I was enormously obsessed with Swallows and Amazons aged 8 - 10. A heartening number of today's children still love them - not huge numbers, but enough. Just William is mostly read by the adults. Biggles has been reissued, but few children read him - it's mostly adults who borrow the books. The Willard Price series still gets read by children, but there is some pressure to remove them from the library shelves, for containing out-dated attitudes to other countries. I'm keeping them for as long as I can, though, because there is a dearth of good books for boys. Children's publishing has gone very pink.
I really liked Nancy Drew when I was 10 or so. The library didn't stock them, so I'd save up pocket money to buy them. I remember my parents suggesting that I should spend the money on something a bit more enduring, but they never pushed me. They were right, though, because I soon gave them all away to charity, whereas I kept all my other childhood books.
I have re-read some Hardy Boys books since then, though. I even - *embarrassed look* - discovered and read some Hardy Boys fanfiction not so long ago. *runs away, blushing*
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Date: 2006-10-20 01:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-20 03:40 pm (UTC)I used to like Nancy Drew. Haven't read *that* as an adult though.
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Date: 2006-10-20 03:54 pm (UTC)I have re-read some Hardy Boys books since then, though. I even - *embarrassed look* - discovered and read some Hardy Boys fanfiction not so long ago. *runs away, blushing*
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Date: 2006-10-20 04:18 pm (UTC)I am still a big fan of Just William, Biggles and Jennings. I enjoyed the Willard Price books I read, but didn't go back to them.