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forever_day's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet Dahlian short story. There is lots that's whimsical (the names of the monsters, that there are teeny tiny people living in trees). Everything happens very quickly to a sweet ending.
There were lots of little details that even out-of-reality felt like he was drawing from real life, like the idea that robins love children, the childlike experience of going 'what if I could fly on birds?' the wish fulfilment of 'what if my friends came after bedtime to see me?'. Purely speculation but I wonder if when he is talking about people living in clouds that was something he actually thought about and came up with while he was flying planes, or the description on birds on a lake from far above.
There were lots of little details that even out-of-reality felt like he was drawing from real life, like the idea that robins love children, the childlike experience of going 'what if I could fly on birds?' the wish fulfilment of 'what if my friends came after bedtime to see me?'. Purely speculation but I wonder if when he is talking about people living in clouds that was something he actually thought about and came up with while he was flying planes, or the description on birds on a lake from far above.
wanderingstories's review against another edition
5.0
“Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
This is Roald Dahl's last written work for Children Literature and I believe his best one.
It's so beautiful, and the hidden message (meaning) so strong and powerful.
This is Roald Dahl's last written work for Children Literature and I believe his best one.
It's so beautiful, and the hidden message (meaning) so strong and powerful.
zuzubaloo's review against another edition
3.0
Billy dreams of going through the gate and into the Forest of Sin, but his mother won't have it. One day, when she's in another room ironing, Billy is sitting idly thinking about such a thing when the Devil whispers in his ear to do it, and Billy does. However, the forest is home to a frightful creature, and Billy is soon chased by it until he climbs a tree. How will Billy get out of the forest? And what will he witness?
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
I didn't particularly like this one. It lacked charm and magic—not magic as in supernatural, but magic as in captivating, enchanting. I also thought it ended too many pages after it should have ended.
I wish the forest had been named something else. Something better. Something with a bit more oomph. Sin is terrible, but it isn’t a scary word. Considering the forest, according to Billy’s mum, is supposed to be home to many fearsome creatures, a scarier word could have been used for the name of the forest instead.
Billy is an underdeveloped character. You don’t get to know Billy or the Minpins. Who are the Minpins? Where did they come from? Why are they small?
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
I didn't particularly like this one. It lacked charm and magic—not magic as in supernatural, but magic as in captivating, enchanting. I also thought it ended too many pages after it should have ended.
I wish the forest had been named something else. Something better. Something with a bit more oomph. Sin is terrible, but it isn’t a scary word. Considering the forest, according to Billy’s mum, is supposed to be home to many fearsome creatures, a scarier word could have been used for the name of the forest instead.
Billy is an underdeveloped character. You don’t get to know Billy or the Minpins. Who are the Minpins? Where did they come from? Why are they small?
emmajanereads's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marthaos's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a re-read as I couldn’t remember much about the book since I read it quite a few years ago. This time I read it to my 4 year old son who loves stories and loves Roald Dahl. I’m taking part in @salboreads #CCC Summer of Dahl challenge and am really enjoying comparing notes with other readers of Roald Dahl.
It is about Billy, who wanders into The Forest of Sin one day, despite his mother’s instructions to “Be good”. Rumours of all sorts of despicable creatures circulated about this forest where, as the well-known rhyme went: “few come out but many go in”. Billy, bored at home and lured by the idea of adventure, encounters the Minpins on the magical trees in the forest whose bark seemed to transform and open into shutters the size of postage stamps which led to the Minpins’ houses. What a great concept, much like Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree, where this idea that other worlds exist alongside our own is explored. It is so enriching for children, world within worlds and where anything is possible. Can Billy’s plan to overcome the fearsome fire-breathing beast with the help of some birds work?
As always with Dahl the language was amazing and the idea wild and wonderful. It was very enjoyable, not my favourite Roald Dahl, but a very enjoyable and worthwhile short read.
It is about Billy, who wanders into The Forest of Sin one day, despite his mother’s instructions to “Be good”. Rumours of all sorts of despicable creatures circulated about this forest where, as the well-known rhyme went: “few come out but many go in”. Billy, bored at home and lured by the idea of adventure, encounters the Minpins on the magical trees in the forest whose bark seemed to transform and open into shutters the size of postage stamps which led to the Minpins’ houses. What a great concept, much like Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree, where this idea that other worlds exist alongside our own is explored. It is so enriching for children, world within worlds and where anything is possible. Can Billy’s plan to overcome the fearsome fire-breathing beast with the help of some birds work?
As always with Dahl the language was amazing and the idea wild and wonderful. It was very enjoyable, not my favourite Roald Dahl, but a very enjoyable and worthwhile short read.
musingsbynitika's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
paroof's review against another edition
5.0
When I first started reading this one to my 7-year-old I was little concerned that it might give him nightmares - it starts off a bit scary. The devil whispers in the little boy's ear, he goes into the Forest of Sin, and then is chased by a terrifying monster who wants to eat him... but it eventually comes around and the little boy and the Minpins (the tiny people who inhabit the forest) eventually kill the terrifying monster rather easily. It's a very satisfying story for a 7-year-old boy (or a 40-year-old mom for that matter) it seems to have a little of everything and the illustrations are beautiful, too. Plus, I think it's just the right length. We read it in two nights.
sbischof's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mrgongjin's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A very loving story. It must have made so many children wonder that there must are Minpins somewhere in this world.