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Win a copy of Philippa Gregory's Dark Tracks *NOW CLOSED*

(259 Posts)
LauraGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 23-Aug-18 09:34:46

Is your grandchild an avid reader? You're in luck! We're giving away 15 copies of Dark Tracks by bestselling author Philippa Gregory (best known for her novel The Other Boleyn Girl), ideal for young readers aged 12 and over.

More details on the book HERE and T&Cs HERE. We will be picking a winner at random after 11am on 6 September.

To enter simply tell us... What was your favourite book as a child/young adult and why?

You must be a registered Gransnet user to enter. Sign up to Gransnet HERE.

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pinkjj27 Sat 25-Aug-18 16:56:49

Mine was Ann of Green Gables, little women and railway children and I still ove them when they come on tv.

NannyC2 Sat 25-Aug-18 15:53:22

Alice in Wonderland. We didn't have much money when I was a child but remember having this as a Christmas present and really treasured it as it was so exciting chasing a rabbit. I always remember how much fun it was.

Rosy59 Sat 25-Aug-18 15:41:46

Thomas the Tank engine, they had so much fun and so many adventures.

grannydarkhair Sat 25-Aug-18 15:17:49

Up to the age of 11, I enjoyed a lot of the already mentioned books/series, e.g. What Katy Did, Heidi, Chalet School, Mallory Towers.
During my first year at secondary school, a French assistant told us about Tolkein, I read The Hobbit and was hooked. For several years after that, I mostly read only fantasy which led me into sci-fantasy and then sci-fiction. I still love those genres nowadays.
I am currently reading The Complete Chronicles of Narnia (I'm 63) ? had the box set in the house for years but never got round to actually reading them before.

Ruskin Sat 25-Aug-18 15:11:23

Such a long time ago that I'm not sure what was my absolute favourite but What Katy Did & What Katy Did Next would be high up there

Isobelw Sat 25-Aug-18 15:08:20

I loved anything by Enid Blyton

Grannyjacq1 Sat 25-Aug-18 15:07:56

I loved the Jennings and Darbyshire stories by A Buckeridge as I spent some time at boarding school myself and always wished that the school I went to could be more like this one!

AlisonKF Sat 25-Aug-18 14:35:50

I am equally torn between "The Swish of the Curtain" by Pamela Brown and "Crowns" by Katherine Hull and Pamela Whitlock both of which I read many times. "Crowns" transports four children in a prolonged feat of imagination to a land where all are royalty with different skills. This may remind you of Narnia but predates those books, I think, and is without the religious or moral messages. I still have my copy from 1951.

Anj123 Sat 25-Aug-18 14:29:26

I loved all the Paddington books because I thought they were funny!

Horatia Sat 25-Aug-18 14:27:16

Jane Eyre was my favourite book as she was such a kind and thoughtful person, completely unspoilt, so much so that it read as pure fantasy to me.

dawnfar Sat 25-Aug-18 14:02:21

My favourite book as a child was the Secret Seven , by Enid Blyton. As a child born into a hectic , working class family, the Secret Seven allowed me to escape into my own world : a world where I sat next to Peter and Janet in their shed at the end of the garden. Their adventures were my adventures,and I was thrilled, excited and keen to delve into every adventure and mystery that the friends encountered.
Enid Blyton was my childhood saviour who made a rather dim council estate life fade into significance as I joined the Secret Seven on their escapades; needless to say, my love of the mystery genre continues , and still provides blissful escapism .

Venus Sat 25-Aug-18 13:53:55

I loved Enid Blyton's Famous Five books. They all seemed to have so much fun in their holidays and exciting adventures. I just wish I was one of them.

Galen Sat 25-Aug-18 13:21:03

Ur of the Chaldees by Leonard Cottrell. It was my first introduction to ancient history and archaeology. I think I was about 8 years old when I read it. Archaeology has stayed with me as a passion all my life.
When I was going to boarding school, the headmistress asked what I wanted to be. I replied I couldn’t decide between medicine and archaeology but I supposed I’d be a doctor as achaelogists didn’t earn enough money.
My dgd can’t decide between a palaeontologist and an astrophysicist!

pegros Sat 25-Aug-18 12:59:26

I loved so many books: little women, good wives etc, what katy did, and what katy did next, all the mallory towers books. Ballet shoes, and one i cant quite remember the whole title, something like lydia gaff

grandmac Sat 25-Aug-18 12:44:33

As a very young child the ‘twins’ books were my favourites, The Eskimo Twins, The Indian Twins etc telling of lives in faraway places. Then it was the ‘Biggles’ books with tales of adventure and excitement. In my early teens I read ‘The Long Walk’ and still remember it vividly today, with its story of deprivation and danger. It has been made into a film ‘The Way Back’.

moleswife Sat 25-Aug-18 12:33:23

What Katy Did books - I loved Katy's bold but sometimes flawed charcter and wanted to be like her; I was also intrigued by this picture of American life.

Buddie Sat 25-Aug-18 12:24:51

Am I the only one to recall the Lone Pine series created by Malcolm Saville? I felt they were far more believable than the Famous Five and Secret Seven books though dating from a similar era. He painted such wonderful word paintings of the locations from Rye to the Lake District that when visiting some of them in later life I almost felt I had been there before. It was the little details that stick with me such as finding a message scratched by a diamond in a glass window pane at the Mermaid in Rye. At least, that is how I recall it!

maureenm48 Sat 25-Aug-18 12:17:47

Any Enid Blyton - went to the library many times a week. Couldn't get enough of them.

Lindaa4 Sat 25-Aug-18 12:01:39

Enid Blytons famous five

CazB Sat 25-Aug-18 12:00:11

I absolutely loved The Midnight Folk by John Masefield, which my mother read to me when I was quite young. It was a world full of magic, witchcraft and talking animals which really appealed to me. I identified with Kay Harker, the small boy who was the main character, as I was also an only child.

jimmee Sat 25-Aug-18 11:58:09

Cherry Ames==American nurse==1950s/60s

HHBBNN54 Sat 25-Aug-18 11:25:20

I used to read all the Famous Five books, The Chalet School books and Heidi, Black Beauty. Difficult to say which was my favourite. I guess the famous five books as they used to have such great adventures.

fialcross Sat 25-Aug-18 11:20:39

I loved the Heidi books, Heidi, Heidi grows up and Heidi's children. I remember long summer days, sitting on a wall under an apple tree reading the books to my young, next-door neighbour. We both loved the adventures she had and the positive way she looked at life.

Molly10 Sat 25-Aug-18 11:11:34

As a young child it was Thumberlina, which I read over and over again. Hans Christian Andersen was a brilliant children's writer and it stood the test of time as that book was already over a hundred years old when I read it, and still going strong with children.

Also many others including Call of the Wild - Jack London, Heidi and Enid Blyton books. I could never forget Black Beauty also always a favourite. The theme tune from the later film still gives me goosebumps too.

kyalami Sat 25-Aug-18 11:10:16

I loved Heidi. A feel good story with a few harsh realities along the way. Heidi had a caring nature although she had her own adversaries.