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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Julian, Dick, and Anne are disappointed when their parents announce plans to vacation alone in Scotland. The children quickly change their tune when they learn that they will be spending the summer at their aunt and uncle’s house on the coast with their cousin George (Don’t ever call her Georgina) and her dog, Timmy. What follows is a glorious summer of swimming, canoeing, and exploring George’s private island.
I’ve heard of Enid Blyton but I’ve never read any of her books before. I don’t know if she wasn’t as popular in the US in general or if my library simply didn’t have her books. Either way, I feel a bit deprived. I would have loved this book as a child!
As an adult who is more than willing to read a book for any age group, I still enjoyed it but I wish I were coming to it with a child’s innocence. Now, I find it astounding that George’s parents are like, “You want to spend a couple of nights on an island by yourselves, children? Here are your sandwiches.” I wonder what has caused that cultural shift? Smaller families and more time to worry about each child? Higher crime rates? It’s just something to ponder.
Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and Timmy are a fun little crew and their explorations feel like the stuff of childhood dreams. Anne, the youngest, is slightly timid; Dick and George are maybe a little too brave; and Julian seems to be the level-headed one. Timmy is just excited to be around his beloved pals.
If you’re looking to re-capture some childhood innocence or want to share some nostalgia with the children in your life, give this book a try. I smiled my way through it, reliving my own small summer adventures.
I’ve heard of Enid Blyton but I’ve never read any of her books before. I don’t know if she wasn’t as popular in the US in general or if my library simply didn’t have her books. Either way, I feel a bit deprived. I would have loved this book as a child!
As an adult who is more than willing to read a book for any age group, I still enjoyed it but I wish I were coming to it with a child’s innocence. Now, I find it astounding that George’s parents are like, “You want to spend a couple of nights on an island by yourselves, children? Here are your sandwiches.” I wonder what has caused that cultural shift? Smaller families and more time to worry about each child? Higher crime rates? It’s just something to ponder.
Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and Timmy are a fun little crew and their explorations feel like the stuff of childhood dreams. Anne, the youngest, is slightly timid; Dick and George are maybe a little too brave; and Julian seems to be the level-headed one. Timmy is just excited to be around his beloved pals.
If you’re looking to re-capture some childhood innocence or want to share some nostalgia with the children in your life, give this book a try. I smiled my way through it, reliving my own small summer adventures.
2020 review:
enid blyton in 1942: i'm gonna describe all the delicious food the kids eat in detail and make all the british kids currently living on rations very hungry >:)
(i mean we all know by now that she was problematic as fuck. still enjoy this book though, i don't think it has anything overly problematic)
re-read this to listen to the famous five podcast, as "podcasts about classic children's lit" is my favorite niche
enid blyton in 1942: i'm gonna describe all the delicious food the kids eat in detail and make all the british kids currently living on rations very hungry >:)
(i mean we all know by now that she was problematic as fuck. still enjoy this book though, i don't think it has anything overly problematic)
re-read this to listen to the famous five podcast, as "podcasts about classic children's lit" is my favorite niche
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ich kenne Enid Blytons "Die Fünf Freunde" noch von früher und liebe solche Abenteuergeschichten sehr!
Diesee Comicadaption von Béja und Natael ist sehr klassisch und fast schon steif gehalten.
Vorallem aufgrund der vorhandenen geschlechter Rollen ist die Geschichte schlecht gealtert und wirft mit Sätzen wir "Jungs weinen nicht" und "Mädchen sind Quasseltrippen" um sich.
Zudem ist die Geschichte sehr stark geküzt, sodas die Erzählung sehr holprig wirkt und wenig Zeit für das kennenlernen der eigentlic sehr liebenswerten Figuren bleibt.
Für ein bisschen Abenteuer und Nostalgie genau das richtige. Für mehr aber auch nicht.
Diesee Comicadaption von Béja und Natael ist sehr klassisch und fast schon steif gehalten.
Vorallem aufgrund der vorhandenen geschlechter Rollen ist die Geschichte schlecht gealtert und wirft mit Sätzen wir "Jungs weinen nicht" und "Mädchen sind Quasseltrippen" um sich.
Zudem ist die Geschichte sehr stark geküzt, sodas die Erzählung sehr holprig wirkt und wenig Zeit für das kennenlernen der eigentlic sehr liebenswerten Figuren bleibt.
Für ein bisschen Abenteuer und Nostalgie genau das richtige. Für mehr aber auch nicht.
While away on holiday in Italy (just got back today) as well as diving into my summer reading list for uni and reading a couple of other books purely for my self on the side I also stepped back into my youth for a few hours. I've been wanting to collect and reread the Famous Five books for a while now. As a child I was obsessed with the four children and dog. When I wasn't reading the books, me and my sister were play acting as the Famous Five. I bought the first book a while back and decided the perfect time to read it would be on holiday. I went through it in few hours, with breaks in between. I don't know if it's just because of sentiment but I absolutely loved it, still, and it must have been at least 15 years ago when I last read a Famous Five. It took me right back. The story is plotted perfectly and I feel that I enjoyed the Five's first adventure just as much as I used to enjoy their adventures as a child. George was always my favourite character because she was a tomboy and wanted to be a boy and do the things boys do. I was exactly the same when I was little. The Famous Five also made me want to have adventures as a child and as we never really managed to find a real when we pretended to have adventures. I thoroughly devoured this book and there I was actually worrying I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a kid. Enid Blyton was a hero and I have many childhood pleasures to thank her for. I'm looking forward to rereading more of the Famous Five books as well as her other stories. I will definitely be sharing these books with my future sprogs.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
date of rate: feb 15 2024
this is a rating for the series overall.
this is a rating for the series overall.
I can't believe I've never read this before. I liked it now, but had I read it as a child, I would've probably been obsessed with it. I liked the story and the children, especially George. It reminded me of Harry Potter in a way: the adults don't belive the children, the children wanting to prevent the theft, secret tunnels and rooms... Yeah, Philosopher's Stone.
I kinda miss being a kid. 4.5/5
I kinda miss being a kid. 4.5/5
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated