Re-reading Childhood Favourites

[PeterT]

For some reason I'm in the process of rereading the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. I quickly realized that as a chlld I'd only read "Finn Family Moomintroll" and am now working on the rest of the series.

While the specifics of the book are hazy in my memory, quite a few bits of the characters and plot quickly returned to my mind (not bad since I believe I'd last read this back in the late '60s).

I'm now toying with the idea of re-reading the Narnia series next, although I will admit that I've read that a bit more recently. Then maybe the Hobbit and the rest of LOTR.

[issybird]

Suggestions.

How about the Swallows and Amazons books? And, but this may be a Yank thing, Edward Eager’s books? Not forgetting E. Nesbit.

You’re Canadian but a guy, so I won’t suggest Anne of Green Gables. But I think L.M. Montgomery’s Emily books are superior and worth a look if you don’t know them.

All of that said, I know the difference between rereading a book loved in childhood and trying to appreciate a kid’s book as a geezer!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by issybird

All of that said, I know the difference between rereading a book loved in childhood and trying to appreciate a kid’s book as a geezer!

PIggybacking on.

I only came to Richmal Compton’s William books as an adult and I think she ripped off Booth Tarkington’s Penrod. That said, they amuse me. I expect to get through a few more this summer.

[PeterT]

Oh yes; Swallows and Amazons. I had them all in paperback format (destroyed now of course ) btu do have eBooks of all of them too. Yep. They'll be added to the list too \

Thanks for the suggestion.

And yes; I did read Anne of Green Gables, along with Little Women and the other books by Louisa M Alcott.

I read some of the Just William books but they didn't really standout in my mind.

(While I live in Canada, my first ten or so years were spent in England and I still talk with an English accent).

[PeterT]

And yes to Nesbitt (probably The Railway Children).

[issybird]

My own Nesbit favorite is The Enchanted Castle.

[Luffy]

Enid Blyton is stuffy and problematic, but her Enchanted Wood trilogy has a charm to it. I've had one Goodreads reader who thanked me for my review, because it made her want to read the first book at least.

[nana77]

On a podcast from the radio I hear, on a videogame's topic, once there was an interview to a person whose has various degrees and masters, she was explaining that things done on young ages will keep in memory very firm (as synaptic that on that ages grows, and as for the ones that gets cut as while not being applied), so the importance not to pass those times 150% on a Playstation (LOL).

As for not to stay OT: "The Paul Street Boys" by Ferenc Molnár, "Oliwer Twist" by Charles Dickens, "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain.

[pdurrant]

Stig of the Dump by Clive King was one I enjoyed re-reading a few years ago. Lots of it had stayed with me.

[Martinoptic]

Some B.B books - The forest of Bowland Light Railway, The little grey men, Down the bright stream are favourites of mine. And for SF the Kemlo books by EC Eliot.
The Swallows and Amazon books were great as was the 1970s film IMO.

[rkomar]

I loved "Paddle to the Sea" by Holling C. Holling when I was a kid, bought it from a used bookstore about twenty years ago, and still love it as an adult. The paintings are wonderful, and offer a snapshot of what industries and ecosystems were thriving around the Great Lakes back in 1942.

[JSWolf]

When I was a lot younger, I used to read The Hardy Boys books.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When I was a lot younger, I used to read The Hardy Boys books.

Me, too!

And Tom Swift series, as well.

And those Winston Science Fiction series from the 1950s.

AND the "Peter Field" westerns (Powder Valley Westerns), which were written by Brett Halliday.

Great memories.

[issybird]

I recently reread an early Hardy Boys and while I'm firmly of the opinion that you have to take books as representative of their times, I found myself stunned by a staggeringly offensive comment made by Frank. Even if not racist in the context of its times (and I question that) it would have been extremely ill-bred. I'm also not a fan of editing books to modern sensibilities, but I admit that in a children's book that comment would test my limits.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by issybird

I recently reread an early Hardy Boys and while I'm firmly of the opinion that you have to take books as representative of their times, I found myself stunned by a staggeringly offensive comment made by Frank. Even if not racist in the context of its times (and I question that) it would have been extremely ill-bred. I'm also not a fan of editing books to modern sensibilities, but I admit that in a children's book that comment would test my limits.

I have yet to re-read one after all those years ago when I was a pre-teen. I wouldn't be surprised at all, though, if what you said is blatantly and offensively true if I went back and re-read one - probably any one of them from that series.

I doubt I would be able to re-read one in this day and age, due to my now heightened awareness of racist issues compared to when I was 5-8 years old. Also, my reading habits (I like to think) are more sophisticated.