Should have read classics discussion

This month we are doing something different with the childrens read. We are going to focus on the author, Roald Dahl. You can either read one or multiple books by him. I hope that you enjoy this different format this month and as always, happy reading!

I think I will read The BFG (Big Friendly Giant).

This is going toe fun! I have wanted to re-read Matilda and the BFG, but there are a few I've never read too. How to choose! :)

I looked over the Dahl books on my bookshelf last night and discovered, to my surprise, that the only real children's book in the collection I bought is The Witches, which I've already read. All the others appear to be some pervy adult-ish books. I had no idea he wrote adult stories as well. So I'm going with The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More, which is the closest to children's lit in the bunch, according to community opinion. Wish me luck.

I grabbed a few to re-read: Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Can't wait!

Great idea! I will be reading Esio Trot. I was given this short book a year or two back when my husband "inherited" four tortoises. March will be a perfect time to spend an hour and finally read it. I may also reread Witches, one of my favorites.

I've never really read anything by Dahl, I hear he's wonderful. So I look forward to reading Matilda and maybe James and Giant Peach.

I'll try to read Matilda which I recently found.

Oh fun - I will take a look and see what I can find of his. He is a great children's author!

Matilda has been one of my favorite movies. She was my heroine growing up. I didn't know it was based on a book. So excited to read his works.

This is just a sampling of some articles about Dahl that popped up when I googled "Roald Dahl and controversy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/A...
http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainmen...

There was plenty more, but I figured that was enough to get an idea that he was quite a complicated person.
http://www.roalddahl.com/

I've seen the movie Matilda but never read the book. I am looking forward to reading it. Also, The Witches is on TBR pile!

I am half way through Charlie - and I am a bit disapointed. Usually movies made by books tend to be a bit shallow and... well... just moving pictures. In this case I find nothing above the movie...

I am still in love with Danny and with The Witches and I plan to read them again!

Reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my youngest, 11 years old. I spent so much time reading with my 3 older children, now 17 -19, I've felt guilty about our youngest. Life just got so complicated. But this is great incentive. He's enjoying the book. Then we'll watch the movie.

Karen wrote: "Reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my youngest, 11 years old. I spent so much time reading with my 3 older children, now 17 -19, I've felt guilty about our youngest. Life just got so ..."

Which movie version are you going to watch?

I just finished reading Matilda and it was amazing! I love the movie version but the book is just beyond. I kept on wishing I read it when I was younger. Anyways, I'm halfway through James and the Giant Peach and I am really enjoying it.

Anna wrote: "I am half way through Charlie - and I am a bit disapointed. Usually movies made by books tend to be a bit shallow and... well... just moving pictures. In this case I find nothing above the movie......"

I know exactly what you mean, Anna. I started reading Roald Dahl for the first time a couple of years ago. I've read Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Witches so far, and though they were all really great, I couldn't find anything about them that made me feel like they were in any way better than the movie adaptations I had watched many times when I was a kid. I think I just have a hard time separating a book from the movie if I'd seen the movie beforehand, especially if it's from my childhood.

I'm thinking of reading James and the Giant Peach next. I'm not familiar with the movie adaptation at all. :)

I just finished Matilda. I didn't expect the magic and the malice. I loved the contrast between the characters, too. The shift between goody-good Miss Honey and Trumbull with a rat's heart. Her parents were delightfully bad, too. I wish I had read it long ago. I will definitely read more to feed my inner child.

Does anyone notice any similarities in the books? How about how the adults are described and interact with the children in the books?

Lisa wrote: "Does anyone notice any similarities in the books? How about how the adults are described and interact with the children in the books?"

Well, in Matilda, there are definitely grownups who have the best interest of the child at heart and then there are definitely grownups who are a terrifying menace. I seem to recall this being true in other Roald Dahl books too, but I can't remember which one(s). In the BFG, which I am reading now, there is one giant, the Big Friendly Giant, who is good to Sophie. But all the other giants are apt to eat her.

The acknowledgement that some adults are downright nasty seems unusual in children's literature. Oh, I suppose there's Injun Joe in Tom Sawyer, and other villains as well -- but in most children's stories the idea put forth by the author seems to be that most adults that kids will encounter in everyday life are to be respected. Not so at all with Roald Dahl.

I was able to squeeze read The Twits which I've never read before. A very funny, witty story for kids!

Marcela wrote: "I was able to squeeze read The Twits which I've never read before. A very funny, witty story for kids!"

Though it's almost impossible for me to rank them this was always one of my favorites of his books! I've just discovered I have it and am hoping to read it again really soon.

Karen wrote: "Reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my youngest, 11 years old. I spent so much time reading with my 3 older children, now 17 -19, I've felt guilty about our youngest. Life just got so ..."

I just read James and the Giant Peach with my 7 and 9 year old boys. We had previously read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I love transporting them through imagination. They love the silliness of the subjects.

I just read The Minpins. I'd never read this one, and it was delightful. Has anyone else read this one?

I just finished my second Dahl book for the month, The Twits. This was a funny and quick read. I'd never read this one either. Oh those evil Twits...

I am in the middle of Matilda and I am loving it!

I'm in the middle of The Twits! Absolutely Loving it! Page turner for sure ;)

Although it was farfetched, Matilda was enjoyable!

I have read a few books by Roald Dahl, and liked them all. My favourite has got to be "Matilda," and my least favourite is "James and the Giant Peach." I think the subject matter of his books is always ridiculously far-fetched, which makes them entertaining. Listed below are the ones I have read:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
James and the Giant Peach
The Twits
The BFG
The Witches
Matilda
Boy: Tales of Childhood