Talk About Blyton!

Famous Five – Five Are Together Again

February 25, 2015 – Jo says: Am I imagining things, or are there curious out-of-character inconsistencies in this novel? I can't understand why Timmy is left at home rather than being at school. Julian and Dick go back to Kirrin Cottage to organise tents, but Anne stays behind at Tinker's house, and George agrees to stay too. Later, when Julian and Dick return, it seems that Timmy has run all the way and back with them. What, without George?!! When the four and Tinker have a proper tour of the circus Timmy is left behind in the garden. George would never allow this. The passage where Jenny, the cook, and Tinker are looking at Professor Hayling's tower after the break in is odd. Stylistically, when a secondary character is involved in action, the author gives less emotional identification to them, and you get description of actions but not empathy with their feelings. Tinker is treated almost like one of the five in terms of the attention given to him. Tinker thinks it is a good idea to hide his father's papers on Kirrin Island, and announces it to the Five as though it were his decision to make. Julian doesn't tell him to ask George first, and, we know how possessive George is with her property; she just says 'When shall we go? ', instead of getting all stroppy and sulky about outsiders sharing their secrets. I don't think the Five usually buy tins from a local village, only tinned food when they need to store food. I've only got this far, but it is all very unusual and the dialogue has a different feel. Characters are generally realistically drawn, but Profession Hayling seems unbelievably forgetful. I can't help thinking also that the plot is a little to much of a re-work of familar types, experiences and reactions, although, we know that Enid Blyton favoured certain themes: circus folk; a new friend who is rather spoilt; not being able to stay in the house because of a last minute hiccup. I wonder what I will read next in this book. I suppose Enid Blyton may have wanted to try out new ideas as she progressed with this series, and so she adapted George's character, perhaps. Perhaps what I detect as a different style is just a natural evolution. Has anyone else impressions similar to mine?
	Daisy says: Many think that this is the weakest book in the series. But you have to remember that the year of publication was 1963, and Enid's illness was already taking hold of her memory and so causing a slight confusion to her work.
February 26, 2015 – Evie M says: Personally I loved this book! I thought it was great! And with a series as long as the Famous Five, you can't expect the standard to be high all the way through.
December 24, 2017 – Carole says: Sorry if this has already come up but why in this last book is The Kirrins cook called 'Joan' and not 'Joanne'?? It really bugs me, sad eh?!
	Daisy says: Joan was mentioned quite a number of times in many of the books. They shortened her name, that's all.

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