Friday, 22 January 2016

Favourite books from my childhood


I am joining in with Amy from Love Made My Home blog for the Five On Friday posts. I haven't joined in with this for ages so decided that it was about time I did!
My Five On Friday for this week is all about my five favourite books from my childhood. I loved to read from a young age but what really inspired me to start on a life-long habit of reading were books by Enid Blyton. I devoured most of her many books, far too many to pick a favourite so I am leaving her out of the equation for this post. I know she is frowned upon as an author in many circles today but I loved them and they did kickstart my reading habit so that can't be a bad thing can it? As long as you move on to read other authors and genres I don't see there is a problem.
Anyway to get onto the books I have chosen (in no particular order):-

I still love the illustrations from Beatrix Potter books today, wonderful stories that I shared with my own children
A story about Mary, a spoilt and disagreeable but lonely girl who was sent to live with her Uncle and how she discovered a magical locked and hidden garden


The adventures of Anne Shirley who was mistakenly sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert instead of the boy that they had wanted to adopt to help out on their farm


This delightful story about the Ruggles family who were a poor but happy family who made their own fun and adventures



Cheating a bit with this one as I couldn't just pick one of the series, I loved them all


 I know I date myself from the selection I have made here but these are books I read more than once over the years and got something new from them every time. Am I the only person that re-reads my favourite books?


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26 comments:

  1. Shortbread and Ginger22 January 2016 at 03:44

    I love your choices. Enid Blyton was my favourite when I was young.
    Liz

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  2. eclectichomelife22 January 2016 at 04:22

    You date me as well. I love Anne of Greengables and also the Secret Garden too. Great choices. As to Enid Blyton I couldn't agree with you more. She also kickstarted my reading and now latterly that if my daughter who has become a ferocious reader. Just as you say as long as you branch out later what is the problem.

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  3. Coastal Ripples22 January 2016 at 04:24

    Gosh we must be of a similar age! Other than the Fell Farm series I too enjoyed your book choices. You are so right about Enid Blyton. Her Secret Seven series taught me to persevere and read independently . Then I progressed to the Famous Five which I loved. Did you like the Island of Adventure and Castle of Adventure? They were favourites of mine...happy days. Also like the Chalet series set in Austria. Now you've got the memories going. Have a good weekend. Barbara x

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    1. Unknown22 January 2016 at 05:08

      Oh my goodness Barbara, how I loved the Chalet book series and the Adventure series you mention. Now you see why I had difficulty in picking just five. I keep on thinking of other books I should have included, perhaps my post should have been Fifty on Friday! xx

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  4. Linda P22 January 2016 at 04:57

    Hello Jan. Lovely to meet you through Amy's Five on Friday. If I had to pick one of the series of books you have featured it would be the Anne books. I do like to re-read them. My granddaughter was only this week talking about The Secret Garden and our daughter emailed me recently to say she had found her collection of Beatrix Potter books whilst doing some tidying around with the intention of finding a place to store family books collected over the years. (I intend to do a post about favourite children's books myself so thank you for this post). It's good to know that these books are loved and still read by each generation.

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    1. Unknown22 January 2016 at 05:12

      I could never bring myself to throw away my childhood collection, some are still displayed on my bookshelves and others are boxed up in the loft but they hold so many precious memories for me. Looking forward to reading your post about your favourite books. xx

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  5. mamasmercantile22 January 2016 at 05:35

    I too am a great fan of the Enid Blyton books and loved the Five go...collection. The Beatrix Potter books are another great love and were read and re read when my girls were small. They are now read to the Grandchildren and they are also big fans.

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  6. Rosie22 January 2016 at 05:55

    I have loved reading this post. My mother used to read me books like Flopsy Bunny, I think Beatrix Potter and Brer Rabbit, I think Enid Blyton. I read all the Secret Seven books and love The Secret Garden. I use to go to the library often to take out books to read as a child - still do in fact. My other favourites were Children of the New Forest and Gamble for a Throne (I was fascinated by Cavaliers and Roundheads) and a series of books about Ballet Dancers, can't remember the author of those:)

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    1. Unknown22 January 2016 at 08:59

      Hi Rosie, I don't know Chuldren of the New Forest or Gamble for a Throne but I used to like the books by Noel Streatfield about Ballet Dancers, don't know if the ones you read were the same books but I loved Ballet Shoes and also the Gemma series - Gemma and Sisters, Gemma Alone and Gemma In Love. xx

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    2. Rosie23 January 2016 at 05:39

      Not sure if it was Noel Streatfield's ballet books. The books I read were about three sisters from Morpeth, Northumberland. The eldest was horse mad, the second was a ballet dancer and the third was a Spanish Dancer, there may have been a brother too. Wish I could remember who wrote them:)

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  7. rabbitquilter22 January 2016 at 08:15

    Oh my goodness!! The Family from One End Street!! That is my favourite book of all time, no one else has ever heard of it!!! Happy memories or Mr Rawlings reading to us on a Friday afternoon in Primary School!! He was wonderful at doing all the voices!!! Did you ever read Carbonel and The Kingdom of Carbonel? About a Witch's cat?!!!! That was another one of Mr Rawlings specials!!!! Happy days!!

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    1. Unknown22 January 2016 at 09:02

      I was first introduced to The Family From One End Street by a teacher reading it to us at school as well. I don't think I read Carbonel and the Kingdom of Carbonel though. I lived in a village where the children's library stock was fairly limited although my parents and aunts and uncle's always bought me books for birthdays and Christmas. xx

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  8. Carol22 January 2016 at 10:05

    I knew I would love this post, Jan, as I just love children's books. I have several large boxes from when my sons were small that I am saving for the day (hopefully) that I have grandchildren! I had never heard of Enid Blyton until I did a post asking everyone what their favorite author was from childhood and several of you English bloggers answered with her name :)

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  9. linda22 January 2016 at 10:36

    You have brought back memories Jan I used to love Enid Blyton, I used to read all I could get my hands on under the bedcovers with a torch hoping my Mother wouldn't find out. I loved the secret garden too. Have a great weekend. :) xx

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    1. Unknown22 January 2016 at 12:11

      Linda, I used to do exactly the same, read under the bedcovers with a torch. Happy days! xx

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  10. Lisa from @intotheglade22 January 2016 at 10:37

    Oh I don't know the last ones but the first three are among my favourites too. I love childhood books and was a dedicated follower of Enid Blyton. My youngest daughter is a massive Beatrix Potter fan xx

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  11. Amy at love made my home22 January 2016 at 11:40

    I have definitely read One and Two, and I think Four, but Five rings a bell as well! I haven't though read any of the Anne books, something to get round to one day!! I am a great Beatrix Potter fan and am collecting anniversary editions of her books as they are published. Thank you for joining Five On Friday, happy weekend! xx

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  12. Lilly's Mom22 January 2016 at 12:10

    Hi Jan, you've chosen some of my favorites, too. I love to read Beatrix Potter to my little grandson. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Pat xx

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  13. Andrea Ostapovitch22 January 2016 at 17:33

    I am familiar with the first three, and have read Peter Rabbit recently to my children. I loved "The Secret Garden", and read it several times in my youth.

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  14. Meredith22 January 2016 at 18:46

    I have read a few of them and they are a great selection. I would have to add Little House on the Prairie and Little Women.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  15. Jill23 January 2016 at 02:49

    Hi Jan, I must be of a similar age as a lot of your books would be on my favourites list. I recognise the ripple blanket as I've made a couple myself.
    Jill
    Kiln Fired Art

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  16. Crimson Kettle23 January 2016 at 10:11

    I think we have the same taste in children's books, they don't write them like this any more! x

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  17. Anonymous25 January 2016 at 07:20

    I have been really bad at both posting and reading blogs just lately and have certainly not done 5 or Friday for ages. I like you was and EB fan and Oz loved the Famous Five books. I also loved Anne of Green Gables but alas this is not one I still have. Other favourites were Little Women and Jo's boys, and I loved the Bobbsey Twins books by Laura Lee Hope too.

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    1. Unknown25 January 2016 at 08:54

      Great to hear from you Helen. I too loved the Little Women series and am lucky enough to still have them, must re-read them one of these days. I don't know the Laura Lee Hope books but I am sure I would have enjoyed them. We didn't have television when I was growing up so I used to devour anything in print. xx

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  18. Sewing mamie25 January 2016 at 12:34

    I had forgotten the family from one end street I loved that book Ann of green gables , little women , what Katie did I could go on and on .

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    1. Unknown25 January 2016 at 13:21

      Hi Christine, I also loved the What Katie Did books. It was so hard picking just five books and I keep thinking of others that I really should have included. xx

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