Folio Archives 111: Year Round Things To Do 2011
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1wcarter
Year Round Things To Do 2011
Year Round Things To Do (YRTTD) has become something of a joke amongst Folio Society aficionados. As well as being sold, it was given away with every order for a couple of years, so many Folio Society members (as they were then) received multiple copies of the book (I had five at one stage before giving most away). As a result, I felt compelled to do this review, so that newer members of FSD could understand what we older hands sometimes raved on about.
YRTTD is a reprint of a 1966 book (Something To Do), initially issued by Penguin Books, and revised in 1975. It was designed to give parents some ideas on how to entertain their children year round, although some of the ideas seem more like those current in the Victorian era than the middle of the 20th. Century, and quite anachronistic for the 21st.C.
The book is divided into activities appropriate for each month and there is also an index. There are multiple integrated black & white illustrations (by Shirley Hughes) and diagrams (by W.E. Bland) on most pages. No credit is given to the editor or complier, and there is no introduction.
The book has 214 pages and is bound in heavy cream paper printed with a multicoloured picture on both covers. It did not have a slipcase or dust-jacket. The endpapers are a plain mid-blue. The book is 20x13.5cm.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Year Round Things To Do (YRTTD) has become something of a joke amongst Folio Society aficionados. As well as being sold, it was given away with every order for a couple of years, so many Folio Society members (as they were then) received multiple copies of the book (I had five at one stage before giving most away). As a result, I felt compelled to do this review, so that newer members of FSD could understand what we older hands sometimes raved on about.
YRTTD is a reprint of a 1966 book (Something To Do), initially issued by Penguin Books, and revised in 1975. It was designed to give parents some ideas on how to entertain their children year round, although some of the ideas seem more like those current in the Victorian era than the middle of the 20th. Century, and quite anachronistic for the 21st.C.
The book is divided into activities appropriate for each month and there is also an index. There are multiple integrated black & white illustrations (by Shirley Hughes) and diagrams (by W.E. Bland) on most pages. No credit is given to the editor or complier, and there is no introduction.
The book has 214 pages and is bound in heavy cream paper printed with a multicoloured picture on both covers. It did not have a slipcase or dust-jacket. The endpapers are a plain mid-blue. The book is 20x13.5cm.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2cronshaw
Bravo Warwick!
There are of course Folio adaptations of nearly all these traditional games that come naturally to the severely FAD afflicted. April's "Card Building" can be performed with spare copies of YRTtD itself if playing cards themselves are short to hand. Advanced players employ strategies gleaned from their Folio Structures or Why Things Don't Fall Down. May's "Snap" is enlivened by using unopened Folio Mystery Book parcels. After the first player opens his Mystery parcel to reveal the title, players take turns in opening theirs. The first to scream 'SNAP' if a title revealed matches a previous one wins both books. An erroneous call leads to player ceding his book to the Faddict whom he snapped. Note it is considered poor form to deliberately snap in error. June's "Leapfrog" is readily adaptable to Folio TBR piles. Techniques for July's "Cut-out Figures" may be applied to any trade or EP editions supplanted by Folios.
And so on.
There are of course Folio adaptations of nearly all these traditional games that come naturally to the severely FAD afflicted. April's "Card Building" can be performed with spare copies of YRTtD itself if playing cards themselves are short to hand. Advanced players employ strategies gleaned from their Folio Structures or Why Things Don't Fall Down. May's "Snap" is enlivened by using unopened Folio Mystery Book parcels. After the first player opens his Mystery parcel to reveal the title, players take turns in opening theirs. The first to scream 'SNAP' if a title revealed matches a previous one wins both books. An erroneous call leads to player ceding his book to the Faddict whom he snapped. Note it is considered poor form to deliberately snap in error. June's "Leapfrog" is readily adaptable to Folio TBR piles. Techniques for July's "Cut-out Figures" may be applied to any trade or EP editions supplanted by Folios.
And so on.
4The_Toad_Revolt_of84
I used to attend my dad's bowling league every other week. When someone would get 111, they would extend the ten spot one and draw a small roof on their score. This apparently represented the shithouse. So as a small fella, 111 lives forever in my mind as the shithouse, could choose no better book to take with.
5Jayked
I gave all of mine away to neighbourhood kids, who must have been bemused by the content. Conkers? The American chestnut has been "effectively extinct" since the fifties, though you do find the odd specimen. Daisies don't grow on lawns in my corner of NA. The American robin is an ugly bird about the size of a blackbird, which is a symbol of spring rather than Christmas, because that's when it returns from the sunny south... and so on.
6LesMiserables
This feels like being told that Santa Claus isn't real. But of course he does so the legendary mystery of YRTTD remains intact.
7Niurn
>5 Jayked: "The American chestnut has been "effectively extinct" since the fifties,"
That's really sad to hear.
That's really sad to hear.
8Jayked
>7 Niurn:
Apparently there are shoots growing here and there, so the doomsday forecast may be unduly pessimistic -- but the tree isn't familiar to young adults.
Apparently there are shoots growing here and there, so the doomsday forecast may be unduly pessimistic -- but the tree isn't familiar to young adults.
9LesMiserables
I actually say down last night in contemplation of what will likely be an extended quarantine until the pestilence has run its course. I had in my hand, a copy of YRTTD, which despite its comical status here on FSDs , is worthy of a close read. What a pleasant way to rediscover our practical self in ploughing through this manual of doable projects either in the garden or at the kitchen table.
10boldface
>9 LesMiserables:
I'm sure you're right. I'll dust down a few of my copies.
For those who managed to self-isolate when it first came out word has it that a huge emergency reprint has been ordered. You have been warned.
I'm sure you're right. I'll dust down a few of my copies.
For those who managed to self-isolate when it first came out word has it that a huge emergency reprint has been ordered. You have been warned.
11Bibliophile-I
Call me crazy, but, this book sounds intriguing.
12SDB2012
>11 Bibliophile-I: And it can be yours for under five US dollars.
https://www.vialibri.net/searches?title=Year%20round%20things%20to%20do&publ...
https://www.vialibri.net/searches?title=Year%20round%20things%20to%20do&publ...
13Bibliophile-I
>12 SDB2012:, $5 sounds nice. Wonder what condition you can buy for $5. LOL!
14wcarter
>11 Bibliophile-I:
Tens of thousands of copies were given away as incentives. Most collectors of FS books at the time obtained multiple copies and it became a joke.
Tens of thousands of copies were given away as incentives. Most collectors of FS books at the time obtained multiple copies and it became a joke.
15SDB2012
>13 Bibliophile-I: as new!
16Bibliophile-I
>15 SDB2012:, I’ll look into it. Thanks.
17LesMiserables
A great book. Attracts legendary status amongst many Faddicts, like the Casio F91w. or the Victorinox Spartan. :-)
