Enid Blyton

[PBMA1980]

Anyone want to start an Enid Blyton thread?

We could talk about a variety of subjects all relating back to Blyton books, from the light (which character did you most want to be to which food sounded the tastiest) to the heavier (dissecting racism and name changes in Blyton books).

No, don't edit the word queer. It's perfectly legitimate to use it - it's good to use a varied vocabulary. My DS occasionally uses it (correctly). I don't see the problem.

That's why I'm a bit unsure. Its slang use is derogatory, but its correct use is not. I'm not prepared to get into why it's derogatory with my 4 yr old so maybe it is best to avoid it for now.

I loved the secret 7 and the Find Outers. Couldn't stand the Famous 5.

Went through a phase with the school ones too, but always remember seeing them as stories rather than good books iyswim.

My teachers hated that I read them. But then again they hated most of what I read at that age (must have been from about 6-8 I guess) and I don't recall my junior school teacher ever listening to me read in 4 years. I do remember her getting flustered when I asked her why at one point (I'd have been about 7) and she muttered something about EB not being "good enough".

It is what it is. Chick-lit for pre-tweens.

Teachers always tried to wean you off! (not surprising-there are so many good books about).
I liked the Castle of Adventure, River of Adventure etc series best but I was fairly appalled when I looked at one a few years ago.

In would be happy to tell a 4 year old why " queer" is a word best avoided.

Anyway.

I think Peter has the most potential. Giles is too "Navy" , and would you really want to live with Patrick? and I speak as a person who was secretly delighted that Patrick is a significant name in my dp's family so ds could be a Patrick!

My 4 yr old must be incredibly naive.

Should I start off by explaining the difference between heterosexual and homosexual relationships, or just plunge straight in with homophobia?

I loved Enid Blyton as a child. The irony of loving Enid Blyton, while being Irish and therefore being assumed by Blyton to have red hair and a bad temper was lost on me. Oh well, at least I wasn't French with no sense of honour.

I did go to boarding school as a result. It was a huge disappointment.

My DS has always known about homosexual relationships, just as he knows about heterosexual ones. He also knows that some people thinking that being gay is wrong. He knows some words have different meanings. So explaining that 'queer' is a homonym that needs to be used carefully is not a big deal. I don't see why he'd use the word in a derogatory manner.

I would just change the word-I really don't think that 4 yr olds want explanations in the middle of a story. (not that I would read them EB in the first place)

This whole thread has made me re-evaluate eb. It's interesting because at 4 I can edit and explain but will I be happy when dd is 7 and reading all this stuff independently?

Like people have said, alot of the dodgy messages will go over her head in favour of an interesting story but I think I will re-read some before recommending them.

[Glares at Molly, wriggles closer to Elaine in back row of class, whispers]

I'm Giles; I think it would be good to be a Navy wife. Though I also agree about Miranda, and you didn't even mention Jan Scott. (Yum. Did someone say queer? You bet. Queer as fuck, though also married.)

We've got lots of gay friends and my dcs have been known to get into playground fights about the misuse of gay as a word for whatever you don't like. As long as this is still the case, why worry about EB's innocent use of queer to mean odd? Initially the gay community embraced the word queer because they LIKED the overtones and they wanted to take it back as a matter of pride.

Didn't the Last Ditch get spent on ChocBar?

Just realised that I've come late to the party. How very Marie of me.

Oh, seeker, please don't die . We'll all feel guilty. Most of us, anyway. And we'll have to write your ma a letter, about how shocked we were.

IIRC, the Last Ditch was spent on Chocbar and also Catkin, Ginty's pony. But agree with Elaine that frugal Mrs M ain't.

Lord, Seeker, I never thought you were enough of a person to mind!

Yes, Last Ditch on chocbar and catkin..... I'm pretty sure.

Peter is funny and sharp, but I'm never sure he's all that nice really. I'm still plumping for Miranda: I want a Fab Trad on the roof, dammit!

Ok I won't die. I might pass away, though.

My mum once reduced me to giggles for ages, when we were talking about the scene in the art room in Autumn Term when Marie admits she lied about the rick yard, by quoting in a slimy nasal voice 'It was funny, wasn't it Nicky?'.

You probably had to be there.

Don't, seeker. Die if you must, but don't pass away. Or (worse?) pass. Always reminds me of gas and gallstones.

Peter is hopelessly, miserably insecure and always trying to show everybody something-or-other. WASTEFUL. It's all explained - well, some of it - in The Marlows and the Traitor.

Agree about the Tradition. I'd love to have a Tradition. (IDEA) Maybe at the end of every - something - we could come back to this thread, and - oh, well. Never mind.

[orders Spring Term off Ebay - sells some clothes to dodgy probably drug-dealing shop to pay for it!]

Jan Scott is my favourite character - coolly getting written off as an Uncooperative Type, rather like I got written off at my boarding school for being a Bad Influence - simply because I asked too many questions. Like "Why did X get expelled for Y when Z didn't, and isn't it a coincidence that Z's parents are paying double fees now as well as for the new theatre?"

Well, who doesn't love her logic - if it's voluntary, she wasn't having any? I remember being seriously hacked off by the Metropolitan Museum in New York in exactly this way - as you queued to get in, it said 'Free Admission. Voluntary donation 8 dollars. So I said, well, if it's voluntary I'm not doing it. Then they were sooo disapproving, but it was Jan Scott who sustained me in that hour of trial. If it's voluntary,m it must mean I have a choice. In the end they had to let me in.

Well indeed - most of London's museums have similar policies but the difference is you wander straight in and get confronted with many a box and posters guilting you into putting coins in.

I happily donate on the way out, in proportion to how long I was in there. But had similar issue with NY museums! Think it was the NatHist that gave free entry with a Metrocard and they tried to say it was only valid via the main entrance not the one off the Metro - after a long lecture on the Americans with Disabilities Act and use of the word 'sue' they let me in free. :)

Always felt sorry for Peter - whose stupid idea was it to send him to Dartmouth? Presumably a family Tradition.

Yes, AGREE. I too always donate on my way OUT, but it shouldn't pretend to be an entrance charge.

Agree on the whole Boys Must be in the Navy idea - poor Peter, who is clearly not ideal for it the way Giles is. Love the way Forest shows this unobtrusively. Also the sexism - clearly Rowan would be far better.

I recently found out about the unfinished book on the Marlows! Apparently it was going to be about Ginty running away and Ann running off after her? Also just found out about the deleted scenes in Run Away Home - including one where Patrick mans up gets around to kissing Nicola.

A Chalet School forum had a big warning at the top, telling users that they were only allowed to discuss the Chalet School. It specifically stated that Antonia Forest was not to be discussed. I'm shocked that this Enid Blyton thread has fallen into this trap .

Giles always reminded me of Julian. Arrogant, patronising, and dismissive of females. Has to be Patrick.

Erm. jeee, I don't think we were the ones that fell, exactly.

Well, I'm happy to say you have Patrick - also not exactly Mr Modesty, though I love him too in a motherly way - and I'll have Giles, who does NOT remind me of Julian, and who just seems hot, though I can't entirely say why. But when can one ever say why? Can I have Giles AND Jan Scott, though? Not at once, of course.