The River of Adventure

Here we have another set of convalescent children who are told by the doctor that they need a couple of weeks more out of school to get strong again (did this really happen in that period? Nowadays people either are ill or healthy, there's none of these extended vacations when they recover. But it is not uncommon in EB's books). Bill again puts his family at risk by taking them in one of his missions, as cover while he spies on a suspect.

Bill and Mrs. Mannering (Mrs. Cunningham now) are captured, and the children have to escape, accompanied by the motor-launch driver Tala and a native boy. They narrowly avoid falling down a waterfall and find an ancient temple full of treasury, while trying to avoid the bad guy. An example of the show more attitudes of the time is the fact that Tala, despite being an adult, meekly follows the lead of the occidental children.

I found the book quite entertaining, although the bad guy, initially promising, turned out to be rather useless and pathetic. I have to admit that, when reading Enid Blyton's children adventures, I tend to prefer the ones set in the UK (with the exception of The Mountain of Adventure, which is one of Blyton's best). I have the impression that the ones set far away tend to be more far-fetched, less grounded, and in general with less of Enid's enjoyable landscape descriptions.

So it's not bad at all, but for me this is not Blyton at her very best. In my opinion the first half of the Adventure series is superior to the second half.

These are the books of the series, ordered from best to worst (in my opinion., of course):
The Valley of Adventure (1947)
The Castle of Adventure (1946)
The Sea of Adventure (1948)
The Island of Adventure (1944)
The Ship of Adventure (1950)
The Circus of Adventure (1952)
The River of Adventure (1955)
The Mountain of Adventure (1949) show less

I have enjoyed these little children adventure novels so much that I have requested every one that my library has so I can read them all. They are so much fun!

This one takes place in Syria, which is fascinating to me -- to think at one point our lives it was safe to travel to Syria for holiday. I had thought this was must take place after the first one I read but it clearly takes place after the last one I read because now Bill is married to the children's caregiver, making Bill their father. Totally awesome :-)

Such great little stories!
Adrianne

Blyton has another winner in "The River of Adventure". Lots of laughs and, indeed, adventure in this installment of the Adventure series! I enjoyed it very much - both as a child and again as an adult in this re-read. No matter your age, you'll get a kick out of Kiki, the bargua, and the four kids.

love all da books of enid blyton

I do like this Enid Blyton series to be honest.

Novels/novelettes

A Bill le encargan vigilar a Raya Uma, un extraficante clandestino que ahora vive en un país cerca de la frontera de Siria. Los niños y la señora Cunningham viajan con él para pasar desapercibido. La historia transcurre en un largo río, en el que secuestran a Bill y su mujer y los niños deben buscarles.