Favorite writers
Asked to name their favorite writer, Brits came up with a surprising answer. You might think William Shakesperare, Jane Austen or even J.K. Rowling would lead the pack. Nope. No. 1 went to Enid Blyton, who hasn't written a word for more than four decades. (And people say Baltimoreans are too nostalgic!)
Blyton's kiddie-lit characters included the Famous Five, sort of a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew/Bobbsey Twins combo.
I can understand the reaction from readers, though. Some of my fondest memories of reading come from the stream of Dr. Seuss books that I devoured as a kid. Or from discovering imaginary worlds in Ray Bradbury's science fiction. Even from Batman and Superman comics. I have favorite authors today, but there's a critical aspect to reading now that seems to block the sort of raw, emotional appeal I felt as a kid. So, cheers to Enid and the Five!
Here's the Top 10 from the poll of 2,000 adults for the 2008 Costa Book Awards. according to the Guardian:
1. Enid Blyton
2. Roald Dahl
3. J.K. Rowling
4. Jane Austen
5. William Shakespeare
6. Charles Dickens
7. J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Agatha Christie
9. Stephen King
10. Beatrix Potter
Comments
My greatest regret in life will remain that I discovered the fun of reading only in my late teens. All the children fiction I have read has been as an adult. Have never been able to make myself pick Enid Blyton. Should try it sometime, I guess.
Posted by: BookCrazy | August 25, 2008 4:31 AM