Enid Blyton defined most of my childhood reading. However, Roald Dahl was definitely my second favorite author. From the Fantastic Mr. Fox, to James and the Giant Peach. From The BFG to George's Marvelous Medicine. And of course, the autobiographies: Boy, and Going Solo. So, my top three Roald Dahls... (this is actually easier than My Top Five Enid Blytons):
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Which child would not like a book about a marvelous chocolate factory, owned by Willie Wonka, which had oompa-loompas as workers, a chocolate lake, an "invention" room, and the "television" room. The ideas were so surreal that they were fantastic, and I yearned to be Charlie.
Or, if not be Charlie, just try one of these scrumptious sounding chocolates, which, I believe would surpass most other chocolates.
A few years back, when the Johnny Depp starring movie was released, Wonka bars actually existed, and honestly - they were divine. The best chocolates I've ever eaten.
2. Matilda
This was such a wonderful story, filled with wicked characters and innocent people who were victimized by the evilness.
Miss Trunchbull was more fascinating than the evil step mother from Snow White, and Matilda's parents seemed to be worse than Cinderella's step sisters. They were the typical anti-heros in children's books: disregarded reading and education, were drunks, and dealt in all kinds of illicit activities.
And then you had Matilda and Miss Jenny, who were so innocent and "good" (for lack of better words), that you had to idolize them. I also spent hours trying to use telekinesis to get a pencil to move, but I wasn't intelligent enough. My parents never told me that it's impossible!
1. The Witches
This might be a favorite, as it's the one Roald Dahl I never possessed (until three years ago, that is). I used to go to the library with my mum, and attempted seeking out this book as many times as possible, so much so that the librarian suggested I buy the book.
From the opening chapter, this book grabbed me, and actually made me wonder: do witches exist? I was a naive kid. The book, if I remember correctly, started:
In fairy tales, witches always wear black hats and black cloaks, and they ride on broomsticks.
But this is NOT a fairy tale. This is about REAL witches.
Come on, that's as believable as it gets!!! I lapped up every word of it, and whenever I used to see a lady scratch her head, I'd point and say "there's a witch". My mum wasn't amused.
So, how about you? Do you have a favorite Roald Dahl? Or three?