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ottiedottie's review
4.0
HAHAHA how to even rate this.
This might be the pinnacle of what I like to call Blyton morality- you musn't be frivolous or care about your appearance or be into art or poetry in a way that is central to your identity or be a "momma's boy" but instead you must be sensible and sturdy and no nonsense but neat and pretty.
I thought both the kids and the aunt and uncle offered too little sympathy to these literal children who lost a home to a fire lol. It was actually ludicrous at times. Especially with Rodrick.
I initially thought I didn't remember this book but it all came back to me. I remember Richard meeting Melisande and Jane quite starkly.
This and the cherry tree/ willow tree farm series made me want to be a farm girl so bad.
This might be the pinnacle of what I like to call Blyton morality- you musn't be frivolous or care about your appearance or be into art or poetry in a way that is central to your identity or be a "momma's boy" but instead you must be sensible and sturdy and no nonsense but neat and pretty.
I thought both the kids and the aunt and uncle offered too little sympathy to these literal children who lost a home to a fire lol. It was actually ludicrous at times. Especially with Rodrick.
I initially thought I didn't remember this book but it all came back to me. I remember Richard meeting Melisande and Jane quite starkly.
This and the cherry tree/ willow tree farm series made me want to be a farm girl so bad.
kat614's review
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marinaschulz's review
5.0
After all this time, I still remember "Six COusins at Mistletoe Farm". I read this book a long, long time ago. I used to go to a Portuguese school when I was younger, and, as a young book curious bilingual girl who had barely finished *really* teaching herself how to read in English, a feat I've always been proud of, I remember feeling extremely compelled by the meagre section that existed in our little nook of a library.
My school went from first to ninth grade, but I recall, maybe wrongly, that most of the books *felt* as though they were meant to be for people older than me. All the books were big and heavy and dusty and old, but I loved to look through that wee little bookcase. The only author I recognised was Enid Blyton...
I'd never been too much of a fan of her books. The Famous Five, even back then, had always stricken me as being overly thought out and unrealistic. But still now, and I might be buyist, I remember feeling very attached to this few books that I read over and over, and I doubt have been appreciated properly since I've left. The plot is much more pure and simple; it's about some children who have to move into their aunt and uncle's when their own family looses money. These kids are spoilt and initially feel out of place, but end up growing up and into its fabrics.
The book can be sexist at times, I still remember when a female character is chastened for having dirty nails; a dishonour to her family. But it's simple and involving, and the rotten children changing their ways doesn't even feel forced, or coerced into not being themselves, but real growth, which, really, even now is so hard to come across. I enjoyed how everyone had flaws and personality. Inside the ever present two dimensional characters that live in children's books, each person was their own self, and everyone grew from the experience. Nobody was precious from the get go, and everyone learnt something from the clash between such different families.
I definitely recommend this; it's part of growing up.
My school went from first to ninth grade, but I recall, maybe wrongly, that most of the books *felt* as though they were meant to be for people older than me. All the books were big and heavy and dusty and old, but I loved to look through that wee little bookcase. The only author I recognised was Enid Blyton...
I'd never been too much of a fan of her books. The Famous Five, even back then, had always stricken me as being overly thought out and unrealistic. But still now, and I might be buyist, I remember feeling very attached to this few books that I read over and over, and I doubt have been appreciated properly since I've left. The plot is much more pure and simple; it's about some children who have to move into their aunt and uncle's when their own family looses money. These kids are spoilt and initially feel out of place, but end up growing up and into its fabrics.
The book can be sexist at times, I still remember when a female character is chastened for having dirty nails; a dishonour to her family. But it's simple and involving, and the rotten children changing their ways doesn't even feel forced, or coerced into not being themselves, but real growth, which, really, even now is so hard to come across. I enjoyed how everyone had flaws and personality. Inside the ever present two dimensional characters that live in children's books, each person was their own self, and everyone grew from the experience. Nobody was precious from the get go, and everyone learnt something from the clash between such different families.
I definitely recommend this; it's part of growing up.
sarabook's review
4.0
It's that time again: books from ma's house!
This is one of many Enid Blyton books I owned, and I really loved this book in particular as a kid. Really loved it. So much, the pages are falling out of it.
Basically, the jist is that three city kids go to live with their three cousins on a farm after their house burns down, where they get up to loads of shenanigans involving poaching, poetry and getting over a totally rational fear of fire. I really wanted to live on a farm, have amazing high teas with massive pies and get a cocker spaniel after reading this as a youngster. And possibly take up a side hobby in poaching. None of those things happened. I was bitter.
The character development for all the children is a lot more complex than most Enid Blyton books, and the story is very much a character driven affair with no 'adventures' as such. Mainly, I just remember really hating Aunt Rose. She was one spoilt, selfish cow who didn't care about her children at all.
This is one of many Enid Blyton books I owned, and I really loved this book in particular as a kid. Really loved it. So much, the pages are falling out of it.
Basically, the jist is that three city kids go to live with their three cousins on a farm after their house burns down, where they get up to loads of shenanigans involving poaching, poetry and getting over a totally rational fear of fire. I really wanted to live on a farm, have amazing high teas with massive pies and get a cocker spaniel after reading this as a youngster. And possibly take up a side hobby in poaching. None of those things happened. I was bitter.
The character development for all the children is a lot more complex than most Enid Blyton books, and the story is very much a character driven affair with no 'adventures' as such. Mainly, I just remember really hating Aunt Rose. She was one spoilt, selfish cow who didn't care about her children at all.
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