well :)), The Secret Garden (one of my favourite stories), A Little Princess, The Wind in the Willows (I loved this, had a much read, battered old paperback), Heidi (another much read favourite), Peter Pan (read it, but thought it a little bit odd), Little Women (due a re-read of this soon), and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I really loathed it and still do).

Unread - The Call of the Wild, The Wizard of Oz (keep meaning to read this to the DC, and watch the film with them), King Arthur, The Jungle Book (I may have read some of it, but not sure), Huckleberry Finn (don't know why I haven't read this, because I liked Tom Sawyer), Anne of Green Gables (again don't know why I haven't read it yet), The Odyssey, Journey to the Centre of the Earth (this one appeals, quite fancy reading this), and Treasure Island.

ziggy2407 · 20/04/2015 18:39

I love reading and have since learning late as a child (I really struggled up to being 8 and then it just clicked) but there are a few on the list, I haven't read (yet) - Huckleberry Finn and The Odyssey

Devora · 20/04/2015 16:54

The call of the wild was a bit tedious, though I do vividly remember the man getting stuck under ice. I don't think it's an especially great read for children - in fact, that is probably true of a few of these which were the basis for great movies (e.g. journey to the centre of the earth, the wizard of Oz) but possibly not enduring literary classics themselves?

However, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, A Little Princess, Heidi, Black Beauty, all better books than films and well worth reading.

rachaellouise2 · 20/04/2015 16:45

The Wind in the Willows & Black Beauty...How bad is that!?!

funkyfish586 · 20/04/2015 10:47

I have never read Little Women but would love too!

MrsJ2000 · 20/04/2015 09:41

Anne of Green Gables - I keep hearing about it but have never read it

tiddles12 · 19/04/2015 23:15

I have read a lot of them, but not King Arthur

Brighty1 · 19/04/2015 22:19

I've only read Black Beauty. Have just got Alice's Advenures In Wonderland for my daughter. Would love to read all of these now :-)

donut1 · 19/04/2015 18:21

The Wizard of Oz - embarrassed to say that until recently I didn't know that the film was based on a novel.

dragon60 · 19/04/2015 18:02

The call of the wild

castleton · 19/04/2015 16:12

Journey to the Centre of the Earth. I couldn't really get into it

vixxx666 · 19/04/2015 15:50

I've never read The Call of the Wild or The Odyssey out of that list!

alabaster002 · 19/04/2015 13:53

Shame to say I largely bluff my way with these but I was never been able to get into Call of the Wild. Might try again if I am lucky enough to win.....!

cocochips · 19/04/2015 13:51

The Odyssey

pitt9178 · 19/04/2015 13:46

I have definitely never read Little Women or Tom Sawyer

Gedge · 19/04/2015 12:18

I've never read The Wizard of Oz.

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