Tuesday, November 11, 2008

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Have you ever felt that your life is so horrible that you only wish to escape? Dahl’s title character in this classic is in just that situation. He lives with two horrible aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, until he meets an old man who gives him a bag filled with magic. Unfortunately, the magic first touches unintended individuals, sending James on quite an adventure in one juicy vessel filled with many mysterious friends.

The tale spun by Dahl is quite an imaginative one! Only a very creative mind can bring bugs to life, invent cloud men, and of course, one cannot forget the ingenious traveling vessel! The random events and characters were molded into one tale that is sure to be a hit for the younger crowd. Though, I do want to put a little recommendation here for those that are much, much younger. There is some inappropriate language and parts that may have been a bit scary, at least for my preschooler (I was actually reading this book to him!).

I did find it fascinating the personalities that were given to the bugs. Why did Dahl choose to give certain bugs particular personalities? I can completely see the grasshopper’s musical inclinations, but why the grumpy worm? Or, the more motherly spider? I don’t know that much about bugs, so maybe all these personalities make sense to everyone else!! I guess that is why I love to read so much . . . I get to step out of my boring old world and step into another. I get to live outside of the box and jump into the world of a peach!!

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