The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl Also by this author: The Twits, Esio Trot, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Published by Penguin on May 30th 2013
Genres: Young Adult, Action & Adventure, General, Fiction
Pages: 16
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?
To the Gregg family, hunting is just plain fun. To the girl who lives next door, it's just plain horrible. She tries to be polite. She tries to talk them out of it, but the Greggs only laugh at her. Then one day the Greggs go too far, and the little girl turns her Magic Finger on them. When she's very, very angry, the little girl's Magic Finger takes over. She really can’t control it, and now it's turned the Greggs into birds! Before they know it, the Greggs are living in a nest, and that's just the beginning of their problems….
Retro Friday Reviews are hosted by Angieville. Basically you review older and under-appreciated books on Fridays.
There’s something about reading Roald Dahl that fills me with joy and nostalgia. I always include a Dahl book in my reading pile for every Dewey 24 Hour Readathon because they are FUN, quick and put me in an ‘I love reading’ frame of mind which is essential for any reading marathon. For the April 2012 Readathon, I chose The Magic Finger which is among the more slim Dahl books I own.
The Gregg family is SUPER into hunting and they don’t just hunt to eat, but for sport as well. This is horrifying to the eight year old girl next door. She pleads and desperately tries to convince the Gregg family to change their ways. Of course, the Greggs ignore her which, FYI, pisses her off and well, BIG MISTAKE. You see, when her temper flares she can use her magic finger to transform things and so she transforms the Gregg family into birds, in hopes that they will learn their lesson.
The Magic Finger is not among my top favorite Roald Dahl books. However, it is still an enjoyable read with some teachable moments. I loved seeing the bird revenge and also seeing the Greggs get their just desserts. AND with the humor of an eight year old, I definitely laughed out loud at some bits.
If you’re looking to read Roald Dahl’s back list, you definitely can’t go wrong with The Magic Finger, but if you want to experience the magic of Dahl for the first time, I’d have to recommend Matilda, The BFG, or The Witches instead.
So, readers, friends what is YOUR favorite Dahl book or if you were meeting someone who has never read Dahl, what do you think they should start with?
Disclosure: Purchased copy.
Other Reviews of The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl:
Reading For Sanity
Once Upon A Bookcase
Other Roald Dahl Books reviewed:
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I need to reread them, but gut instinct says Matilda and The Witches!
I need to re-read Matilda and The Witches as well! 🙂
I love FANTASTIC MR. FOX. (I have a big dopey grin on my face just from typing this.)
Fantastic Mr. Fox is quite awesome and don’t you love it when just thinking of a book makes you happy?
Definitely Matilda. It’s one of my favorite books ever for any author.
Matilda FOREVER!
I’ve had this open on my computer for about 2 hours. Time to comment I think! I just reread the Witches in the past 2 years and it freaked me the hell out. I can’t believe we used to read that in grade school! That movie was also terrifying. I still think Matilda and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory are my favs. Although I haven’t read Matilda since grade school so who knows what surprises are in store! Still, Dahl is a literary staple! Great post!
I do that all the time, leave tabs open for a super long time on my computer.
Sigh, I will always love Matilda, and lol I guess The Witches doesn’t freak me out, but it’s been awhile.
Dahl foreva!
Okay, can we be best friends, because clearly we’re kindred spirits. I love Roald Dahl so much. I even wrote a thesis about his adult short stories. And I’m always so pleased to find another Dahl lover. *grins*
My favorite? That’s tough and always subject to change, but I think right now its JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. You know, I need to blog about him more.
<3333 LOVE KINDRED SPIRITS!
That is legit so cool doing a thesis on Dahl.
I think that my favorite Dahl books always change too. I mean, for awhile it was The Twits, but now when I think about it, it's The Witches and Matilda. Next year it will probably be different.
My favorite is The Twits! I always recommend Dahl starting there and I tend to talk a lot with my hands and get these really big facial expressions because I love it so much. And then Matilda and Fantastic Mr. Fox. HOLLA.
Coincidentally, I have never read The Magic Finger.
I talk with my hands too. Also? YAY facial expressions.
You should definitely read The Magic Finger, it will take you like 10 minutes, no joke.
Matilda! I love this book! Love it! I used an Audible credit to purchase the audiobook version. When I’m having a particularly bad day at work I pop in my earbuds and let the magic of Matilda v. Trunchbull take me away. 🙂
It is the only Dahl book I have read though. I should probably remedy that. Thanks to this review I’ll probably pick up The Magic Finger next.
What a cool idea, listening to Matilda on a bad day.
You should definitely read Dahl’s backlist, it is wonderful! 🙂
I’d recommend Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Love that one!
I absolutely love that this has become one of your reading traditions. Dahl is one of my all time favorites, though surprisingly, I don’t think I’ve read this one! Maybe I grew up in a community where too many people hunt, and they kept this one out. 😛