my photos

books from my childhood ...

Who else had a copy of The Wind On The Moon by Eric Linklater? You may well have done as it was first published way back in 1944. My mum had loved this story as a child, so an obvious choice to buy for me in 1972, when I was eight. This copy cost 30p!

A branch of the apple-tree struck the window of the room where Major Palfrey was packing his trunk for a long absence, with the help of his daughters Dinah and Dorinda. There is a wind on the moon, he said. It was pale and wild and round it clung a collar of shining mist. I don't like the look of it at all. If it is an ill wind, and you behave badly, it will blow straight into your heart, and then you will behave badly for a long time to come. So I hope you are going to be good tonight, because I shall be away for at least a year and I don't want you to be a nuisance to your mother.

Famous last words. I shall leave you to decide what happens next, or to maybe even get a copy of the book. I am definitely going to read my copy again. As you can see by the condition, it was very well read as a child, I have even written my name inside the cover, just incase anyone dared to steal it!



Again bought for me in 1972 for 20p and first published in 1948, Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson.

A Moomintroll is small and shy and fat, and has a Moominpappa and a Moominmamma. Moomins live in the forest of Finland. They like sunshine, and sleep right through the winter. The snow falls and falls where they live, until their houses look like great snowballs. But when spring comes, up they jump and - well, that was the moment when this story began, and Moomintroll found the Hobgoblin Hat.




This copy of Little Women by Louisa M Alcott was awarded to me at primary school in 1974. Inside is written 'prize awarded for very good work - class 3'. You see, I was a good girl even back then!

Unfortunately these are the only books that have survived over the years, but I remember reading a lot as a child, and owning lots of prized books. I loved Enid Blyton, the series of books based around the Magic Faraway Tree, Mr Pinkwhistle and Amelia Jane, remember these? And when I was a little older, the Mallory Towers and St Clares series.

Visit Jayne over at Country Cottage Chic, she too has been talking about her favourite childhood books.