Boring books, or wronged writer?

Hello after ages. Apologies for not writing, but I'm recovering from a severe attack of viral fever, during which, among other things, I lost my voice, ruptured a capillary in the throat, got an ear infection and a swollen gland in the jaw. Any idea as to what gland it is? The salivary gland must be thereabouts, but I'm not too sure.

Anyway, I've been tidying my room. No easy task, but I came across this and have halted cleaning operations for a while. Enid Blyton's Magazine Annual #2. Enid's works were my companions while growing up, and my mom grew up reading EB, too. Her books are definitely in the "to be read with sandwiches and cakes at teatime" category. There is a lot of criticism surrounding the books, plots, names used, racial stereotyping and gender discrimination. Pity.

Agreed, Monty Python's parody of EB (Children's Stories, MP and the Flying Circus) was hilarious. There are plenty of EB stories about Bertie Bumble who lived in a tumbledown cottage in Dinky Dell in Dum Dum village. But would I give them to my child/children in the future? Yes!

1. They were delightful. Any book which has a Land of Goodies, a Land of Birthday Presents, pop biscuits, and children winning the day is fine by me.

2. They got me to read. And got some peace for my mom. Purposes served.

3. Despite all the "negative qualities" in the books, I don't think reading them has made me any worse.

4. Page-turning writing style, accurate grammar and spelling.

5. The school stories and adventures had morals, without actually appearing didactic and annoying. Believe me, if a child imitates Fatty and says, "I never tell lies," BRILLIANT!

True, it is the boys who have most of the adventures. The girls are told to stay home, and their role during camping is generally to do the cooking and the washing up. But WHEN were these books written? EB was born in the 1890s! No way was she going to write about kick-ass gals.

Nonetheless, all her school stories have women protagonists. Fearless girls, who go rowing and rescuing in the ocean, over dangerous cliffs, riding mad horses all over England, and what not. And George, the 'girl who wanted to be a boy' in the Famous Five, resents being told to stay back and has her own adventures. In fact, it is she who saves the day in most of the books.

For many reasons, I've always hated the Famous Five. Julian, I found bossy, annoying and obnoxious. Anne, I found boring, irritating and rotten. George was the only character in the series, just as Fatty was the only real character in the 5 Find-outers, and Snubby was the only one to stand out in the Mystery series. Also, you read one Famous Five book, you've read them all. They are over-hyped, and there are plenty of other books, such as Shadow the Sheepdog, and Six Bad Boys, by EB, which knock the FF books into the last millennium.

Six Bad Boys is an 'adult' EB book. Can you imagine the woman who invented the "Saucepan Man" coming out with a book on divorce, broken homes, and crime? It just shows her depth. All Blyton-bashers out there, please do read this, and Shadow the Sheepdog.

Blyton is accused of racism, because gollywogs are villains in some of her stories. There are EB books where the gollys are actually the heroes. And the villain is the sailor doll, or the teddy, or even the rocking horse. The question is, did EB actually have racist intent? Or was that sheer coincidence? As we shall never know, I suggest that whoever finds the greedy gollys offensive stays away from those particular books.

For my part, I haven't read those Six o'Clock Tales, or Red Story Book, or those anthologies which feature gollys; I began with Bimbo and Topsy and the Faraway Tree books and went on to the adventure and school series at around age 7-8. So I wouldn't know about the racism thing.

Now for the names. The world was a lot more innocent and wholesome back then. It is only now that slang has attributed different meanings to what were once everyday names. No need to rename characters to Frannie and Rick. Enid herself would turn in her grave to find how the meanings of words have changed. For Pete's sake, the books are written for CHILDREN! KIDS! Not some sicko who's going to laugh himself silly over the names.

This was an author who produced around 800 BOOKS. And about 10,000 short stories. Of course some plots will sound alike. But can those armchair critics please imagine producing so much work? And at least 400 of those books are completely different, I'm sure.

Reading Enid as a child was a completely satisfying experience. No complaints. But I did have a few issues, and found some of the stories silly while reading them as an adult. That is the whole point. Enid is JUST for children. And unless the kids are complaining, get over it.

Here the case for Enid Blyton: Have you read her books? Did you like them? Which was your favourite, and what did you find offensive?

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