I'm rereading the Swish of the Curtain for first time in 25 years, childhood books you have reread as an adult?

[deaconblue]

Feels like I only read it a few months ago, I must have read it so many times that I can remember the next line.

such a comfort thing isnt it! I reread the antonia forest marlowe books and anne of green gables books for the nostalgia plus cynthia voight tillerman series and Toms Midnight Garden - classic

I'm re-reading Moonfleet at the moment. What strikes me is how unlikely it is that ds1 or ds2 will read it even though they are avid readers. Paragraphs used to be so much longer and far less perseverance is required for Alex Rider.

My mum still has our Anne of Green Gables books, and admits to a guilty read now and then (though they're ostensibly being kept for 'when the DGCs are visiting' - yeah, mum!).

I'm reading The Faraway Tree to DD1, and we've got her The Wishing Chair for Christmas, and my ILs have got her a box set of Roald Dahl, so that's what I'll be revisiting Can't wait till she's ready for Noel Streatfield, as I loved all those when I was young.

I re-read the Eagle of the Ninth recently, and read Tom's Midnight Garden for the first time, both superb, but can't get DS (aged 9) to look at either of them.
We've been reading the William books together, and they seem very adult in the humour and language, but I know I devoured them while at Primary school. William is so much nicer than Horrid Henry. and DS loves them, though he doesn't understand halfthe words.
I also tried to re-read "Amazon Adventure" I loved the whole series (about two boys and their father who go out collecting wild animalsfor zoos),but now they seem totally horrible. Racist, Imperialist, Cruel to animals etc.

oh and have just been reminded by the other thread on books you must read - To Kill A Mocking Bird

I read The Railway Children when I discovered my old copy last time I stayed with my sister. She took the piss out of me getting a trifle teary-eyed at the old gentleman finding the prisoner's family. Had to hide myself away to deal with "Daddy, my Daddy" without a carping audience!

Have also dipped in to Malory Towers. Blimey, the amount of bullying that goes on and is presented as a Jolly Good Thing Too. Was quite shocked at the change in attitudes. I really fell for it the first time.

One of the things I'll miss, having a ds and not a dd, is reading things like Ballet Shoes - suspect ds might not be terribly interested (although I'll give it a go). Have tried the Wishing Chair and Faraway Tree but he's not into them atm. But will try again in a while (keep hoping it's being six that's the problem, not being male).

Ahh Black Beauty gets me every time and I love Peter Pan! Haven't thought of Anne of Green Gables in years and years must dig that out from the library!! Ah yes would love to read Just William and Swallows and Amazons. On holiday recently read the Mollory Towers series...yes it was a wet rainy holiday.

Oh this thread is making me so nostalgic I may have to log onto Amazon!

I loved Eagle of the Ninth as a child. I recently re-read the Pennington books - made me feel like a teenager. I often re- read the Jennings books - they still make me laugh out loud. When I was about twelve, I avidly read all the Gerald Durrell books, and quite fancy reading them again - not sure if they're still in print though.

Ooooh, Pennington!

Oh God Edam 'Daddy, my Daddy' gets me every time - and I get mocked too, have these people no heart?

I think Pennington was one of my earliest crushes

I read The Swish of the Curtain the other day and really wished I hadn't. It was painfully obvious to me that it was written by a fourteen year old girl. Although I too loved it so much as a child that I remembered every event and joke.

Enid Blyton books are vicious - have you read the Naughty Amelia Jane ones lately? Full of crying dolls being left out of the party, and it serves them jolly well right. I bloody loved them as a child though, she is a very compelling writer.

Obviously not!

I joined Amnesty the first time I read the Railway Children so "Daddy, my Daddy" raised a few pennies for real prisoners of conscience.

I've reread The Swish f The Curtain - apparantly there were sequels as well.

I reread Antonia Forest at least once a year (am very lucky as I have the full set)

I love K M Peyton and often reread her books, especiallty the Flambards series.

I also love to reread The Anne of Green Gables books and the Swallows and Amazons series as well.

you are very very lucky to have full set of antonia forest- they sell for 50 pounds each on ebay so am building my library slowly!

I know!
They were a Christmas present from DH (I tracked them down and he paid)
They are one of my most prized possesions. DH refers to them as 'the precious things' in the style of Edward and Tubbs from League of Gentlemen

The Naughtiest girl in the school series. Full of the old fahioned illustrations as well. Bliss.

Also the Enid adventure series (Castle of Adventure, Ship of Adventure etc). Have just ordered the series from Book People and am very excited (sad).

i understand that pantryboy! they really are the best example of a childrens series you get more from every time you reread. Better character development than many adult books IMO. Did you get to read the bits that got left out of "Run Away Home?" in "Celebrating Antonia Forest"?? It was a great treat to have the equivalent of 2 lost chapters

Yes!
The bit where Buster died made me well up.

I was so saddened to read that there was another book in the pipeline but she appeared to have destroyed it before her death

i would happily have read an unedited typo-filled handwritten copy of that planned book. i was astonished patrick finally made a move on nicola when they were under the stage

Me too.
I'm not sure how I feel about the Patrick/Nicola kiss.
I did find the missing chapters fascinating tho'.

Recently re read "The Eagle of the Ninth" by Rosemary Sutcliff,also Kurri kurri and loved it just as much.Very good childrens fiction about the lost legion.If your dc is into history would heartily reccomend all RS books.

Antonia Forest must not have been too sure either. I know it didnt go with the books really but I liked it. we can only live in hope someone discovers more missing marlowe chapters someday..i do occasionally look in on the trennels website when rereading but it does get very heated over there at times!

(sorry seemed to have jumped in mid convo)

I've got four of the five Swish of the Curtain series, inherited from my dad, and I read them annually at least. They still make me laugh.

The reissued one has been rather roughly updated in places.

Little Women and Molesworth are my other comfort reads.