James and the Giant Peach

xxpish - James lives with his two aunts because his parents got eaten by a rhino. They treat him like a pig and he wants to get away from all of it. When one day a little magician comes and gives him these magical green crocodile tongues that can make him happy, he trips and they go everywhere and sink into the ground. Really disappointed because whoever gets them will be lucky, all of a sudden he sees the peach tree near them grows a peach which gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger thanks to the tongues. It is the size of their house now; and when James goes inside and finds strange big insects, they embark on a journey like no other. Roald Dahl seamlessly weaves another classic that is unexpected and stands out from all others. My Thoughts: Roald Dahl is a pretty cool guy. His writing is distinct and you can tell it is his tale by the really extraordinary things found in his books. Only someone like him would think of flying on a giant peach that is as big as a house. I knew I would like this book because of his works Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, the sequel and Fantastic Mr. Fox. They are so quirky and fun. I liked the illustrations in the book as well; they were nice references. I hope to read more Dahl books soon! He has definitely won a fan over here.

September 8, 2003
Irons joins the parade of British stars offering renditions of Dahl's work and gives a fine presentation of one of the author's most vivid fantasy stories. A chipper pace instantly engages listeners and brings pitch-perfect nuance to Dahl's phrasing. Moving nimbly among quirky characters—James's cackling aunt, a guttural centipede or snobbish, locked-jaw grasshopper—Irons amplifies this adventure of a sweet, orphaned boy who travels afar inside a magical giant peach with a cast of gigantic but friendly insects. As with many of Dahl's books, the pure-of-heart child prevails while wicked, dimwitted adults get their due. Dahl fans, Anglophiles and even those new to audio will likely delight in these proceedings. Ages 8-up.