Who killed The Famous Five?

Unbelievably, these lovely books are being edited for the kids of today. There are no lashings of ginger beer and not a single threat of a spanking from Uncle Quentin!

The first editions are still available, but...come on!! Why mess with something that should be left well alone! I seriously despair that parents might choose the new (shit) versions over the right and proper ones.

Have you seen the kids of today? Have you seen the computer games they play? Have you ever seen them hanging around in parks, swigging cans and smoking weed? No? Well. If you really want to protect your kids from terrible things like Enid Blyton books, then shame on you. Try cutting off the internet so they can't watch gang beatings on YouTube or connect via FB and post half-naked, pouty pictures of themselves.

Kids are reading far, far more outrageous stuff these days. A lot of it is well-suited to their outlook on life and very carefully written.

Anyway...I just had to say this. Sorry if I've offended any beer-swigging, dope-smoking, half-naked, pouty 8 year olds.

I put a bit of famous five in my new book, but I am not sure that bit will make it to print.

No ginger beer? I thought it was a soft drink...

Are you talking about the 70th anniversary edition or just generally? *confused*

I don't mind when they edit classic children's stories to remove racist terms, but I don't see why they would edit out those sorts of things. Very odd.

Quote: Marc P @ August 21 2012, 10:22 AM BST

I put a bit of my famous five inches in my new book, but I am not sure that bit will make it to print.

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It nearly had my eye out!

On Amazon...the reviews are scathing and some are moaning that their reviews are being distributed between the new and old versions (Amazon does this). However, the editions are different. One reviewer wanted to make it clear he/she was reviewing the new, edited, version and not the old, untouched one.

I teach my kids to read with Janet and John and Peter and Jane books (the old ones), but even the newer versions of these books have different pictures. There are so many new books being written and illustrated...why mess with the charm of the old ones?

They did us okay and we can all read and write properly. A lot of kids of today are sadly lacking the same inspiration. Say, "Hello" to dumbing down!

They did it with Bunter too, but you can still get hold of the originals! Ebay is the place

Quote: Joyce @ August 21 2012, 10:32 AM BST

On Amazon...the reviews are scathing and some are moaning that their reviews are being distributed between the new and old versions (Amazon does this). However, the editions are different. One reviewer wanted to make it clear he/she was reviewing the new, edited, version and not the old, untouched one.

I teach my kids to read with Janet and John and Peter and Jane books (the old ones), but even the newer versions of these books have different pictures. There are so many new books being written and illustrated...why mess with the charm of the old ones?

They did us okay and we can all read and write properly. A lot of kids of today are sadly lacking the same inspiration. Say, "Hello" to dumbing down!

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It's probably just the publishing house trying to expand a finite collection of stories to a broader audience (ie. younger, less capable readers) so that they can earn more money out of it.

Enid Blyton is a very interesting figure in children's literature. Her books are adored by more than one generation of children, but adults who aren't coloured by nostalgic memories of Blyton dismiss her books as badly written rubbish. The same thing happens with Jaqueline Wilson's books today: children absolutely love her books, but many adults just can't see the appeal and consider them to be damaging in their limited vocabulary.

In your new book do they "ring Noddys bell?"

Quote: Marc P @ August 21 2012, 10:36 AM BST

They did it with Bunter too,

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oh God MarcP what have Tesco got you writing now?

Lol.

Actually the famous five scene, that a kid was reading in the novel, was juxtaposed against all kinds of gangland teen, and younger, nastiness. So it does have a legitimate context - I still don;t think they will let me use it though

Hmmm...what next eh?

I know, let's rewrite the Bible and have Jesus NOT being nailed to the cross, but be told what a naughty boy he is and..."No you can't have a sticker until you've had a long hard think about what you've done!". Previous to that, we can have his mother riding into town on a microscooter and asking if there is any room on the bench outside McDonalds.

Moses? Yup...deffo gotta have a jetski!

Quote: Joyce @ August 21 2012, 10:48 AM BST

Hmmm...what next eh?

I know, let's rewrite the Bible and have Jesus NOT being nailed to the cross, but be told what a naughty boy he is and..."No you can't have a sticker until you've had a long hard think about what you've done!". Previous to that, we can have his mother riding into town on a microscooter and asking if there is any room on the bench outside McDonalds.

Moses? Yup...deffo gotta have a jetski!

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I would read that! Sounds amazing!

Quote: zooo @ August 21 2012, 10:23 AM BST

No ginger beer? I thought it was a soft drink...

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When my grandad brewed it in a bedroom in a top-floor flat in Streatham...no it was not a soft drink...hah!

But, yes, nowadays...I'm sure it's a soft drink, like ginger ale. Or, maybe, there are different strengths. Not sure...will test it!

Quote: Harridan @ August 21 2012, 10:51 AM BST

I would read that! Sounds amazing!

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I'll get on it.

Ginger beer can be alcoholic , but the kind referred to in the FF books were not alcoholic. Likewise grog and etc in JW.