Book Nook: James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl

Can I make a confession? I am not a fan of the movie version of James and the Giant Peach.

And that’s not because I’m comparing it to the book. I simply remember disliking the movie when I’d seen it as a child. It was creepy, and there was a scary rhino.

Having said that, this was one of the books that my wife told me I had to read, and I couldn’t remember ever reading it.

Let me tell you, Roald Dahl is not afraid of brutally killing off characters. And he does it so nonchalantly that I imagine children don’t even notice. But, as an adult, I was left thinking, “Wait, what?”

The only two books I’ve read by Roald Dahl are The BFG and James and the Giant Peach. Out of those two, I can only see myself reading The BFG to my children.

If they want to read James and the Giant Peach themselves, that’s fine with me. It’s not a bad book, and I’m sure it would be entertaining for them.

But I wouldn’t have as much fun reading it aloud to them.

Also, the ending felt pretty sudden. You’re reading about James on this crazy adventure, and then it just ends.

Once again, I understand this book wasn’t written for my demographic. I’m almost 30 years old. I probably should have read this more than 20 years ago.

But I didn’t, and I guess I’m paying the price for it now by taking things too seriously.