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A review by samanthawattam
The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton
5.0
This series of books was chosen as part of my 2015 Reading Challenge but I'd often wanted to revisit the books of my childhood. I remember absolutely loving Enid Blyton and so I was apprehensive would they live up to my memories. Well I'm pleased to say I was not disappointed it was every bit as exciting and fun as I remembered and I can see why Enid Blyton was so popular and why I loved them so much as a child.
The 4 children Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack (not forgetting Kiki the parrot) are thrown together over the summer holidays staying in an old house called Craggy-Tops by the sea and become intrigued by the Island of Gloom and the mysterious goings on that they slowly become aware of.
Compare to today's standards of excitement in children's books I think it compares very favourably and it is refreshing to read something that doesn't involve the supernatural which has become so popular today (don't get me wrong I love that as wellbut an exciting story can be written that is about 'real life' too).
The setting is atmospheric set in an old rambling house by the sea, I think the depiction of the children's relationship is well done and the addition of the parrot is a brilliant touch. The adventure is fun and excitingly described and there is a twist that I didn't expect.
My only reservation is really to do with how expectations have changed and so the girls doing the household chores while the boys do the manly tasks. A boy is called “stupid” because he is a slow learner. I will say the book is a product of its time and leave it at that.
I would highly recommend and can't wait to read the rest in the series.
The 4 children Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack (not forgetting Kiki the parrot) are thrown together over the summer holidays staying in an old house called Craggy-Tops by the sea and become intrigued by the Island of Gloom and the mysterious goings on that they slowly become aware of.
Compare to today's standards of excitement in children's books I think it compares very favourably and it is refreshing to read something that doesn't involve the supernatural which has become so popular today (don't get me wrong I love that as wellbut an exciting story can be written that is about 'real life' too).
The setting is atmospheric set in an old rambling house by the sea, I think the depiction of the children's relationship is well done and the addition of the parrot is a brilliant touch. The adventure is fun and excitingly described and there is a twist that I didn't expect.
My only reservation is really to do with how expectations have changed and so the girls doing the household chores while the boys do the manly tasks. A boy is called “stupid” because he is a slow learner. I will say the book is a product of its time and leave it at that.
I would highly recommend and can't wait to read the rest in the series.