I read Roald Dahl’s The BFG
The novel begins with the abduction of Sophie, a resident of a London orphanage, by a 24-foot-tall giant who turns out to be one of nine living in a faraway place, and the only one who doesn’t run off every night to snatch people from their beds and eat them. This giant, the Big Friendly Giant of the book’s title, quickly becomes fond of Sophie, but their fast friendship faces a challenge when the BFG learns that the other Giants – including the Fleshlumpeater, the Bloodbottler, and the Childchewer – are planning a run to London to feast on English children during the “witching hour” when all humans are asleep and giants can run amok undetected. Sophie hatches a plan that involves the BFG and the Queen of England, some trickery, and six dozen eggs.
Putting The BFG on their top 100 novels of all time makes the Guardian‘s list look deliberately different or contrarian, but it is still an enjoyable book, mostly for its magical prose. Dahl was an extremely gifted wordplay artist, as the gibberish that comes out of the BFG’s mouth is often inspired, and the book overflows with puns, such as descriptions of how the “human beans” in each country taste (giants like Swedes for the “Sweden sour” taste; people in Panama taste “hatty” while those in Wellington taste of boots; and no one likes Greeks because they taste “greasy”). The explanation of why the giants’ home isn’t in the atlas and the description of the fizzy drink frobscottle are both priceless. It’s maybe a two-hour read and certainly worth the time investment, although I have a feeling I won’t be reading this to my daughter at any time in the next decade.
Next up: Back to friend of the dish Lev Grossman with his novel Codex
I read a lot of Dahl as a young adult including his auto-biographical volumes (Boy and Going Solo). Boy was fantastic. BFG as well as James and the Giant Peach were both two that I missed. If you want to try more…I would recommend The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More and Danny, The Champion of the World.
I read The BFG repeatedly when I was in elementary school, and I don’t remember it scarring me too heavily. I think I was more amused than anything else.
That being said, my favorite Dahl book by far is Matilda. It is absolutely wonderful, and though it has some macabre elements, I still think it’s suitable for the little ones. If your daughter is a mini-Klawlike brainiac, I suspect she’d enjoy it.
James and the Giant Peach was actually the firt movie I took my oldest daughter to. I remember it vivdly but it kills me that she doesn’t have any recollection at all. Of course, I think she was maybe 4 years old at the time? Keith, this may be an obvious statement, but at some point, as she got older, it hit me that all of the things we dis when she was very young is as if it never happened to her. Again, and obvious realization, I know, but it still makes me angry and sad (ha). By the way, I never read the book, but I recall the movie just OK, and she fell asleep.
Sorry, in re-reading that last post (something I should have done before pressing ‘submit’), I realize it looks like a 4 year old wrote it!
I read this book when I was a YA. Recently there has been a lot of talk of childrens books not being suitable for kids (where the wild things are because of the movie). My question is out of ignorance – but why not read the book with/to the child and look for signs from the child that the book isn’t a good choice? Do children have the ability to determine which books they care for and which they don’t?
I vividly remember my teacher reading this aloud in first grade. I teach fifth graders now, and I’d never read it aloud to them. I’ve suggested it to some of my high readers, but I’m pretty sure I’d get sued for breaking it out during “read-aloud” time. Dahl’s other novels cater well to teaching, especially when focusing on developing style. His cadence, and use of the language makes it alot of fun to share with the students. Have you read most of his other novels? They’re all very different, but carry along his imagery, and ability to connect to the emotions of the audience.
Sometime between 2nd and 5th grade, I believe I read every single one of Roald Dahl’s published works, including his deeply macabre (and sensational) adult short fiction.
Like Dan, my two very favorite among Dahl’s children’s books were “Danny, Champion of the World” and “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”, though “The Witches”, “The BFG”, “Matilda” and “Revolting Rhymes” were constant re-reads.
I use Dahl’s short story “The Landlady” to teach verbal, dramatic and situational irony. Makes for a great mini-unit during Halloween week.
When my kids were little, even before they could read children’s books, I read them books beyond their age group that I thought they would like. “Matilda” was one of them, there was a lot of Garrison Keillor because he’s easy to read aloud.
One day I started reading them “The Cat Who Went to Paris,” by Peter Gethers. Sweet book, but I wasn’t expecting the adult situations and wasn’t prepared to explain them to a 5-year-old. So I skipped them. Several years later, my older daughter reread the book. She was quite sure she didn’t remember hearing me read those parts.