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batmanbussy's review against another edition
"shat myself on the daily because of that book" - 1ssy
lcvesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
this was so fun to read even if i don’t remember much.
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
I've been a fan of Walliams' children's books since The Boy in the Dress. I loved Billionaire Boy. I've read all the others. And I'm thrilled that kids read them, love them, read some more.
But Ratburger and Demon Dentist... I'm disappointed. Maybe I'd be giving it 5 stars too if I was 10. But I just can't.
I think David Walliams' best books for kids are the ones that are obviously personal to him (and very touching) or funny without trying stupidly hard to be funny, without villains, that are character-driven, that don't aim towards an over-the-top Indiana Jones chase sequence and lose their unique feel.
There's nothing 'wrong' with Demon Dentist - you've got a poor kid who's lost his mum, whose dad is disabled from inhaling mine dust, who is losing teeth after bad experiences at the dentist many years ago. Along comes a scary new dentist intent on getting our hero into her chair for her own nefarious reasons. Our hero must work out what is going on and how to save the day. With a sidekick of sorts in a girl from school and with an overly-helpful chocolate munching social worker trying to get him to his dental appointment.
For me, things just didn't gel. Alfie himself is likeable - a young carer with a dentist phobia.
It's the characters around him that I didn't like. Winnie the social worker is very much a stereotype, and her biscuit munching annoying. I was a bit creeped out by Alfie's dad calling him "pup". And by Alfie constantly calling the underused Gabz, his "friend girl" as a "little girl"... She's in secondary school. I didn't understand why the dentist refers to herself as "Mummy" either.
Poor Raj, formerly my favourite character is taken out of his lovely corner shop context and put more firmly in the action, only to be "cowering" in every scene.
I didn't find a 'texting boy' character funny, maybe I'm just getting old...
And there were some plot questions I had:
*SPOILER ALERT*
What is the purpose of the acidic toothpaste - if the dentist wants teeth and the toothpaste destroys them, what good is that?!
Why does Alfie want a tooth from Raj and not from someone at school, many of whom seem to be losing their teeth every day?
Why can't the dentist just STAY DEAD?! How many times does she come back to life?
*END OF SPOILERS*
Walliams clearly admires Roald Dahl's books and emulates them (this time managing a Mr Twit-beard-like picture) but in my mind he falls short with his latest in measuring up. Dahl was almost Dickensian in his cast of supporting characters, Wallaims' aren't fleshed out. Even at 400 pages, this book resorts to visual gimmicks rather than revolting/witty descriptions. He's done it better in the past.
I didn't like the ending again, as with Ratburger. Too much of a chase (after chase after chase) with an ending I didn't want.
Am I an old misery guts? I hope not. I don't think Walliams will lose money with Demon Dentist, and I can see that it's going to be popular. I just think he's selling himself short by veering in this direction with his writing. Demon Dentist is in many ways his saddest book, but I found Billionaire Boy much more moving and that was about a rich kid! I found Boy in the Dress very upsetting - because a boy's dad missed his wife. These were more considered and character-driven, they didn't try as hard to win readers.
I didn't plan on writing this much. I just feel disappointed in Walliams a little.
I'm glad so many children are reading it, there's lots of techniques employed that they'll enjoy and learn from, it just really wasn't in the same league as earlier books from him.
But Ratburger and Demon Dentist... I'm disappointed. Maybe I'd be giving it 5 stars too if I was 10. But I just can't.
I think David Walliams' best books for kids are the ones that are obviously personal to him (and very touching) or funny without trying stupidly hard to be funny, without villains, that are character-driven, that don't aim towards an over-the-top Indiana Jones chase sequence and lose their unique feel.
There's nothing 'wrong' with Demon Dentist - you've got a poor kid who's lost his mum, whose dad is disabled from inhaling mine dust, who is losing teeth after bad experiences at the dentist many years ago. Along comes a scary new dentist intent on getting our hero into her chair for her own nefarious reasons. Our hero must work out what is going on and how to save the day. With a sidekick of sorts in a girl from school and with an overly-helpful chocolate munching social worker trying to get him to his dental appointment.
For me, things just didn't gel. Alfie himself is likeable - a young carer with a dentist phobia.
It's the characters around him that I didn't like. Winnie the social worker is very much a stereotype, and her biscuit munching annoying. I was a bit creeped out by Alfie's dad calling him "pup". And by Alfie constantly calling the underused Gabz, his "friend girl" as a "little girl"... She's in secondary school. I didn't understand why the dentist refers to herself as "Mummy" either.
Poor Raj, formerly my favourite character is taken out of his lovely corner shop context and put more firmly in the action, only to be "cowering" in every scene.
I didn't find a 'texting boy' character funny, maybe I'm just getting old...
And there were some plot questions I had:
*SPOILER ALERT*
What is the purpose of the acidic toothpaste - if the dentist wants teeth and the toothpaste destroys them, what good is that?!
Why does Alfie want a tooth from Raj and not from someone at school, many of whom seem to be losing their teeth every day?
Why can't the dentist just STAY DEAD?! How many times does she come back to life?
*END OF SPOILERS*
Walliams clearly admires Roald Dahl's books and emulates them (this time managing a Mr Twit-beard-like picture) but in my mind he falls short with his latest in measuring up. Dahl was almost Dickensian in his cast of supporting characters, Wallaims' aren't fleshed out. Even at 400 pages, this book resorts to visual gimmicks rather than revolting/witty descriptions. He's done it better in the past.
I didn't like the ending again, as with Ratburger. Too much of a chase (after chase after chase) with an ending I didn't want.
Am I an old misery guts? I hope not. I don't think Walliams will lose money with Demon Dentist, and I can see that it's going to be popular. I just think he's selling himself short by veering in this direction with his writing. Demon Dentist is in many ways his saddest book, but I found Billionaire Boy much more moving and that was about a rich kid! I found Boy in the Dress very upsetting - because a boy's dad missed his wife. These were more considered and character-driven, they didn't try as hard to win readers.
I didn't plan on writing this much. I just feel disappointed in Walliams a little.
I'm glad so many children are reading it, there's lots of techniques employed that they'll enjoy and learn from, it just really wasn't in the same league as earlier books from him.
amborg's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
misspippireads's review against another edition
Narration: 5 (It was amazing.)
Story: 2 (It was okay.)
Full review on my blog: http://adolescentaudioadventures.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-demon-dentist.html
Story: 2 (It was okay.)
Full review on my blog: http://adolescentaudioadventures.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-demon-dentist.html
skittyrreads's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
David Walliams sixth novel, "Demon Dentist" is a fun, campy horror romp! Loved Alfie and his father, it's nice to see a disabled character not be demonised for their disability while also highlighting the challenges that can come from not having enough support. Winnie is a lot of fun too and i'm so happy her, Alfie and Raj get to have their happy ending. Gabz was the best here and again i'm very pleased her and Alfie get to ve happy together. Mrs Root and Fang were so camp and silly I love it. My problem again lies with the fatphobia in this novel, it's so reptitive especially when it comes to Winnie. I'll also highlight that I believe this is the first novel to have more than one character of colour and both are written pretty well.
I'd also like to mention that this is the first book with a more structured plot, instead of one large event and it's ramifications across the story.
I'd also like to mention that this is the first book with a more structured plot, instead of one large event and it's ramifications across the story.
amilaura266's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book with my year 4 class. They absolutely loved it! Such great humour to make reading more enjoyable for them! I must admit I loved it too, I wish I’d read books like this when I was still in school. We were all dying to know what happened next!
joweston's review against another edition
4.0
Read by Walliams, it was as if he was there, acting it just for us. Cracking mix of humour, horror and a touch of sadness. Kids adored it and I laughed quite a bit too.
cazinthehat's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, not bad. But certainly not the Roald Dahl of our times. Stories are fun and interesting, but the writing isn't as crisp as it could be. Still, I had to finish reading it so he's done something right!