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Wishing Chair #2
The Wishing-Chair Again
Mollie and Peter have a wonderful Wishing-Chair which they keep in their playroom at the bottom of the garden. While they are at Boarding School their pixie friend Chinky looks after it for them; but in the holidays the Chair grows wings and takes them on trips to all sorts of odd places.
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
89 people are currently reading
1342 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,134 books6,311 followersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 21, 2010
This was my first Enid Blyton book and the first long story I read, which made me start reading novels on my own.
April 25, 2021
A wonderful book that I remember reading repeatedly when I was younger and thought I would try it again and it kept me just as enthralled as when I was little. Mollie, Peter, Chinky and the wishing chair go on so many adventures. A great book.
October 11, 2011
This book is a childhood favourite of mine.. Many a night I spent with a torch and this book when I should have been sleeping. The wishing chair takes out characters on adventures to different lands .. I love how simple this book is but incredibly magical.These are not books that would go out of style or date as any child who was read this book would love it even though it is many many years since it was first published. Enid Blyton wrote books that could set childrens imaginations on a whirlwind adventure and give them a love of reading from a young age. As a child reading this book I was whisked off to adventures to fantastic lands and visiting lands like the land of goodies where you could eat everything( houses etc, made of cake) fly towards rainbows and meet interesting characters all from the safety of under my duvet with my torch. I highly recommend this for all children or for adults who loved Enid Blyton books as kids.
August 3, 2023
Loved reading one of my favorite childhood books to my son!
October 2, 2024
Best childhood stories when I need a super easy comfort read 🫶
June 11, 2021
Feels amazing to go back to the books you have read in your childhood and relive those times all over again. And Enid Blyton is the master of children's books. I have practically grown up on famous five, secret seven, Mallory towers, Amelia Jane and all her books, so when I saw this one lying around in the collection, I couldn't help but pick it up and go with the kids on their adventures. These books make you forget your adulting life and bring a smile on your face.
Loved the adventures in this book and visiting different places with the kids. How amazing would it be to actually have a real land of goodies!!
Loved the adventures in this book and visiting different places with the kids. How amazing would it be to actually have a real land of goodies!!
November 30, 2010
I'm still in love with this series!
On the previous series, each chapter usually is about one adventure whileas on this book, it might take couple of chapters for one stories.
And the most exciting adventure for me in this book is when they are flying on their wishing chair to Land of Goodies, oohh myy.. I sure will lovee being in that place where the trees grow chocolates, nyaamm nyaamm :q
I still have one more book to read, cause I bought the "3 in 1" edition :p
Can't wait to read what other adventures will Peter, Mollie and Chinky have? ^o^
On the previous series, each chapter usually is about one adventure whileas on this book, it might take couple of chapters for one stories.
And the most exciting adventure for me in this book is when they are flying on their wishing chair to Land of Goodies, oohh myy.. I sure will lovee being in that place where the trees grow chocolates, nyaamm nyaamm :q
I still have one more book to read, cause I bought the "3 in 1" edition :p
Can't wait to read what other adventures will Peter, Mollie and Chinky have? ^o^
July 1, 2009
I remembered this from my childhood, more fondly than I currently found it. It seems very dated and slightly twee, but my kids loved it, and it was nice to pass the magic on.
May 8, 2019
They amazingly fly in the sky
July 10, 2015
Molly & Peter return to Fairy Land
29 March 2012
This book follows on from the first Wishing Chair book and Blyton's storytelling ability has certainly begun to advance by this stage. However, I have also noticed that there is a gap of about 27 years between these two books. During this time she had written the three Faraway Tree books, so it is not surprising that as we read this story we discover references to the Faraway Tree and some of the magical lands therein. We also meet one of the Gollywogs which suggests that Blyton, in a way, is weaving all of her fairy tale books into one world.
Unlike the first book, which was more a collection of short stories, the structure of this book is more like the Faraway Tree where there are a small number of adventures with the final adventure being a journey to light-hearted place (the Island of Surprises). It is also interesting that while the two children begin by looking for the land of Goodness Knows Where, they never actually arrive because they end up being distracted in their journey. Another interesting aspect is that the children are now at school so the entire adventure occurs during their long holiday (in Australia it would be the summer holidays in December and January but I am unsure how things work in England).
While there is no overarching story the adventures all end up being linked. I have noticed that there are references from earlier adventures in the book in later chapters and there are also some recurring characters, such as Mr Spells, who we meet early on, and then in a later adventure he becomes one of the children's companions. We also have Winks, who is a brownie, and an incredibly naughty one at that. He is sort of like Dick from the Magic Faraway Tree, however he is much more unpredictable. In fact, Winks is so unpredictable that it is decided that he will have to return to the school of naughty brownies (despite the children freeing everybody from there during one of their adventures).
We do have a few changes in the characters as well, including the Wishing Chair. It seems as if the Wishing Chair has a mind of its own, it tires out, and can also communicate, if only through creaks. At one point the chair loses its wings so it has to grow new ones, however there are also a number of references to how the children have grown and thus have become heavier. It seems that the characters have changed in the period between the tow books and must adapt to these new circumstances.
Once again most of the action takes place between the playroom and Fairy Land, a land in which adults do not venture. It seems as if the playroom is the domain of the children, and the children do their best to spend as much time there as possible. It is a major difference from the Faraway Tree stories where mother knows what is going on, and even meets a number of the characters from the Enchanted Wood. While there is the ritual of jumping the ditch to get into the wood, it seems that the occupants of the wood can interact with the world of the adults. It is different here as the fairy world wants to remain hidden from the adult world. In this story though the discussion revolves around the Wishing Chair being taken to a museum and put on display.
In many cases it can be considered that the action in this story occurs within the children's imagination, and this is namely because they enter the fairy world through the play room. It all cases it seems that they will pass through the playroom before heading down to the bottom of the garden. Unlike the Enchanted Wood, there are multiple ways that the children can enter Fairy Land, but it is necessary in this story as the Wishing Chair is not always available to take them on adventures. In fact, at least twice in the story they have to go off after the Wishing Chair because it has either been stolen, or it has wondered off on its own and got itself into trouble.
Of the two major fairy characters, Clinky seems to be the wiser, and as mentioned Winks is the complete opposite. We meet Clinky's mother and some of his family as well, but it seems that he is taking the place of the folk from the Faraway Tree. Thus, when the children go on their adventures into Fairy Land, one of the fairies comes with them, if only to provide them with knowledge and guidance. As can be suggested, Fairy Land is not necessarily the safest place in the world, particularly if you do not know what you are doing.
29 March 2012
This book follows on from the first Wishing Chair book and Blyton's storytelling ability has certainly begun to advance by this stage. However, I have also noticed that there is a gap of about 27 years between these two books. During this time she had written the three Faraway Tree books, so it is not surprising that as we read this story we discover references to the Faraway Tree and some of the magical lands therein. We also meet one of the Gollywogs which suggests that Blyton, in a way, is weaving all of her fairy tale books into one world.
Unlike the first book, which was more a collection of short stories, the structure of this book is more like the Faraway Tree where there are a small number of adventures with the final adventure being a journey to light-hearted place (the Island of Surprises). It is also interesting that while the two children begin by looking for the land of Goodness Knows Where, they never actually arrive because they end up being distracted in their journey. Another interesting aspect is that the children are now at school so the entire adventure occurs during their long holiday (in Australia it would be the summer holidays in December and January but I am unsure how things work in England).
While there is no overarching story the adventures all end up being linked. I have noticed that there are references from earlier adventures in the book in later chapters and there are also some recurring characters, such as Mr Spells, who we meet early on, and then in a later adventure he becomes one of the children's companions. We also have Winks, who is a brownie, and an incredibly naughty one at that. He is sort of like Dick from the Magic Faraway Tree, however he is much more unpredictable. In fact, Winks is so unpredictable that it is decided that he will have to return to the school of naughty brownies (despite the children freeing everybody from there during one of their adventures).
We do have a few changes in the characters as well, including the Wishing Chair. It seems as if the Wishing Chair has a mind of its own, it tires out, and can also communicate, if only through creaks. At one point the chair loses its wings so it has to grow new ones, however there are also a number of references to how the children have grown and thus have become heavier. It seems that the characters have changed in the period between the tow books and must adapt to these new circumstances.
Once again most of the action takes place between the playroom and Fairy Land, a land in which adults do not venture. It seems as if the playroom is the domain of the children, and the children do their best to spend as much time there as possible. It is a major difference from the Faraway Tree stories where mother knows what is going on, and even meets a number of the characters from the Enchanted Wood. While there is the ritual of jumping the ditch to get into the wood, it seems that the occupants of the wood can interact with the world of the adults. It is different here as the fairy world wants to remain hidden from the adult world. In this story though the discussion revolves around the Wishing Chair being taken to a museum and put on display.
In many cases it can be considered that the action in this story occurs within the children's imagination, and this is namely because they enter the fairy world through the play room. It all cases it seems that they will pass through the playroom before heading down to the bottom of the garden. Unlike the Enchanted Wood, there are multiple ways that the children can enter Fairy Land, but it is necessary in this story as the Wishing Chair is not always available to take them on adventures. In fact, at least twice in the story they have to go off after the Wishing Chair because it has either been stolen, or it has wondered off on its own and got itself into trouble.
Of the two major fairy characters, Clinky seems to be the wiser, and as mentioned Winks is the complete opposite. We meet Clinky's mother and some of his family as well, but it seems that he is taking the place of the folk from the Faraway Tree. Thus, when the children go on their adventures into Fairy Land, one of the fairies comes with them, if only to provide them with knowledge and guidance. As can be suggested, Fairy Land is not necessarily the safest place in the world, particularly if you do not know what you are doing.
May 2, 2009
Aw, c'mon, who didn't want a chair with wings on it?! Perfect to mix in with The Faraway Tree; I read (and had read to me) those five books countless times as a kid. Such a delight.
May 22, 2024
First published in 1950, this is fairly undated apart from inclusion of golliwogs, now generally seen as representing negative racial stereotypes. My copy was printed in 1986 and was a childhood gift.
May 2, 2020
Enjoyable sequel and I really liked the story at the time.
July 15, 2020
Not quite as much fun as the first book but that is mainly because as a kid and again now, I really disliked the character of Winks who was rude, naughty and obnoxious. Frankly the children let him get away with too much bad behaviour and after what he did to Chinky, I'd have sent him back to where they found him. He's a thief and an idiot who can't stop causing trouble and doesn't care about spoiling things for other people and upsetting them. Chinky on the other hand is lovely and I would have loved a friend like him when I was young.
There are some interesting adventures including the hunt for Twisty, flying puppies, Mr Grim's school, The Land of Goodies and more. I liked the Toyland attack on Mr Grim. Warnings include there is a gollywog character called Mr Blacky (who is actually a lovely guy but of course this whole part of the story may offend) and a mention of his Land of Gollywogs though in my book we never visit it, just fly over to get to Mr Grim. There is also the name Chinky again for their pixie friend. I was also amused by Mother telling the kids when they arrive after the term at boarding school ends that she wouldn't get rid of anything in the playroom without consulting them. Considering she sold The Wishing Chair once and then took it from the kids for her own room, I thought that comment was funny! It was still fun to read it again after all these vyears but I won't be keeping it in my collection as I wouldn't read it again.
There are some interesting adventures including the hunt for Twisty, flying puppies, Mr Grim's school, The Land of Goodies and more. I liked the Toyland attack on Mr Grim. Warnings include there is a gollywog character called Mr Blacky (who is actually a lovely guy but of course this whole part of the story may offend) and a mention of his Land of Gollywogs though in my book we never visit it, just fly over to get to Mr Grim. There is also the name Chinky again for their pixie friend. I was also amused by Mother telling the kids when they arrive after the term at boarding school ends that she wouldn't get rid of anything in the playroom without consulting them. Considering she sold The Wishing Chair once and then took it from the kids for her own room, I thought that comment was funny! It was still fun to read it again after all these vyears but I won't be keeping it in my collection as I wouldn't read it again.
January 31, 2025
ANOTHER CHARMING ADVENTURE WITH PETER, MOLLY, "BINKY" AND THE WISHING CHAIR!
PREMISE: Molly & Peter are back home for the holidays and very much looking forward to spending time in the playroom with Binky and the Wishing Chair. However, Binky has some sad news, the chair hasn't sprouted it's wings in quite some time. Terribly sad, the children go to bed. But that night Binky races to wake them up. It seems the chair was just waiting for them to come home. But where should they go. "Oh Goodness Knows Where" Peter says, and the chair, surprisingly heads off. I wonder where it's going?
THOUGHTS: This book was actually a very solid improvement on the first! My very minor complaints through adult eyes, were very much fixed in this sequel! The stories all last at least a few chapters and any thought I had of Blyton running out of ideas was gone very quickly. It's been nothing short of a pleasure re-visiting these books I haven't read since childhood and I'm very much looking forward to the final book in the series!
5 Stars!
xoxo.
PREMISE: Molly & Peter are back home for the holidays and very much looking forward to spending time in the playroom with Binky and the Wishing Chair. However, Binky has some sad news, the chair hasn't sprouted it's wings in quite some time. Terribly sad, the children go to bed. But that night Binky races to wake them up. It seems the chair was just waiting for them to come home. But where should they go. "Oh Goodness Knows Where" Peter says, and the chair, surprisingly heads off. I wonder where it's going?
THOUGHTS: This book was actually a very solid improvement on the first! My very minor complaints through adult eyes, were very much fixed in this sequel! The stories all last at least a few chapters and any thought I had of Blyton running out of ideas was gone very quickly. It's been nothing short of a pleasure re-visiting these books I haven't read since childhood and I'm very much looking forward to the final book in the series!
5 Stars!
xoxo.
July 23, 2018
I was a voracious reader as a child having entire series of "The Baby Sitter's Club", "Sweet Valley Kids", and "Sweet Valley High School", but nothing sparked my imagination like Enid Blyton. There were a few books of hers in circulation in the 1980's Pakistan, and I was probably the only girl (or maybe there was another) who knew about her. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone who liked reading and asked what I was reading. The way her short stories sparked my imagination impacted me more than I let on. They were parables like Disney animated movies in printed words and I would get lost in them for hours until my mother would call me for dinner. I would put Enid Blyton to the level of Roald Dahl and Dr. Suess. Check her out!!
January 5, 2019
I’m in a real trading slump, I can’t seem to find a book that grabs my attention. I’ve started several and stopped after a couple of chapters.
I spotted this in a local charity shop and it bought back such happy memories, I couldn’t resist buying it and reading it, even though I’m some 40 years older than it’s targeted reader.
I love EB, and the books made me smile all the way through. What old fashioned times she wrote in though. I’m used to reading books with strong lead female characters and Mollie is mollycoddled by her brother and certainly portrayed as the weaker sex. I’ll not be upset over that, such were the times when EB wrote.
A wonderful touch of nostalgia from bygone days.
I spotted this in a local charity shop and it bought back such happy memories, I couldn’t resist buying it and reading it, even though I’m some 40 years older than it’s targeted reader.
I love EB, and the books made me smile all the way through. What old fashioned times she wrote in though. I’m used to reading books with strong lead female characters and Mollie is mollycoddled by her brother and certainly portrayed as the weaker sex. I’ll not be upset over that, such were the times when EB wrote.
A wonderful touch of nostalgia from bygone days.
Read
January 7, 2022The second Blyton book I have read whilst visiting my Mum. Again it is a larger sized volume with illustrations by Georgina Hargreaves. The cover picture is the only worry. Unless you look closely it does appear that Chinky is only wearing a top and a hat.
The second of three books about the Wishing Chair. Two were published in Blyton's life time. The third one was published in 2010 and was made up of chapters removed from the first two novels as well as material from Sunny Stories, and Enid Blyton's Omnibus.
This book has a short passage where Chinky and Mollie have a conversation about the Magic Faraway Tree.
The second of three books about the Wishing Chair. Two were published in Blyton's life time. The third one was published in 2010 and was made up of chapters removed from the first two novels as well as material from Sunny Stories, and Enid Blyton's Omnibus.
This book has a short passage where Chinky and Mollie have a conversation about the Magic Faraway Tree.
November 10, 2016
Siblings Peter and Mollie, and their pixie friend Chinky, spend the summer holidays having wonderful adventures with their Wishing Chair, a magical chair that grows wings, flies and takes them to whatever fantasy realm strikes their fancy. There are evil giants, a naughty brownie named Winks, and any number of witches and wizards, and the children have a great deal of fun…. This was published in 1950 and it’s very much of its time. A quick read, but with far too many “dear little teapots” and the like. Meh.
September 21, 2020
My boys, especially the younger one, always really enjoy these stories. I didn't read them the bit about how, when Peter & Chinky cowardly made the chair fly away rather than rescuing their friend, they pretended to be heroicly protecting poor helpless female Mollie 🙄 and blaming her when she was clearly the only one with a sense of loyalty.
There was also a conversation we had about racism and the "Golly" although he turned out to be a fairly noble character.
There was also a conversation we had about racism and the "Golly" although he turned out to be a fairly noble character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2021
For young minds, these books proved to be so thrilling, the zest, the tumble into adventures, cracking puzzles, finding clues and finally a way back home from the magical lands!
The wishing chair series were one of the amazing series in the Enid Blyton collection. The magical lands, pixies, fairies, goblins, witches, and potions made for some of the truly enchanting reads as a kid.
The wishing chair series were one of the amazing series in the Enid Blyton collection. The magical lands, pixies, fairies, goblins, witches, and potions made for some of the truly enchanting reads as a kid.
June 8, 2023
Another book displaying Enid Blyton’s extraordinary imagination. The Wishing Chair series as is all of Enid Blyton’s books are a joy to read. I am already looking forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
It is a great book to use if you wanted to develop children’s creative writing skills.
It is a great book to use if you wanted to develop children’s creative writing skills.
October 31, 2025
Children’s literature is incomplete without Enid Blyton. The book is wrapped in warmth and coziness. The book transports you to a magical world of adventures,pixies,giants,goblins,magical places,magical spells and magical wands. The book is a must read for children as it takes you on a journey full of adventures and magic. The story revolves around the adventures with the wishing chair.It’s a book which will take you on a journey of its own where everything is magical and adventurous.
December 30, 2020
It's essentially identical in structure, plot and characters to the first of the "Wishing Chair" books, therefore if you are reading it straight after the first book it does sound somehow repetitive. Having said that, the target audience of the book absolutely loved it and could not get enough of it, so it would probably be worth a 4 stars just for that...
June 18, 2021
Loved reading this one with my kids. I have such fond memories of the imagery & question that my kids would ask while they read a page aloud & I read the next one. A perfect book for parent-child bonding!
December 28, 2023
These books are just fun. I dont want kids but if I had them, they would be the books I read to them.
They are fun, cute, silly and overall just charming to read. Defo good choices
Enid Blyton is my queen no cal
They are fun, cute, silly and overall just charming to read. Defo good choices
Enid Blyton is my queen no cal
February 25, 2024
This was a bit of fun. A short book, much like the first in the series except a lot of the short 10 minute chapters are chained together to form longer adventures. The narrator is also a lot better than the Enid Blyton Faraway Tree books, no annoying voices.
March 17, 2024
Talk about irony in my previous review for the first book about the faraway tree cant believe the land of spells and the land of goodies was mentioned in this book lol wonder if chinky is related to the angry pixie?
August 9, 2024
I’m reading this series with my daughter and both of us enjoyed it a lot! I love the addition of the naughty Winks to the group and all of the additional characters like Mr Spells and Witch Wendle. This book was even more magical than the first one and I am looking forward to reading book 3 with my kid!
September 21, 2017
Izzy (age 8) is really enjoying these books. She gives them 4.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews