Last week I had to apologise for the lateness of my collection book of the week post and yet here we are a week later and I find myself in the exact same position. Rather than apologise, I think I am just going to move the expected publication day of this post to be a vague sometime during the weekend, rather than on a Thursday. History has indicated that I will never achieve that. I have no qualms shifting goalposts as you will no doubt be aware. I hope that those of you that wait on tenterhooks every for each new post in this series will be able to accommodate these changes into your schedules.
The book for this week is another Enid Blyton book, but this time part of the so called ‘Mystery series’, thus called because the title of each book in the series begins ‘The Mystery of…’ This series follows the adventures of the ‘Five Find Outers and Dog’. This is yet another example of Enid Blyton’s formulaic approach to her children’s adventure stories. I have often considered how these stories generally consist of the same elements – some children and a clever pet, some stupid villains that are always outfoxed by the children, a stupid policeman that never believes them, a clever, high up policeman who thinks they are just dandy, and a healthy smattering of prejudice and bigotry that would nowadays be considered very politically incorrect.
I acquired this book at the Birmingham book fair, held at the British Motorcycle Museum in 2012. It is a first edition published by Methuen in 1961. The dust cover is in fairly good condition, as is the book itself.
I know that I have mentioned it before, but I really enjoy the feel of these books and the dust cover designs are always interesting and descriptive of the contents of the book. In fact, I know of many collectors that purely collect Enid Blyton first editions for the dust cover designs.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s book, although I expect by now many of you are becoming understandably bored of hearing about my book collection, and that I am just speaking to myself. Still, I enjoy the sound of my own voice such a lot that I will continue with this series for the foreseeable future. Don’t forget, the next post in this compelling series will be available for your reading pleasure next weekend.
Next weekend… give or take a few days. 😉
Very nice, and nope not bored. I think it’s cool, keep posting. 🙂
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Thanks Bradley, I appreciate that. I am glad you are enjoying them
Definitely give or take a few days 🙂
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Um, how do you hear the sound of your voice when writing? I don’t hear the sound of my voice…am I doing something wrong?
Don’t tell the “I” lady, but I enjoy your posts if I’m not in an irritable mood.
Patti
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I am glad you enjoy the posts, I appreciate that. I won’t intentionally tell the “I” lady, don’t worry, but she has a way of wheedling these things out of me.,
You mean you do not read your posts aloud to yourself before posting?
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Plus, I think she snoops when we’re not looking.
Nope, is reading posts aloud in the rule book?
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I think you could be right. How else would she know so much about what is going on.
I think reading aloud is definitely allowed under the rules.
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Exactly! She’s snooping, that’s all there is to it. We’ll have to watch her closely when she is back in full force…
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I always tend watch her closely 🙂
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Holy shite! Someone enjoys Julian’s bloody doldrums? Me, spy?
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There you are. Did I tell you I love you Ionia?
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I love you too, Jules.
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I love to hear you say that. I still get that warm feeling inside each time you do 🙂
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We’ve only been together for 31 years. If you still have it I’d say that’s good.
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I absolutely do.
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You do know my initials will be “IF” lol
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They will when we get married. That will be funny.
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Isn’t if the opposite of I do?
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I guess so. Just don’t forget the right words.
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Fucking Englishman?
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Stop fucking toying with my emotions woman
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You like it
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I do.
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I do too
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It is always good when we agree on something
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Don’t we agree on most things?
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Pretty much everything
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I’m an optimist
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Except what to wear
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I knew it! I have to copy and paste this to prove to them what a snoop you are!
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Just call me snoop bloggy blog;)
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hahaha
feeling better? My sis just had gall bladder surgery and is not a happy camper.
Patti
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Mostly I’m just spaced out, tired. Feeling better every hour:) hope your sister feels better, and thanks for making me smile.
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Good,(spaced out) then you will not notice how many times I have spelled your name wrong. Sheesh, names are important, so I apologize.
Patti
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I spell my own name wrong. 🙂 no worries.
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You have it easy though, you can just call yourself “I” :>)
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Really it would be nice if my name were spelled without the second I, as it is pronounced without it. My mum thought otherwise:)
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That is interesting front matter. that is what i am most disappointed in with createspace’s paperback print on demand process. You want to make nice front matter for your book,,but they are depressingly limited in their printing abilities.
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Yes, I guess that is one of the drawbacks of that type of publishing. The older books in particular do seem to have some very elaborate and interesting artwork.
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I didn’t even realize you had a schedule. Anyway, the book series reminds me of the old Scooby Doo cartoons. I don’t know the dates of the two, but I wonder if one influenced the other.
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I was going to say that as well. If it weren’t for you meddlesome kids and all that jazz;)
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Mmmmmmm Scooby Snacks and mile high sandwiches.
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Mile high sandwiches, they sound good. Scooby Doo was after these books, so it could have been influenced by them, but then there were many other earlier books following the same type of format. So who knows.
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Wouldn’t be surprised if Scooby Doo was based on the tend. If it was a popular story style then it makes sense that a cartoon would follow the pattern.
I think most restaurants around here follow the Scooby Doo and Shaggy method of sandwich and burger making. I’m always at a loss when trying to figure out how I’m supposed to eat the food without dislocating my lower jaw.
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Yes I have seen the sandwiches. I am always amazed that anyone can actually eat them as sandwiches at all. I am sure I would have to eat them with a knife and fork.
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That’s a popular tactic. So is requesting some stuff not be on it. I use that one. Pickles, tomato, and condiments are all I really need on a burger. The third option is to just bite and see how much you get. It’s as graceful as a hippo on a skateboard.
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I like the hippo on a skateboard visual. I agree they often put too much stuff on a burger, I am happy with cheese and sauce, maybe bacon too 🙂
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When my friend and I did make your own burgers at an organic place (see my Heaven Burger Joint post for an exaggeration of that fun if you haven’t already.), we went simple and the waitress was impressed. She said most people pile so much on their burgers that they make a mess. Apparently, every day somebody tries to make a burger with every topping on it.
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I like the idea of make your own burgers, definitely, but every topping, that’s just madness. I will have to look for your post, sounds fun.
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It was from yesterday morning. The place was an organic burger joint, so they had some unique meats. Wild boar, elk, and ostrich were the three odd ones. Bison too if you’re not used to it. Definitely want to go there again.
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Sounds pretty interesting, especially the more exotic meats. Could you have a mega burger of all the different meats and cheese and bacon?
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I don’t know. The menu looked more like it was a one burger patty with at least 7 choices in each category. You could put every cheese and type of bacon on there though. Not sure ostrich and lamb would mix well.
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You could be right about ostrich and lamb. Shame though, it would be interesting, one megaburger.
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You would have beef, turkey, lamb, veggie, ostrich, elk, bison, and wild boar. Odd that I don’t remember seeing chicken on the list.
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Strange about the chicken. I might leave out the veggie burger too – make a mammoth carnivore burger. I don’t suppose there was any mammoth there?
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Sadly no. I look at the veggie burger as fiber and roughage.
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I suppose it is a way to balance up the food groups a little – not sure it would actually make it healthy though.
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Ostrich is 95% lean, so it’s technically health food.
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Good point, some of those more exotic meats are pretty healthy anyway, aren’t they? I suppose having seven or so different meat patties is not so good though 😦
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You’d lose out on the individual tastes too. If it tastes bad, how do you know if it’s the elk or the lamb? That’s why multiple trips are needed. I will say alligator is an acquired taste that I never gained. Tastes like chicken the day before you have to throw it out.
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Never tried alligator, but would certainly be interested in it.
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Go to Florida and give it a shot. Then get out of the state before the locals get you. 😉
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Oh, Julian, do not stop posting about your book collection. I love these posts! By the way, are you familiar with this blog: http://blog.bookstorey.co.uk/ I found it on Tumblr and it’s lovely. All about books and book covers. I thought of you.
I’m also happy to see that Ionia is well enough to participate in 3-way bantering. (I have enough trouble with 2-way bantering when I’m sober.)
And, as far as trying alligator, I don’t think the risk of getting shot in Florida is worth it. I can’t believe I live in a state where they have “legalized” shoot first and ask questions later 😦
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Don’t worry, I shan’t stop posting about these books for a while yet. It means I don’t need to think too much about other things to post 🙂 I hadn’t seen that blog, but I just popped over there and it looks pretty good. Thanks for the recommendation.
Yes it is lovely to see Ionia back commenting, even if only briefly. I am definitely not that interested in alligator.
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Marie Ann, I adore you. Charles, Julian…You are both idiots. You are going to die of a cholesterol related heart attack before your time and i am still going to be happily munching on my “roughage.” Two less competitors for champion of the world.
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You are only now realising I am an idiot? I have been telling you this for some time.
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I love the stupid out of you
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That’s good. I can’t be completely stupid though, because I do love you.
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Yeah that does lessen your IQ a bit, no?
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I was thinking that it made me extremely fucking intelligent, so stop toying with my affections woman.
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Except when we forget how to speak
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Those long conversations without words are one of the highlights of my day. Just hearing the sound of you breathing is like nectar to my soul.
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Ok now I feel bad about giving you shit
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Don’t worry. You wouldn’t know what to do if you didn’t give me shit. You give me shit, I will give you love.
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I will give you both.
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I expect nothing less, my love
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Then life is good
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It is always good with you in it. I cannot see how it could be otherwise.
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You make me happy
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And that is the main goal of my life from now until eternity, and beyond
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You are soppy today. Any particular reason?
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Not really. Can a man not love his girlfriend and express it. But if you’d rather I wasn’t…
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Wasn’t in love with me? I just had a heart attack.
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Wasn’t soppy, you wally. I will always be in love with you, you know that.
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That’s better
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Life is always better with you in it, or did I say that before, I don’t want to become repetitive and boring.
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You are never repetitive nor boring.
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Not even when I tell you I love you 500 times a day?
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Not even then
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That is always good to here. I’ll just have to check though. I love you.
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Why Englishman, did you just say here?
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Oops, bad Englishman, hear I am spelling words wrong 🙂 I must not be able to concentrate properly.
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Lol you had a Romanian moment
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Te iubesc cu toata inima
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v-ar fi atât de natură ca să întoarcă pagina de dragul meu soț?
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Page turned, my darling trouble and strife
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Awe cockney is sweet when you do it
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Thank you me turtle dove. Just wait for our horse and carriage 🙂
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Oh…are you going to do it then too? I can only imagine
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Well it will require us both.
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So will the honeymoon
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Both of us united as one, certainly.
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Goodnight:)
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So where were we. Oh yes. You were destroying my innocence.
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Oh, I think we are way past that now
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Did I miss a turn? Should I go back?
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You didn’t miss your turn, you played an exceptional hand. Would you really go back, if you could? I don’t think so.
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I just wanted to do it all again
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I am sure that can be arranged, my love.
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Did you see the comments on the community board this morning lol we are so guilty
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Obviously so just found your comment
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Us guilty? I think the others are guilty of spying on our private love talk. Is there no privacy in public comments anymore? I just do not know what is happening to the world these days. The degradation of society blah, blah, blah
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Absolutely. I love the privacy on gutter street though.
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It is more private, certainly. Since we blacked the windows and screwed them shut it has cut down on the indecency fines too. Maybe we can have some mutton with the potatoes this week?
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Helloooo, beef Wellington
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Who knew that controlling our lascivious behaviour in public would result in cuisine of such quality. Wild rice and mushrooms too? Bottle of port? We should really be saving an inordinate amount of money without those fines.
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Sounds perfect. I’m dessert, no?
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As always. The sweet, delicious, delights of dessert can only be provided by you personally.
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Lewd. You warned them.
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Well is only fair to give people warning, and hopefully they take note of that, as the consequences may not be pretty if ignore them. Oh, and I love you.
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So odd. I was thinking the same thing. I seem to love you too.
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Well that certainly helps to know that, since I am here on one knee amidst the candles and flowers to say ‘Will you marry me?’
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I am obviously going to say yes, but first, are you able to get up again? I am concerned you may be my height from now on.
“Yes”
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Don’t worry about that at a time like this. Kiss me, woman.
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💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
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That’s better.
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You know, Englishman, I might just take you seriously one of these times;)
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Well you know I am a very serious person. I had assumed that you realised this and responded in a similar manner. I am very serious about this question, but you already know that. Do you wish to revise your response?
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Didn’t I recall something about waiting
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Marry me Dirty Englishman
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Absolutely. But remember no Elvis or Alice Cooper.
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I was thinking Churchill. This is a literary engagement
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Good idea.
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I love you too
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