M. Pardoe (1)

Another fun re-read. Less enjoyable than the others I have read in this series but still worth a look. The deSalis children are growing up, Jill is working in wartime London, Robin heading off to a short course in engineering before he returns to complete school and then join the services, and youngest sibling Bunkle, instead of finishing his holidays with a schoolfriend, takes a temporary job as a "boy" at a riverside inn. Cue hi-jinks with floods, poultry, rude guests, a youthful chambermaid/waitress who he befriends, jewel thieves and gypsies. (The description of Romany people is a bit problematic to the modern eye, though they are at least depicted as neither all bad nor all good). The denouement of the jewel theft plot isn't entirely clear to this reader, however the depiction of the hotel, it's staff, the guests and the rising flood are the best parts of the book. Also of note is that though the deSalis siblings are of a higher social class than the majority of the other characters it's emphasised that their parents have taught them to work hard, perform normal household tasks, be self reliant and to be kind to all (unlike the hotel guest nicknamed Bimbo the slug who's comeuppance is one of the most enjoyable parts of the text). Bunkle excels at his job and his sister Jill makes a cameo appearance at the end as a competent substitute hotel cook. I don't recommend starting with this but if you've enjoyed others in the series you'll enjoy spending more time with Bunkle.… (meer)

A fun nostalgic read, the deSalis family are alone at their home Marsh House during WWII and thanks to younger brother Bunkle, get embroiled in the search for a missing will involving a parrot, a writing desk and a gas burning car running on home made charcoal. As with Blyton's protagonists they are able to get away with behaviours which, however well intended, would've had far more consequences for lower class children. Enjoyable for the vivid picture of English country life during the war - gas burning cars, rationing, better food on farms. One caution - there are a couple of uses of the N word used to describe a black US serviceman which could easily be changed to "black" or removed if the book is reprinted (it appears to be used descriptively rather than pejoratively, which is very much "of its time" in the UK).… (meer)

A nostalgic re read of the first book in a classic children's series from the early 20th Century. Although some of the attitudes are somewhat dated they are also criticised (the older siblings criticism of young Bunkle for speaking French well enough to be taken for a French boy is countered in several places). It's fast paced and fun with the children on the run in pre war Frances with a package entrusted to them by an injured secret agent, trying to track down their father (also a secret agent) to hand it over. It could be seen as a juvenile forerunner to James Bond. We have a couple more (there were 12 in all) of this series in the family and I'll be chasing them up.… (meer)