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.
1. Family lunch, then road tripping with some friends - all the way across the border into NSW - only to cross immediately back over to visit Cactus Country… & maybe jump on a paddle steamer in Echuca
2. I‘ve been disappointed that a couple of promising looking fantasy books were series starters & not standalones (I took them back to the library unread)
3. I can remember lots - but this is the famous 5 adventure that I daydreamed about the most
pickWhat a nostalgic little read! I absolutely LOVED this series as a child and my parents have returned my copies… hilariously I have written my name inside the front cover about 27 times 🤣
Fully expecting the series to have some problematic passages in the 21st century, but I really enjoyed this one!
pan#2023Book67
This book is definitely a product of its time in terms of the language used. But my real problem with it is that all of the action took place in the last three chapters and the mystery was resolved immediately.
What says - “lived through a global pandemic” like using your cloth mask collection to fill in the gaps in a box of books? 🤔
