nitahughes
"Magical and Beautiful"
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A must read for any young adult. Be they avid readers or not this is an enthralling read!
-
Aug 10, 2010
- by IAMDamon
- posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Rating:
+5
I found myself really connecting with the main character James during my reading of "James and the Giant Peach." I even found myself looking at the events he went through from a personal standpoint. As a young man I had to endure some difficult times and related to James desire for something different and new.
I would recommend this to any young adult and even some grown ups. The fantastical tale is a classic which opens up the readers mind to new and exciting experiences and challenges the reader to see things from James' perspective and also to experience the trials and successes along the way
Living as a young man in an oppressed environment in England James never expects the surprise that awaits him.
Warning: There are some mild plot spoilers in this description.
After losing both his parents in a freak accident. James is forced to live with his two tyrannical aunts who mistreat him severely. Forcing him to sleep on bare attic floorboards and endure much physical and verbal abuse/
The character development is amazing in this book. James aunts do not allow him to have any friends and when he is finally able to get away from them the friends he makes are fantastic beyond imagination!
There is a strong underlying theme of the need for meaningful friendship in "James and the Giant Peach" which is a great lesson for young and old alike. The way the flow of this book guides you to discover these ideas is done in an obvious and clear, yet creative and entertaining way.
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More James and the Giant Peach (boo... reviews
I love most of Roald Dahl's books, but James and the Giant Peach was especially delicious. I think this was the only occasion in my life in which I actually liked bugs (even the spider, which I generally have a phobia of). Dahl paints their characters in such a light, but compelling way that it is hard not to like them. I would recommend this book to anyone able to read, because although it is a children's book, it resembles Harry Potter in the fact that it … more
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'Here is James Henry Trotter when he was about four years old." So begins the book, James and the Giant Peach. I read this book 30 years ago when I was ten and it is one of those books I have never forgotten. I have given and recommended this book to countless numbers of children over the years. It is creative, visual and an easy read for those under the age of ten. The illustrations are beautiful and I remember them vividly! The Story: Young James has to live … more
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review by gabeh79.
June 18, 2010
James and The Giant Peach is a classic children's story about a little boy named James Henry Trotter and his adventures in a giant peach that is inhabited by larger-than-life insects and earthworms who've eaten a mysterious crystal to grow into mammoth proportions! The story takes place in England where Henry is raised by two devious aunts named Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge after his parents are gobbled up by a stark raving mad rhino that somehow escaped from the … more
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One thing that I had heard as a kid was that although Dahl's books were mainly for kids, he didn't particularly like kids. For some reason, this made me respect the books and Dahl even more. This book, like Dahl's other books, offers a fantastic adventure with high stakes and dangerous, evil adults involved. While books like this are still being read, I feel that so many others these days are worried about being too scary or dark when it comes to kid's books (Lemony Snicket is a … more
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Roald Dahl was a master storyteller who understood the workings of a child's mind, and never looked down upon them. This enduring favorite is a wonderful adventure and a fine example of Dahl's work.
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I love this book!! I remember my mom would read this book to me all the time when i was about five years old. This is a great childrens book, i know it gave me quite a few cherishable childhood memories. I like how the author really animated the characters, they were all pretty funny. My favorite characters would have to be the two aunts! They were so mean and the author described them so hideously, what little kid wouldnt love that? I could just imagine what they would really sound like with those … more
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I remember reading this when I was a kid, it was one of the best books of those times. And I highly doubt changing my opinion even if I read it again now.
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review by amholl.
June 08, 2010
James and the Giant Peach is a classic children;s book form a classic author. Dahl is unparalleled when it comes to witty children's novels. This fantasy is engrossing and humorous at the same time. I really enjoyed reading this with my son, and doing a chapter before bed every night. All in all a great read.
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a super cute kids classic. i love the lady bug and the grasshopper. an interesting story of adventure on a giant peice of fruit.
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review by walidad209.
July 14, 2010
This book shows that their is always hope in the world sometimes when you least expect it you surprised. It tells the story of James and how he is living his life day by day, it takes us inside he's world how hard life is to just a kid who has gone through so much and isn't allowed to go beyond the hills but does given magic crystals by a mysterious man he ends up dropping them and spilling them on a peach tree. After that life becomes an adventure as he climbs into a giant peach, … more
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About the reviewer
Damon (IAMDamon)
Member Since:
Aug 3, 2010
Last Login: Sep 11, 2010 07:03 AM UTC
Last Login: Sep 11, 2010 07:03 AM UTC
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About this book
James and the Giant Peach is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author Roald Dahl. The original first edition published by Alfred Knopf featured illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. However, there have been various reillustrated versions of it over the years, done by Michael Simeon for the first British edition, Emma Chichester Clark, Lane Smith and Quentin Blake. It was adapted into a film of the same name in 1996. The plot centers on a young English orphan boy who enters a gigantic, magical peach, and has a wild and surreal cross-world adventure with a group of anthropomorphic insects he meets within the giant peach. Originally titled James and the Giant Cherry, Dahl changed it to James and the Giant Peach because a peach is "prettier, bigger and squishier than a cherry."
Because of the story's occasionally macabre and potentially frightening content, it has become a regular target of the censors and is no. 56 on the American Library Association's top 100 list of most frequently challenged books.
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Because of the story's occasionally macabre and potentially frightening content, it has become a regular target of the censors and is no. 56 on the American Library Association's top 100 list of most frequently challenged books.
Books, Cafe Libri, Parenting, Adventure, Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy, Childrens Books, Kids, Children, Roald Dahl, Juvenile, Roald Dahl Books
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