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A review by katykelly
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
5.0
Of all Dahl’s books, this feels the least like a Dahl to me. Of course, it’s still wonderful. A magic growing peach and insects, horrible adults to be overcome (the most Dahl-esque moment comes early on when Sponge and Spiker meet their bumpy end), but it feels as though Dahl had yet to quite slide into his later niche.
I have many happy memories of this book, sitting in my parents bed, alongside my siblings, while my mum read this aloud to us. And now my son has experienced this in a similar way, as an audiobook over a number of car journeys. At 5, I thought this might be a little much for him, with the poems, the cloud creatures, the horrific treatment of James by his aunts. But he took it in his stride.
It has a pretty shocking opener, for a children’s book – parents killed, aunts neglectful and abusive. But then the ‘magic’, inexplicable though it may be, occurs, and little James sets off on an adventure that ends with new friends, a new home and a new start.
James manages to stay centre stage amidst the plethora of new friends he makes, each who takes a moment of limelight, saving his fellow travellers, carrying out plans to save them, with Dahl’s familiar theme of the capable child taking charge and succeeding against the odds.
The poetry feels rather (Edward) Lear-like, and I think it went above my son’s head, though the story itself he could talk about, predict, discuss with me.
The story’s overall lack of cultural references gives it a timeless quality, it’s a universal story of escaping tyranny and making a new life.
As a parent, James’s early life is heartbreaking to read about in a way it wasn’t when I was a young listener myself. He is the best characterised, though each of his companions has personality and a role. Sponge and Spiker, I almost with they lasted longer, but they are so beautifully repellent!
It’s not my favourite Dahl, but it’s fascinating to read again, and deserves to be part of a child’s bedroom library. So much imagination (I love the Cloudmen making a rainbow and hail, the cenitpede’s boots, the aunts).
One for listeners of almost any age (Rhind-Tutt is very clear and enjoyable to listen to), for readers probably about 8/9 and above.
I have many happy memories of this book, sitting in my parents bed, alongside my siblings, while my mum read this aloud to us. And now my son has experienced this in a similar way, as an audiobook over a number of car journeys. At 5, I thought this might be a little much for him, with the poems, the cloud creatures, the horrific treatment of James by his aunts. But he took it in his stride.
It has a pretty shocking opener, for a children’s book – parents killed, aunts neglectful and abusive. But then the ‘magic’, inexplicable though it may be, occurs, and little James sets off on an adventure that ends with new friends, a new home and a new start.
James manages to stay centre stage amidst the plethora of new friends he makes, each who takes a moment of limelight, saving his fellow travellers, carrying out plans to save them, with Dahl’s familiar theme of the capable child taking charge and succeeding against the odds.
The poetry feels rather (Edward) Lear-like, and I think it went above my son’s head, though the story itself he could talk about, predict, discuss with me.
The story’s overall lack of cultural references gives it a timeless quality, it’s a universal story of escaping tyranny and making a new life.
As a parent, James’s early life is heartbreaking to read about in a way it wasn’t when I was a young listener myself. He is the best characterised, though each of his companions has personality and a role. Sponge and Spiker, I almost with they lasted longer, but they are so beautifully repellent!
It’s not my favourite Dahl, but it’s fascinating to read again, and deserves to be part of a child’s bedroom library. So much imagination (I love the Cloudmen making a rainbow and hail, the cenitpede’s boots, the aunts).
One for listeners of almost any age (Rhind-Tutt is very clear and enjoyable to listen to), for readers probably about 8/9 and above.