General Chat

I also read all the books mentioned and loved every one of them. One of my all time favourites was Milly Molly Mandy, I bought them for my grandaughter but i don't think she was interested.

Jane

Children of the new forest.
I loved the book, but was so dissapointed with the TV series

Greenfingers,
We were only talking of the I-spy books today, when we went to Canterbury.
There used to be one called ' I-spy in the street 'in recent years and my grandson and I had a great time when he was young spotting coal-holes, foot-scrapers etc in the city.
When I was young, my friend had I-spy books, but I don't remember having one.
I too liked Heidi and The Silver Sword and remember watching TV productions of both too, = black and white, of course.

Gwyn

Famous Five, Secret Seven, all the Pullein Thompson pony books then Georgette Heyer. My eldest daughter 'borrowed' all my Enid Blyton books when she married and moved out - apparently they're hers now, as are my favourite Georgette Heyers, These Old Shades and Devil's Cub. Still read my GH books.

When ever we moved as a child - and I worked out I moved 28 times by the time I was 32, books were 'lost'.
I only remember having an Enid Blyton book that didn't like, and Christmas annuals of' 'The Broons' and 'Oor Wullie'.
The best ever book I read, and what I consideer my first 'grown up' book was from the travelling library that visited our school - I was about 9 -it was 'The Red Pony and Other Stories' by John Steinbeck.
After that I read all of John Wyndham's books-'The Day of The Triffids', 'The Kraken Awakes etc. - and I'm not a great Sci-Fi lover!

Gwyn -I play 'I-Spy' coal holes, footscrapers, wonky windows, and my favourite, downpipes from gutters, (some have dates) around Winchester with my grandchildren!
The best wonky window I've seen is above 'Alfies' or thereabouts!!

I think I must be older than most of you. My first book which I loved was an animal ABC.

Like Jane I loved Milly Molly Mandy.

Dad used to read the Dr Doolittle books to us. They were great. I loved the pictures in them.

We used to get a comic, I think it was called The Rainbow. My older sister (by 4 yrs) used to get The Girls Crystal which I always wanted to read after her as I got older.

No Enid Blyton in my time, as far as I know.

I still have my copy of Little Women/Good Wives.

Huia.

Hi Huia,
Maybe your parents didn't like Enid Blyton books- I didn't let my children read them. I found them patronising, and classist.

I remember being given a book about Little Black Sambo.

You probably can't buy that title now.

I'd forgotten about Cherry Ames books, i enjoyed them,
and loved Enid Blyton, too.

Liz

Reading what you all had put brought back memories...I'd forgotten about Toby Twirl...gave me nightmares....so did Tintin UGH.

I had Little Black Samba....still have it loved it as a child, never thought it would make me racist and it didn't. I think with all this political correctedness we are in more danger of alienating people, than the books we read ever did...what do you all think ? I also had a Gollywog and he went everywhere with me I loved him to bits, did anyone else have one ?

I had also forgotten about Georgette Heyer and the two books mentioned were also my favourites

I'd forgotten the Pullein Thompson books Anne. I used to read those too, being pony mad! I remembered also loving the Nicholas Thomas books ......the naughty black and white kitten. I still have 'Nicholas Thomas Gets into Trouble' in the loft somewhere!

I loved my Golly more than the dolls I think. He always had a lovely smile......some of the dolls looked a bit starey and stern!! lol

So did my Golly, I cuddled him so much my mum had to do running repairs !

'Little Black Sambo' is a book I've been after for years!
I first saw it when I was at Uni 12 years ago.
Do you remember when Enid Blyton books were accused of being racist, and new editions were changed?
Having admitted I don't like Enid Blyton Books, I do buy old 'racist' ones.
I also have copies of Agatha Christies 'And Then There Were None', under both it's original UK title, 'Ten Little N*ggers' and the original American title, 'Ten little Indians'.
Oh - and I also have a copy of 'Scouting for Boys', by Baden Powell - the title just cracks me up!!

Never had interest in reading, but one childrens book I was given as a present was The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. I read it so many times and I could really imagine the little mice helping the poorly tailor. Possibly because of all the illustrations it made reading it so much easier and kept my attention. Nearly sixty years later I sometimes still have a sneaky read....jl

Taking the fundamentals out of old books is like when they change old movies which were great like Hitchcocks and try to remake them...I have never seen a remake yet which passes muster, and that goes for re-inventing books. Just thought of another book that no one seems to have got their politiically correct hands on The Water Babies, by Charles Kinglsey, loved the book but did it scar us...........No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would it scare children to think there is a Mrs Doasyouwould bedone by ?

I remember when I was very young our teacher used to read us the books about Mrs Pepperpot. I was enthralled! Anyone remember these books?

Lainey

Thought it might be nice to post on here again.....never had the |Beatrix Potter books so bought myself a set a few years ago....loved them lots. read the Janet and John Books at school....my mums friend's son was John and we walked to school together so you can imagine what our teacher said....loved the Terry Wogan Janet and John scenarios too

Oh yes Jan used to laugh at the Janet and John scenarios on T wogan.

I remember being read Enid Blyton books at school, also the Arthur Ransome books - We didn't mean to go to sea, Coot Club etc.

I loved Enid Blyton and remember having Sunny Stories delivered. My children also read Enid Blyton, I am sure her books were what got me into reading and probably our children too.

Also loved the Little Women series and Noel Streatfield's Ballet Shoes.

Then there were the Abbey School Books, The Chalet school series, The Katy series, Black Beauty, Then in my early teens I found the Jalna (Whiteoaks) series by Mazo de la Roche.

Neither I or our children read Beatrix Potter, well maybe they had a couple read to them but we are well steeped in Potter living in Gloucester. Also loved visiting her house at Sawrey in the Lake District.

I was just coming to write about Heidi and the white bread rolls in the wardrobe, Tess! It has moved me forever, probably because my own grandmother loved bread and couldn't eat much of anything else as she had digestive problems incurred as a child in a prison of war camp.

Yes, Milly Molly Mandy, The Chalet School, all firm favourites :-)