Any reader who grew up on Enid Blyton will credit her for her numerous books that fueled one’s imagination and inexplicable delight experienced by reading her books. Here are my top five reasons why I love Enid Blyton.
# 5. For her descriptions about food: Lemonade, buns, potted meat sandwiches, hard boiled eggs (usually in crisp, fresh salads that had half the vegetable market in it), tomato sandwiches, pop biscuits, toffee shocks, treacle puddings, chocolate biscuits, huge chocolate cakes, bacon and eggs with onions, slabs of chocolate bars, eclairs (usually eaten by the five find outers) scones and macaroons, jam tarts, ices, fresh bread and honey, cold creamy milk from the diary, ripe plums from the garden, strawberries and cream, gingerbread, ginger beer, ice creams… as a child, I dint even know what half of them meant, but being a foodie, that dint stop me from drooling and sighing with envy that the characters were the luckiest in the world to have such heavenly food!
Ok.. time for a break from this article. Excuse me while I go and pig out on some food :)
Back again and speaking of the lucky characters, herez another point of envy..
# 4. For her characters: Who can’t help admiring Fatty for his courage, wit and brains? Timmy for his loyalty and adorable ways? The twins at St. Clares? Or all the other girls and teachers– the good, the bad and ugly at the boarding schools? The naughtiest girl who made naughtiness seem so appealing? Dolls that come alive at nights, the cheeky Snubby and his mad dog loony, Kiki the talkative parrot who never fails to steal the show, Mr. Pink Whistle the invisible magic man who set things right……each character so unique, yet so easy to connect with.
# 3. For names: A snow man is called icy cold..a fussy donkey..kick up, an enchanter is called Mr. Spells, saucepan man (who has pans and kettles all around him), moon face (who had a round face like the moon), whatzisname (a man who well… dint know what his name was!:) …...she makes all seem so effortless!
# 2. For the locations: Forget beaches and luxury resorts and climb up a tree that lead into a cloud and off one goes to exciting lands of dreams, birthdays, secrets, goodies and lands of do-as-you please, a wishing chair that flies away to magical places and strange journeys, Galliano’s circus will never make you want to live in a house anymore, islands that belong to children (George’s Kirrin Island and the secret island from the secret series), boarding schools that made me long to apply to, playrooms and toys that made me wish I was a fly on the wall when they came alive….
# 1. For making me believe: In magic, in spells, in the power of kindness, courage, in learning a lesson in every single story and for bringing out the child in me even today, when I am in my thirties. Yes, I still read Enid Blyton and till date, I list her books as the best blessings I have had the pleasure to discover!!
