Recovering academic based in Scotland. Enjoys crime fiction, period classics and adventure.
This link opens in a pop-up window
I do wonder about these stories. They're similar to Blyton ones, but superior in every way. However, the prose and language is more complicated so younger children need them read, but older children might be confused by the more simple adventures of yesteryear. I love them though. A fabulous window into mid-century Britain.
The pages turned easily, but it was a dreary story with no character engagement.
Nicholas Nickleby is left responsible for his mother and sister when his father dies. The …
This felt an enormous read. At times could do with tighter editing, but I think that's a product of the original serial format.
The book follows the titular character, his family and friends through good and bad.
Some dated depictions of gender roles, although a useful talking point for how these have changed. "Fat/plump" was used as an adjective too much. I was confused about the romantic relationship between cousins, I only hope they were distant cousins!
That's the bad stuff out the way. As a whole, the book is a lovely view into the 1950. Plenty of sweeping landscape descriptions, which help transport the reader. The adventure and threat is low level, with much of the time spent on the children working as a team on chores or tasks. My 8 year old loved it.