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The Famous Five #19
Five Go to Demon's Rocks
The Famous Five have heard the stories about treasure on Demon's Rocks - bu they never thought they were really true! But then they discover a very old and valuable gold coin and what was a myth becomes real! Who does the treasure belong to? The gang are determined to find out, but first they need to know who else is exploring Demon's Rocks for the Treasure - just like they are...
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
111 people are currently reading
2,074 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
4,823Ìýbooks6,129ÌýfollowersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Ðнид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897�1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Ðнид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897�1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
August 15, 2019
Firstly, I’m giving this book an extra star for having the most heavy metal title of any children’s book I’ve ever seen. I’m also deducting a star because it doesn’t actually have any demons in it.
This is a cracking little adventure for the Five, accompanied by their new ‘friend� Tinker and his pet monkey, Mischief. You’re damned straight there’s a monkey! The presence of a monkey was almost enough to make up for the complete lack of demons. I quite liked Tinker, too, as he’s a bit� well, mad seems harsh but I’m struggling to find a better word. He spends most of his time pretending to be a car, with all the necessary sound effects.
The five kids, plus Timmy the dog and the aforementioned monkey go to stay at an abandoned lighthouse. Needless to say, there’s lost treasure involved, peculiar old men to deliver the necessary exposition, exploration of underground caverns and two mean ol� bad guys (who are named Ebenezer and Jacob, in a nice little nod to A Christmas Carol). It even ends with an enormous storm, which was inevitable really but I’d’ve been disappointed if it hadn’t happened.
The only reason I’m not giving this one the full five stars is because it takes too long to really get going. Virtually all the action is in the third act. Still, there’s a monkey, so all is good in the world.
This is a cracking little adventure for the Five, accompanied by their new ‘friend� Tinker and his pet monkey, Mischief. You’re damned straight there’s a monkey! The presence of a monkey was almost enough to make up for the complete lack of demons. I quite liked Tinker, too, as he’s a bit� well, mad seems harsh but I’m struggling to find a better word. He spends most of his time pretending to be a car, with all the necessary sound effects.
The five kids, plus Timmy the dog and the aforementioned monkey go to stay at an abandoned lighthouse. Needless to say, there’s lost treasure involved, peculiar old men to deliver the necessary exposition, exploration of underground caverns and two mean ol� bad guys (who are named Ebenezer and Jacob, in a nice little nod to A Christmas Carol). It even ends with an enormous storm, which was inevitable really but I’d’ve been disappointed if it hadn’t happened.
The only reason I’m not giving this one the full five stars is because it takes too long to really get going. Virtually all the action is in the third act. Still, there’s a monkey, so all is good in the world.
March 15, 2020
I loved this book as a child, and have hugely enjoyed revisiting it. Uncle Quentin has another `mad scientist' friend to visit and so the Five - plus the addition of a new friend and his pet monkey - are sent off to live in a deserted lighthouse at Demon Rocks. Adventures ensue, of course, replete with enemies, secret tunnels and hidden treasure!
August 2, 2022
I enjoyed this one a lot. She was back on track with the adventure and the new characters. I loved Mischief the monkey added a nice light touch to the story.
I read these as I read them when I was growing up, for enjoyment, so even though I know I could pick it asunder and point out inaccuracies, I don't. The one thing that got me throughout all the books was how totally selfish and self absorbed Uncle Quentin was and got away with it! He really is a totally unlikable character.
Enjoyed it just as much again.
I read these as I read them when I was growing up, for enjoyment, so even though I know I could pick it asunder and point out inaccuracies, I don't. The one thing that got me throughout all the books was how totally selfish and self absorbed Uncle Quentin was and got away with it! He really is a totally unlikable character.
Enjoyed it just as much again.
December 26, 2019
There are some books that belong exclusively to our childhood and there are some of those very books that stay with us forever, lingering in our memory even as we age and grow old and cranky and whine about the weather or the work being too hard and the pay being too less and insubstantial. Rediscovering and poring over these gems again is a truly transcendent experience, one that throws into shade all our petty quibbles and nit-picking with our humdrum lives and lets us thaw a bit, warm to the innocence and beauty of discovering a story, a great, time-tested story, for the first time in your life.
For me, one such book has to be this fascinating, simply constructed yet ingeniously plotted Famous Five suspense adventure from the one and only Enid Blyton - that fine, admirable, dignified lady whom we should all thank collectively for giving us an entire wealth of stories to keep our imagination fertile. I mean, think of it - this is the woman who gave birth to that charming little lad called Noddy!
And yet, I always felt that it was in her Famous Five and Secret Seven stories that she could really spin the most delightful and colourful yarns - the earliest examples of thrillers for younger readers and yet with plots and mysteries and secrets as devilish and brilliant as ones to be found in thrillers that adults would normally read. That and of course a great sense of warmth and friendship, an irresistible flavour of adventure and earthy pleasure on our tongue and of course, those loveable, adorable characters themselves - boys and girls like you and me in our teens and with curious minds of intrepid adventurers and amateur detectives.
'Five Go To Demon's Rocks' is forever embedded in my memory, for more than one special reason; for better or for worse, this was the book that taught me how to read not merely novels but also thrillers - it filled me with the thirst to read a book from cover to cover, expecting to be bowled over by some brilliant twist in the tale and then root for the detective or spy at the helm of things to win the game, to save the day. I remember curling up with this book in the summer vacations, my eyes blissfully surrendering to the strain of reading the tiny print because every word meant something new, every new chapter promised me a new surprise.
Coincidentally, my eyes suffered from a stroke of progressive myopia and I started wearing spectacles shortly after finishing this book!
Every little detail is so memorable, even today. And every bit of this book is so, so enjoyable. Blyton's flair at portraying the comic misadventures of the Five, including Timmy, of course, sparking off with newbies Tinker and his boisterous monkey Mischief, has not dimmed at all with the years; they are still amusing, even in the littlest details, like George's possessiveness or Tinker's annoying habit of making sounds like fancy sports cars. And when they ship to the old lighthouse on Demon's Rocks, and then poke their young noses to the exciting, even dangerous secrets of the place, it only gets better and better. Not to forget those appetising cakes, macaroons and those card games over ginger beer!
A truly unforgettable read, not least because how it is an inextricable part of my childhood.
For me, one such book has to be this fascinating, simply constructed yet ingeniously plotted Famous Five suspense adventure from the one and only Enid Blyton - that fine, admirable, dignified lady whom we should all thank collectively for giving us an entire wealth of stories to keep our imagination fertile. I mean, think of it - this is the woman who gave birth to that charming little lad called Noddy!
And yet, I always felt that it was in her Famous Five and Secret Seven stories that she could really spin the most delightful and colourful yarns - the earliest examples of thrillers for younger readers and yet with plots and mysteries and secrets as devilish and brilliant as ones to be found in thrillers that adults would normally read. That and of course a great sense of warmth and friendship, an irresistible flavour of adventure and earthy pleasure on our tongue and of course, those loveable, adorable characters themselves - boys and girls like you and me in our teens and with curious minds of intrepid adventurers and amateur detectives.
'Five Go To Demon's Rocks' is forever embedded in my memory, for more than one special reason; for better or for worse, this was the book that taught me how to read not merely novels but also thrillers - it filled me with the thirst to read a book from cover to cover, expecting to be bowled over by some brilliant twist in the tale and then root for the detective or spy at the helm of things to win the game, to save the day. I remember curling up with this book in the summer vacations, my eyes blissfully surrendering to the strain of reading the tiny print because every word meant something new, every new chapter promised me a new surprise.
Coincidentally, my eyes suffered from a stroke of progressive myopia and I started wearing spectacles shortly after finishing this book!
Every little detail is so memorable, even today. And every bit of this book is so, so enjoyable. Blyton's flair at portraying the comic misadventures of the Five, including Timmy, of course, sparking off with newbies Tinker and his boisterous monkey Mischief, has not dimmed at all with the years; they are still amusing, even in the littlest details, like George's possessiveness or Tinker's annoying habit of making sounds like fancy sports cars. And when they ship to the old lighthouse on Demon's Rocks, and then poke their young noses to the exciting, even dangerous secrets of the place, it only gets better and better. Not to forget those appetising cakes, macaroons and those card games over ginger beer!
A truly unforgettable read, not least because how it is an inextricable part of my childhood.
March 4, 2011
This was one of my favourites. What struck me, re-reading this at the grand old age of 25, is how utterly condescending the Five are to EVERYONE, including each other! But I still felt some of the old thrills over gold coins and one-eared wreckers, and a lighthouse battered by the winds. I think my favourite thing about the Famous Five stories is that sense of cosiness amidst danger; wherever they go, whatever the adventures, there's always a little spot of golden torchlight, and plenty of hard-boiled eggs.
June 21, 2018
Me ha encantado volver con los cinco a las rocas del diablo para pasar unos dÃas en su viejo faro.
Tormentas, tesoros, piratas y todo ello en un marco incomparable. ¿Se pueden pedir mejores aventuras para unos dÃas de vacaciones? Yo creo que no y ánimo a todo el mundo a leer o releer los libros de Enid Blyton . E cierto que hay algunas cosillas que nos podrÃan chirriar hoy en dÃa como que siempre sean las chicas las encargadas de fregar los platos, pero hay que tener en cuenta que estas historias se escribieron entre 1915 y 1968 y el mundo ha cambiado mucho desde entonces. Yo sigo recomendandolas
Tormentas, tesoros, piratas y todo ello en un marco incomparable. ¿Se pueden pedir mejores aventuras para unos dÃas de vacaciones? Yo creo que no y ánimo a todo el mundo a leer o releer los libros de Enid Blyton . E cierto que hay algunas cosillas que nos podrÃan chirriar hoy en dÃa como que siempre sean las chicas las encargadas de fregar los platos, pero hay que tener en cuenta que estas historias se escribieron entre 1915 y 1968 y el mundo ha cambiado mucho desde entonces. Yo sigo recomendandolas
December 10, 2024
Ok. I haven’t finished yet but I gotta pause and write this�
Uncle Quentin has deserved a few slaps in previous books. But never as much as at the beginning of this. He invites his science friend over to the house, at the same time the five are all due to stay (which he of course forgot about) and then leaves Fanny to deal with literally everything while he does his oh so important yet surprisingly vague science work. He then endlessly complains about the noise and the chaos, most of which HE caused by inviting his friend over and not even consulting his wife once. He also never once tells his friend off for bringing his son along too, who can’t keep quiet if he even tried, and also they brought a monkey. WTF? Who even has a monkey as a pet in England in the 30s (or whenever these are set)? Not once does he help Fanny with anything and spends every second he’s on the page complaining to everyone, refusing to help whatsoever and generally just being a selfish ass. And everyone is apparently totally fine with this. No wonder women these days have so much feminine rage if this is how men have been for basically ever.
Anyway, I’m finished now and despite Uncle Quentin being his usual asshole self it was a pretty decent addition to the series. I liked the addition of the old, storytelling, pipe smoking fisherman. And another hidden treasure. And the lighthouse aspect was pretty neat. She is however definitely dialling down George’s tenacity and I think it’s a real shame. It’s like George is growing up and she’s having her realise that she needs to act like society things girls should act. No George. Be yourself.
I’m still not sure why the monkey was necessary.
Uncle Quentin has deserved a few slaps in previous books. But never as much as at the beginning of this. He invites his science friend over to the house, at the same time the five are all due to stay (which he of course forgot about) and then leaves Fanny to deal with literally everything while he does his oh so important yet surprisingly vague science work. He then endlessly complains about the noise and the chaos, most of which HE caused by inviting his friend over and not even consulting his wife once. He also never once tells his friend off for bringing his son along too, who can’t keep quiet if he even tried, and also they brought a monkey. WTF? Who even has a monkey as a pet in England in the 30s (or whenever these are set)? Not once does he help Fanny with anything and spends every second he’s on the page complaining to everyone, refusing to help whatsoever and generally just being a selfish ass. And everyone is apparently totally fine with this. No wonder women these days have so much feminine rage if this is how men have been for basically ever.
Anyway, I’m finished now and despite Uncle Quentin being his usual asshole self it was a pretty decent addition to the series. I liked the addition of the old, storytelling, pipe smoking fisherman. And another hidden treasure. And the lighthouse aspect was pretty neat. She is however definitely dialling down George’s tenacity and I think it’s a real shame. It’s like George is growing up and she’s having her realise that she needs to act like society things girls should act. No George. Be yourself.
I’m still not sure why the monkey was necessary.
March 25, 2021
Maybe it's a result of reading these again back to back, but can I just said: "Get another plot, Enid"!
Yet another treasure down a tunnel that's been undiscovered till the Five came along. (Discovered by an animal - which was just done in the last book.)
Also, seeing there is a good bit of repetition going on, it's odd that none of the four children mentions that they already have heard of wreakers, they have already been in a tunnel under the sea or that not that long ago they happen upon a treasure in a tunnel accessed through an entrance that had been unused for a long time.
It would be interesting to have asked Ms Blyton what viewpoint she wrote the books from. At the start, in the first few books at least, the Five did recall previous adventures - and were getting older, Not too sure which book this stopped in - but I do recall that in one book at the end it mentioned something about their adventures being captured in a book. I wonder if the books from then on are supposed to be from the imagination of one of the Five (well, OK, four). This would explain why they don't get any older - or seem to reference previous adventures again. (Only thing that seems to increase is Julian's sexism and priggishness.) Possibly this is giving too much credit to Enid Blyton as it was possible she'd just lost interest in writing the books and was simply churning them out without giving it much thought!
All that said - FIve Go to Demon's Rocks, is entertaining. The lighthouse is an interesting and fun location. I also think to deserves an extra star just for calling the wise old man character Jeremiah Boogle.
Yet another treasure down a tunnel that's been undiscovered till the Five came along. (Discovered by an animal - which was just done in the last book.)
Also, seeing there is a good bit of repetition going on, it's odd that none of the four children mentions that they already have heard of wreakers, they have already been in a tunnel under the sea or that not that long ago they happen upon a treasure in a tunnel accessed through an entrance that had been unused for a long time.
It would be interesting to have asked Ms Blyton what viewpoint she wrote the books from. At the start, in the first few books at least, the Five did recall previous adventures - and were getting older, Not too sure which book this stopped in - but I do recall that in one book at the end it mentioned something about their adventures being captured in a book. I wonder if the books from then on are supposed to be from the imagination of one of the Five (well, OK, four). This would explain why they don't get any older - or seem to reference previous adventures again. (Only thing that seems to increase is Julian's sexism and priggishness.) Possibly this is giving too much credit to Enid Blyton as it was possible she'd just lost interest in writing the books and was simply churning them out without giving it much thought!
All that said - FIve Go to Demon's Rocks, is entertaining. The lighthouse is an interesting and fun location. I also think to deserves an extra star just for calling the wise old man character Jeremiah Boogle.
November 18, 2011
Five Go to Demon's rocks, one of the later in the five series. By now, we know the formula well. Something happens that ensures the kids are out of the way and out of parental control, adventure ensues. This time, it's because of Uncle Quentin again. He arranges for a learned friend of his to stay with his son, but the five are also home for the holidays, and there isn't room for them all in Kirrin cottage. So they're packed off to a lighthouse owned by Tinker, and hear of a lost treasure.
Now, one thing I thought was weird, was Tinker was car obsessed half the book, and then seemed to forget it all in the face of adventure. It kind of read very weird for his character, I kept expecting him to burst out in car noises, but he didn't.
The food was as mouth watering as always, prepared by Anne of course. I liked that it was set outside of Kirrin for most of the book, those are my preferred kind in this series.
I've only got three left to go in the series now, and then on to something else, but I have enjoyed my time with the five again.
Now, one thing I thought was weird, was Tinker was car obsessed half the book, and then seemed to forget it all in the face of adventure. It kind of read very weird for his character, I kept expecting him to burst out in car noises, but he didn't.
The food was as mouth watering as always, prepared by Anne of course. I liked that it was set outside of Kirrin for most of the book, those are my preferred kind in this series.
I've only got three left to go in the series now, and then on to something else, but I have enjoyed my time with the five again.
October 2, 2018
Langsam aber sicher stösst das Schema - Kind (hier Justus trifft auf Peter trifft :D) anfreunden, Insel/Höhlen/Stollen entdecken, Bösewichte aufdecken - bei mir auf taube Ohren. Ich frage mich, ob die post Enid Blyton Folgen, welche ich glaub besser kenne, anders sind oder ob mir das als Kind einfach nie aufgefallen ist.. Wir werden es bald sehen, nur noch fünf Originalfolgen übrig, jedoch dabei Folge 1 bis 4 der Bücher! Logik der Hörspielreihe sag ich nur.. [29.09.2018]
May 4, 2013
I find it hard to think that Enid Blyton keeps coming with new adventures for the famous five to go on.
February 21, 2019
... reading with my 10 year old daughter...
Of all the books from this series, this one was the most boring. Not bad, we still liked it, but we could use some action.
Of all the books from this series, this one was the most boring. Not bad, we still liked it, but we could use some action.
November 30, 2014
Monkey's, Lighthouses, and hidden treasure � what more can you want
30 November 2014
Well, I have just finished book 19 which means that there are only two more Famous Five books to go before I have completed my re-read of the series (though there are still six Secret Seven books which I will be reading in between those two, even though the Secret Seven is not actually a reread). This time the Famous Five are joined by a young boy, who occasionally thinks that he is a car, and his monkey. Mind you, I'm not really sure about this monkey because Blyton suggest that it is quite small, meaning that it can sit on the boy's shoulder (the boy goes by the name Tinker and the monkey is known as Mischief) and ride on Timothy's back. Maybe the monkey is a Resus Monkey.
I'm still not convinced that they small enough to sit on the shoulder of a little boy:
Though since Timmy is painted as being quite a large dog, I find the idea of the monkey riding on his back to be a little more believable.
Anyway, enough of the monkey and more on the book (though I am sure that there are people out there who are probably more interested in the monkey than they are with this book, but I'm not one of them). So, once again the Famous Five are on holidays, however their parents have gone abroad so they are sent to Quentin and Fanny's house, except that Quentin has a scientist friend over making the house quite crowded. To solve the problem Tinker suggests that they go and spend the week over at his lighthouse. Yep, that's right, the little boy apparently owns a light house (though in reality it is actually owned by his Dad who was using it for his experiments and when he had finished nobody wanted it so he let his son play in it).
As is typical with many of the Famous Five books, this one also takes a while for the actual adventure to begin, mainly because the first quarter of the book has them running around Kirrin cottage making a lot of mischief, and then travelling to the lighthouse to get comfortable before the bad things begin to happen. Also, the story has caves, lost treasure, and a story of pirates, or more precisely wreckers, who would turn lighthouses off so as to force ships to crash against the rocks, allowing them to go out and steal all of the goodies.
There are a couple of things that I noticed though. The first was that when they found the treasure, it was said that it belonged to the crown and was taken away. However in the first book, where they also found some lost treasure, they got to keep it (which is why George can now go to a private school). I guess it would have been a bit problematic to have the Kirrin's treasure confiscated by the government, meaning that they would not have got out of their financial difficulties.
Another interesting thing, both here and in Blyton's other books, is that the adventures all take place out in the country. Not once do they travel to the city for an adventure (or even overseas). Maybe it has something to do with that peaceful country lifestyle that people like to write about. Mind you, it is not as if Australian literature is also confined to the city (despite a majority of the population living in the cities). Much Australian literature seems to like the concept of the wide open spaces and the sunburnt country. The other idea is that when one is young, one's world tends to be really small, and to travel along way means getting on a bus, or going for a drive with one's parents. This is probably why many of the adventures occur in and around their home village (and in Europe, a lot of the population still live in small towns and villages, unlike Australia).
I have also wondered what the Famous Five would become once they have become adults, but I guess I will leave that speculation for now.
30 November 2014
Well, I have just finished book 19 which means that there are only two more Famous Five books to go before I have completed my re-read of the series (though there are still six Secret Seven books which I will be reading in between those two, even though the Secret Seven is not actually a reread). This time the Famous Five are joined by a young boy, who occasionally thinks that he is a car, and his monkey. Mind you, I'm not really sure about this monkey because Blyton suggest that it is quite small, meaning that it can sit on the boy's shoulder (the boy goes by the name Tinker and the monkey is known as Mischief) and ride on Timothy's back. Maybe the monkey is a Resus Monkey.
I'm still not convinced that they small enough to sit on the shoulder of a little boy:
Though since Timmy is painted as being quite a large dog, I find the idea of the monkey riding on his back to be a little more believable.
Anyway, enough of the monkey and more on the book (though I am sure that there are people out there who are probably more interested in the monkey than they are with this book, but I'm not one of them). So, once again the Famous Five are on holidays, however their parents have gone abroad so they are sent to Quentin and Fanny's house, except that Quentin has a scientist friend over making the house quite crowded. To solve the problem Tinker suggests that they go and spend the week over at his lighthouse. Yep, that's right, the little boy apparently owns a light house (though in reality it is actually owned by his Dad who was using it for his experiments and when he had finished nobody wanted it so he let his son play in it).
As is typical with many of the Famous Five books, this one also takes a while for the actual adventure to begin, mainly because the first quarter of the book has them running around Kirrin cottage making a lot of mischief, and then travelling to the lighthouse to get comfortable before the bad things begin to happen. Also, the story has caves, lost treasure, and a story of pirates, or more precisely wreckers, who would turn lighthouses off so as to force ships to crash against the rocks, allowing them to go out and steal all of the goodies.
There are a couple of things that I noticed though. The first was that when they found the treasure, it was said that it belonged to the crown and was taken away. However in the first book, where they also found some lost treasure, they got to keep it (which is why George can now go to a private school). I guess it would have been a bit problematic to have the Kirrin's treasure confiscated by the government, meaning that they would not have got out of their financial difficulties.
Another interesting thing, both here and in Blyton's other books, is that the adventures all take place out in the country. Not once do they travel to the city for an adventure (or even overseas). Maybe it has something to do with that peaceful country lifestyle that people like to write about. Mind you, it is not as if Australian literature is also confined to the city (despite a majority of the population living in the cities). Much Australian literature seems to like the concept of the wide open spaces and the sunburnt country. The other idea is that when one is young, one's world tends to be really small, and to travel along way means getting on a bus, or going for a drive with one's parents. This is probably why many of the adventures occur in and around their home village (and in Europe, a lot of the population still live in small towns and villages, unlike Australia).
I have also wondered what the Famous Five would become once they have become adults, but I guess I will leave that speculation for now.
Read
January 31, 2020Kanske den första bok jag läste på svenska. Det var mycket intressant därför att jag förstor inte allt som hände. Jag har läste den här böcken tre gånger på finska men flera år sedan. Jag kom ihåg att Fem var spännande men det var inte så skräkig som jag tänkte.
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Pardon my Swedish (I'm trying without using Google translate, alright?? haha)
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Pardon my Swedish (I'm trying without using Google translate, alright?? haha)
January 12, 2021
The same familiar way of adventuring but with surprisingly interesting twist and turns will make this book a gem for the readers for years.
November 23, 2008
As with all Famous Five books, this is of the same trusted and successful formula.
I loved these books as a child and I am delighted that my girls loved them as children too.
The stories are adventures of a byegone age, yet still hold the attention of children, around the world...... they have stood the test of time well - and for a great reason.
The stories are plausible, fun, adventurous and contain an excellent mix of young characters... with a little bit of everyone in each of them - something that children have obviously known for decades.
I loved these books as a child and I am delighted that my girls loved them as children too.
The stories are adventures of a byegone age, yet still hold the attention of children, around the world...... they have stood the test of time well - and for a great reason.
The stories are plausible, fun, adventurous and contain an excellent mix of young characters... with a little bit of everyone in each of them - something that children have obviously known for decades.
April 3, 2016
These books (Famous five) are hands down one of my favorite books from my childhood. All those adventures and mystery …and those sandwiches they always packed! aww, just the best! I would love to read one of these again. To bring back those memories..memories of first experiences with reading books.
March 3, 2011
wow! these people are GREAT! the mystery is..........unspeakable and dumbfounding. i suspect timmy is real cute. :)
July 20, 2016
These are so fun but I guess it's different when you're an adult :(
February 6, 2021
This book has all the usual Enid Blyton trade marks -- a superfluity of exclamation marks, stilted and unconvincing dialogue, and an adventure that doesn't begin until two-thirds of the way through the book. It also, however, has a weak and unconvincing plot.
wrote some children's stories where the "adventure" was simply going and camping out on their own, so the adventure in this case, the children's encounter with some criminals, need not necessarily be the main part of the story, but even the camping part Arthur Ransome wrote so much better. He even, sometimes, included encounters with criminals, for example in .
For all her faults, Enid Blyton has written some adventure stories that kids enjoy reading, but I doubt that this is one of them.
wrote some children's stories where the "adventure" was simply going and camping out on their own, so the adventure in this case, the children's encounter with some criminals, need not necessarily be the main part of the story, but even the camping part Arthur Ransome wrote so much better. He even, sometimes, included encounters with criminals, for example in .
For all her faults, Enid Blyton has written some adventure stories that kids enjoy reading, but I doubt that this is one of them.
May 2, 2020
Oh, my, my! The beginning chapters of “Five Go to Demon’s Rock� were dreadful. Father was screaming at the children; the children were feeling unwanted and displaced; the unexpected guest scientist, his son and pet monkey were rude and inconsiderate. I wasn’t sure I was going to continue with this edition of the series... BUT after these initial chapters, the story turned around and became a spine-tingling, hair-raising adventure! For the first time, the Five had food supply issues and I was concerned!
I’ll look for father Quentin’s change of attitude in the next two, the last two, books of the series. He needs to redeem himself.
I enjoyed the little historical facts the author included!
I’ll look for father Quentin’s change of attitude in the next two, the last two, books of the series. He needs to redeem himself.
I enjoyed the little historical facts the author included!
Read
February 12, 2017Lukumaratonin saldoa tämäkin, parinkymmenen vuoden tauon jälkeen palasin Viisikon seikkailuihin. Paluu olisi voinut olla innokkaampikin, sillä kyllä aika on ajanut omalta osaltani karusti ohi näistä puuhista. Ihan oivallinen välipala kuitenkin.
May 2, 2020
3.5 STARS
June 18, 2020
A stormy holiday for a change and nobody fell out! One of my faves of this series.
September 6, 2020
Mischief was funny! Best book to read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
What to say about Enid Blyton? Famous Five is the epitome of my love for reading. Every person on the planet should read her book at least once, and I’m sure once you read her work, you can’t stop and reach for another one.
May 1, 2025
(Of this series, I've read and reviewed , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and )
Once more, our intrepid gang are roughing it in an abandoned building, but in true Blyton form, they make it look good.
Reading the first five chapters was a bit of an eye-popper. Quentin and his scientist colleague Professor Hayling duel for the title of Worst Dad from chapter one. The former openly treats George as an inconvenience just as she's returned from boarding school, and the latter takes out his anger on his own frustrated young son by grabbing the child and shaking him as he screams in protest. The blokes do plenty of angry shouting themselves - at the kids, at Fanny, at Joanna - in fact, they do little else. I'm unable to check if any of it is an edit from the original 50s edition where ears get boxed or backsides get spanked, but it's been interesting to read how Blyton handles the ill-treatment of children depending on who's carrying it out. If it's Quentin or one of his educated friends, it's quirky and permissible, but if they're a Traveller or working-class? They're a terrible parent and their kids need to be assigned to a 'proper home'.
Of course, it's down to Fanny and Joanna to calm everyone down and try and find a solution. When they're stuck for ideas, Professor Hayling's son Tinker reveals that the Haylings own a lighthouse 20 miles away. So, the kids plus companion animals (oh yeah, there's a monkey this time) end up being sent there to spend their school break. Cue the regular Five explorations, and the potential discovery of a treasure trove. The gang have conveniently never heard of the 'wrecker' legends that cropped up in and Quentin seems very interested in the lighthouse with regards to his studies, so either everyone's had a bit of plot amnesia or it's set quite early in the Famous Five timeline.
The mystery element doesn't kick in until the last third, and even then it was an afterthought. The girls, unfortunately, continue to take a backseat - and even Timmy's not got anything to do. Most of the emphasis is on Blyton-brand cosiness - the wind raging outside while the kids play cards by lamplight, hot coffee and buns in the rain, and a weathered old seadog telling you of legends long past. And honestly, this is where Blyton's unmatched, so I found myself not particularly caring about the phoned-in adventure. It even seemed fairly well-paced, something the Five books can suffer with.
As mentioned, Tinker is our guest child this time. Absolutely fascinated with cars, he taught himself how to dismantle and repair one from a young age, he can enthuse with fellow mechanics, plus he can accurately imitate any car engine while haring around to the annoyance of everyone around him... it's just a shame all of that disappears once they've reached the lighthouse. Like his pet monkey Mischief, it was there to contribute to the initial chaos rather than the plot. I have read that Tinker
If you're willing to look past the weird tone of the Kirrin Cottage chapters, stick with it. It's a regular observation that Blyton lost her touch towards the end of the Five series, but she can still paint a wonderful picture to enthrall the kids before bed.
3.5/5
Once more, our intrepid gang are roughing it in an abandoned building, but in true Blyton form, they make it look good.
Reading the first five chapters was a bit of an eye-popper. Quentin and his scientist colleague Professor Hayling duel for the title of Worst Dad from chapter one. The former openly treats George as an inconvenience just as she's returned from boarding school, and the latter takes out his anger on his own frustrated young son by grabbing the child and shaking him as he screams in protest. The blokes do plenty of angry shouting themselves - at the kids, at Fanny, at Joanna - in fact, they do little else. I'm unable to check if any of it is an edit from the original 50s edition where ears get boxed or backsides get spanked, but it's been interesting to read how Blyton handles the ill-treatment of children depending on who's carrying it out. If it's Quentin or one of his educated friends, it's quirky and permissible, but if they're a Traveller or working-class? They're a terrible parent and their kids need to be assigned to a 'proper home'.
Of course, it's down to Fanny and Joanna to calm everyone down and try and find a solution. When they're stuck for ideas, Professor Hayling's son Tinker reveals that the Haylings own a lighthouse 20 miles away. So, the kids plus companion animals (oh yeah, there's a monkey this time) end up being sent there to spend their school break. Cue the regular Five explorations, and the potential discovery of a treasure trove. The gang have conveniently never heard of the 'wrecker' legends that cropped up in and Quentin seems very interested in the lighthouse with regards to his studies, so either everyone's had a bit of plot amnesia or it's set quite early in the Famous Five timeline.
The mystery element doesn't kick in until the last third, and even then it was an afterthought. The girls, unfortunately, continue to take a backseat - and even Timmy's not got anything to do. Most of the emphasis is on Blyton-brand cosiness - the wind raging outside while the kids play cards by lamplight, hot coffee and buns in the rain, and a weathered old seadog telling you of legends long past. And honestly, this is where Blyton's unmatched, so I found myself not particularly caring about the phoned-in adventure. It even seemed fairly well-paced, something the Five books can suffer with.
As mentioned, Tinker is our guest child this time. Absolutely fascinated with cars, he taught himself how to dismantle and repair one from a young age, he can enthuse with fellow mechanics, plus he can accurately imitate any car engine while haring around to the annoyance of everyone around him... it's just a shame all of that disappears once they've reached the lighthouse. Like his pet monkey Mischief, it was there to contribute to the initial chaos rather than the plot. I have read that Tinker
If you're willing to look past the weird tone of the Kirrin Cottage chapters, stick with it. It's a regular observation that Blyton lost her touch towards the end of the Five series, but she can still paint a wonderful picture to enthrall the kids before bed.
3.5/5
February 21, 2022
Uncle Quentin’s fellow scientist, Professor Hayling suddenly arrives in advance at Kirrin Cottage with his noisy son, Tinker and his equally rambunctious pet monkey, Mischief. Since Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy are also planning to spend their holidays here, it will be a tight and irritating full house and Aunt Fanny is at her wit’s end.
But then Tinker comes up with the strange but bright idea for the kids to stay at his father’s lighthouse. No longer in use, Professor Hayling had bought it to work on his experiments and it now lies empty but habitable. The Famous Five with their penchant for holidaying at new, remote and exciting places are chuffed by the idea and soon the children are off on their own.
But obviously adventure is soon sniffing at their heels and hidden passages, stormy weather and the promise of long-forgotten treasure makes an innocuous trip by the sea into an action-packed holiday for the Famous Five.
I have been plucking out random Famous Five favourites and rereading them for that much needed dose of quiet comfort and nostalgia. Five go to Demon’s Rocks is a book I enjoy because I was always enchanted by the idea of having a hidey-hole (with plenty of supplies of course) in an imposing lighthouse steeped in a rich past. Interlaced with the legend of the Wreckers and their dark deeds, this story is quite engaging and peppered with interesting local characters.
With wholesome yet delicious food, tempestuous weather and an exciting mystery�.the Famous Five continue to have a bloody good time.
But then Tinker comes up with the strange but bright idea for the kids to stay at his father’s lighthouse. No longer in use, Professor Hayling had bought it to work on his experiments and it now lies empty but habitable. The Famous Five with their penchant for holidaying at new, remote and exciting places are chuffed by the idea and soon the children are off on their own.
But obviously adventure is soon sniffing at their heels and hidden passages, stormy weather and the promise of long-forgotten treasure makes an innocuous trip by the sea into an action-packed holiday for the Famous Five.
I have been plucking out random Famous Five favourites and rereading them for that much needed dose of quiet comfort and nostalgia. Five go to Demon’s Rocks is a book I enjoy because I was always enchanted by the idea of having a hidey-hole (with plenty of supplies of course) in an imposing lighthouse steeped in a rich past. Interlaced with the legend of the Wreckers and their dark deeds, this story is quite engaging and peppered with interesting local characters.
With wholesome yet delicious food, tempestuous weather and an exciting mystery�.the Famous Five continue to have a bloody good time.
November 8, 2014
Five Go to Demon's Rocks� is the 19th book of the famous series. It was first published in 1961 and has been illustrated by Eileen A. Soper. It has all the ingredients of a classic Enid Blyton books with absent-minded professors, mischievous pets, long lost treasures, underground caves, some bad guys and of course the Famous Five.
The book begins with George’s father inviting his scientist friend to Kirrin Cottage so that the two of them can work together on some top secret invention. The guest brings along his son Tinker and his pet monkey Mischief. With the cousins also staying at the cottage, the house seems to be bursting at its seams until Tinker invites the children to stay at an old, disused lighthouse that he owns.
Fun and excitement begins for the five children and their pets when they meet an old man named Jeremiah Boogle. He tells them about the Demon's Rocks and how a trio of ship wreckers stole treasure from ships that they lured onto the rocks, causing them to smash and sink. The treasure was kept hidden in the Wrecker’s Caves and nobody had ever found it.
The descendants of One-Ear Bill were still around and apparently took after their wicked ancestors in their mean and shifty ways. The Famous Five do some exploring of their own, find a lead to the treasure and get locked in the lighthouse by the bad guys. The tale finishes on a very exciting note as the Five escape from the sticky situation with the help of a forty-year old bell and the lighthouse lamp that hadn’t been lit for decades.
The book begins with George’s father inviting his scientist friend to Kirrin Cottage so that the two of them can work together on some top secret invention. The guest brings along his son Tinker and his pet monkey Mischief. With the cousins also staying at the cottage, the house seems to be bursting at its seams until Tinker invites the children to stay at an old, disused lighthouse that he owns.
Fun and excitement begins for the five children and their pets when they meet an old man named Jeremiah Boogle. He tells them about the Demon's Rocks and how a trio of ship wreckers stole treasure from ships that they lured onto the rocks, causing them to smash and sink. The treasure was kept hidden in the Wrecker’s Caves and nobody had ever found it.
The descendants of One-Ear Bill were still around and apparently took after their wicked ancestors in their mean and shifty ways. The Famous Five do some exploring of their own, find a lead to the treasure and get locked in the lighthouse by the bad guys. The tale finishes on a very exciting note as the Five escape from the sticky situation with the help of a forty-year old bell and the lighthouse lamp that hadn’t been lit for decades.
August 30, 2019
Anne seems to have toughened up and grown a pair at last (when she's not clucking around preparing Famous Five feasts for everyone, why are they not all obese and puffing and panting all the time?) good old Anne.
George is losing her feisty edge in my opinion.
Timmy can still only say 'woof' but he's still the brightest button in the box.
Dick still a bit of a background character to me, bit of a weak lemon Julian
Julian ever the leader makes everything 'alright alright alright'
Tinker - deed poll???
Mischief- RSPCA??
Lawks a Lordy my bottom's on fire... a lighthouse, looting, larks and lunch? Whatever next.
Jan is the voice of The Famous Five.
I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis...
George is losing her feisty edge in my opinion.
Timmy can still only say 'woof' but he's still the brightest button in the box.
Dick still a bit of a background character to me, bit of a weak lemon Julian
Julian ever the leader makes everything 'alright alright alright'
Tinker - deed poll???
Mischief- RSPCA??
Lawks a Lordy my bottom's on fire... a lighthouse, looting, larks and lunch? Whatever next.
Jan is the voice of The Famous Five.
I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis I love Jan Francis...
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