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Adventure #8
The River of Adventure
A river cruise through ancient desert lands will be an adventure in itself, think Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann, and Jack. An adventure it certainly is, especially when Bill disappears and the children, along with Kiki the parrot, are trapped beneath a forgotten temple where no one has set foot for 7,000 years.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
66 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,132 books6,299 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 96 reviews
April 15, 2012
In this series i always love how Enid describes all the delicious meals they have! Don't u all agree?
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March 30, 2023This story had me hooked! Even though the book is targeted at children, I still found it gripping. I especially enjoyed Blytons wonderful style of writing and describing the settings.
However, from todays point of view, this story is definitely not politically correct anymore - it is set in the Middle East and the 3 important foreign characters are the villain and 2 servants, who speak of themselves in the 3rd person and desperately want to serve the 4 kids. Even in a life-or-death situation, they were bossed around by the children (who, of course, knew best what to do in completely unfamiliar surroundings). I would have expected more even from a book written in 1955. But come to think of it, it is interesting to see what back then was thought acceptable to be printed.
But what really set me off, was the huge difference between the girls and the boys. The two boys were brave, the leaders of the group and each had an almost magical skill with animals, both helped the story to progress. The girls on the other hand could honestly have stayed in England. They were - of course - always frightened and had to be "protected" by the boys. Dinah's only personality trait was that she was scared of snakes and Lucy-Ann's that she pretended to be sick twice. That really was a shame... I hope they are both better depicted in the other books of the series!
However, from todays point of view, this story is definitely not politically correct anymore - it is set in the Middle East and the 3 important foreign characters are the villain and 2 servants, who speak of themselves in the 3rd person and desperately want to serve the 4 kids. Even in a life-or-death situation, they were bossed around by the children (who, of course, knew best what to do in completely unfamiliar surroundings). I would have expected more even from a book written in 1955. But come to think of it, it is interesting to see what back then was thought acceptable to be printed.
But what really set me off, was the huge difference between the girls and the boys. The two boys were brave, the leaders of the group and each had an almost magical skill with animals, both helped the story to progress. The girls on the other hand could honestly have stayed in England. They were - of course - always frightened and had to be "protected" by the boys. Dinah's only personality trait was that she was scared of snakes and Lucy-Ann's that she pretended to be sick twice. That really was a shame... I hope they are both better depicted in the other books of the series!
November 28, 2022
I have enjoyed reading this series from my childhood and there were some great adventures in it. However, it was definitely time to finish it up. The adventure happened in a couple of chapters and wasn't even very good. It all happened too quickly. There was the usual secret cave and treasure but it didn't grab me like some of the others. There was also the usual descriptions of all the food they ate. I think they must have all been obese when they got older because they always seemed to be eating.
The thing with Oola just annoyed me. Still glad I reread them though.
The thing with Oola just annoyed me. Still glad I reread them though.
June 5, 2012
This was a great book! even though i did read this out of order, i am really hooked on this series! can't wait to read the rest :) i really like Enid's writing !
October 26, 2022
Good adventure. I think the portrayal of other cultures and people is rather old fashioned now!
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June 3, 2020Probably read sometime between 2001-2005
September 29, 2025
When I read this series as a child, I thought this one enjoyable. Definitely better than the crummy Circus of Adventure or the snoozy Ship of Adventure but it never quite reached the magic of the first three
Rereading as an adult, with the secret passages ridiculous coincidences, easily-duped-by-children evil villains, it’s like Blyton remembered what worked and decided to just throw it all in and add a river for good measure.
A solid dose of nostalgia with a few questions such as why has the children's mother/aunt so frequently been reduced to "Bill's wife" and how often the children are so ill they have to miss school for an expensive holiday.
Rereading as an adult, with the secret passages ridiculous coincidences, easily-duped-by-children evil villains, it’s like Blyton remembered what worked and decided to just throw it all in and add a river for good measure.
A solid dose of nostalgia with a few questions such as why has the children's mother/aunt so frequently been reduced to "Bill's wife" and how often the children are so ill they have to miss school for an expensive holiday.
March 14, 2025
The end of an era: I finished reading this whole series to my son. What a fun ride this was. Is this a four star book in literary quality? Nope. But the experience of snuggling up with my boy many times a day (for just ooooonnnnneeee more chapter), laughing at Kiki’s antics, watching his eyes widen at the (totally implausible) action…that’s at least four stars in my book.
January 15, 2018
Suka. Seru. Senang juga bisa berpesiar keluar negeri selama dua minggu. Saya suka Oola. Kasihan, dia dipukuli pamannya dan badannya kurus kering. Dia setia sekali pada Phillip yg sudah menyelamatkannya.
March 20, 2020
233 - 2020
March 27, 2024
A rather sudden ending to the series some books better than others still think nothing beats the famous five but Kiki is an exception
August 31, 2022
Amazing story Kiki is still amazing nice mystery and the cave part to wrap up the mystery yes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2018
The last books of the series and a close contender for my favorite book of the series. This one is not rich in settings like circus of Adventure where story movies from city to countryside to foreign country to circus to castle. Most of this story takes place along a river. But there is a kind of charm in a row along a river. You know like Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. There is a certain peaceful feel to the idea of just relaxing in a boat that is going down the river and excitement around interesting towns that keep coming along the banks.
If Circus of Adventure was Jack's story, this one is Phillip's story. He has this magnetism that makes him attractive to humans as well as animals. He also manages to pick up an exotic pet. The children get out of most of their situations due to this prowess of Phillip. Kiki the parrot does pitch in as well.
The story has interesting settings - in the borders of Syria. Initially story is fun - visiting an exotic place with family. But this is a pleasure cum work trip for Bill - so one knows where the danger is going to come from. The villain turns out not that dangerous. Except for a risk of falling down a waterfall, even the elements don't threaten that much. Guess with Sea and Mountain, Enid Blyton decided to put danger behind her and focus more on fun.
The story ends with exploration of an underground cavern and the final encounter with antagonist as usual.
Some of the things may offend modern sensibilities. For example in the end Phillip compliments the girls that they were as good as boys. During the second part of the story when the children are on their own with native adult Tala, one sees a trace of imperialistic attitude in Phillip. Tala is an adult and ideally should be in charge. But no! English boys only have to be in charge. So Phillip makes a wrong choice going against Tala's advice just to put Tala in his place.
Of course all this was expected. But overall an enjoyable read - the second in the series I had originally read. When I had read it I had been totally puzzled who is Mrs. Cunningham taking care of the kids down with flu in the beginning of the story. In case you are wondering too, read and find out. I have tried to keep my reviews largely spoiler free. I mean this would not have been a spoiler if the book had been read in sequence. But just in case someone reads all my reviews and then starts the series.
If Circus of Adventure was Jack's story, this one is Phillip's story. He has this magnetism that makes him attractive to humans as well as animals. He also manages to pick up an exotic pet. The children get out of most of their situations due to this prowess of Phillip. Kiki the parrot does pitch in as well.
The story has interesting settings - in the borders of Syria. Initially story is fun - visiting an exotic place with family. But this is a pleasure cum work trip for Bill - so one knows where the danger is going to come from. The villain turns out not that dangerous. Except for a risk of falling down a waterfall, even the elements don't threaten that much. Guess with Sea and Mountain, Enid Blyton decided to put danger behind her and focus more on fun.
The story ends with exploration of an underground cavern and the final encounter with antagonist as usual.
Some of the things may offend modern sensibilities. For example in the end Phillip compliments the girls that they were as good as boys. During the second part of the story when the children are on their own with native adult Tala, one sees a trace of imperialistic attitude in Phillip. Tala is an adult and ideally should be in charge. But no! English boys only have to be in charge. So Phillip makes a wrong choice going against Tala's advice just to put Tala in his place.
Of course all this was expected. But overall an enjoyable read - the second in the series I had originally read. When I had read it I had been totally puzzled who is Mrs. Cunningham taking care of the kids down with flu in the beginning of the story. In case you are wondering too, read and find out. I have tried to keep my reviews largely spoiler free. I mean this would not have been a spoiler if the book had been read in sequence. But just in case someone reads all my reviews and then starts the series.
November 17, 2017
Like generations of children I fell in love with reading largely due to Enid Blyton and she hasn’t lost the ability to enchant. The eighth and last in the Adventure series and very conveniently after having had a bad bout of influenza Dinah, Philip, Jack, and Lucy-Ann (accompanied by Kiki, the parrot) are sent away on vacation on doctor’s orders for convalescence - cue an adventure. They set off to Barira, near the borders of Syria, and board a river launch accompanied by guide Tala and Philip acquires a devoted fan in local boy Oola who proves mighty useful in a tight spot.
Enid Blyton is a master at spinning a fun and exciting yarn at which the children are centre stage very quickly the adults are incapacitated in some way and they are on their own. I love the way she includes the wildlife including a major part for Kiki, the parrot. I hope the current and future generations of children still continue to enjoy Enid Blyton because she is still worthy of attention.
Enid Blyton is a master at spinning a fun and exciting yarn at which the children are centre stage very quickly the adults are incapacitated in some way and they are on their own. I love the way she includes the wildlife including a major part for Kiki, the parrot. I hope the current and future generations of children still continue to enjoy Enid Blyton because she is still worthy of attention.
September 24, 2015
Okay so this was too bad for Enid.I meant I have read hundreds of her books but this one is just,yeah you know,not special.Maybe this is because I compare it with a total different condition?To be honest I haven't read any of Enid's books since I left elementary school so yeah I don't know,but I was not a happy reader.
Lucy Ann,Dinah,Jack,and Philip are going to Middle East country with Bill and their mother after suffering a severe flu just before they can go back to school.Bill had a duty to spy a man called Uma who had evil plan to rob all of the ancient treasure from a secret temple buried under the grown.They travel with a boat along the river from a town to another with a local man called Tala.Bill was kidnapped by Mr Uma and the children with Oola had their thrilling adventure under the forgotten temple to get the treasure before Mr Uma catch them.
Lucy Ann,Dinah,Jack,and Philip are going to Middle East country with Bill and their mother after suffering a severe flu just before they can go back to school.Bill had a duty to spy a man called Uma who had evil plan to rob all of the ancient treasure from a secret temple buried under the grown.They travel with a boat along the river from a town to another with a local man called Tala.Bill was kidnapped by Mr Uma and the children with Oola had their thrilling adventure under the forgotten temple to get the treasure before Mr Uma catch them.
February 2, 2024
I read this as a child and despite loving the other books in the series I did NOT like this one. I found it extremely patronizing, full of racism and a supremacist attitude. It's so obvious the author knew next to nothing about the Middle East and the characters seem a cheap caricature of Indians with snake charmers and oddly behaving natives. (I mean the real India here and not the erroneously called Red Indians.) I'm sure even Indians will find it insulting though. I realized just now years later that after reading this book, I avoided all of Enid Blyton’s books. There were other authors out there with better attitudes.
December 29, 2013
Insipid..
EB must have written this when in a bad mood.
Too many pricks of racialism and looking down upon anyone not British - I was angry with the kids, their parents and all the characters in the book in general.
The 4 kids and the irritating parrot Kiki, are on a boat adventure this time as Bill is send to investigate a smuggler in a remote country and the children are recouping from a bad flu. Bill needs them as he is planning to go incognito as a family man.
EB must have written this when in a bad mood.
Too many pricks of racialism and looking down upon anyone not British - I was angry with the kids, their parents and all the characters in the book in general.
The 4 kids and the irritating parrot Kiki, are on a boat adventure this time as Bill is send to investigate a smuggler in a remote country and the children are recouping from a bad flu. Bill needs them as he is planning to go incognito as a family man.
November 28, 2012
A bit of a different sort of adventure for an Enid Blyton book, as she rarely ventures outside of Europe, but there you go. Of course Philip, Jack, Lucy Ann and Dinah solve a mystery, discover a valuable historical treasure, and capture the baddie. All in a days work with help from Kiki and a Bargua snake. Love this series, but this wasn't the best of them. Still, it's Enid, so five stars!
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November 17, 2015my favourite quote:
"It was pretty tough at times," said Jack. "The girls were marvellous. Good as boys any day."
This was such an unusual compliment from Jack that both the girls stared in surprise.
"It was pretty tough at times," said Jack. "The girls were marvellous. Good as boys any day."
This was such an unusual compliment from Jack that both the girls stared in surprise.
October 25, 2021
Konec dobrý, všechno dobré! Tahle osmidílná série a čtyrčlenná parta s papouškem mě prostě baví. Myslím, že na to nikdy nebudu stará, jak na knihy, tak na filmy. Baví mě ta jejich dětská bezprostřednost a taky bych strašně mov chtěla zažít takové dobrodružství jako oni!!
December 3, 2012
Horeeee....diterbitkan ulang oleh GPU
July 29, 2023
Es war irgendwie gar kein richtiges Abenteuer. Ich finde es sehr komisch dass die Abenteuer Bücher von Enid Blyton, der Frau die auch Pippi Langstrumpf erfunden hat, geschrieben wurden, aber Mädchen/Frauen trotzdem in dieser Buchreihe stereotypisch ängstlich usw. beschrieben werden. In den Büchern wurde immer gesagt dass man ganz besonders acht auf die Mädchen geben soll. Die Mädchen hatten immer als erstes Angst. Die Mädchen haben oft den Höhepunkt des Abenteuers nicht miterlebt, weil sie in „Sicherheit“ sein sollten. Die Mädchen mussten immer brav sein. Immer hatten die Jungs das sagen. Natürlich war es zu der Zeit in der das Buch rauskam nicht üblich dass es mutige etc. Mädchen gab, aber trotzdem habe ich es vor allem nicht von Enid Blyton erwartet dass sie so über Mädchen spricht, weil sie wie gesagt auch Pippi Langstrumpf erfunden hat. Auch fand ich den gebrauch von dem N-Wort nicht richtig. Wie gesagt es ist ein altes Buch und damals war es wahrscheinlich üblich, aber ich finde man hätte trotzdem andere Ausdrucksweisen benutzen können :/
Trotzdem habe ich die Bücher genossen zu lesen. Sie haben mich wieder in meine Kindheit versetzt. Ich fand sie nicht so spannend weil die Bücher natürlich nicht für mein Alter geschrieben wurden, aber trotzdem denke ich dass es gut war, dass ich sie nun durchgelesen habe, weil ich mir das schon lange vorgenommen hatte.
Trotzdem habe ich die Bücher genossen zu lesen. Sie haben mich wieder in meine Kindheit versetzt. Ich fand sie nicht so spannend weil die Bücher natürlich nicht für mein Alter geschrieben wurden, aber trotzdem denke ich dass es gut war, dass ich sie nun durchgelesen habe, weil ich mir das schon lange vorgenommen hatte.
October 17, 2017
Reasonably enjoyable, but mostly a rehash of earlier books in the series without being so well realised. The couple of new elements I enjoyed were the snake charming (this must have been the book that first told me the truth about that), and Aunt Allie (or Bill's wife, as her name is now) finally showing some character when she comes to Oola's defence. Kiki scares some men in a dark tunnel with noises yet again, but at least this time the scene was mercifully short. It was annoying that this time it took even more than half the book for the adventure actually to get started, and only then because the characters allowed themselves to get lured into it by being unbelievably stupid. I was also disappointed that Philip didn't bother naming his snake, but apart from that he's a good guest animal and, unlike most, has quite a lot to do with the plot.
April 17, 2018
Here we have another set of convalescent children who are told by the doctor that they need a couple of weeks more out of school to get strong again (did this really happen in that period? Nowadays people either are ill or healthy, there's none of these extended vacations when they recover. But it is not uncommon in EB's books). Bill again puts his family at risk by taking them in one of his missions, as cover while he spies on a suspect.
Bill and Mrs. Mannering (Mrs. Cunningham now) are captured, and the children have to escape, accompanied by the motor-launch driver Tala and a native boy. They narrowly avoid falling down a waterfall and find an ancient temple full of treasury, while trying to avoid the bad guy. An example of the attitudes of the time is the fact that Tala, despite being an adult, meekly follows the lead of the occidental children.
I found the book quite entertaining, although the bad guy, initially promising, turned out to be rather useless and pathetic. I have to admit that, when reading Enid Blyton's children adventures, I tend to prefer the ones set in the UK (with the exception of The Mountain of Adventure, which is one of Blyton's best). I have the impression that the ones set far away tend to be more far-fetched, less grounded, and in general with less of Enid's enjoyable landscape descriptions.
So it's not bad at all, but for me this is not Blyton at her very best. In my opinion the first half of the Adventure series is superior to the second half.
These are the books of the series, ordered from best to worst (in my opinion., of course):
The Valley of Adventure (1947)
The Castle of Adventure (1946)
The Sea of Adventure (1948)
The Island of Adventure (1944)
The Ship of Adventure (1950)
The Circus of Adventure (1952)
The River of Adventure (1955)
The Mountain of Adventure (1949)
Bill and Mrs. Mannering (Mrs. Cunningham now) are captured, and the children have to escape, accompanied by the motor-launch driver Tala and a native boy. They narrowly avoid falling down a waterfall and find an ancient temple full of treasury, while trying to avoid the bad guy. An example of the attitudes of the time is the fact that Tala, despite being an adult, meekly follows the lead of the occidental children.
I found the book quite entertaining, although the bad guy, initially promising, turned out to be rather useless and pathetic. I have to admit that, when reading Enid Blyton's children adventures, I tend to prefer the ones set in the UK (with the exception of The Mountain of Adventure, which is one of Blyton's best). I have the impression that the ones set far away tend to be more far-fetched, less grounded, and in general with less of Enid's enjoyable landscape descriptions.
So it's not bad at all, but for me this is not Blyton at her very best. In my opinion the first half of the Adventure series is superior to the second half.
These are the books of the series, ordered from best to worst (in my opinion., of course):
The Valley of Adventure (1947)
The Castle of Adventure (1946)
The Sea of Adventure (1948)
The Island of Adventure (1944)
The Ship of Adventure (1950)
The Circus of Adventure (1952)
The River of Adventure (1955)
The Mountain of Adventure (1949)
January 3, 2018
Philip, Jack, Dinah and Lucy-Ann were on another adventure in Syria. When They got flu, and the doctor recommended they go where there are sunshine and water. Bill was sent to Syria, a perfect holiday destination for the children, to watch Raya Uma, a smart robber. Bill said to stay out of his way. But when Bill and their mother is kidnapped by Raya Uma, they had to do something. The challenge they had to take is to save Bill and their mother. What I don't like about this book is that there is a little bit of child abuse. What I like about this book though, is that the children had a lot of adventure. I'd give it a 9/10.
March 7, 2024
Pertama baca langsung ke buku ke-8 ini. Aku kaget dengan tata bahasanya. Beda banget. Di bab awal sampe ku ulang-ulang bacanya. Sampe bingung siapa kiki? Ternyata dia burung kakak tua. Disini terlalu banyak tanda seru, mungkin karena mereka anak-anak yang bersemangat. Kata-kata umpatannya terlalu kasar menurutku.
Untuk cerita dibawakan dengan bagus, mudah dipahami dan banyak penjelasan disana. Anak-anak ini cerdas, mereka selalu berpikir dulu sebelum bertindak, mereka juga pemberani. Dan mereka selalu menjaga satu sama lain. Cerita ringan, memang cocok untuk anak-anak. Dan banyak pengetahuan baru disana. Endingnya dibungkus dengan halus dan membuatku tertawa juga terharu.
Untuk cerita dibawakan dengan bagus, mudah dipahami dan banyak penjelasan disana. Anak-anak ini cerdas, mereka selalu berpikir dulu sebelum bertindak, mereka juga pemberani. Dan mereka selalu menjaga satu sama lain. Cerita ringan, memang cocok untuk anak-anak. Dan banyak pengetahuan baru disana. Endingnya dibungkus dengan halus dan membuatku tertawa juga terharu.
November 13, 2021
The final book in the classic series has the gang taking a boat trip down a river in the Middle East. I loved this series as a kid even though they were “old” books then. I’ve been rereading these as an adult and I am greatly enjoying them once again. This book seemed shorter than the others and even though it is the final book, it does not contain any sort of wrap up. The motto of this series could be that every near death experience should be followed by dinner.
February 4, 2023
Rereading this series as an adult makes me realized how... terribly dangerous their adventures are... Honestly it's a miracle they still alive without any serious scars, and somehow their parents don't really make a big deal😂
One of my question through reading the book is how many suitcases of canned food did they bring to their adventures? Seriously tho, all they do, besides the adventure obviously, is opening dozens of canned food yet they never ran out of food😂
One of my question through reading the book is how many suitcases of canned food did they bring to their adventures? Seriously tho, all they do, besides the adventure obviously, is opening dozens of canned food yet they never ran out of food😂
September 8, 2023
Sungguh beruntung!
Kali ini mereka semua dapat berlibur bersama Bill, tentunya juga dengan ibu mereka.
Mereka menuju sebuah kota bernama Barira yang letaknya agak jauh dari perbatasan Suriah. Bill sedang mengemban tugas rahasia, sementara anak-anak yang baru sembuh sakit butuh berlibur di daerah yang banyak sinar matahari.
Seperti biasa, Philip menunjukkan kebolehannya dengan binatang, kali ini seekor ular berbisa!
Kali ini mereka semua dapat berlibur bersama Bill, tentunya juga dengan ibu mereka.
Mereka menuju sebuah kota bernama Barira yang letaknya agak jauh dari perbatasan Suriah. Bill sedang mengemban tugas rahasia, sementara anak-anak yang baru sembuh sakit butuh berlibur di daerah yang banyak sinar matahari.
Seperti biasa, Philip menunjukkan kebolehannya dengan binatang, kali ini seekor ular berbisa!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews