| Title | : | The Faraway Tree Stories (The Faraway Tree #1-3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1405201711 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781405201711 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 583 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1991 |
The Faraway Tree Stories (The Faraway Tree #1-3) Reviews
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Given the recent furore over
rewriting Roald Dahl, I wonder if we'll ever get justice for the Faraway Tree?
(Feb 2023)
I adored the Faraway Tree stories when I was a kid – and still do, but caveat emptor, make sure you check the version you're buying. This particular edition has been bowdlerised to pieces. The episode where the children land in Dame Slap's school – which terrified and thrilled me as a wee 'un – is now unrecognisable. Here's how Dame Slap originally dealt with her pupils:She frowned. ‘Twinkle, come here!’ she said. A small pixie walked up to her.
‘Haven't I told you to brush your hair properly for meal-times?’ said Dame Slap, and she slapped the pixie hard. Twinkle burst into tears.
‘And there's Doodle over there with a torn tunic!’ said Dame Slap. ‘Come here, Doodle.’
Doodle came and was slapped very hard indeed. Bessie and Fanny felt nervous, and hoped that their hair and hands and dresses were clean and tidy.
But in this and some other modern editions, the corporal punishment – and any sense of threat – has just been silently removed.She frowned. ‘Twinkle, come here!’ she said. A small pixie walked up to her.
‘Haven't I told you to brush your hair properly for meal-times?’ said Dame Snap. Twinkle burst into tears.
‘And there's Doodle over there with a torn tunic!’ said Dame Snap. ‘Come here, Doodle.’
Doodle came. Bessie and Fanny felt nervous, and hoped that their hair and hands and dresses were clean and tidy.
Huh? Now we're left with the weird situation where the children keep bursting into tears because ‘Dame Snap’ ‘snaps’ at them. I'm wondering what other editions this publisher has put out – perhaps a version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where all the children live happily ever after, or a new run of Harry Potter in which Harry's parents were tragically flicked off by Voldemort when he was just a baby.
I've had to dig out the original creased, coverless versions of these books that I had as a child so my own kids can get the proper story. Five stars for those; two stars for the neutered rewrite.
(Aug 2016) -
I never much liked Enid Blyton when I was a kid, but this one got read out to us aloud sometime in second grade so I had no choice. I don't remember very much of it (I fear I may not really have been paying attention), but there is one incident that stuck in my memory. The kids have found this magical ice-cream vendor who can give you absolutely any flavour you want. All but one of them do the sensible thing and just request their favourite kind. But the smart-ass in the group decides to test the limits of the system, and asks for a sardine ice-cream. And, sure enough, he gets it, and very unpleasant it is too. I can still clearly see the picture of the discomfited-looking child holding the cone, with a fish's tail poking out of the scoop of ice-cream. No doubt the episode resonated with me because I'm also a smart-ass.
The rest of this review is available elsewhere (the location cannot be given for Goodreads policy reasons) -
A whopper of a book! Three Enid Blyton Faraway Tree stories in one edition. This series was my favourite as a child. It's magical, imaginative, exciting and scary. I re-read it this year, to my 5 year old son, and he was as enchanted as me. Enid Blyton may well be responsible for me trying to end each chapter of my novels with a cliffhanger - she does it so well and I've lost count of the number of times my son begged me for, 'just one more chapter, mummy!'
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Loved these series as a child. My Dad used to read them to me as a bedtime story along with Brer Rabbit. As I got a bit older I used to love reading her other series-The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, The Twins of St Clair's, The Secret Seven, The Children of Cherry Tree Farm and my favourite back then, The Famous Five. Enid Blyton inspired me to read as a young child and to this day I suspect is the reason I love to read.
I found a copy of the Magic Faraway Tree in a hotel library and read it in a few hours, which transported me back to my childhood and the enticing world of Moonface and co. -
So.... my mum used to read this to me when I was little so I was expecting to give this 5 stars.
Is it outdated - YES massively and there were some things that maybe wouldn't fly in 2021 but some of the outdated things were really lovely. It was a fun read but extremely repetitive and messy at times. Things were wrapped up much to quickly and easily.
I can't give this more than 3 stars when I think about children's books like Narnia which is much more original and enjoyable.
I did enjoy some of the characters Moon-face in particular but the Saucepan man really winds me up he's the most annoying a repetitive character ever created. I was hoping for more substance in this book and it explains why I never remembered anything that happened.
Out of the three stories I would say The Magic Faraway Tree was the better of the three and I would've given this story alone 4 stars. The Enchanted Wood and The Folk of the Faraway Tree I would only give 2.5stars each.
You could tell that Enid Blyton didn't like naughty children because all the punishments and morals to the stories were brutal. -
A truly magical book that I have read way more than just this one time. I am pretty sure I read it multiple times a year from the first time I got my copy. Anytime I want to escape and just be free, this book is one of my go to books. The characters are so real to me even in all their fantasticness. It never bothers me that their mother doesn't question why Moon-Face looks the way he does or how a squirrel can talk. It never seemed strange that she didn't notice they would sneak out or that they spent most of their time up an enchanted tree. I experienced every land they went to as if I was there with them. Sometimes we all just need a little bit of magic and this book always has a way of giving me what I need.
I started of trying to read it to my kids but they are still learning the kind of patience needed for sitting still and listening to mommy read. My copy also has limited pictures, only a few sketches here and there so they find it rather dull. One day though, they too will join me on my adventures up the Faraway Tree. -
I love Enid blyton books and even today when I re-read all of her stories, it takes me back to my childhood days <3 which is the only reason re-read them at time. This book in particular was what I borrowed from my school library on purpose so that I could read it at night and when I did, it was as if I was taken back in time back to my sweet carefree childhood days. Loved the stories! Especially moon face and the three kids.
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I know Enid is no longer de rigueur.......but without this author my childhood would have been a sad and lonely place, from her stories for young children the wishing chair and come to the circus, to the fabulous famous five, St. clares, and Mallory towers series, this woman encouraged my love of reading which I continue today
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I've bought this book for my 6 year old niece for Christmas. The cover is gorgeous, the font is a good size and the book also contains black illustrations throughout. I'm sure Daisy will let me know how many stars to give this once she has read it.
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I read this a long long time ago, I think when I was in the first or second grade in primary school! I used to love borrowing these from the library. Such nostalgia! I think anyone who loves the Harry Potter series would have loved this series as a kid!
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"Like so many of us, I read this book when I was a kid. Back in the day when we used to go out and play sports on the street after school.......yes I am old.
So I say to anyone, read this to your young kids, it is brilliant. Full of fantasy and adventure but really simplified. There are no in-depth plots, it is just one adventure after another, no slow character build-ups, just in your face - these are the characters, now let's go.
For the 1% of you who don't know, Jo, Bessie, and Fanny (yes this is the non PC edition) move from the city to the country with their parents. They live in a cottage near some woods and when they explore the woods they find a whole bunch of exciting creatures and all of the animals can talk. In the middle of the woods is the world's tallest tree, know
n as the Faraway Tree. The woods are called the Enchanted Woods. The Faraway Tree is home to several different characters, Silky the Elf, Moon Face, the Angry Pixie, Dame Washalot, Saucepan Man, Watzisname and a few others. The Faraway Tree is so tall it reaches into the clouds and up in these clouds a new land swings by (like a rotating turntable of lands) every couple of days. These lands can either be fantastic like the land of Take-What-You-Want or horrible like the land of Slaps.
And there you have it. These stories all revolve around the central characters mentioned and their adventures both in the Faraway Tree and in the lands above. Like I said, simple adventure based stories for kids to grip onto rather than have to wade through the scene and character formation.
Enid Blyton wrote these books in the late 1930s and early 1940s so understand that times were a lot different back then. For starters, there was not so much of the PC crap that we endure t
oday - there are actually Golliwogs in these stories!!
And keep in mind this is all about the adventure and that these books are essentially for kids. In fact, these books make an excellent start to get your kids reading and enjoying the written word. So, as an adult, don't be critical of the glaring irregularities of life - for example when the kids go to the Faraway Tree in the middle of the night and return early morning and their Mother doesn't really seem to mind. Be prepared also that within the group, it is Jo who predominantly takes control and makes the decisions. When at home Bessie and Fanny have to do 'female' chores with their Mother like sewing and Jo has to do 'male' chores with their Father like working the garden. I point this out ahead of reading - IT IS NOT SEXIST, it was just a reflection of the times when Blyton wrote these fantastic books.
Read it for what it is worth and that is the fun, adventure and fantasy. Read it to your kids - t
hey'll get all of that in spades.
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This is actually an interesting novel. The childhood longing for fear and gluttony in a single novel. Lands appearing on the top of a tree. Children who get to access these lands. It is a great idea. Most childhood fantasies are actually adult fantasies. There is real danger. Sometimes the lands can be wonderful filled with cookies or milkshakes or chocolates or something. Sometimes the lands can be horrifying. I loved this book as a kid. I wish they would make better covers for different editions. The Faraway Tree is actually a feel good horror novel.
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When I read that Enid Blyton was one the favorite childhood authors of the likes of Neil Gaiman and Stieg Larsson, and when a British exchange student at my daughter's college exclaimed in surprise when she heard that her American friends had never heard of Enid Blyton, my curiosity was aroused. It turns out, Blyton is the 4th most translated author (after Shakespeare), wrote 700 books for children, and last year (2009) was voted favorite British author in one poll (beating out J.K. Rowling).
Why are her books not better known by American children?
I have just finished "The Enchanted Wood", the first of three books in this volume. I can imagine it being a good choice for children who are just ready to listen to chapter books. Three siblings move with their parents to a cottage behind which, just across an overgrown lane and a jump over a ditch, is a wood. They know right away that it is enchanted when they hear the trees murmuring to each other, "wisha-wisha-wisha", and determine to explore it at their first opportunity. On their very first venture into the wood,as they prepare to have a picnic, they see some magic toadstools pop up and a group of brownies take their seats on them for a meeting. While observing the brownies, the children see a gnome creep up and attempt to steal a bag from the brownies. The children capture the gnome and during the chase end up at the Magic Faraway Tree, "the oldest and most magic tree in the world". The brownies warn them to be cautious of the tree because, at its top there are unknown lands and you could become trapped in one of them. The children nevertheless determine to return to it. When next they visit, they climb its branches and meet all of the tree's inhabitants on the way up. There is the red squirrel, Silky the fairy, Moon-Face and his "slippery-slip" (a slide from his room right down the center of the tree to the bottom), the Angry Pixie, Saucepan Man, Mr. Watzisname and Dame Washalot (of whom you must be mindful because she can toss out her wash water right onto you!). After climbing past all of these doorways, the children come to the top of the tree where there is a ladder up into the clouds. If you climb through the hole in the clouds, you will be in another land. But they find they must be careful, as the lands rotate away from the top of the tree and the hole back down may then be inaccessible. Some of the lands are pleasant (like the Land of Take-What-You-Want) and some are not (like the land of Dame Slap's school). The children have many adventures in these lands, closing out the book with a day spent in perhaps the best of all, Birthday Land. This is a book of pure imaginative appeal for children (and grown-ups too!). -
I will always know Enid Blyton as the author whose name is written so unclear on the books, to my non-English eyes, it could be read as Enicl, Gnid, or Enid. So for many many many years I never actually knew what the name really is.
But also, her books are the first ever English books I read alone, and what got me into reading as a hobby. Her works helped me a lot in terms of learning English. It was accessible language, good storytelling, and fun stories. The Faraway Tree was always a favorite of mine, because of the magic and adventure aspects. I get lost in the many different worlds. I think it was also the first book that got me started early in writing fanfic! Ha ha. -
It's like dreaming while you're awake. Maybe at an adult stage, it won't be that enjoyable but read it to your kids or your little sister/brother or just any youngster and you'll be able to understand why they will fall in love with it. It's a great book and it leaves you with nothing but happy thoughts which every child deserves. It's innocent and lovely. It's a dream.
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Even after all these years, I still adore this book. It's filled with the kind of adventures you long for as a child, even adult me would love to climb the Faraway Tree!
This was written in 1939 but I think it's still a fun read for kids of today. This edition was printed in the early nineties and does still contain elements which I think have been removed now. Obviously Golliwogs have been removed, however I read a few years ago that Dame Slap was considered problematic so not sure if she is still about. Slapping is a big storyline, so not sure what they replaced her with!
Although I remembered that Moonface loved toffee, I had forgotten about the amazing food they eat. I really want to try a Pop Biscuit! They sound so yummy! Enid has always been good at the written food porn!
My only complaint is I remember this seeming longer and them having loads more adventures but I think it would have just taken me longer to get through this book as a kid.
If you've never read this, you need to and if you have children, make sure this finds it's way into their Christmas Stocking! -
As I kid I would devour any book written by Enid Blyton. I remember my most favourite series is this Faraway series. The concept of a tree taking you off to faraway magical lands is clever, captivating and original. The lands are scary and funny. This was my first introduction to books full of magic. A must read for kids (or people) who like magic!
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These were amongst my favourite stories when I was little. The children, Moon Face and Silky go on adventures to different worlds that are at the top of the far away tree. The worlds change frequently and their adventures are delightful. The characters of the tree are brilliant and I can't wait to read these to my son. I think I enjoyed reading them until I was 9 or so.
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When I was a child I wanted to live in the Faraway tree, or if not, then Badger's home, or a Hobbit-hole!
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A must for all you Dreamers !
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This book was my childhood.
I also did in fact dress up as moon face for book day in grade 2 ! ( don’t judge) -
Great childhood book😃
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I bought thuis book to read to my two grandchildren aged 2 and 4. At frist there wereld nog mutch pictures in it. So I let them draw White reading. The stores are 3 to 4 pages long. So that is a possibility. We enjoyed thuis book.
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A great series of books! Very adventurous allowing children to expand their imagination and build on their creativity. These books touch on individual character differences and different, diverse worlds. The characters in the book are faced with exciting adventures that teach them how to grow as individuals.
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This was simply just delightful. Nothing less or nothing more; as light as a feather, and as sweet as a treasured childhood memory, these stories almost melted on my tongue with a sugary flavour. My only regret is just that I didn't read these as a child. It is such a shame, because I would have loved them.
'The Magic Faraway Tree' is childhood imagination at its best. I can easily imagine a younger version of me, squealing with delight at the mere thought of a land of toys or a tea party land. These books are everything a child could ever wish for or dream of.
I also liked the fact that the books reminded me of several of my favorite childhood-stories; they had the crazyness and absurdness of Alice in Wonderland, the cross character from The Voyage of the Dawn Threader and the lessons and wisdom of numerous classic fairytales. I adored those references.
It is very hard for me to rate children's books as these, as I am no longer a child. It always feels bittersweet and reminds me of what I have lost and outgrown over the years. But there is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that these books are perfect for children. They would have been perfect for me too, not so long ago...
