Enid Blyton is a well-known British author who is best known for her children's books. One of her popular series is "The Magic Faraway Tree". This series follows the adventures of Joe, Beth, and Frannie as they discover an enchanted tree in the Enchanted Wood near their home. "The Magic Faraway Tree" begins with the children moving to a new home and discovering an exciting wood nearby. They enter the wood and come across the mysterious Faraway Tree. This magical tree reaches up into the clouds and has different lands and adventures at the top.
In fact, the five points represent the elements of nature - earth, air, fire and water - and the spirit, within the eternal circle of life.
Experts believe that the explosion in the witch population is due to millennial women s embracing of new-age spirituality, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. A similar festival to Gaelic Samhain was held by the Brittonic Celtic peoples it ws called Calan Gaeaf in Wales, Kalan Gwav in Cornwall and Kalan Goañv in Brittany.
This magical tree reaches up into the clouds and has different lands and adventures at the top. Each time the children climb up the Faraway Tree, they encounter a new land. These lands are inhabited by interesting characters such as Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, and Saucepan Man.
Rome Revives Pagan Past with Solstice Festival
This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Debbie Elliott.
Earlier in the program, we heard from some wind-watchers. Sun-watchers in the northern hemisphere noted the summer solstice this past week, the day the sun makes its highest path across the sky, the longest day of the year.
In Rome, there was a dusk-to-dawn celebration on the Tiber River. Italian and American composers and artists created a sound-and-light show that revived the spirit of the city's ancient pagan past. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli was there and sent us this audio postcard.
(Soundbite of music)
SYLVIA POGGIOLI reporting:
On the shortest night of the year, hundreds of Romans descended long marble steps leading to a stretch of the left bank of what the ancients called Tiber Flavus, the Blonde Tiber.
The title of the event was Shadows from the Realm of Wolves. Project creator Kristin Jones explains it's a homage to the founding myth of the city of Rome. She describes an animation by artist Maureen Selwood projected on the high ramparts of the other bank, where a large she-wolf is jumping into the water.
Ms. KRISTIN JONES (Festival Creator): And then she sees the little twins, and they're falling in, and then she collects them and they grab onto her breasts, and she pulls them out of the water, and then there she is. She carries them to shore. It's a little Romulus and Remus.
POGGIOLI: The legendary founders of Rome, rescued and nursed by a she-wolf.
(Soundbite of wolf howl)
POGGIOLI: Carefully lined along the edge of the two banks were nearly 3,000 torches, their flickering flames reflected and multiplied in the water. There were even a few torches floating downstream, reminiscent of the water and fire rituals practiced on this very river by followers of Dionysian cults in ancient Rome.
Christian Jones says her goal is to reawaken awareness of the river and to highlight the importance of nature in an urban setting by creating a unique, environmental soundscape.
Ms. JONES: It's a one-night-only thing, and it's really - it's about this sort of instance in the eternity of it all, and there's no more powerfully evocative place in the world, for me, than Rome, because it's where so much of what we know begins.
POGGIOLI: In antiquity, Tiber bridges were made of wood so as not to violate a waterway the Romans considered sacred. But over the centuries, the citizens lost their link to the river, and decades of neglect left the banks covered with mounds of mud and weeds. One long-time American resident of Rome is composer Alvin Curran, whose favorite concert hall is the outdoors. He hopes the solstice event will revive use of the river.
Mr. ALVIN CURRAN (Composer): The importance of the river, the memory of the river, the myth of the river, and I think that it's gonna happen, actually. And it's a great thing because there's something about the Tiber that's bigger than all of us.
(Soundbite of music)
POGGIOLI: Alvin Curran's composition for this event is called Romulus and Remus make a Ruckus, which combines wolf howls with sounds from another distant waterway, foghorns from a ship in Boston Harbor.
Mr. CURRAN: The horns are those famous horns which go baaaaah-ahhhhh.
(Soundbite of foghorns)
POGGIOLI: Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
Sylvia Poggioli is senior European correspondent for NPR's International Desk covering political, economic, and cultural news in Italy, the Vatican, Western Europe, and the Balkans. Poggioli's on-air reporting and analysis have encompassed the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the turbulent civil war in the former Yugoslavia, and how immigration has transformed European societies.
Some of the lands they visit include the Land of Spells, the Land of Topsy-Turvy, and the Land of Do-As-You-Please. Each land brings its own set of challenges and adventures for the children to experience. One of the key elements of "The Magic Faraway Tree" is the revolving top of the tree. This means that the lands at the top of the tree change and new lands appear. This adds an element of surprise and excitement to the story as the children never know what they will find when they climb the Faraway Tree. Throughout the series, the children face various obstacles and challenges. They use their wits and creativity to overcome these challenges and help their friends from the different lands they visit. They also learn important lessons about friendship, bravery, and kindness. Enid Blyton's "The Magic Faraway Tree" is a captivating series that has captured the imaginations of children for generations. With its magical elements, lovable characters, and exciting adventures, it continues to be a beloved series for young readers..
Reviews for "The Enduring Appeal of Enid Blyton's Faraawzy Tred for Children Today"
1. Emma - 1/5 stars - I was highly disappointed with "Enid Blyton: The Magic Faraway Tree". The story lacked depth and the characters were incredibly cliché. It felt as though the author was trying too hard to create a magical world, but it fell flat. The writing style was also quite childish and simplistic, making it hard for me to stay engaged. Overall, I found this book to be a major letdown and would not recommend it.
2. David - 2/5 stars - I had heard so many great things about Enid Blyton's books, but "The Magic Faraway Tree" didn't live up to the hype for me. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, with the characters going on one whimsical adventure after another. I found it hard to connect with any of the characters or feel invested in their journey. While the book may appeal to younger readers, I expected more depth and complexity from a renowned author like Blyton.
3. Sophie - 2.5/5 stars - I found "Enid Blyton: The Magic Faraway Tree" to be an average read. The concept of a magical tree with different lands was intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was too slow, and I often found myself getting bored with the repetitive adventures. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and lacked development. While there were some enjoyable moments, overall, this book didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I couldn't get into "The Magic Faraway Tree" at all. The writing style felt outdated and the storyline was far too simplistic for my taste. The dialogue was often cringe-worthy, and the characters seemed flat and uninteresting. I understand that this book was written for a younger audience, but I was expecting more substance and creativity. Sadly, this book did not deliver, and I struggled to finish it.
5. Sarah - 1.5/5 stars - I found "Enid Blyton: The Magic Faraway Tree" to be a tedious read. The plot was incredibly repetitive, with the characters encountering similar challenges in each new land they visited. Additionally, the writing style was overly simplistic and lacked complexity. I expected more from a renowned author like Blyton, but this book fell short of my expectations. It may be suitable for young readers who enjoy simple, whimsical tales, but it did not appeal to me as an adult reader.