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…
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.
Title: Blood Challenge Author: Eileen Wilks Series: World of the Lupi #7 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Animagus, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy Dates read: 1st – 22nd January 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: I usually don’t, but patterning’s potentially a -“
Lily Yu and Rule Turner’s engagement announcement is stirring up ugly passions in the Humans First camp. There’s hate mail. Death threats. Lily’s car is vandalized.
But professionally, things are running smoothly… until a lupus in Tennessee goes on a killing spree. Then Rule’s brother, Benedict, catches a lovely intruder – twice. The first time, she’s sneaking around the home of the leader of Humans First. The second time, she’s sneaking around Nokolai Clanhome.
It may not be possible to deal with the rapidly escalating situation the way Lily always has: through the law. Especially when she’s pulled off the case due to an alleged conflict of interest. Lily’s loyalties will be stretched to the breaking point when she discovers that the deaths in Tennessee were only the opening skirmish in an all-our war.
I had this on my TBR pile late last year. There is something about the World of the Lupi books that are brilliant, and always make me want to reach out for them. Plus, I read Human Error just before Christmas, which gave me that yearning yet again. It did take longer to get through than many of the other books of this size tend to do… but it was still thoroughly, beautifully enjoyable. I just tend to forget that these books are long, complex and filled with small writing.
The fact that Benedict gets a second chosen was kind of given away in Human Error, so that pleasant surprise was very quickly taken away from me. But, getting to know Arjenie a bit better as the insanity of this storyline unfolded was brilliant and fun. Particularly when the “getting to know” was taking place alongside all of the insanity of a very complex plot that just seems to keep getting more and more complex. It’s one of the reasons that I don’t just breeze through these books, but become completely absorbed in them. They’re beautifully, wonderfully intricate and, often, confusing!
The major conspiracies and backstory in this series has slowly been ramping up. And now, getting to the 7th book in the series, it is getting seriously, ridiculously intense. The characters are still brilliant, and the emotions that you feel alongside them are wonderful. But there is so much more going on with the battle that the lupi face now. It meant that once I got about a quarter of the way into this book, I was sunk. And couldn’t stop reaching for it, even when I needed to be productive.
I loved this book. And now I need to wait until I’ve finished a few books before sinking my teeth into Death Magic. Now that the plot is thickening with the characters and conspiracies throughout this story, I can’t wait to see what insane shenanigans are going to happen next. Plus, Cynna has had her baby, Benedict also has a chosen, and everyone is just thoroughly loveable and impossible to forget…
Title: Otherhood Author: William Sutcliffe Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Book to Film, Contemporary, Family Dates read: 5th – 22nd January 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Bloomsbury Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: He didn’t like the way she’d been able to say these things without allowing him any response.
First published as Whatever Makes You Happy, the hilarious and touching novel about mothers and their adult sons that’s now a Netflix original movie starring Felicity Huffman, Angela Bassett and Patricia Arquette.
Three sons. Three mums. One week.
Matt, Daniel and Paul were childhood friends. Now in their thirties, they’ve lost touch and have only one thing in common: their mothers. Little do they know that, having spent a cardless Mother’s Day discussing how their emotionally dysfunctional offspring should be settling down, Carol, Gillian and Helen have decided to pay their wayward sons a visit. On the same day, they turn up on their sons’ doorsteps, uninvited and unannounced. Their plan is to re-establish the mother-son bond by moving in for one week. Just a week. Surely that’s not a lot to ask…
I love the movie on Netflix that is based on this book. It’s a great look at women’s relationships, motherhood and the relationships that you grow up with. I still enjoyed this book. But it wasn’t quite as wonderfully thought out and created as the movie. I just felt like Sutcliffe tried really hard to write wonderful mother characters, but mostly it came off as someone who doesn’t necessarily want his mother around either.
Overall, I did enjoy this story. But, honestly, I think that the movie is what helped bump up my star rating for this. Although I thought this novel was about the experiences of motherhood (or otherhood as it gets known), it felt more like grown men not loving the interactions and nagging of their mothers. Don’t get me wrong, I sometimes find my own mother a chore (who doesn’t), but I also examine why and don’t think that it’s a huge imposition to have her around. This whole novel kind of read as though that’s what mothers are when you are older – a bit of a pain and a bit of an imposition.
This was a fun novel. But I really don’t know what to write about it. I think that the point of view of the mother would have been better written by someone who has experienced motherhood. I found it kind of hard to connect with the sons because of their extreme dismissiveness and the callous way in which they seemed to treat their mothers. Whilst I enjoyed the storylines while reading the tale, I found it incredibly difficult to feel that connection that I was expecting. Particularly when I loved the movie so much…
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
Title: The BFG Author: Roald Dahl Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Children’s, Easy reading Dates read: 15th – 21st January 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Puffin Year: 1982 5th sentence, 74th page: It’s a phizzwizard!
‘Human beans is not really believing in giants, is they? Human beans is not thinking we exist.’
It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a good Dahl book. And I remember The BFG being one of my favourites. So, it was a nice way to detox and wind down from work and a seriously chaotic week. It’s simply, fun, and light-hearted. With just enough confusion and storyline to keep me enthralled.
This was the book that reminded me that you can never judge a book by its cover. Or at least, it was the one that first taught me that little tidbit. After all, the BFG is large, ugly, and seriously awkward. He’s also uneducated and very, very different to everyone else that Sophie knows. But he is also good. And kind. And sweet. It makes for a very beautiful story.
One of my favourite things about this book is the way that the BFG talks throughout. It is quirky and unique, and just seriously, delightfully funny. I also love how Dahl is able to poke fun at things that are considered “ordinary” and every day. It certainly stops and makes you think about what you find “normal”, and is, in fact, just a little bit different and unique.
There is nothing better than revisiting a well-loved childhood classic and finding that you still enjoy it. Most of the time, when I revisit a beloved childhood classic, I tend to find it wanting. But that most certainly wasn’t the case with The BFG. And it’s inspired me to pick up and read more Roald Dahl books.
Earth and Skye 