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Confession time! Tell us your literary sins to win an entire set of 20 Puffin Classics

383 replies

EmilyMumsnet · 13/04/2015 10:57

Literary shame is a powerful thing - if you've ever nodded sagely while your friends discussed Bleak House or chuckled knowingly about the The Wizard of Oz - the film is the same thing isn’t it? – you'll know what we're talking about. But now we're giving you the chance to 'fess up! Tell us which Puffin Classic you have never actually read, and you'll be in the running to win the entire set.

The Puffin Classics are back, and with a bold new look – twenty brand new covers for the classic tales, from Huck to Dorothy to Alice to Peter. One lucky poster will receive all twenty, while 5 randomly-selected runners-up will win a copy of their never-read tale.

Here's the full set list:
The Call of the Wild, Tom Sawyer, The Wizard of Oz, King Arthur, The Jungle Book, Black Beauty, Huckleberry Finn, Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, The Odyssey, A Little Princess, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, The Wind in the Willows, Treasure Island, Heidi, Peter Pan, Little Women, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

This competition is now closed. And the winners are:

Belo - full set of Puffin Classics
happysouls - The Call Of The Wild
Punkatheart -Heidi
Miisty - Tom Sawyer
Pigeonpea - Huckleberry Finn
kohl - Wind In The Willows

Thanks for all your contributions, we'll be in touch with the winners shortly

Confession time! Tell us your literary sins to win an entire set of 20 Puffin Classics
OP posts:
cluckyhen · 10/05/2015 12:51

I have never read Tom Sawyer

feckitall · 10/05/2015 13:01

I have never read The Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables, The Odyssey, A Little Princess, The Wind in the Willows, Little Women, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
I didn't read what I perceived as 'girly' stories. Some of the others were read to me or I had to read at school...
My guilty pleasure is reading them now!

katiefish · 10/05/2015 14:39

The Call of the Wild, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Heidi

Jenerate · 10/05/2015 14:58

There are a few on the list I have never read, although I have always loved reading. I would probably like to try Journey to the Centre of the Earth, just to see how close the various films have come to it.

NelAllan · 10/05/2015 15:04

There's actually lots that I haven't read, more than I have. My children have read more of these than I have but access to books is so much easier now with tablets and e-readers. I do remember reading Black Beauty, Heidi and The Secret Garden though and remember them all very clearly.

mummyto2boys01 · 10/05/2015 15:13

I've wanted to read 'Black Beauty' for a long time but have never got round to it

ser01 · 10/05/2015 16:54

Never read Anne of Green Gables, no idea why though.

alibabble · 10/05/2015 19:29

A Little Princess

Squina1 · 10/05/2015 21:07

Though I have watched the film numerous times, I have never actually read The Wizard Of Oz

ArthurMcAffertyhastwocats · 10/05/2015 21:24

Black Beauty. Never got beyond page one. I can see my copy now in my mind - pale green spine, black horse on the front (unsurprisingly!).

sarsar123 · 10/05/2015 21:38

oh dear i can't remember most of them! Im a little shocked! I blame the parents lol
Im really encouraging my own children to read.

Themilseys · 10/05/2015 21:48

I don't have much time for reading these days but have always wanted to read Little Women. This article has reminded me and since I'm going on a few days away soon with friends for a relaxing break, maybe I'll finally read it!

Jux · 10/05/2015 21:58

King Arthur
A Little Princess
Journey to the Centre of the Earth

I did read other books by those authors, though. I am not remotely ashamed for not having read them, and have never pretended I have either. I promise that if anyone had made a decent case as to why I should, I would have. (the only reason I have read Tom Sawyer and The Wizard of Oz is because somebody or other persuaded me I should. It was worth it, as I can now say that Twain and Baum equal Henry James in turgidity.)

janemphoto · 10/05/2015 22:45

I never read The Wizard of Oz and to be honest I never even watched the film

aligiraffe · 10/05/2015 23:01

Alice in Wonderland. Seen many film versions but never actually got round to reading the book.

TiggersAngel7774 · 10/05/2015 23:27

To be honest i dont think ive read any of the books in full version only as puffin classics the condensed version aimed at 5-9 year olds. And im an avid book reader just never really occurred to me

blueeyedpea · 10/05/2015 23:38

Anne of Green Gables - I don't know why I never got around to that one

avery64 · 10/05/2015 23:55

I haven't read Tom Sawyer or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn :)

AnxiousKeziah · 11/05/2015 00:12

Some of those books are my comfort books as an adult and I still read them aged 40! Mainly Heidi, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women and Alice's Adventures.

KittyFan83 · 11/05/2015 00:37

I've never heard of Anne of Green Gables, much less read it! blushes and quietly leaves the thread hoping no one notices

tishist · 11/05/2015 00:38

I've never read Heidi

xalyssx · 11/05/2015 01:11

I have never even heard of The Call of the Wild... and I work in a library!

sue55 · 11/05/2015 01:49

Huckleberry Finn - always meant to but just haven't got around to

GeorgeW78 · 11/05/2015 02:24

I don't remember reading The Call of the Wild by Jack London but apart from a couple of others, I think I've read the rest! :)

beehummingbird · 11/05/2015 03:39

Anne of Green Gables