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Original poster

reading swallows and amazons for the first time...

93 replies

casbie · 17/09/2007 15:47

quality writing and pure childish escapism - fantastic!

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 04/10/2007 12:10

Interesting - what's wrong with Great Northern, Kathy? (I realise that growing up with a fanatical ornothologist father may have biased my view somewhat, but I like it!)

bookwormmum · 04/10/2007 12:10

They did sail to China though didn't they? Fabby story if not very pc now.

stealthsquiggle · 04/10/2007 12:09

can't wait to get DS onto S&A - whatever DH says (these things bring out the pseudo-working-class chip on his shoulder!)

I so wanted to be Titty. Did anyone ever aspire to be Susan or was she just there to be dull and sensible ?

Kathyis6incheshigh · 04/10/2007 12:06

It's not 'real'. It is stories made up when they were all on a wherry in Norfolk over Christmas, in the original unpublished version.
Also, they would not get so excited in We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea if they had already sailed to the Caribbean and back.

I like them all except Great Northern.

bookwormmum · 04/10/2007 12:04

Bridget is in Secret Water - that's the only one I didn't really like as there was little sailing in that.

I liked Peter Duck but Missee Lee is my favourite .

Original poster
casbie · 04/10/2007 11:55

reading peter duck now - enjoying it, but is it 'real'? iykwim?

OP posts:
seeker · 04/10/2007 11:09

Swallowdale is my favourite.

midnightexpress · 04/10/2007 11:00

OH! reminds me of my dear old dad, who died last year. He LOVED them all and used to read them to us when we were little. The day before he died I read him the beginning of S&A. Lovely books.

SoMuchToBits · 02/10/2007 20:56

Having been on this thread recently, I deceide to start reading Swallows and Amazons to ds(aged 6) tonight at bedtime. He really loves it, and pestered me for a second chapter!

Katymac · 19/09/2007 08:23

DD has a 1954 hardback series - but refuses to read them & we are buying the paperbacks gradually

SoMuchToBits · 18/09/2007 23:05

Have googled it, but can't find a paperback boxed set. Might be easier to buy the set in individual volumes in paperback.

EmsMum · 18/09/2007 22:54

I keep being tempted by the full hardback set from the Nauticalia catalogue. but horrid price... does anyone know if theres a paperback set available nowadays (I don't do eBay). ?

tortoiseSHELL · 18/09/2007 22:48

Bridget does feature in some later adventures I think.

SoMuchToBits · 18/09/2007 16:38

Think I am a bit of a Susan - the sensible mummy-type. Ds is 6 now, and into lifeboats in a big way, so I am hoping I can interest him in books about sailing boats! Also dh's Dad has a sailing boat, which ds has been on, so hope to create an interest!

krabbiepatty · 18/09/2007 16:37

Having said that Titty was a terrible name, I can't believe they changed it. Pah.

MrsBadger · 18/09/2007 16:37

no no the cave is Swallowdale

lots of sailing in Secret Water

EffiePerine · 18/09/2007 16:36

Def a Titty but sounds a bit rude

RosaLuxembourg · 18/09/2007 16:35

I am definitely a Titty (34DD). In personality too, I rather fear.

EffiePerine · 18/09/2007 16:35

Secret Water my favourite - not much sailing but a cave

Katymac · 18/09/2007 16:32

DD is learning to sail atm

She gets to spend days on the water

On Sunday we all (DH & DD, Nana & Pops & I) all went out on the boat (a dutch sailing barge)and had a picnic it was almost surreal - we could almost have been in any decade over almost the whole centuary

DD thinks sailing is ab fab (& I agree)

We kept quoting S&A (& the others) my mum really felt out of it, as did DH, as neither had read them

I really like Missie Lee, Secret Water & Picts and Martyrs (sp) & Winter Holiday & We Didn't Mean to go to Sea & Swallowdale oh and Great Northerner - umm that'll be all of them then

Original poster
casbie · 18/09/2007 16:31

like the change to Kitty though...

def a must for reading aloud to the children - i would never keep a straight face otherwise!!

OP posts:
krabbiepatty · 18/09/2007 16:28

Ah, that reminds me must get these out for the chikdren.
Titty, though, is a terrible name.

Marina · 18/09/2007 16:24

I hear the National Theatre are dramatising Swallows and Amazons...because Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy is doing the music
Must revisit for ds, it never engaged me as a child I'm sorry to say
Maybe because all my visits to the Lakes were accompanied by driving rain, a gung-ho fellwalking father and a cursing mother...

MrsBadger · 18/09/2007 16:24

I might be a Peggy

Kathyis6incheshigh · 18/09/2007 16:21

Everyone should say which character they most identify with. I am a Dot.

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