I absolutely love Enid Blyton. I've practically grown up reading only her, and I actually feel like I've had a better childhood as a result of it. So, I set out to do the impossible: name my five favorite books by her. Nope - not series, books! As I'm writing this, I already have about fifteen books in mind - how can one limit themselves to only five favorites, when they've probably read over a hundred and fifty? Right, I'm going to do this... 5. Noddy Goes To Toyland
This is the first Enid Blyton book I read, and I was absolutely captivated. A land of toys? People can buy bricks, and build their own house? A doll can befriend a brownie? And have a teddy bear as a neighbor?
Honestly, it's the kind of things dreams are made of - at least, for a five year old. As soon as I finished this, I made my mum reach out and get the second book in the series : Hurrah For Little Noddy!
4. The Secret Of Spiggy Holes
This is the first book I read in the "Secret" series, and while all five of them were vivid, imaginative, and could easily be read independently, this is my favorite (only marginally).
Four children are on holiday in Cornwall, with almost no parental supervision, and staying at a place called "Peep Hole". Who wouldn't envy those kids?! Across them is "Old House", a place where a prince from a distant land is being kept prisoner, and it's Jack, Nora, Mike and Peggy to the rescue!
And, of course, the book leads us back to 'The Secret Island'...
3. The Naughtiest Girl
This one, I've actually struggled with. I loved all the school series: Malory Towers, St. Clares, and of course, The Naughtiest Girl. And I've sat her, drumming the table with my fingers, contemplating which was my favorite, and this one edges it, mostly because, while I really wanted to be like Darrell from Malory Towers, I was always more like Elizabeth from Whyteleafe: I always tried to be really good, and always did something or the other, which resulted in the aftermath not being great!
Elizabeth has all the qualities: fun-loving, good at sports, good student, etc. And most importantly, she always had a trick up her sleeve, and she was, all said and done, an angel at heart!
2. Five Run Away Together
I know, you aren't allowed to have a favorite Famous Five book. I mean, you can't choose between Five On Treasure Island, or Five On Kirrin Island again, right? Well, this one's always been mine. I think I know it by heart. Read it so many times, that the book's in pieces now - probably one of the three books I possess which is in such a terrible condition. And I can still pick it up and read it, and lose myself in the adventures of the Famous Five.
The four children go to George's for the holidays, only to find that Joan, the cook, has been ill, and sour-faced grumpy Mrs. Stick has taken her place. Then, poor George's mum falls very ill, and when she is hospitalized, the Five decide to run away to Kirrin Island, rather than spend their holidays with dour Mrs. Stick, her lazy husband, and rude son.
1. The Magic Faraway Tree
How cool would it be, to move from the city to the countryside, next to The Enchanted Wood, right in the heart of which stands, The Magic Faraway Tree - a tree where magical creatures live, and where, a new land is atop the tree every few days: be it The Land Of Do-As-You-Please, or the Land Of Goodies. There's the Land of Spells and the Land of Presents as well.
Characters like Moon Face, Silky, The Angry Pixie, Saucepan Man, Dame Washalot, and Whatzisname befriend the three kids who move nearby, and they all join in the adventures together - be it to find the medicine needed to cure the children's ill mum, or to indulge themselves with something nice.
Honestly, at the age of twenty-four, if I could do it now, I would! I'd give up a whole lot, just to spend one day in this magical faraway land.
0. The Ship Of Adventure
You didn't honestly think I'd be able to end this at just five, did you?! Well, sorry!! I promise though, this is the last one, and it's the only one that actually led me to have a hobby outside reading - collecting ships in bottles. I have twelve now, and they're my pride and joy!
So, the children board the Viking Star to tour the Greek Islands with their parents. LucyAnn gets a ship in a bottle for Pip as a birthday present, and when that accidentally breaks, the children discover a map. You can imagine what ensues - with the bad guys wanting to know there the treasure is, and the children wanting to do the "right" thing.
I live in constant hope that if and when one of my ships in bottles break, I'll find a treasure map snuggled comfortably inside.
So, are you an Enid Blyton fan? Do you have a favorite five, or ten, books by her? Do you think she influenced much of your childhood?