Jennings & Darbishire: 4

I used to read the "Jennings and Darbishire" books when I was a boy. I am now reading this book to my grandchildren, aged 10 and 12. Rather to my surprise, they are enjoying it. The language is from another era e.g. "Oh, wacko, that's a supersonic idea. I say, let's go and rag old..." but you just have to accept that as part of the flavour of the times. It's an innocent world of 11-year-old boys at a boarding school on the south coast of England and the things they get up to are never malicious or underhand. It's been a trip down memory lane for me.

Although I am an adult reading these stories for the first time, I cannot help but laugh and laugh and laugh at the stories, to the point of needing tissues to wipe my face. I am not sure if boys from nowadays will feel the same as certain things are a bit out of date, there is no mobile or DS in sight, but it is sure funny!

A gift for myself to remind me of my childhood.....50 years ago.....when i first read these books. Book is great, service excellent.....but I shouldn't try and go back!! lol

The adventures of madcap Jennings and his long-suffering friend Darbishire were written almost 80 years ago but still are as fresh and exhilarating a read today. They are ideal for readers aged 9 + but don't let their classification as "children's literature" turn your nose up at them; like the William books they are ageless and classless. With catchphrases and nicknames which will become part of your vocabulary and a host of beautifully drawn, irrepressible characters who become your firm friends, these books are treasures. No family should be without them!

English in it is a bit too old fashioned for the recipient.

Great

The fourth in the series featuring the 11 year old boarding schoolboy and his friends. More episodic than the first three but possibly one of the funniest and best written. A class newspaper - the 'Form three times' provides a rough string to hold the episodes together but they are funny enough by themselves to carry the book, the Pottlewhistle Halt episode in particular is hilarious.

The fourth book in the Jennings series seems to lose its way slightly compared to its predecessors. The plot focusses on the chaos that ensues after Jennings receives a printing kit for his birthday and starts his own newspaper. The fact that it has been titled 'Jennings and Derbyshire' rather than 'Jennings' Newspaper' already suggests how weakly the plot will hold together.My copy was, once again, a 1980s updated version, with decimalised currency replacing the original, but strangely leaving a little casual racism.The first section, while once again involving fish (which I'm not very keen on) was funny, with twists that I didn't spot coming even though I've read the book before. The middle section was less so, being almost awkward in places but still believable. The final section though seemed out of place in the storyline and a little bit forced.Don't get me wrong, I still think that the Jennings books make fantastic reading, but this certainly wasn't the best in the series.