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AIBU?

To keep my old Enid Blyton books?

101 replies

Kyrptonite · 15/01/2013 12:35

I'm at my DMs and in the loft there is every Enid Blyton book published. I loved them when I was younger and want to keep them for DCs. I know there's the issue of racism and sexism in there but what would be better- keep them and show DCs the attitudes of the past and how much better things are now or buy new politically correct ones?

Most of the copies are ones published in the 50s/60s I think. They're quite dog eared and DP thinks I should charity shop the lot.

So, wise MNers what do I do? Keep or charity shop?

OP posts:

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StanleyLambchop · 15/01/2013 13:13

I have given my old copies to my dd, she loves them, esp. the famous Five. I just explain that they were written in a different era, so some of the ideas seem old fashioned. She appreciates that just because the Famous Five were allowed to go off on unsupervised camping trips at the age of 12, does not mean that is appropiate today- and that goes for the racism/sexism too. Children can differentiate between the attitudes of different eras!

As someone else mentioned, Tom Sawyer is also full of racism, but it is also a superbly written book and a joy to read. Mark Twain was a supporter of the abolition of slavery and women's rights, but the attitudes in his books were in the context of the time he was writing.

RuleBritannia · 15/01/2013 13:17

I second StanleyLambChop's sentiments. Keep them, OP. Apart from your DC enjoying them, they will become heirlooms as they are already 50 or 60 years old. My childhood books have gone to my DCs and they love them because they're what Mother had when she was a child 100 years ago.

I also have some of my mother's childhood books (mostly with prize plates in from Sunday School ).

Bossybritches22 · 15/01/2013 13:18

I grew up with EB & loved all her books, she got me reading & I soon progressed to other classics & then Shakespeare & Dickens et al.

As with Harry Potter, Michael Morpurgo etc if it gets children reading and enjoying doing so then I'm all for it!

OP keep them for a while till your DC's work their way through them then cash 'em in on EBay!!

atthewelles · 15/01/2013 13:18

Oh, keep them. You'll regret it if you give them away. I absolutely love finding old books from my childhood with the old covers and my name written inside in childish handwriting.

I found a big bag of Chalet School books when I was putting my mum's Christmas tree up in her attic last week. I am tempted to go back up and get them and spend a couple of wintry afternoons snuggled up with the lights on reliving my childhood in the company of Mary Lou, Joey, Grizel et al.

cakebar · 15/01/2013 13:19

I read them to my DS (6). He loves them. Some are better written than others and children like formulaic books.

I have to explain some of it to my DS e.g. we have discussed how the role of women has changed. I have 'new' Faraway Tree books and I didn't notice they had changed Fannie to Frannie .

It has affected DS's language, he says things like 'run along x, there's a dear'

JustFabulous · 15/01/2013 13:23

Keep. I have only 5 books from when I was a kid and seeing 49p and 75p on the back makes me when books today are around £4 minimum.

We have bought so many books for our children that we read as a kid and I have already told DH I am keeping them for our grand children as we'd only be buying them again.

If you don't want them, I'll have them for DD and DS2 .

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 15/01/2013 13:54

OP, I'll buy them from you. PM me with a price.

sannaville · 15/01/2013 14:52

Keep some editions are going for 30 quid in charity shops!

Midlifecrisisarefun · 15/01/2013 15:31

If you don't want them I'll have them!! My copies fell apart DDis grown up but I don't care

CheeseAndMushroomToastie · 15/01/2013 15:33

Keep them for nostalgic purposes if nothing else.

hopeful92 · 15/01/2013 15:36

Wrapping your child in bubble wrap and "protecting" them from issues such as racism and sexism sets them up for a massive shock when they grow up. It is far better to explain the issues and explain the morality behind them. I think you should definately keep the books. At least this way you can explain why it is wrong?

Eliz400 · 15/01/2013 15:44

Give them to a child - had to take the hard decision with mine but in the end some other child enjoying them and loving them the way I did was good

lisad123everybodydancenow · 15/01/2013 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OhCobblers · 15/01/2013 15:58

I was gutted to discover many years ago that my mother had given away all my Enid Blyton and Chalet School books. I have so many happy memories of reading those books.
I would love to have mine now, would never give them away!!

fuzzpig · 15/01/2013 16:04

My parents kept mine in their attic and they all got ruined with damp :(

I'm gradually rebuilding the collection when I find them in charity shops. It won't be long before DD is old enough for some of them.

I liked all the adventure/mystery type stories.

fuzzpig · 15/01/2013 16:07

Does anyone here remember an EB story called The Boy Next Door? It's not in print anymore. I loved it!

fuzzpig · 15/01/2013 16:13

I loved EB so much that I wrote my own adventure stories when I was young. She lived in the town I grew up in and I met her daughter at a centenary event when I was 10. She gave me her address so I could send it to her, which I did, and she wrote back with comments :) nice lady.

Never did find a secret passage in my house though :(

EmpressOfThePuddle · 15/01/2013 16:20

Fuzzpig, did you know The Boy Next Door is available secondhand from all these places?

LittleChimneyDroppings · 15/01/2013 16:22

Keep them!!!

fuzzpig · 15/01/2013 16:42

Yes sorry (but thank you for links) I do have another copy - unlike all the famous fives etc which are not so urgent as they're all in print, I knew TBND would be hard to get so I bought a used copy on amazon. Although actually it's a double story book with another title, something about treasure hunters? :) not nearly as lovely as my really old fashioned copy (that was also ruined in the attic) but oh well it's the story that counts.

I was just wondering if anyone else knew it really as it's not so well known! :)

Bowlersarm · 15/01/2013 17:14

Keep them!

I loved these books as a child and got lost in hours of daydreaming about having my own small island in the sea or going away to boarding school. I re-read them all about 10 years ago after clearing out the loft and loved them all over again. Really interesting reading them as an adult. I love old books anyway and as a result of reading them again I now collect the first editions

McNewPants2013 · 15/01/2013 17:14

if they are 1st editions i would sell them

www.abebooks.co.uk/search/sortby/1/an/Enid+Blyton/fe/on

£5000 for the collection on this site

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McNewPants2013 · 15/01/2013 17:16

www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=9097223647&searchurl=an%3DEnid%2BBlyton%26fe%3Don%26ph%3D2%26sortby%3D1

hope this link works

KatyPeril · 15/01/2013 17:22

Keeeeep! I'm a bit jel actually.

HerRoyalNotness · 15/01/2013 17:24

Keep! Or I can take the Famous Five series off your hands. You're looking lovely today btw.

Which reminds me, I want to hunt down some old copies, that'll keep me occupied for the afternoon.

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