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Once a term, or thereabouts, we used to get handed leaflets at school from The Puffin Book Club. I always used to look forward to this as the leaflet contained a stack of different books with something to please everyone. I’m sure Mum used to groan whenever she saw me run out of school waving the leaflet in her face, as it meant I was then going to harp on about ordering a book from it for the next week or so.
The Puffin Book Club operated both at primary and secondary school levels, obviously featuring different leaflets for the different age groups, and it was a great way of finding a new book that you may not otherwise have known about. Of course all the books were ones published by Puffin Books (the childrens arm of Penguin Books) but that was fine as they had a great range of books available.
So after choosing my book and persuading Mum to buy it for me, I took the completed order form into school, and so began the wait for the new book to arrive. Every day I would go in expecting the books to be available, only to be disappointed. Eventually, after what seemed like months (it was probably only a couple of weeks) the books arrived and the teacher handed out everyones orders. To this day, I still enjoy getting a new book, whether as a gift or bought for myself, and if they are in unopened pristine condition then so much the better. Only trouble is I then hate to open them for fear of creasing the spine!
I also remember another book club operating at primary school, but I can’t remember what it was called. This one was slightly different in that the school hall was filled with shelves containing various different books, and you could go in after school and buy a new book there and then, which was instantly more gratifying as you didn’t have the long drawn out wait for your chosen book to arrive.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I used to like it when the book shop thingy came to our school. What I used to hate, though, was the fact I could never afford any of the books
I still can’t afford luxury items like books
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
What did you buy them when your mum stumped up the cash?!
I had a massive collection of horse themed literature. Oh lord.
May 4th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I remember getting The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole when at secondary school, and the novelisations of Disney films Condorman and Herbie Goes Bananas at primary school. Those are the only ones which stick in my mind though.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Ok, does anyone know the book that was about a little girl who visited a planet that had flying saucers that looked like hats. And no i’m not dreaming as i asked a friend about this. He also remembered but for the life of us we could not remember the title.
May 7th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Sorry Nick, can’t say it rings any bells. Anyone else find it familiar?
May 18th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
There was a small hard back book in the 80’s that told the story of a grey dragon that couldn’t blow fire. By the end, he did, and became an impressive shiny dragon and became the aurora lights… anyone else out there remember this one??? I’d love to know it’s name so we can find it.
May 19th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Sorry Caroline, I’m stumped on that one too…
October 8th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
I remember the Puffin Book Club. It was just about the only highlight of my school life. Can anyone remember a book – now I know this is very vague – it is set in or round a truck stop and centres around a murder/s (A strangler I think?
They say that there is at least one book that changes everyone’s lives. This is my book, but because of my vague recollection I have been unable to find it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
October 8th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Can’t say it rings any bells with me, but it sounds like the book had a big effect on you – just hoping it was a positive one given that it was about murders and that it didn’t inspire you to become a serial killer or something?
October 8th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Boo, we are sorely testing you on these books! I recall a book about a boy / man created in a lab and with a pattern of raised dots on his arm, found under a bush and raised by normal folk even though he was clearly some form of super human being (and no, it wasn’t Superman!). He fought against an oppressive regime that treated ordinary people like cattle. It was one of the first sci-fi books I ever read, and I have no idea now who wrote it or what it was called
October 8th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Ooh crikey, books really aren’t my strong point…
Sounds like a great book though GingerDoll.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:53 am
Thanks for your replies. The book did have a good effect on me. It inspired me to be a writer and I’m currently on the final year of my Masters in professional writing. Keep searching those memory banks!