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Discussion: Favourite childhood book?
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 flippinwilly |
Favourite childhood book?
Feb 6 2008, 1:44 PM EST Tough one, eh? I'm torn between The Saga of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones and The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Erik took me on a fantastical adventure across the high seas. Each chapter told of a new discovery or an encounter with an odd character or treacherous beast. I was with Erik all the way on his journey and felt his heartbreak, confusion and fears. I really did believe we were going to fall off the edge of the earth! My copy of Erik was beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman. I'd recommend it to anyone for reading out loud at bedtime (whatever age you or the listener may be!). Similarly, a few years later I went on another emotional super voyage. This time with Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect as they hitch-hiked their way across the galaxy. Whereas Erik led my mind through ages past, Hitchhikers guided me towards the future and the realisation of a whole universe we know nothing off. I'd never considered the importance of a towel or nuts in space travel. God had never featured and disappeared from any other book I'd read previously so logically or illogically! And never, or since, have I read anything, that has offered the answer to the question "What is the meaning of life?" I have read this a number of times, and still I find myself laughing out loud at the same points and even at new ones. This book, surprisingly for a "humorous sci-fi" title, gets better each time and offers something different as you grow older with it. Remember it is "part of a trilogy in four parts". Do you find this valuable? |
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FriarTuck FriarTuck |
RE: Favourite childhood book?
Mar 20 2008, 2:23 PM EDT It's a salutary shock to realise that flippinwilly's childhood books weren't published until I was on the cusp of middle age. I'm sorry I can't share his enthusiasm for "Hitch-hiker/Galaxy". I didn't attempt the book because the radio (I almost said "wireless") programme left me cold, perhaps it's a generational thing. Favourite childhood book? It's hard to say, brought up in an era when television was something only the rich people down the road had, I read so many books. Some got read time and time again, "The Railway Children", for example. And I remember once when I was ill, my Dad went down to the library (the village hall now) and scoured the children's shelves for a book he thought I'd like. He brought back a book called "Tail End Charley so proudly I hadn't the heart to tell him I'd read it twice. What about favourite series? I devoured the Famous Five and Biggles, one Biggles book in particular "Spitfire Parade". But come back with me, more years than I care to specify, to my Year 3 Junior Class. One lesson a week we had to choose a book from the book cupboard to take away and read. One book produced such a buzz among the boys that the teacher had to devise an oder of borrowing to keep the peace. I remember my excitement on my way to school when it was my turn. The book was called "Brendon Chase" by BB (Denys Watkyn Pitchford) about a group of boys who escape school and parents to live in the woods. I looked at it again many, many years later and wondered at it. I'd forgotten that the first chapter described a station crammed with boys returning to public school. Perhaps it wasn't so strange to me because in those days fictional children went to boarding school by default, but modern youngsters must find it incomprehensible (EXCEPT what about Hogwarts?). The anticipation wasn't disappointed. That's the book of my childhood. Do you find this valuable? |
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durban durban |
RE: Favourite childhood book?
Apr 18 2008, 1:32 PM EDT My favourites were Myths and Legends usually greek.Oh how they used to enchant me , with their magical doings. One book which I won for painting a picture in an R.S.P.C.A. competition contained a story that used to fascinate me about a Gryphon which if you looked at it you were frozen into stone .shades otf the Medusa I know but great all the same. Do you find this valuable? |
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welshwizard welshwizard |
RE: Favourite childhood book?
Jul 15 2008, 7:55 AM EDT Can't really remember much except "The Famous Five" and "Secret Seven" - all devoured at the time ! Also enjoyed "Black Beauty" and all the Biggles and Just William books (pinched from my brother). I re-read one of the "Secret Seven" books recently just to see what it was like - and was hugely disappointed of course. Guess I shoul've read more "classic" type books which would've stood the test of time better. Do you find this valuable? |