Roald Dahl’s stories lodge themselves in our imaginations because of their incredible hooks; unique inventions like golden tickets, the giant peach and that marvellous medicine. But the reason they’ve stayed, living rent free in our heads for so many years is Dahl’s ability to create an array of endlessly fascinating characters. From sadistic teachers to … Continue reading
Roald Dahl used to talk with some pride about what he called his ‘child power’. He couldn’t move objects with his mind like Matilda or wave a vengeful magic finger, no. What he believed he could do, according to biographer Jeremy Treglown, was ‘walk into any house in Europe or the USA and if there … Continue reading
‘I must now regretfully become one of those unpopular giants who tells you WHAT TO DO and WHAT NOT TO DO. This is something I have never done in any of my books. I have been careful never to preach, never to be moralistic and never to convey any message to the reader.’ I confess … Continue reading
‘There’s so much to see and smell here! Whole levels of the library that nobody has been into for a hundred thousand years! Locked rooms full of ancient secrets. Treasure! Knowledge! Fun‘ Garth Nix’s Lirael. When Birmingham’s new mega library opened last week I was blown away by the sheer scale and heartened by a … Continue reading
In ‘Miss Honey’s Cottage’ a small, clever girl walks to her teacher’s home in the woods. Inside the hovel, kind Miss Honey prepares her pupil tea and bread with margarine. Chapter 16 of Matilda doesn’t have the most thrilling synopsis you’ll ever read, but this is undoubtedly one of my favourite chapters in all … Continue reading
