Comments on: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:49:57 +0000

@nymeth: I was looking online and it does seem like it was a reference to WWs. I love it when authors do these subtle connections.

@Mady: That imaginary soup reminds me of a Belgian yogurt ad Let me know what she thinks of it. I’m curious to know what actually kids think of the book. Is it still powerful in a time of Harry Potter?

@Steph: Loved Matilda, only saw the movie of The Witches, but am determined to read the read of Dahl’s children’s book.

@Bellezza: Never read BFG, but the name keeps popping up when I see other people (usually grown ups) chose their favorite Dahl. It’s on my list!

@Ti: As Steph said above, it IS a “trippy” story, but so much fun once we suspend our disbelief…

@Wallace: When I was GOogle Image-ing this book I got a lot of school-play photos. can imagine OZ being scary… but why Alice? … but thinking twice about it, Johnny Deep’s version of the hatter was SCARY!

@Ash: Have you tried his short-stories for adults? Very Twilight Zone, very good.

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:46:21 +0000

I read this when I was a kid, but recently I watched the movie version and it made me want to break out Roald Dahl books again! I think I would like them in a different way now.

By: Wallace

Wallace — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:54:50 +0000

So funny! I was in the play for this when I was a little girl and I was the only one who was considerably creeped out by the story. My mom had to, basically, talk me into finishing the performances. I also, though, was the girl who thought Willy Wonka, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz were totally scary.

By: Ti

Ti — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:09:55 +0000

I’ve been bits of the movie but have never read the book. I love the first line of your review though. You certainly make me want to pick it up. I am thinking The Girl might have a copy on her bookshelf.

By: Bellezza

Bellezza — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:07:14 +0000

The children at school always love this novel; it’s usually read to them in second grade, the year before they get to me, so I don’t reread it to them. That’s a good thing, though, because it’s not my favorite Dahl. Although I do love Centipede and his shoes! I much prefer The BFG and even Matilda; my husband’s favorite was Danny The Champion of The World which one never hears discussed any more. And, yeah, probably lots of the good writers have been under an influence.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:59:57 +0000

I read a lot of Roald Dahl books when I was younger, but I don’t think this was one of them. I did watch the stop-motion movie of it that was made about 10 years ago (or more!) and it was really trippy and weird. I think my favourite Dahl books were Matilda and The Witches!

By: Mady

Mady — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:49:31 +0000

I’ve heard that Roald Dahl does have strange books – I’ve only read the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (when I was a kid) and I was impressed enough for the book to stick in my memory

This one does seem quite unusual – I think this belongs to the kind of books I’d like to read to my niece when she’s a bit older. Nowadays we make & eat (imaginary) soup of pineapple, banana, strawberry and some broccoli or we “swim” on my brother’s living room

By: nymeth

nymeth — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:43:12 +0000

lol! To be honest, that question could be asked of most of Dahl’s work I love him.

I don’t remember that line about the chocolate factory, but I vote yes to it being an allusion.