Title: The Magic Finger
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 23rd January 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1966
5th sentence, 74th page: And where his arm had been, he had a pair of duck’s wings instead!

Suddenly a sort of flash comes out of me, like something electric. It jumps out and touches the person who has made me cross…

This story had me giggling and laughing out loud. Frequently. Probably because it is a book that features a young girl with a “magic finger” who manages to teach people a lesson and deliver karmic justice. Definitely the kind of book that left me smiling and giggling. And a great way to take a short break from all of the more responsible stuff that I have on my to do list.

As someone who isn’t a huge fan of hunting, I kind of like that the karmic comeuppance in this story is based around hunting. The fact that characters are changed to stop them from hunting and so that they understand what it feels like to be hunted… it is just all that much better. Alright, I don’t know if I think that this kind of poetic justice is great, but I still think that it was wonderfully written.

This is a fun, light and easy read. One that I seriously, thoroughly enjoyed. And look forward to picking up again in the future. It was the perfect way to escape the realities of adulthood for a little while, and find a light story to fill my mind with for just a little while…

Image source: Toppsta

Title: James and the Giant Peach
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 22nd – 23rd January 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1961
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Balderdash!’

Bigger and bigger grew the peach, bigger and bigger and bigger.

There is something fun and enjoyable about rereading a beloved childhood book. And finding out that it’s actually just as good as you remember it being! That was most definitely the case with this. In fact, I actually made myself a bit of a pillow fort in my loungeroom before I even cracked the spine of this book. Just to help me highlight that wonderful nostalgic feeling all over again.

James and the Giant Peach is one of those stories that is wonderfully written and reminds you that there is always a better ending, just around the corner. If you have the guts to go looking. Alright, we don’t all have a giant peach that will take us to fresh new pastures, but there’s still that general feeling that anything is possible, peach notwithstanding.

This novel also reminds us that friends can come in all shapes and sizes. That it doesn’t matter what we look like, or how we’re made. We can all be friends and find friendship in the weirdest of places. Although, that could just be me putting that idea onto the book – after all, it’s something I believe wholeheartedly.

I loved this novel as a kid, and I loved it as an adult. The only real difference I found in reading this as an adult was the realisation that the peach actually kills James’ horrible aunts. Didn’t quite pick up on the horribleness of their death as a child… which is probably a good thing if you stop and think about it.

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Title: The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 22nd January 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1985
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘On my next visit to The Grubber, I was standing across the road gazing at the wonderful old building when suddenly an enormous bathtub came sailing out through one of the second-floor windows and crashed right on to the middle of the road!

‘My jewels! Somebody’s stolen my jewels!’

What a fun, light and easy children’s book to sink your teeth into. I may not have really enjoyed it as an adult, but I can imagine that as a child, I would have absolutely adored it.

This is the kind of nonsensical story that I enjoy sinking my teeth into, and just generally having a good giggle at. Even if it wasn’t quite as fun as some of the other Roald Dahl stories I’ve been reading lately.

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is a fun little children’s book that is accompanied by some wonderful illustrations. All light, happy and enjoyable.

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Title: George’s Marvelous Medicine
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 22nd January 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1981
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Why won’t they?’ asked George.

‘The rule would be this: whatever he saw, if it was runny or powdery or gooey, it went in.

I understand more than most how miserable it can be to have a grumpy, nasty grandmother. I’m just lucky that my parents never invited them to live with us. So it was kind of funny to read this story in which George gets his comeuppance against his nagging, irritating grandmother. And in the finest, most enjoyable fashion possible.

George is a great lead for all the boys and girls out there. He is funny and quirky. And, although he ultimately doesn’t make the best decisions… he does so with a bit of hope and positivity in his decision making. Plus, who hasn’t wanted to make a “medicine” that removes the crankiness from a relative?

I remember reading George’s Marvellous Medicine as a kid and wanting to go and make my own “medicine”. It worked out pretty much exactly as you would predict. But it’s a nice memory, one that kept flicking back in my memory as I reread this great, childhood classic.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Fantastic Mr Fox
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 22nd January 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1970
5th sentence, 74th page: The feast was just beginning.

‘Did you hear that, Mr Fox! It’s not over yet! We’re not going home till we’ve strung you up dead as a dingbat!’

I completely forgot that this story existed. Which is actually kind of sad, it’s a brilliant, funny and cute story. I absolutely adored this and was giggling throughout.

Fantastic Mr Fox is a funny little story that reminds us that being good and clever sometimes gets us what we want. It also kind of encourages us to steal… but I’m not going to look too closely at that rationale.

This is a light, quick and funny read. You know that a children’s book is good when you can still enjoy it and laugh over it as an adult. And that’s certainly what happens here…

Image source: Amazon

Title: Esio Trot
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 21st January 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Mrs Silver caught the paper and held it up in front of her.

‘I do actually happen to know how to make tortoises grow faster, it that’s really what you want.’

This was funny, quirky and seriously quick to read. It doesn’t even really count as a novel, since it’s only 50 pages. And most of those are covered in pictures…

I must say, I really don’t condone the way that Mr. Hopper gets his way in this story. After all, he is literally stealing a pet to con the woman he loves. But, it is quite funny. And clever. And just all round ingenious. Pus, there is a happy ending for the tortoise that started the whole damn story anyway. So all is not lost…

I laughed out loud throughout this very short read. And, if anyone has a copy of this lying around… I most definitely suggest reading it. After all, there is nothing better than having a short read and laugh when life is getting a little too serious. No matter how old you are.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Danny the Champion of the World
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 21st January 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 1975
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Yes,’ he said.

‘A stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is sparky.

I love that this is a book, that, ultimately is all about poaching. Yet, it seems to be a positive. Mostly, when I read poaching stories, the poacher is the evil character. Instead, in this story, the poachers are the good guys. And poaching… is… well, fun. It certainly turned a lot of my thoughts on their head.

I read this novel since I needed a refresh of what it was about. I’m writing a little note for my friends’ child-to-be in the front of this. And the part that seriously struck me… I could totally see the father-to-be doing exactly this. Being that fun, quirky and sometimes not well thought out parent. The one that is enjoyable and loving, even if they do make some questionable decisions (poaching in this case).

The ingenuity that Danny shows in this story is seriously admirable and impressive. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to show the same myself when I was that age. It is also a great reminder that we can accomplish whatever we set our minds to… if we have a little bit of gumption to follow through.

Overall, this was a fun, funny and seriously cute novel. I’m definitely glad that I decided to pick up my Roald Dahl books again and enter his crazy, zany world.

Image source: Kobo Rakuten