Page 2 | As an Adult, What Children's Books Have You Enjoyed?

SprinkledGlitter · 2024-03-25T11:43:59+00:00

I've seen an old thread about this and I thought I'd create a new one. What would you recommend? I love discovering new books!

OneHeartySnail · 02/04/2024 08:58

@110APiccadilly I also live the WW1 Biggles books, and have never met anyone else who does! Miles away from the later stiff upper lip charactures.

And thank you to those recommending Back Home, I read it over the weekend and really enjoyed it. Could have done with some tighter editing in the second half, but loved the characters and the sympathy for those sent away and those staying behind

YourFluentCrab · 02/04/2024 07:33

More young adult than children's, but I love Second Star To The Right

jetSTAR · 02/04/2024 07:29

CrossPurposes · 26/03/2024 00:07

If you like fantastic fiction then Frances Hardinge is an excellent modern author. I also adored Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans.

Edited

Agreed! FH has to be one of my favourite authors! Same with Lissa Evans - I've read her children and adult books and met her in person!

jetSTAR · 02/04/2024 07:23

TheDandyLion · 25/03/2024 21:22

The Murderer's Ape by Jacob Wegelius. Wonderful adventure story about Sally Jones (the ape) trying to prove her Chiefs innocence who was framed for murder. I have the sequel on my tbr.

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky. More of a young adult fiction but the story is about what you would expect from the title.

I don't have kids

Agree with The Murderer's Ape being brilliant, the second is very nearly as good!

Astartn · 02/04/2024 07:06

Another one for Holes. There’s many others but that is definitely one of my favourite. I laughed out loud at some many moments while reading that on the London tube. It’s so brilliantly bizarre.

Also the Book Thief, I think that’s written for young adults. Not sure but I read it as a 30 year old.

Lots of Jacqueline Wilson, I wish I’d read her books as a tween!

110APiccadilly · 02/04/2024 06:54

Ones I've first read as an adult for myself and enjoyed include:

Harry Potter
The Once and Future King
Alex Rider series
Series of Unfortunate Events
Half Magic and its sequels (by Edward Eager)

(Some of the) ones I used to read as a child and still enjoy:
Narnia
Swallows and Amazons
Anything by E. Nesbit
Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease
Little House on the Prairie
Bonnie Dundee by Rosemary Sutcliffe (and lots of others by her)
Jennings
Just William
Noel Streetfeild books
Biggles (but honestly, only the WW1 books are really good, the rest are just a nostalgia fest for me. But the author actually flew in WW1 and I love the descriptions of flying in those books.)

Charlie2121 · 01/04/2024 23:05

The best thing about having a DC for me is being introduced to Bluey. I absolutely adore the stories. They are so well written.

DriveInSaturday · 01/04/2024 22:56

I've remembered another one. When I was junior school age I loved the 'Jennings' books, and a few weeks ago I found one in a charity shop for 50p. It was just as good as I remembered it, funny and warm.

terroir · 01/04/2024 22:41

CrossPurposes · 26/03/2024 00:07

If you like fantastic fiction then Frances Hardinge is an excellent modern author. I also adored Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans.

Edited

I was hoping to see Frances Hardinge mentioned - A Face Like Glass, Cuckoo Song & A Skinfull of Shadows are my favourites, but I've really enjoyed everything she's written. Modern YA fantasy is the genre I guess. Her writing is beautiful,

noblegiraffe · 01/04/2024 22:16

@CatChant ah, glad someone else got to enjoy it! I randomly switched the radio on during a long drive just as it started!

CatChant · 01/04/2024 17:39

noblegiraffe · 31/03/2024 16:31

For the Diana Wynne Jones fans on this thread, there was just an hour long version of Howl’s Moving Castle on R4 that was good. I’ve been trying to get DD to read the book for years and after the radio version she is now interested!

@noblegiraffe Thank you! I am partway through it and enjoying it very much. It’s only available for 28 days so I might well have missed it without your recommendation.

2mummies1baby · 01/04/2024 16:59

TheSolstices · 01/04/2024 13:43

Yes, supposing the eternally unpopular Gwen were also a lesbian — petrified of horses, cold water and games? In St Clare’s the obvious couple were Gladys (tiny, shy, good at acting) and Mirabel (strapping, ‘protective’ and bolshie), but again, both brilliant at hockey (or maybe lacrosse…) You can’t be an indoor, poetry-writing lesbian in EB.

Maybe Miss Peters and Miss Grayling were a couple…?

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Oh yes, Gladys and Mirabel! More to add to the list.

Even Darryl and Sally were a bit suspect- neither obsessed with horses, but both loved games and had a very intense friendship.

Enid Blyton knew what she was doing...

TheSolstices · 01/04/2024 13:43

2mummies1baby · 01/04/2024 13:36

She's Bill's teacher in the subject of How To Be a Butch Lesbian, clearly! Which strangely seems to involve a lot of horse love, which I've never understood.

Show quote history

Yes, supposing the eternally unpopular Gwen were also a lesbian — petrified of horses, cold water and games? In St Clare’s the obvious couple were Gladys (tiny, shy, good at acting) and Mirabel (strapping, ‘protective’ and bolshie), but again, both brilliant at hockey (or maybe lacrosse…) You can’t be an indoor, poetry-writing lesbian in EB.

Maybe Miss Peters and Miss Grayling were a couple…?

2mummies1baby · 01/04/2024 13:36

TheSolstices · 01/04/2024 13:30

Bill played the Baron in the pantomime and was always stomping around in breeches being gruff, while Clarissa had one of those classic ‘But Clarissa, you’re beautiful!’ unveilings when she takes off her glasses and braces and reveals Rita Hayworth auburn hair and green eyes. But where does the ‘mannish’ Miss Peters come into the Bill/Clarissa relationship?

Show quote history

She's Bill's teacher in the subject of How To Be a Butch Lesbian, clearly! Which strangely seems to involve a lot of horse love, which I've never understood.

SnowFrogJelly · 01/04/2024 13:34

Anything by Alan Garner

TheSolstices · 01/04/2024 13:30

2mummies1baby · 31/03/2024 21:02

Bill and Clara = classic butch/femme lesbian couple.

Edited

Show quote history

Bill played the Baron in the pantomime and was always stomping around in breeches being gruff, while Clarissa had one of those classic ‘But Clarissa, you’re beautiful!’ unveilings when she takes off her glasses and braces and reveals Rita Hayworth auburn hair and green eyes. But where does the ‘mannish’ Miss Peters come into the Bill/Clarissa relationship?

Original poster

SprinkledGlitter · 01/04/2024 13:21

OP posts:

2mummies1baby · 31/03/2024 21:02

Xylophonics · 31/03/2024 20:28

Yes esp Bill who rode down to MT on her horse 🤣

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Bill and Clara = classic butch/femme lesbian couple.

Xylophonics · 31/03/2024 20:28

2mummies1baby · 31/03/2024 17:25

Bloody love Mallory Towers, mostly for the unsubtle hints at lesbianism.

Edited

Show quote history

Yes esp Bill who rode down to MT on her horse 🤣

Jennyjojo5 · 31/03/2024 17:48

The Far Away Tree series. God I loved them! I used to get totally and utterly absorbed into the world of the book and the characters and fully felt like I was there

Original poster

SprinkledGlitter · 31/03/2024 17:37

Natsku, yeah, sorry I wasn't really thinking it all through properly. Sometimes circumstances mean you don't get to keep everything even though you might want to. I just said it without thinking because I have been shocked at exactly which books have gone for crazy money on Ebay.

Thanks for all these responses

OP posts:

2mummies1baby · 31/03/2024 17:25

Xylophonics · 31/03/2024 13:46

Charlotte's Web

Private Peaceful, War Horse by Michael Morpugo
Mallory Towers, but more for a laugh at the weird Enid Blyton mindset

Didn't like Jacqueline Wilson books - found the writing style rather basic.

Bloody love Mallory Towers, mostly for the unsubtle hints at lesbianism.

noblegiraffe · 31/03/2024 16:31

For the Diana Wynne Jones fans on this thread, there was just an hour long version of Howl’s Moving Castle on R4 that was good. I’ve been trying to get DD to read the book for years and after the radio version she is now interested!

Xylophonics · 31/03/2024 13:46

Charlotte's Web

Private Peaceful, War Horse by Michael Morpugo
Mallory Towers, but more for a laugh at the weird Enid Blyton mindset

Didn't like Jacqueline Wilson books - found the writing style rather basic.

Workawayxx · 30/03/2024 09:45

The wizards of once series. By the author of how to train your dragon.