Sunday, October 17, 2010

Roald Dahl's Book Factory

I was recently gifted a wonderful set of Roald Dahl's children's books. You know- Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox and many more delights. I read these out to the brats at night, ensuring both sweet dreams and nightmares in equal measure.

I'd never thought that he was such a wonderful children's storyteller- he always was macabre in his adult version short stories. What is awesome is the immediate impact it has on kids when you read the stories out. I think kids understand that it is all bizarre but are able to suspend their judgement on reality far better than us morose adults. They know there ain't no such thing as hair toffee, or that magic fingers don't really exist, or.... but they are willing to listen and be entranced.

I find myself getting as wide eyed as them with every book in this wonderful author's book factory. A must read.


2 comments:

travelogues said...

I am yet to get over the effects of stories in the volume of Roald Dahl's collected stories.
Some weird, some depressing, almost none to lift the spirit. So, this must be a welcome change

Siddharth said...

yes sir, quite different this lot!