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bookishchef's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
It's Roald Dahl, so obviously I liked it.
This is one of the few Dahl books I didn't read as a child. So maybe that affected my enjoyment of this story but for some reason this one felt way less magical.
This one is about an anthropomorphic fox, stealing some poultry and getting drunk on apple cider. No magic, no memorable villains, no scenes bordering on pure horror like in Dahl's other stories.
This story is uncomplicated. And while there is nothing wrong with that, it is not what I expect from Dahl. He still doesn't shy away from showing awful things; the main character gets a limb shot off and he and his family almost starve to death but it doesn't go into horror like it does in The Witches or even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and that felt like a missed opportunity.
It is also a product of its time, because this children's book has fatphobia (towards Boggis), ableism (towards Bunce) who is a little person)), and celebratory underage drinking among other things. I will always have a soft spot for Dahl, even if not all of his books are a 10/10 for me and he maybe wasn't that great of a person.
This is one of the few Dahl books I didn't read as a child. So maybe that affected my enjoyment of this story but for some reason this one felt way less magical.
This one is about an anthropomorphic fox, stealing some poultry and getting drunk on apple cider. No magic, no memorable villains, no scenes bordering on pure horror like in Dahl's other stories.
This story is uncomplicated. And while there is nothing wrong with that, it is not what I expect from Dahl. He still doesn't shy away from showing awful things;
It is also a product of its time, because this children's book has fatphobia (towards Boggis), ableism (towards Bunce) who is a little person)), and celebratory underage drinking among other things. I will always have a soft spot for Dahl, even if not all of his books are a 10/10 for me and he maybe wasn't that great of a person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Underage drinking, animals drinking,