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The BFG tells the story of Sophie ( incidentally named after Dahl's granddaughter Sophie Dahl), an 8-year-old orphan who, unable to sleep during the "witching hour", is kidnapped (or "kidsnatched" )
by the BFG and taken to Giantland, where she sees nine giants who, unlike the gentle ... Read review
The funny, exciting and warm story of a special friendship between the BIG FRIENDLY GIANT ... more
and the little girl, Sophie. Luckily for Sophie, who has been snatched from her bed by the BFG, she discovers that the BFG is far more jumbly than his disgusting neighbours. They guzzle and swallow nice little children across the world.
Evidently not even Roald Dahl could resist the acronym craze of the early eighties. BFG? ... more
Bellowing ferret-faced golfer? Backstabbing fairy godmother? Oh, oh... Big Friendly Giant! This BFG doesn't seem all that F at first as he creeps down a London street, snatches little Sophie out of her bed, and bounds away with her to giant land. And he's not really all that B when compared with his evil, carnivorous brethren, who bully him for being such an oddball runt. After all, he eats only disgusting snozzcumbers, and while the other Gs are snacking on little boys and girls, he's blowing happy dreams in through their windows. What kind of way is that for a G to behave? The BFG is one of Dahl's most lovable character creations. Whether galloping off with Sophie nestled into the soft skin of his ear to capture dreams as though they were exotic butterflies; speaking his delightful, jumbled, squib-fangled patois; or whizzpopping for the Queen, he leaves an indelible impression of bigheartedness. (Ages 9 to 12) --Susan Harrison
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: This is a Whizzpopper of a book Disadvantages: None
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Combine the dark humour of Dahl with the magic pen of illustrator Quentin Blake and the results are pure magic. This pair really seem to know what children like to read and see. So some adults will be intensely offended !!
It is very difficult to pick a favourite out of his books, but I think it must be the BFG (AKA Big Friendly Giant).
The BFG tells the story of Sophie ( incidentally named ... ...to sleep during the "witching hour", is kidnapped (or "kidsnatched" )
by the BFG and taken to Giantland, where she sees nine giants who, unlike the gentle title character who refuses to eat people and survives on a revoltingly bitter and sour vegetable known as a snozzcumber, go out into the world to steal and eat "human beans", especially children.
Even though he has to live on snozzcumber (that tastes ... more
Roald Dahl is undoubtidly master of childrens literature, a pure genius !!
Combine the dark humour of Dahl with the magic pen of illustrator Quentin Blake and the results are pure magic. This pair really seem to know what children like to read and see. So some adults will be intensely offended !!
It is very difficult to pick a favourite out of his books, but I think it must be the BFG (AKA Big Friendly Giant).
The BFG tells the story of Sophie ( incidentally named after Dahl's granddaughter Sophie Dahl), an 8-year-old orphan who, unable to sleep during the "witching hour", is kidnapped (or "kidsnatched" ) by the BFG and taken to Giantland, where she sees nine giants who, unlike the gentle title character who refuses to eat people and survives on a revoltingly bitter and sour vegetable known as a snozzcumber, go out into the world to steal and eat "human beans", especially children. Even though he has to live on snozzcumber (that tastes like rotten fish and frogskins), at least the BFG has a sweet and jumbly fizzy drink called the frobscottle. Unlike our fizzy drinks however, the bubbles go down instead of go up. Upon learning of this, the BFG reacted vehemently. "Catasterous!" cried the BFG. "Upgoing bubbles is a catasterous disastrophe" Because the bubbles in the drink travel downwards they cause the drinker to break wind instead of burp; this causes noisy flatulence known as Whizzpoppers.
THE GIANTS The Fleshlumpeater The Bonecruncher The Manhugger The Childchewer The Meatdripper The Gizzardgulper The Maidmasher The Bloodbottler The Butcher Boy. Another giant is mentioned - New Zealander-eating "Welly-Eating Giant" but as he is only mentioned once it could be another name for one of the nine above.
Roald Dahl thrills his young readers with funny but chilling descriptions of the giants and their evil doings.
"Bonecruncher says Turkish human beans has a glamourly flavour. He says Turks from Turkey is tasting of turkey." "I suppose they would," Sophie said. "Of course they would!" the Giant shouted. "Every human bean is diddly and different. Some is scrumdiddlyumptious and some is uckyslush. Greeks is all full of uckyslush. No Giants is eating Greeks, ever." "Why not?" Sophie asked. "Greeks from Greece is all tasting greasy," the Giant said.... "As I am saying," the Giant went on, "all human beans is having different flavours. Human beans from Panama is tasting very strong of hats." "Why hats?" Sophie said. "You is not very clever," the Giant said, moving his great ears in and out. "I thought all human beans is full of brains, but your head is emptier than a bundongle...." "The human bean," the Giant went on, "is coming in dillions of different flavours. For instance, human beans from Wales is tasting very whooshey of fish. There is something very fishy about Wales."
Sophie learns that the BFG is a dream-collector. He takes her with him in the pale country where you can hear dreams sailing along if you have such "propsposterous" ears as the BFG. He has taken upon himself the delivery of "Lovely golden dreams" to earth's children. Unfortunately, sometimes what he catches are not good dreams (or "phizzwizards"), but nightmares as well (or "trogglehumpers").
As you will have seen from some of the passages I have given above, Dahl created a sense-nonsense language for the BFG. Before you can fully appreciate the wonderful words of the BFG, you must remember that he hasn't had much education, and has major problems with his grammar. As he explained sadly to Sophie after she tried to correct him for the ninth time, "I is never having a chance to go to school. I is full of mistakes. They is not my fault. I do my best."
When the BFG and Sophie find out that the other giants were off to England to eat schoolchildren, they began to come up with an idea to stop the giants. But they needed the help of a special person so they went to the Queen of England to ask for her help.
"Your Majester," he said. "I is your humbug servant.... Oh Queen! Oh Monarcher! Oh, Golden Sovereign! Oh, Ruler! Oh, Ruler of Straight Lines!"
I will not give away how the story ends, but it's definitely worth getting a copy of The BFG.
Children will love this book, some adults may not! Roald Dahl appeals to a child's sense of justice, morbidity and humour.
Summary: "We is in Dream Country," the BFG said. "This is where all dreams is beginning."
Advantages: A lovely read imagination is well used. Disadvantages: Story concept could be a litlle frightening for a very young reader.
...is one of my favourites The BFG or (big friendly giant) to you. Is one that will always stick in my mind and something I believe even children now should read and my daughter has and really enjoyed it. So abit about the author first.
WHO IS ROALD DAHL~~~~~~HISTORY~~~~~
I felt this warrented adding as Roald Dahl is sadly no longer with us. His father Harald Dahl moved here to England from Norway around (1900) the turn of the century. Roald was born ... ...Wales at this time the book Boy wrote by Roald is an account of his childhood. His mother made sure they never forgot their Norweigan heritage and spoke fluently the language around the home. Apart from speaking the language most of the time she read to all of them the Norse myths and they went on annual trips to Norway to visit the many relatives still living there. You will find this most evident at the start of the book The Witches which heralds ...
Playgirl27 16.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Bfg - Roald Dahl
...children’s author. His books stretch the imaginations of all to their farthest reagents with brilliant writing and imagination. I was sucked into his books by James and the giant peach. This is one of the most famous books he has ever written and has been read by millions. Also the witches which I have reviewed, made me really think and that had me hooked so when I came to read the BFG I was expecting an enthroning story with imagination and trust ... ...human who lives up above the clouds who is evil and the only thing s/he can say is "fi fy fo fum I smell the blood of an Englishman"
but as in witches he has given them a whole new look. For this he has given only one a whole new make over, the rest are as I said but this giant really surprises you.
The Plot
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Sophie is a little girl who is snatched away by a giant. This giant is the one I am talking about and shall we say is the nice ...
chrisyboy 19.06.2004 (27.06.2004)
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Advantages: Imaginations run free, humour, language Disadvantages: wanting more and not going to bed
...a review on it.lol.
The BFG is a friendly giant in the land of giants who does not eat small human beans( human beings). But one day, having no choice, he had to kidsnatch (kidnap) Sophie, who is an orphan from the orphanage. he brought her to his scary world of giants where fat ugly giants always go out at night to countries to find different human beans to eat according to their selection of their food taste. According to this story, human beans ... ...Sophie became good friends with the friendly giant because he don't eat human beans but Snozzcumbers that aren't very tasty. He is a dream-blowing giant who blows dreams into each sleeping child so that all the children will have good dreams. Besides that, Sophie learnt alot from this BFG about his food called the Snozzcumbers, how he made 'NICE MUSIC' when he drink from his favourite drink that oddly have bubbles that float downwards instead of ...
Prissychicca 19.12.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Bfg - Roald Dahl
Advantages: A brilliant story, wonderful language, fabulous characters. Disadvantages: None
...and Whizpops', but he describes the areas he takes his characters into, in such depth, that you can almost see them there in front of you. His characters are so large as life that they almost seem real as well. The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is such a wonderful character you can't help but love him right from the start. And Sophie, the little girl he takes with him back to his land is so adorable. It has been over 16 years since I last read thi book, ...
MidnightRaven 18.04.2007
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Advantages: wonderful and delightful storylines Disadvantages: none whatsoever, i've never complained
...laid eyes on Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Being and everyday kid i was enthralled by the idea of a factory run by a strange man and the prospect of winning a golden ticket and gaining entrance into that fascinating place. I never did win a golden ticket but that book opened my life to the magical world if Roald Dahl.
My fave books by Dahl are the BFG and Matilda. I shant go into detail abt the books as u SHOULD read them. All i want to say ...
ling 16.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Bfg - Roald Dahl
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Advantages: exciting, easy to follow, good bedtime story. Disadvantages: none
James has lived with his beastly Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker ever since the day his parents were eaten up outside London Zoo by an angry escaped rhinoceros. Then something peculiar and magical happens that will whisk James away from his wretched existence and take him on an unbelievealble journey!
A fantast tale , perfectly complimented with illustrations by Quentin Blake.
This book was published Nominee Ltd in 1961. Then published again by Puffin booksin 1973 and 1995.
This book by RoaldDahl would cost £4:99 in the U.K.
Other books that are written by RoaldDahl and which are very good are:
The BFG,
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
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Advantages: Fun, quick to read, quirky Disadvantages: None
I'm a devotee to RoaldDahl. Although I'm now probably quite a bit older than his target audience now, his books are always the ones I turn to, to read again and again when I've finished reading my new-fangled Harry Potter books.
Fantastic Mr Fox has been a staple in my book collection since I was about 7 years old. Even then, I liked it because it was a quick read, and definitely not too taxing. The book outlines Fantastic Mr Fox's attempts to outwit the 3 disgusting farmers who are out to get him. The characters in the book can all be related to someone you know in real life, and RoaldDahl once again endears you to the typically "evil" character (think the BFG). Even though Mr Fox is just a little bit sly, you will be rooting for him to beat the farmers in this quirky tale. ...
Advantages: appeals to all ages and is compulsive reading Disadvantages: you may feel silly reading this on the train!
enough to remember). There is something quite RoaldDahl-esq about Rowling's style. She is able to convey some quite scary things with consummate ease and like Dahl's BFG and The Witches the result is far from scary. The baddies are bad and deserve a pantomime BOOOOOO but they should not cause nightmares!
The only potential downside is that having read the first the second, third and fourth will follow. This should be OK for the older child but the books do get slightly harder and more "grown-up" as the series progresses. If you are reading the book to your child then wading through all 600-odd pages of book 4 could prove too much!
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As an Adult Read
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In order to enjoy this book as an adult the only thing you have to do is get over the stigma of reading it in public. When the series first came out I ...
This is the well-loved story of a big friendly giant who spirits a child out of bed to the land of the child-eating giants. This edition has a great new cover by Quentin Blake as well as a whole new exciting end section about Roald Dahl and his world.
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