pickI haven‘t read a Famous Five book in ages but this was honestly such a good time that - I‘m considering a full reread. The drama was amped up from the beginning, it‘s all more than a little ridiculous but it‘s set in a house with multiple secret passage ways… so what‘s not to enjoy?
He‘s literally been kidnapped, along with Sooty (who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time) and is being held underground in an old smugglers tunnel. Love the sentiment, Uncle Q but maybe play along??
This book is honestly so dramatic - I love it.
At this point, I‘m wondering if the stepfather loathing comes from personal experience…
Update : no personal experience of having a step parent but her beloved father did abandon the family, leaving her with a mother that she didn‘t particularly get along with. Wikipedia notes that she didn‘t attend either parents funeral.
“You don‘t have a stepmother and a stepfather!” said Sooty, scornfully. “You only have one or the other. My mother is my real mother, and she‘s Marybelle‘s mother too. But Marybelle and I are only half brother and sister because my stepfather is her real father.”
As someone with half siblings and an awful stepfather the SHADE in this book is hilarious! Everyone proceeds to feel extremely sorry for Marybelle having such an awful biological Dad.
I found this beautiful case bound hardcover edition from 1974 in the second hand bookstore in Sassafras and 😍!! It‘s in beautiful condition - and I‘m obsessed with the cover!
Queer and highly suspicious things happen at Smuggler‘s Top. The Five have gone to stay with Sooty Lenoir and his father, after the ash tree fell on Kirrin Cottage.
Time for a reread, I think! I don‘t have strong memories of this one.
I have the full set of original 1970‘s tv series tie-in Famous Five books, which I‘m currently bingeing. For some reason, I really like the dated illustrations and have done since I first started reading the books when I was young. They‘re not particularly sophisticated, but the books wouldn‘t be the same for me with anything more modern!
1. Chronicles of Narnia
2. Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
3. Green
4. Pecan Pie; but love Dark Chocolate, too
5. Peony
#TopFiveFavs
#somethingforsept #septemberphotochallenge #bannedbooks
The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton was among my favourite childhood books. The series was banned by several libraries and schools, and the BBC refused to broadcast her works between the 1930s and 1950s as they didn't feel her books had any literary merit.
Madness!
Five Go to Smuggler's Top. Enid Blyton | 
