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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why Enid Blyton has such enduring appeal

80 replies

balletnotlacrosse · 19/05/2015 11:16

Even today, with such a huge amount of children's books available, modern children still become gripped by the Famous Five, Malory Towers etc. Better written books such as The William Books, The Chalet School etc don't seem to have nearly as much appeal to young readers.

Is it because she doesn't really ground her books in a particular time? I know some of the language and activities make it clear they're not set in the 21st century, but even though most of her books were written during the 40s and early 50s there's no mention of rationing, fathers having fought during the war or any very specific references to what was quiet a seismic period of British history.

Just curious to know what the on-going fascination with her books is for today's children?

OP posts:
BluebeardsSidekick · 19/05/2015 12:25

It's escapism. It's another England, like my own but not within my reach. It's all the things I wanted to do and all the experiences I wanted to have. The Famous Five and Mystery stories are a classic example of that. No adults, just a bunch of kids, a dog and occasionally a monkey, a row boat, a private island, the sunshine. How can you beat that? What's not to like?

You've got me wanting to read them again now. I'll be searching second hand bookstores because there's no way I want my childhood memories spoiled by Ricks, Frannies or Dame Snaps!

lostmymittens · 19/05/2015 12:30

what a beautiful post focus Thanks

ephemeralfairy · 19/05/2015 12:37

I never read many Famous Five/Secret Seven books but I loved the school stories, even though I did get very heated and annoyed about the sexism and classism.
I think it was the camaraderie, the 'sticking up for your friends' and the very black and white morals that appealed. Reassuring somehow. And a lot of the time the girls sorted out problems among themselves. The teachers were quite 'hands off' and I appreciated that I think.

Has anyone else read the Trebizon School series? I have just binge-read them all on Kindle!

MitzyLeFrouf · 19/05/2015 12:41

Yes I went back and read a Trebizon recently ephemeral, the first one I think. Another series I loved that doesn't seem as thrilling upon revisiting. Unsurprising I suppose!

backtowork2015 · 19/05/2015 12:47

have just finished reading my dd 3.10 the wishing chair trilogy which I loved as a little girl, she really enjoyed it but I did hace to change the very un PC name of their pixie to a much more acceptable "Cheeky". Surely his original name was not ok to use even back then?Shock

Original poster
balletnotlacrosse · 19/05/2015 12:53

I think it was the camaraderie, the 'sticking up for your friends' and the very black and white morals that appealed. Reassuring somehow. [quote]

Ephemeral, that's exactly how they made me feel last Summer when I re-read them. There was something very solid about a lot of the values espoused.

OP posts:
5Foot5 · 19/05/2015 12:59

I do think that the way there are no comtemporary references means that the books do not age as much as other, arguably better, books of the time.

IggyStrop · 19/05/2015 14:44

I'm going to echo what others said. As a kid, I was completely entranced by the Faraway Tree. It was the most "escapist" book I'd read at that point. Also, the Wishing Chair, but not quite as much. I had a really beautifully illustrated set of both of these series and it was just magical.

I picked them up again recently and they seemed so dated, but they must've been fairly so in the 80s, when I read them. I just didn't notice. I am curious to see what my DDs will think of them.

FyreFly · 19/05/2015 15:47

I don't know but I loved my Enid Blyton books. I grew up on farms in the country and books like the Willow Farm series were my life!

I was given a beautifully illustrated book which I still have somewhere, and I'm racking my brains for the story. It was about a girl (a princess maybe?) and her dog; something happened to the dog and his heart was freezing, and she had to go up to a mountain or something to find a cure. Had a happy ending of course but I can't remember the story at all!

NKfell · 19/05/2015 15:58

I used to love Enid Blyton books- especially the Famous Five.

However my Mum recalls a story from when I was young and I apparently asked why baddies always have dark skin and if you have dark skin are you a baddie...I can't remember saying it but, my Mum attributes this to Enid!

mistymeanour · 19/05/2015 16:32

My DC never liked the Famous Five etc. (the older kids books) but when they were little (age 3-6) they loved Naughty Amelia Jane, Binkle and Flip (2 naughty rabbits) Brer Rabbit and the collections of short stories such as Tales for 6 year olds, 5 minute tales etc. They were very straight forward and had just the right amount of jeopardy. Kids in the stories always just wanted a puppy, or a friend, do something kind for their ill mother etc. A lot of them were the same kind of story recycled in a different setting.

They absolutely adored Mr Pink Whistle (dodgy name) and his only friend- his cat Sooty. His catch phrase was "It just isn't fair!" and then he would sort the unfair situation out - used to reduce my children to tears!

CheesyDibbles · 19/05/2015 16:56

It was all about the midnight feasts and tuck boxes for me!

Mr Twiddle was the first 'proper' book I ever read to myself, I don't think it's in print any more (wonder why, with a name like that)!

I loved the '.... of Adventure Books' and had a book crush on Philip (second only to Gilbert Blythe, who came later).

My dd had the Amelia Jane series when she was younger, which I had never read. Reading them to her, I was really shocked by how unpleasant the characters are. The pattern of the books is that Amelia Jane does something nasty, so all the other toys gang up on her and do something even nastier to teach her a lesson. I hated them so much, I refused to read them to dd. Looking back, I realise this kind of thing happens a lot in EB's books - people are always being taught cruel lessons because they deserve it.

Not so keen on EB any more!

aletea · 19/05/2015 16:59

Because everyone loves to indulge their inner racist and misogynist?

Chalet School all the way here.

MitzyLeFrouf · 19/05/2015 17:07

I like the Chalet School books but they have their own particular raft of issues!

Iainsmum · 19/05/2015 18:02

Focusfocus wote at the end of a very beautiful response:

That's why it appealed to me, across oceans and seas of cultural differences

Your post is absolutely wonderful - you are a very talented writer. The images you evoked of your childhood reading of these books were just so alive. You're a much, much better writer than Blyton!

BettyCatKitten · 19/05/2015 19:17

My DT's love the magic faraway tree.
The new rage is Astrid Lundgrens Pippi Long stocking Grin

EnlightenedOwl · 19/05/2015 21:22

there are some of Enid Blyton's books which deal with very real issues - particularly Adventurous Four where the children are shipwrecked and stumble across a German submarine base and Children of Green Meadows I think where the children's father is in a wheelchair because of war injuries.

MitzyLeFrouf · 19/05/2015 21:34

Did anyone read The Six Bad Boys? It's Blyton's foray into kitchen sink drama featuring various working class families. One set of parents split up because the dreadful wife nagged her husband too much. Poor man. I also seem to remember a hard faced glamorous young widow, who worked, and wore lipstick and.......had a social life that involved non church related outings!

Enid did not approve!

It's an uncomfortable read.

run2 · 19/05/2015 21:45

*YABU

And not because I like Enid Blyton but because there was an Enid Blyton thread in AIBU not so long ago.*

Adeledazeem this kind of comment was mentioned in a thread a couple of days ago. Don't click it then!!

fiveacres · 19/05/2015 22:04

Yes, I re read that one recently funnily enough (I was helping at a friend's second hand bookshop.)

The mother wasn't there when her son came home for his lunch and sometimes wasn't there after school either!

I think this is what I dislike about the books: that the attitude by blyton is so entrenched in them - implicit rather than explicit. Yes, the tales are sweet, but you don't have to scratch the surface much to find really unpleasant attitudes - not merely a "product of their time" but even The Faraway Tree, much beloved of those on here, has so many moments of outright sexism.

It probably isn't a popular view but I can't imagine how anyone can hand them to their children!

Original poster
balletnotlacrosse · 19/05/2015 22:19

Enid Blyton seems to have an almost addictive effect on children. I remember my parents having to bribe me to read other writers once I'd discovered her; and I'm seeing the same thing with my niece now. She's gone from reading quite widely to only wanting to read EB. I don't know of any other children's writer who has had, and continues to have, that effect.

I think that's what I was wondering about really in my opening post. Not why she appealed to us all, but why she continues to have such a strong hold (if that's the right word) on young readers that many of them just become completely hooked.

OP posts:
MitzyLeFrouf · 19/05/2015 22:29

It probably isn't a popular view but I can't imagine how anyone can hand them to their children!

I'd say yours has been the popular view for decades!

But I would happily hand them to my children if they expressed an interest in reading them. Many 19th/20th century children's books contain language and subject matter that we find problematic today but I don't think that's a reason to put them out of bounds. I remember having interesting conversations with my Mum as to why Anne from the Famous Five was such a mouse.

Personally I think anything that sparks a child's interest in reading is to be encouraged. Yes there are far superior books about these days but for a lot of kids there is something addictive about Enid Blyton. I have no problem with that.

woodhill · 19/05/2015 22:30

i used to love them but I could see her snobbish attitudes and didn't like some of the characters. my mum did buy some for dcs but I didn't go out my way to encourage tgem.

I remember her book about the Taggertys and the snobby next door neighbours - the Carltons.

haven't read themnas an adult apart from a chapter about some children in Africa may have been Kenya.

KPlunk · 19/05/2015 22:34

I have read a million stories to,children (might be exaggerating ) and I think Enid blyton books are brilliant. Especially the ones for younger children. You have to get the right age book though. I think it's because she wrote good stories. I used to change the odd word.

Methe · 19/05/2015 22:37

We love EB here. I loved EB as a child and am not Racisist or Mysoginist.

They're adventure stories. Who doesn't love adventure?