Danny the Champion of the World

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 4 hours

Read by: Peter Serafinowicz

Published: 1975 (This version 2013)

Genre: YA fiction

 

What I liked about this story was the love that Danny and his father have for one another. It was often sweet and delightful, especially his dad teaching him to fix cars. 

 

The narrator did a great job.

 

I had never read this book before and I didn't like it very well. My primary dislike wasn't just the focus on poaching; it was an obsessive idolization of poaching. His dad (and some of the other characters) almost seemed like drug addicts in their fixation on poaching. I understand the "little guy" perspective toward the rich, selfish landowner . . . and I even agree with people hunting for food to stave off starvation . . . but Danny himself observed that they weren't starving. It was basically theft. 

 

When his dad comes up with a scheme that involves ruining the hunt for the horrible Mr. Victor Hazell, I assume he wants to simply relocate the pheasants. No. He fully intends on keeping or giving to friends over 100 birds. I actively disliked the story at points, but Danny was a sweet kid.

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 3 hours 

Read by Jeremy Irons

Published: 1961 (this version, 2004)

Genre: children's fantasy

When I was a kid, I loved this book. I think it was the idea of a giant peach with tunnels and hidey holes running through it . . . I liked the idea of attics, forts, and other hideouts.

When I was a mom with young kids and I read it to them, I was horrified! The two aunts were absolutely wicked in how they treated young James. I don't know if I even finished reading the book to my children. And the aunts get smashed to death by the peach! What kind of children's book . . . 

I got this audiobook because I spend a lot of time in my car. It's nice to have stories to listen to. Jeremy Irons has an amazing voice. 

This story is too ridiculous for me, though. James' mom and dad are eaten by a charging rhino in "35 seconds flat" . . . ? Um. Don't think that is a thing that a rhino escaping from the London Zoo could or would do.

Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker were as horrible as I remembered. Poor James! To become an orphan and then to be treated so abusively by his guardians . . . sad.

The seagulls (500 tethered to the peach - logistics?), crossing the Atlantic in one night, living in Central Park in the peach pit, . . . this story is just too bizarre. And the centipede is an obnoxious jerk.

Anthropomorphic stuff . . . poems and songs / limericks . . . the Cloudmen (I don't remember this from earlier reading.) Interesting. Weird.

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 4 hours

read by Kate Winslet

Published: 1988 (this version, 2013)

Genre: children's fantasy

I've read this before and have seen the movie, but it's been a long time. I enjoyed it more than I expected. 

I didn't remember Mrs. Phelps, the librarian. I loved that she was compassionate, encouraging, and discreet. She was an excellent character!

The voice work was fantastic, of course. Kate Winslet! It was weird, though, that Miss Honey seemed to have an Irish lilt. And Miss Trunchbull was so darn loud. I kept having to turn the volume down, then I couldn't hear the next part. The producer should have taken better care of volume control. It was frustrating.

When Miss Honey invites Matilda into her home for tea, I couldn't help think that there's NO WAY a teacher can do that nowadays. Later in this scene, I liked that Matilda become aware of Miss Honey's poverty. I think it's been too long since I last read this, because my brain kept "seeing" the movie and the actors. 

I find that I like the book version much, much better. (Though I adore the work that Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman do as Matilda's awful parents.)

Boy: Tales of Childhood

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 3 hours

Published: 1984 (this version 2013)

Read by: Dan Stevens

Genre: non-fiction memoir

I know I've read this before, but since I can't find a blog entry for it, it must have been prior to 2007 or one I just didn't write about.

Roald Dahl tells stories from his childhood. These stories make it abundantly clear where some of his stories and characters come from! He encountered a lot of awful people in his childhood. I'm glad his mom was lovely. The fact that she saved all his letters (from boarding school, college, his first job abroad, etc.) is so very sweet. 

The narrator did a lovely job. This is a wonderful memoir.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More

by Roald Dahl
Mary Verbick's copy, paperback, 225 pages
genre: short story collection, life

Mary recommended "The Swan," which she uses with her students. It disturbed me, but Dahl's work sometimes does. Reactions:

The Boy Who Talked With Animals - mob mentality, arrogance of the rich, poor tortoise, glad the boy rescued him and he rescued the boy!

The Hitchhiker - funny, but I can't believe the driver took the taunt to speed. Love how it ends.

The Treasure of Mildenhall - cool message at the end, though when Gordon Butcher went to get Ford, I thought "NO!" Interesting how greed can warp people. Silver vs. pewter . . . nice.

The Swan - I hate bullies and senseless violence.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - long and involved. Interesting. I didn't expect the ending. Again, themes of greed, wealth, and manipulation play here.

Lucky Break - How I Became a Writer - my favorite!!! Very cool autobiographical story of Dahl's young life and unexpected start as an author. Love it!

A Piece of Cake - first story Dahl penned for Forrester to write up as a piece for the Saturday Evening Post. Very cool how this changed his life!

Skin: and other stories

by Roald Dahl
CMSW, hard cover, 212 pages

I only finished the first five stories in this collection. They just weren't my cup of tea . . . Roald Dahl has a somewhat warped style. It's interesting to me that I loved his stuff as a child, but not so much as an adult.