Today is Roald Dahl Day! Which is set on his birthday. It is also 50 year anniversary of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. With these in mind I thought it would be perfect to write a post about Roald Dahl and the influences his books have had on me.
I think most children are familiar with Dahl, be it through the books or the film adaptations. I remember picking up a Dahl book boxset in a charity shop with my Nana for £1, because one book was missing. I still have those books somewhere! I’m not sure what my favourite book is, though I’ve always had an affinity with book loving Matilda!
Dahl wrote some crazy, wacky stories but they are just so perfect for kids (and adults!), especially kids who are reluctant to read. They’re funny, zany and the story telling is fantastic. There’s always some lesson to be learned from the stories too but they’re not moral or preachy. He writes some good villains as well, those witches are creepy and the film versions of James’ aunts are nightmare inducing!
Buzzfeed recently did a ranking of Dahl’s books and there’s several on there I’ve never read before, which is shameful. There’s also his memoir books, I’ve only ever read Boy and then on top of that his short stories, which I’ve never read before. Looks like I still have some catching up to do!
My own top 5 Dahl books, in no order, are:
1. Matilda
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. James and the Giant Peach
5. The Twits
They’re pretty much my fave film adaptations as well, except sub in The Witches or The BFG for The Twits.
Dahl has managed to be in the news recently for controversial reasons. The first being that after so many complaints, Aldi in Australia took Revolting Rhymes off their shelves because it contains the word ‘slut’. Then there was this new cover for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which has caused uproar.
Finally my two favourite Dahl quotes
Picture from Here Come the Girls
This is from his poem called Television. It’s a great poem.
This is from The Twits (with illustration by Quentin Blake. Dahl and Blake go together like salt and pepper!). This one has always stuck with me over the years, it’s just a beautiful message.
What’s your favourite Dahl book or film? Let’s celebrate!
Great post! I love Dahl too. I spotted recently that Audible are bringing out some of his books read by the likes of Chris O Dowd, Kate Winslet etc. I think I'll be getting several of them- before I could read I used to listen to the Giraffe The Pelly and Me on tape so I think it'll be really comforting to do that again, should help with the insomnia too!
ReplyDeleteAwww Chloe, that's a great idea! I have several audiobooks from my childhood I'd like to get my hands on, mostly Enid Blyton books. My siblings and I used to sit around listen to them, like it was 1920s and all the family gathering around radio for shows!
DeleteSo hard to pick a favourite, but I always loved George's Marvellous Medicine as well as all the ones you mentioned. And to be fair, that new cover for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was awful! Certainly got people talking about it though.
ReplyDeleteI really need to reread George's Marvellous Medicine, I have read it but I don't think I ever owned it. I picked up a copy of James and Giant Peach from second hand story the other day and I'll give it to my new cousin, so she can start building up her library. Never too early to do so!
DeleteI adore Roald Dahl - my copy of Matilda I've read so often it is stuck together with sticky tape! The Witches is a very close second. And that Television poem is so true!
ReplyDeleteWow, that Matilda book condition sounds like something Matilda herself would do!
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