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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To love re-reading old childhood favourites

269 replies

balletnotlacrosse · 27/04/2015 10:07

Having found a stash of my old childhood books in my parents' attic a few years ago I have become hooked, once again, on school stories, ballet stories, etc etc and love buying old Noel Streatfeild books, Chalet School stories and so on to re-read.

AIBU to spend as much time reading children's books as adult's book and to enjoy them more just as much?

OP posts:
babybythesea · 27/04/2015 20:22

I've found my home!!

I have found someone who has not only read the Emily books but also prefers them to Anne. Me too. In fact, I even have a DD called Emily.....

Pleased too to see that goodnight Mr Tom is on the list. Although again, I preferred another of hers - Back Home.

My parents have just emptied their loft and a whole box of kids books has turned up. Some of the Kingscote books, a bunch of chalet school, and the snow spider books by Jenny Nimmo. I'm having a great time!!

PrettyPenguin · 27/04/2015 20:28

I have loads of childhood favourites I still reread:

The 'Jill' books by Ruby Ferguson
My entire Pullein-Thompson collection
Silver Brumby books
Punchbowl series by Monica Edwards
Little House series (re-read that just last week!) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Wolves of Willoughby Chase series - Joan Aiken
The Bobby and Shelta books (yet more horsey ones but can't remember the author, it's gone right out of my head!)
Most of Diana Wynn Jones' entire back catalogue
Snow Spider Trilogy - Jenny Nimmo
Dark is Rising series (can't wait until my eldest is old enough to read this!) - Susan Cooper
The Little White Horse - Elizabeth Goudge

One of the modules for my latest degree was Children's Literature - it was great! Grin

JillinSwindon · 27/04/2015 20:34

I've recently realised that it's 50 (yes fifty!!) years since I first came across The Hobbit for the first time - it was read to my class of 7 year olds and it was on the top of my birthday list that year - I still treasure that copy, given to me by my grandparents (...yes I know I'm very old to be on Mumsnet, but my youngest is 'only' 19 and I'm still a mum!!)
And I've read that, AND all of LOTR AND all the Harry Potter books to my three children over the years..........with a little help from my DH.)

PrettyPenguin · 27/04/2015 20:37

Forgot about Pat Smythe and her Three Jays books and Mary O Hara's Flicka books. Thunderhead was my favourite of those!

Not forgetting Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons books either - I still have most of that set.

Oh, and the Shelta books were by somebody Baxter I think...I could Google it I suppose!

I seem to have spent a great deal of my adult life childhood reading 1960s pony stories! I inherited a lot of them from my mum and I picked up more at car boots and second hand book shops when she was missing ones from series. I didn't like the Jinny and Shantih books as much.

PrettyPenguin · 27/04/2015 20:38

Oh, and the Narnia series of course! I re-read that very regularly!

Original poster
balletnotlacrosse · 27/04/2015 20:59

Enjoy 5foot Smile

Did anyone read the Drina books by Jean Estoril? Or the William books?

OP posts:
LittleMilkNoSugar · 27/04/2015 21:01

Just finished re-reading The Borrowers and The Borrowers Afield and loved them just as much as I did as a child. Also loved re-reading One Hundred And One Dalmatians to DS1. I've just started The Diddakoi but I seem to remember getting upset by all the bullying, so it may be a tad traumatic!

The one I could constantly re-read is Danny The Champion Of The World. I love the relationship between father and son.

Aeroflotgirl · 27/04/2015 21:06

Its lovely reading books that were read to me as a young child, to my dc. The Tiger Who came to Tea, Each Peach Pear Plum, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Shirly Hughs books, Mog. I am 38 years old, so a bit ancient. But it fills me with really happy memories of childhood.

Sidalee7 · 27/04/2015 21:08

I love it too - the Anne books, and all the American writers who seemed so cool in my teens - Judy Blume, Paula Danziger, Betsy Byars.

I also loved Nina Bawden and they are just as good as an adult, you really notice a different perspective.

Takver · 27/04/2015 21:09

Interestingly, I always preferred Emily of New Moon to Anne as a child, but having got them for dd, I didn't think they stood up so well

Glad to see someone else who's read Edward Eager's The Time Garden, I loved that book so much as a child. I got copies of several of his Half Magic series 'for dd', and really enjoyed re-reading them.

I've found it quite a mixed bag in terms of what stands up well / what doesn't. The Dark is Rising books are somewhere in the middle for me, I'd say - beautifully written, but without the depth of the best modern YA fantasy, I'd say (perhaps because it's acceptable for YA books to run a lot longer these days?)

I think I enjoyed the Laura Ingalls Wilder books even more as an adult than as a child, though.

Sidalee7 · 27/04/2015 21:12

Little Women, The Railway Children and the Wolves of Willoughby Chase too!

Takver · 27/04/2015 21:13

Another one I love even more as an adult (though I loved it as a child, too) is Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field, particularly Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep.

The funniest thing is that DH's family comes from Lewes, and MiL who has a massive collection of children's books and often climbs Mount Caburn had never come across it.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 27/04/2015 21:21

I love loads of the books mentioned, but one I particularly remember was Marianne Dreams. Scary for a nine year old, but so good, I felt as though I was Marianne.

Pyjamaschocolateandwine · 27/04/2015 21:21

When life seems too bloody grim and tough I delve under my bed into my book box and select a chalet school book. Am reading 'reunion' at the moment.

Excellent nonsense.

Totally agree op.

HumphreyCobbler · 27/04/2015 21:22

I love most of these!
The Bagthorpe Saga are some of my absolute favourites. Brilliant as a child, but absolutely HILARIOUS to read as an adult.

OverAndAbove · 27/04/2015 21:27

I found my copy of Come Back Lucy the other day. I can't wait yo rad it but remember being terrified by the ghostly Alice!

I love reading kids' books. I read The Twilight Barking by Dodie Smith recently and felt transported back thirty years...

PrettyPenguin · 27/04/2015 21:34

FirstWeTakeManhatten

That was one of my favourite books as an almost teenager - got quite scary in the middle of the book! I bought an old copy of it about 10 years ago - not sure whether to let my 7 year old read it yet though!

lunalelle · 27/04/2015 21:38

I love Enid Blyton's Adventure Series. I actually dissected it for my degree, as well...enjoyed sneaking it in there :)

hels71 · 27/04/2015 21:44

I loved the drina books and William. I also still enjoy Jennings and Billy bunter. My dad used to read the lost planet books to us by Angus macvicar I think. Anyone else know those?

beatricequimby · 27/04/2015 21:46

Love all of these too. Marlows, Emily Etc

Takver you recommended Half Magic on another thread and i bought it for dd (8). She loved it and wants more for her birthday.

Original poster
balletnotlacrosse · 27/04/2015 21:47

I remember Jennings and Billy Bunter, but not the lost planet books.

Did anyone read the Down with Skool books about a boy called Nigel Molesworth who hated his boarding school? They were really funny.

OP posts:
Marcipex · 27/04/2015 21:55

Love the Drina books,they made me feel well-travelled.

And Molesworth and Fotherington Thomas.

Antonia Forest is my favourite, but I've never read Run Away Home. It's sooo expensive I just can't get one.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 27/04/2015 21:59

Prettypenguin I've also bought it for my 7 year old Grin, but maybe to hand over in a few years time.

I've lent it to a neighbour's 10 year old for now…pretty sure I'll reread it once I get it back.

Takver · 27/04/2015 22:03

beatricequimby I'm glad your dd enjoyed it!

Marcipex, did you like Swallows and Amazons as a child? If so, there's a very, very funny fanfiction with Roger going to St Custards

sethcohen · 27/04/2015 22:19

Oh I just love the Drina books! Probably reread them more than anything. I was so excited about ten years ago when I realised there were another six Drina books, having thought the series finished with her dancing Little Clara in Edinburgh! And similarly the Trebizon books, much excitement on discovering the second tranche of those! Really want to read those again now...

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