Blurb: What can Uncle Quentin be up to - all alone - on Kirrin Island. He won't let anyone visit - not even George and the rest of the Famous Five. But Quentin isn't really all alone on the island - somebody is watching his every move!
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Random thoughts:

So, it's back to Kirrin Cottage and Kirrin Island. This is book six in the series and four of them have taken place there. At least we come from two adventures in a row in different locations, so I was OK with it. Also, I know that from here on we'll be seeing less of Kirrin Island. Apparently, Blyton had originally planned for this to be the last book in the series, and she wanted to close the circle coming back to where it all started. The last sentence of the book sounds like a definitive good bye, but fortunately she would change her mind and treat us to fifteen more Famous Five adventures.

We start with a rare glimpse of the girls' life at boarding school. Not that we see much of it, but it's nice to see a bit of that aspect of their lives. The Famous Five adventures always take place during the holidays, which makes sense since it's the only time they would be together, since education was segregated by gender.

George receives the news that her father is using her island for his experiments and doesn't take it so well. She spends a lot of time being moody in this book, but on her defense I have to admit that they hit all her triggers: her island and Timmy. Speaking of the island, it's back to being George's. That generous gift to the other children so that the island is shared by all of them seems to be forgotten. I guess Enid Blyton's editor was not very good. Oh well, it was a nice gesture, but George's possessiveness towards her island is fun. I don't find George annoying nor tiresome for being so moody, because she makes so much sense to me. I totally understand where she is coming from and what makes her tick. She's an excellent character, flawed but likable. Of course she gets sulky when life conspires against her like that. How could she not?

Speaking of the island, Uncle Quentin's science keeps being weird. Why on earth would he need to work on an island? And how about that strange tower he builds on it? Just weird. Later we learn that he is working on a new, clean, cheap energy source for all mankind. He succeeds, too. It's a pity this is fiction, we could definitely use that.

The pre-adventure part is enjoyable enough. It doesn't have the oppressive atmosphere of some books, but neither does it have the intoxicating freedom of the adventures where the children go on their own. It's just normal domestic life, which is made possible by Uncle Quentin not being at home.

The adventure part is quite short, not as short as in Go Adventuring Again, but short anyway. It's rather satisfying when it happens, though.

Alf the fisher boy is now called James the fisher boy. Seriously, did Enid Blyton have an editor or did they publish her manuscripts exactly as she sent them?

It's mentioned that Joanna the cook is back to help during the holidays. I thought it was a full-time position? Or was she ill or something?

When they meet Martin, George takes to him and offers to take him to the island. That seemed weird to me, because she had always been so reluctant to take people there, except for his cousins (and even his cousins initially). Besides, Martin does not exactly pass the Timmy test. The dog does not dislike him but completely ignores him. Well, perhaps George has grown a bit since the first book and understands the joys of sharing. Also, maybe EB realized that she couldn't have Timmy announcing right at the beginning who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, not if she wanted some mystery.

Dick did not trust Martin and his father and had a row with George because she told them too much. Dick was right, but at some points he was a bit... well, dickish about it, what with the "just like a girl" comments, knowing how sensitive George is about that. Those were a bit off, although I have to admit that he was probably weary of George's moods and sulkiness in this book. Also, at other times his teasing was gentler and more brotherly and funny.

Uncle Quentin is at his most distracted. He forgets to feed himself and wolfs down all the sandwiches his family brings when they visit him at the island. I'm surprised he remembers to give the luminous signals to indicate that he is fine. Also, George had a point when she worried that he would forget to feed Timmy once he asks for him to accompany him on the island. I know Uncle Quentin says that he might forget to feed himself, but never an animal that depends on him, but really, would you trust him, knowing him? On the other hand, Timmy can look after himself, either catching rabbits now that George is not there to forbid it or reminding Uncle Quentin that he is hungry. By the way, Timmy was too intelligent when he lay by Uncle Quentin to indicate he was OK with remaining on the island. He's as smart as a human, our Tim!

I have difficulties imagining Uncle Quentin finding secret passages. Also, I don't seen a reason for him to hide where he is working... that seems just a plot device, to keep the intrigue.

The moment when George realizes that she is under the sea and gets scared captured my imagination as a boy. Of course, her reasoning to calm down is sound: the tunnel must have been there for centuries, so why would it collapse right when she is there?

Why on Earth would there be such a complex system of tunnels under the sea, connecting Kirrin Island with the mainland?

Very lucky that the bad guys did not dispose of Timmy when they captured him. One would have thought that ruthless spies like those would not hesitate to get rid of a bothersome dog. Also, weird that they parachuted on the island but did not really have a mean of escape.

George was the main character in this book, without a doubt. She gets the spotlight all the time, both before and during the adventure.

Very nice that they helped Martin at the end. The coastguard was right: he is a lonely boy, but not bad at all.

Anne had a funny moment when she berated Mr. Curton. Funny because of how uncharacteristic it is of Anne to be so fierce.

Also quite a funny touch at the end when Uncle Quentin tells Aunt Fanny that the soup she left for him was awful. (He had consistently forgotten to eat it and Aunt Fanny told him many times that it must be spoiled by now and to please throw it away).

All in all, not as good as Five Go Off in a Caravan, but very enjoyable nevertheless.


Next up: Five Go Off to Camp (Famous Five #7, 1948) ( )

Tío Quintín, se apodera de la Isla de Kirrin y construye una extraña torre para realizar allí una serie de experimentos secretos, que requieren imprescindiblemente estar rodeado de agua. Cuando los chicos van con tía Fanny a visitar a Quintín, descubren asombrados que el tío ha encontrado un sitio que ellos no conocen y que ha establecido allí su cuartel general, pero no está dispuesto a revelar donde está.

Dando un paseo, los Cinco conocen a Martin Curton y a Mr Curton, que creen que es un periodista que intenta sonsacarles sobre los inventos del tío Quintín. Buscando puntas de flechas en las canteras, encuentran un pasadizo que no podrán explorar hasta más adelante, pues el tío Quintín está preocupado ya que le parece que hay gente en la Isla, y se queda con Tim para que lo cuide, a condición de hacer señales en la torre regularmente para saber que todo va bien.

Los chicos, estudian el plano del Castillo que encontraron en su primera aventura Los Cinco y el tesoro de la isla buscando el escondite de tío Quintín, y piensan que puede estar relacionado con la otra entrada que había a las mazmorras, y que nunca llegaron a descubrir. Mientras, Jorge está preocupada porque no ve a Tim cuando hacen las señales pactadas, y marcha de noche en su barca a la Isla de Kirrin. Encuentra a su padre prisionero en las mazmorras, que le da su libro de notas con los detalles de su experimento. Jorge encuentra a Tim encerrado en una pequeña cueva, lo suelta, y al regresar los secuestradores, da el libro de notas a Tim, que corre por un pasadizo con el bloc de notas en la boca.

Los villanos, no se percatan de que Jorge ha liberado a Tim, y amenazan a Quintín con volar toda la isla si no les facilita información sobre el experimento. Mientras Tim llega a Villa Kirrin y saca a Julián de la cama. Los chicos se asombran de la aparición de Tim y de que lleve el bloc de Quintín. Más asombro les producirá cuando al seguir al perro, éste no les lleva a la playa, sino a las canteras, donde encuentran a Martin con unas azadas, que les dice que su padrastro tiene actividades oscuras.

Con la ayuda de Martin, marchan por un túnel bajo el agua, tras de Tim, liberando a Jorge y a Quintín. Ana se queda atrás, y ve como Mr Curton resbala por la cantera partiéndose una pierna, con regocijo de la niña, que le dice que es un hombre muy malvado.

England, ca 1953
Indeholder "1. Brev til Georg", "2. Gensyn med Kirrinhuset", "3. Afsted til Kirrinøen", "4. Hvor er onkel Quentin?", "5. Et mysterium", "6. Oppe mellem klipperne", "7. En kurre på tråden", "8. Nede i stenbrudet", "9. Georg gør et fund og bliver hidsig", "10. Et forbavsende signal", "11. Georg træffer et svært valg", "12. Det gamle kort", "13. En eftermiddag med Martin", "14. Georg får et chok", "15. I nattens mørke", "16. Ned i dybet", "17. Gensyn med Tim", "18. Halv fem morgen", "19. Hvad skulle Martin?", "20. Situationen bliver alvorlig", "21. Enden på eventyret".

En familie med tre børn, Julian på 13, Anne på 11 og Dick på 12 har alle børnene på kostskole. Farbroderen Quentin og hans kone Fanny har datteren Georgina på ca 12 år og de bor ved Kirrin-bugten i et omkring trehundrede år gammelt hus kaldet Kirrinhuset. Georgina er ret egenrådig, er kortklippet, går i drengetøj og vil kaldes Georg. Hun har hunden Tim og der plejer at være eventyr i luften, når de fem er sammen. Hun går på samme kostskole som Anne og får et brev fra moderen om at faderen Quentin (der er en berømt videnskabsmand) vil flytte over på den ø, de ejer i Kirrin-bugten i nogle uger for at eksperimentere med noget. Han vil også bygge et tårn der. Georg bliver sur, for det er hendes ø efter at hun og de andre fandt en skjult skat på den for et par år siden. Skatten har sørget for at de kan blive boende og også sørget for pengene til kostskolen. Georg havde lagt planer for påskeferien, hvor de fire børn og hunden Tim kunne bo på øen uden indblanding og nu er det spoleret.
Det er dog et plaster på såret at kokkepigen Joanna er tilbage og at Quentin godt vil have besøg på øen, selv om han har travlt. Efter ankomst til Kirrin-huset, indkvartering og en gang god forplejning går de i seng og er næste dag klar til nye eventyr. De møder fiskerdrengen James igen og glæder sig til at komme over på øen og se det pudsige tårn, Quentin har fået bygget. Fanny ved ikke mere end de andre, men har dog hørt at det er vigtigt for eksperimentet at der er vand hele vejen udenom. De kommer fint derover, hvor der som sædvanligt vrimler med kaniner, men til gengæld ingen Quentin.
De går indenfor i tårnet og leder i det hele taget over det hele, men ingen Quentin. Børnene synes at de kender den lille ø som deres egen bukselomme, så det er underligt. Fanny er derimod vant til at Quentin er lidt distræt. Han dukker da også op, da de har spist godt af picnic-kurvens indhold. Han synes ikke om at de har været oppe i tårnet og set underlige tråde gå rundt og ende i et slags glasbur i toppen af tårnet. Til gengæld hugger han resten af maden i sig i et hurtigt tempo, så han har nok helt glemt at spise. Han genner dem ned til båden, så de kan komme væk fra øen og lade ham være i fred. Men han lover dog at signalere morgen og aften, så de kan se at han har det godt.
Næste dag regner det og han kan ikke signalere med sit spejl. Inde på stranden møder børnene og Tim en mand hr Curton og hans dreng Martin. Navnet er ifølge den lokale kystvagt, som de snakker med. De møder Martin og hans far igen lidt senere og faderen virker flink og lokker med at han har fjernsyn, hvis de er interesserede i at se det.
De næste dage signalerer Quentin som aftalt og børnene udforsker egnen omkring Kirrin-huset, blandt andet et ikke helt ufarligt stenbrud. Her møder de igen Martin. De deler deres madder med ham og han fortæller til gengæld at hans mor er død for mange år siden. Tim stikker af efter en kanin og finder en underjordisk gang, som de aldrig har vidst noget om. Gad vide hvor den fører hen? De lader den ligge til en anden gang og går hen og ser fjernsyn ved Martin. Hr Curton er flink og de får at vide at han er journalist og at han også har en stor radiosender stående. Næste dag sender Quentin flere blink end aftalt og da de kommer over på øen for at checke, fortæller han at han er ret sikker på at han ikke er alene på øen. Han har fundet cigaretskodder og hørt en hosten. Han får lov at låne Tim til at holde sig med selskab, selv om Georg er meget imod. Vel tilbage igen finder børnene det gamle kort over øen og borgen frem. Der var en indgang til de underjordiske kældre, som de aldrig fandt. De fandt i stedet en indgang via en tung lem, så derfor ledte de ikke videre dengang.
De går hen for at besøge Martin og når lige at høre at han bliver skældt huden fuld af sin far, fordi han er faldet og har forvredet anklen. Martin indrømmer for de andre at han har fortalt sin far om stenbrudet. De henter til gengæld pensler og maling nede ved kystvagten, for Martin er supergod til at tegne og male, men det er hans far helst fri for.
Georg holder øje med tårnet og Quentin sender også sine ok-signaler, men hun kan ikke se Tim, når hun kigger i kystvagtens stærke kikkert? Hun overtaler fiskerdrengen James til at låne hende en båd og tager turen over til øen midt om natten, hvor de andre tror at hun ligger og sover. Hun kommer ind i slotsruinen og ser to mænd komme ud fra en skjult gang. Hun går ind i den og finder en åbning, hvor en række trin i væggen fører ned i dybet. Hun finder sin far siddende ved et bord langt nede i kælderen. Han fortæller at hans opfindelse er en erstatning for kul, koks og olie og at der er folk, der gerne vil have den for sig selv. De to mænd er blevet kastet ned med faldskærm for at tage ham til fange og opsnuse hans hemmelighed. De har låst Tim inde et sted for at blive fri for ham. Georg vil straks redde Tim, men Quentin betror hende en notesbog med alle hans optegnelser i. Den må væk fra øen, for ellers har mændene alt hvad de skal bruge. Han giver hende en adresse, hvor hun kan aflevere den. Georg finder Tim og får ham sluppet løs, men først efter at have givet ham bogen i munden og givet ham besked om at gemme sig. En af mændene kommer tilbage og opdager hende og bringer hende hen til Quentin og bruger det som argument for at Quentin heller må beslutte sig lidt hurtigt til om han vil udlevere sine notater eller blive sprængt i luften sammen med tårnet. Det er midt om natten, men ved halv fem-tiden opdager Anne at Georg ikke ligger i sin seng. Hun får alarmeret de andre. Og Tim dukker op med Quentins notatbog i munden. De vækker Fanny, der også undrer sig, men starter med at låse notatbogen inde i pengeskabet. Tim fører dem hen til stenbrudet og der møder de Martin, hvilket jo er lidt underligt på den tid af døgnet. Han har også spader med. De presser ham til at fortælle hvad der foregår og han fortæller at Curton ikke er hans far, men hans formynder. Og at han presser Martin til alt muligt modbydeligt som at snage i andres folks sager og tage imod stjålne varer. Martin hjælper Julian og Dick med at komme ned i hullet som sikkert fører over til øen. Anne begiver sig tilbage til Kirrin-huset for at hente mere hjælp og undervejs ser hun Curton falde ned ad en skrænt og brække benet. Martin kan fortælle at planen er enten at få fat i hemmeligheden eller sprænge øen i luften, så Dick og Julian får fart på. De får befriet Georg og Quentin, men kan ikke komme ud af kælderen. Quentin har gættet at tårnet skal bruges til at sprænge øen med, så heldigvis kommer en flok fiskere og Anne til og kan lukke dem ud af kælderen. Quentin får uskadeliggjort tårnet og de skynder sig tilbage til stenbrudet for at få fanget de to mænd. Politiet kommer også til og de får Curton fisket op og behandlet af en læge. De to mænd er gået vild i tunnellen, så Tim bliver sendt ind og "hjælper" dem ud. Da de kommer ud, genkender Quentin den ene af dem og siger "God dag, Johnson, hvordan har De det?"
Men alt ender godt undtagen for de onde. Og Martin kan bo ved kystvagten og komme på en tegneskole. Hurra!

Kuldrevne lokomotiver der sender kulstøv ud over alt og alle. Kokkepige og beskrivelse af bunker af god mad. Fjernsyn er stadig en sjældenhed. Velkommen til 1950'erne England. Der kører også en løbende vittighed med en gryde suppe, som Quentin glemmer at spise og derfor bliver sur. ( )

AMAZING.Enid Blyton has once again proved his valour by this book ( )

Opening Sentence: ‘…Anne was trying to do some of her prep in a corner of the common-room when her cousin George came bursting in.…’

This is the sixth Famous Five adventure starring George, Julian, Dick, Anne and Timmy the dog. I am working my way through the series that kept me enthralled when I was 10 – and still appeals to me 40 years, and many re-reads later.

Uncle Quentin, George’s father, has decided to do some scientific experiments on the island where he can carry out his work uninterrupted and surrounded by water. George is horrified that she can’t camp on her beloved island, and even more appalled by the huge glowing tower her father has had built in the castle yard, but her three cousins jolly her out of her sulk and they find other activities to do. Uncle Quentin is very secretive about the work he is doing – and the children can’t figure out where he is staying on the island. To stop his wife worrying, uncle Quentin agrees to signal the mainland twice a day from the top of the tower so they know he is ok. It is all very mysterious. After a day or so uncle Quentin signals more than he is suppose to, indicating something is wrong. When the Five, and George’s mother arrive, uncle Quentin says that he thinks someone is spying on him and can Timmy stay on the island with him, he will bring the dog to the tower with him each day so George can see he is alright. George is not happy once more – but Timmy stays.

A few days later the dog can’t be seen, and George has a hissy fit. What is happening? Is uncle Quentin ok? What secrets are happening on the island? You guessed it – adventure time. There is evil to overcome and the island is facing its greatest threat before the culmination of the story peaks with all the Five involved and helped by friends old and new from various sources. ( )