I realise this is children's literature blasphemy so please don't look if you have a sensitive disposition but...

[OrmIrian]

....I am going to come clean and say that I really do not like Roald Dahl's books. I know that children love them and I'm sure they are an excellent excouragement to reading but I can't stand them. OK, they are meant for children not adults but there are plenty of fantastic authors who write for children without everything being a written version of a cartoon, or like the script for a panto. Every emotion has to be written large - sorry for large read HUUUUGEEE! Can't children do subtelty?

I guess I'm just pd off because I can see myself having to read the f Witches again for DC no3 in the nearish future and I really really don't want to ...

I met RD once when I was a child; he gave me the creeps.
(I love Charlie & Lola though!)

Ha spockle. I met Andrew Haggard once when I was a child (brother of Rider Haggard) and he was a sweety .

Is this children's books only, cos my (very well-read) Mum bravely admits she can't stand Jane Austen?

bossykate, glad I'm not alone

I can't think of any children's books that I hate - I was too old to read Roald Dahl as a child, but ds liked them well enough, though I think a big part of their attraction is the Quentin Blake illustration s - although I loved the old illusts for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,partly because the Charlie drawings reminded me of my brother.
Dinosaur - how can you not like Winnie the Pooh ?
I hate the Disney version of these fab books mind you.

can't stand winnie the pooh or alice in wonderland or milly-molly-mandy

Why though ?

Now I like Winnie the Pooh. DH hates Beatrix Potter - refused to read it to the DCs...come to think of it he rarely reads anything to the DCs anyway .

winnie too fey
alice too clever
milly-molly-wotsit too frickin' repetitive. I hate having to go through the family litany about six times a chapter (love the illustrations though)

Isn't Beatrix Potter so hard to read aloud? And terribly old fashioned, all galoshes and whatnot. Not that kids seem to mind that; I remember reading all sorts of old fashioned moralistic nonsense when I was a little bookworm and lapping it up. I still remember the stories and the lessons very clearly, but sadly have not lived my life by them. La!

It is very old-fashioned but I don't mind that. Not that hard to read aloud...but then I've read LOTR to my eldest DCs aren't too keen on it now though apart from Jeremy Fisher and Jemima Puddleduck.

again, I think I love Winnie the Pooh and Milly Molly Mandy because of the lovely illustrations !

Ds loved Peter Rabbit and especially loved the Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan and the roly poly pudding one, which I can't remember the title of...

Effie - I admit I already say to 2.5yo ds1, when he brings certain books to be read, 'oh no love, not that one please, it's mindnumbing' (and then succumb and read it anyway).

I am fond of Pooh, but do in fact dislike Dahl.

Think you have to take them for the time they were written. They were new and an antidote to the "lashings of ginger beer" famous five and "bunnikins-wunnikins" typre stories. They were horro for children.
I love Roald Dahl and so does DH but he's not everyone's cup of tea

Message withdrawn

I don't like Roald Dahl much. Charlie and the chocolate factory is good, Matilda is just about OK. I'd happily bin the rest of them.

My current fogeyish literary blasphemy is to disapprove of the new Pippi Longstocking because though I like Lauren Child I don't see the need for her to take over Pippi. I like the old illustrations

I hate Roald Dahl, do now and did as a kid. DD loves them and I hate having to read them. Or even worse are the cd's in the car

orm
do you mean Lord of the RIngs?
good greif, in awe!

its a great book, but i'll stick with ds bus timetables and be happy about it now!

Yes I do

DS#1 wasn't interested in reading at the time and he loved the films so we tandem read our way through all three books. Twas an epic struggle but we made it. Helped that I love them. Worst bit was remembering all the voices I was trying to use...

oh you sound great!
there should be special jrrt badge or somat
lol the voices!

i loved it too tis a great read..
and out of interest did you start with the hobbit...??

my favourite is dr suess, thought that deserved a tongue twisting medal or biscuit or something but am in admiration here!

I can remember my much older cousin reading the Hobbit to me and my brother - voices and all - was fab

Yes started with the Hobbit. Funnily enough we've re-read that one many times now but never tackled LOTR again.....wonder why?
I want to move on to Philip Pullman but DS#1 not interested yet. DD won't let me read to her even though she's 2yrs younger

I think one of the key things about Roald Dahl is the mayhem and rebellion. And the sense of glee. Important to have those things when you are little and there's something satisfyingly naughty about his books.

I loved Danny the Champion of the World and James and the Giant Peach when I first read them - as a child you are controlled by adults so it's very exciting to see that overturned. And far safer to do that within the confines of a book!

orm, the hobbit is to my mind much more a childs book tale and characters ifykwim and i love it too!

have been quite interested in pullman too, but my keep tapping away reading time is limited these days, am stuck in middle of paul foot book and must get through it and meant to join book club here ...

hallo hallowedam (always add di name at the end of your all hallows name!, like it!)
i agree there does NEED to be that kind of thing going on in childrens books..

our american sil and english bil are mad for controlling kids reading and have not passed on gifts we sent (books i loved as kid, harriet the spy, hitler stole pink rabbit for example) as they reckon 10y dn will not cope with knowing of a war, fighting, upset, and it is depressing..sorry thats another thread i guess..

orm, love thread title btw..