There are a number of books that shape the youth of a child. This was one of those books for me, alongside a handful of other Roald Dahl classics. I remember reading it (and having my father do so as well) and getting lost in the story, which I did again today. Young Sophie finds herself unable to sleep one night at the orphanage in which she resides. Peering out the window, she sees a shadowy figure passing down the road, with an odd contraption he uses while poking his head into surround windows. When Sophie spots this figure, a colossal giant, she is scooped up and taken off. Kidnapped, of a sort, Sophie learns that this giant is even larger than he appeared in the shadows, but nowhere near as frightful. That said, the odd giant patois he speaks leaves Sophie to wonder how calm and peaceful he might be. It is in the Land of the Giants that Sophie learns a little more about her captor, the Big Friendly Giant, 'BFG', and the other giant-figures in the area, who have a penchant for human flesh. Sophie also learns that the BFG possesses the ability to instil and inject dreams into the bedtime thoughts of any person, children in particular. He shoots the magic dream dust into his special pipe and, POOF, off it goes and the individual is left to stream the thoughts through their subconscious. Armed with this information, Sophie has an idea after learning from her new friend of the recent kidnapping number of children across Britain by these foul giants. They will alert this highest authority to ensure these evil giants are captured and brought to justice. Next stop, Buckingham Palace! The BFG and Sophie work together to convince the Queen, through a dream sequence, that these events have taken place and that Sophie is the key to helping find the giants. A trip into central London earns Sophie and the BFG an odd morning visit with Her Majesty, during which time all is revealed. Can the Queen use the powers at her disposal to hunt down the kidnapping giants, or will everyone be left with a taste as bitter as snozzcumbers in their mouths? Dahl takes readers on a wonderful journey through some interesting ideas to present one of the central stories known to many young Dahl readers. Perfect for any age, but especially those with an open and vivid imagination.

Dahl continues to marvel with all his ideas and variances on a similar theme. Those who have read a great deal of the author will know he drops references of other books into the narrative, while always keeping things fairly unique and individualised. Dahl offers up a new set of curious characters and some completely horrible villains, as well as the amusing 'power elite' in our actual world. With much gibberish found in many of Dahl's pieces, this one is chock-full of offbeat words and giant patois, which will have the younger reader (or listener) giggling as the story continues. There is little left out in this piece that warms the heart as well as gets the its pulse elevated. Perhaps in my top five all-time, this Dahl piece is exquisite in its presentation and delivery.

Kudos, Mr. Dahl for keeping me excited throughout this piece. I could not have found a better way to spend a few hours and hope to introduce these to Neo before too long.

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بدون تردید رولد دال یکی از محبوب‌ترین داستان نویسان کودکه که بیشتر از کودکان، بزرگسالان کتابهاش رو میخونن و عاشقشن.
این داستان فانتزی، یکی از محبوب ترین داستانهای زندگی منه. غول بزرگ مهربونی که شبها وقتی ما خوابیم، از جلوی پنجره مون رد میشه و رویاهای شیرین بهمون هدیه میده. همه خوابهای خوب و شیرینی که می‌بینیم رو بی اف جی بهمون بخشیده.

My first ever Roald Dahl book! While it definitely felt like it was written in the 80s, still so much fun! I can see why kids gobble these up!

I had about 3-4 hours of household things to do and this was a perfect book for it! A very sweet story.
The narrator is so good! I haven't listened to anything from him before that. I felt like Sir Ian or Stephen Fry was reading the book. And he was doing the impression of queen's voice so accuratly! Definitely worth a try!

«Io è un diverso! Io è un gentile gigante confusionato! Io è il solo gentile gigante confusionato in tutto il Paese dei Giganti! Io è il GRANDE GIGANTE GENTILE! Io è il GGG. E qual è il tuo nome?»

Vi confesso un segreto. Questo è il mio primo Roald Dahl. Scandaloso, lo so: vero che non lo direte a nessuno? Conoscevo due storie di Dahl attraverso il filtro del cinema (Matilda sei mitica aka la mia infanzia & La fabbrica di cioccolato), ma non avevo mai letto niente di suo, pertanto era arrivato il momento di colmare questa vergognosa lacuna. Meglio tardi che mai, no?

Il GGG è la storia dell’amicizia tra l’orfanella Sofia e un Grande Gigante Gentile, che una notte rapisce la bambina dal dormitorio dell’istituto dove vive. Sofia è trasportata di peso nel Paese dei Giganti, i quali sono esattamente come la tradizione li dipinge: altissimi, mostruosi e ghiotti di esseri umani (popolli, per dirla come il GGG). Per la fortuna di Sofia, il GGG è l’unico gigante “vegetariano” di quella terra, anzi, un gigante buono, il cui lavoro consiste nel soffiare sogni nelle camere dei bambini addormentati. Superate le reciproche diffidenze, Sofia e il GGG si coalizzeranno per neutralizzare gli altri giganti e impedire loro di continuare a divorare indisturbati i popolli della terra.

Di questa storia ho apprezzato particolarmente l’ironia e il linguaggio. Ho trovato davvero buffa e divertente la strampalata lingua in cui il GGG si esprime, fornendo spunti per simpatiche gag. Avendo letto il libro in italiano, non so esattamente che lingua Dahl abbia immaginato per il suo personaggio, ma la traduzione di Donatella Ziliotto è spassosa, e tanto mi basta.

Credo che, al di là della sua destinazione infantile, il romanzo si presti a sottili spunti di riflessione. Mi ha particolarmente colpito un dialogo tra Sofia e il GGG, che scelgo di riportare per intero:

«Tu non dimentica» l’interruppe il GGG «che tra i popolli c’è tanta gente che scompare di continuo, anche senza che i giganti se li ciuccia. I popollani si fa fuori l’un l’altro molto più spesso di quanto i giganti li divora».
«Ma gli uomini non si mangiano reciprocamente» disse Sofia.
«Anche i giganti non si mangia tra loro» disse il GGG. «E loro nemmeno si uccide! I giganti non sarà educati, ma non si uccide tra loro. E neanche i cocodrindilli si uccide l’un l’altro, e i gattini non uccide gli altri gattini».
«Però i topi sì».
«Sì, ma lascia stare i loro concugini. I popolli della terra è i soli animali che uccide i suoi concugini». […]
«Io non riesce a capire i popollani» riprese il GGG; «tu per esempio è una popollina e dice che i giganti è abominoso e monstrevole perché mangia la gente. Chiaro o scuro?»
«Chiaro».
«Ma i popollani si imbudella tutto il tempo tra loro, si sparapacchia coi fucili e va sugli aeropalmi per tirarsi bombe sulla testa ogni settimana. I popollani uccide per tutto il tempo gli altri popollani».
Aveva ragione. Era evidente che aveva ragione, e Sofia lo sapeva. Stava cominciando a chiedersi se davvero gli uomini fossero migliori dei giganti. «Tuttavia» disse, cercando di difendere nonostante tutto i suoi simili, «ciò non impedisce che sia riprovevole che quegli orribili giganti se ne vadano ogni notte a mangiare gli esseri umani. Gli uomini non hanno mai fatto loro nulla di male».
«È quello che dice ogni giorno anche il porcellino. Dice: “Io non ha fatto mai nulla di male agli uomini e allora, perché loro mi mangia?”»
«In effetti…»
«I popolli inventa regole che gli va bene, ma sue regole non va bene al porcellino. Chiaro o scuro?»
«Chiaro» ammise Sofia.
«Anche i giganti inventa regole, e le sue regole non va bene ai popolli. Ognuno fa regole che va bene solo a se stesso».

Chiaro o scuro?

شخصیت سوفی و غول بزرگ مهربان خیلی زیاد دوست‌داشتنی و شیرین بودن و من مجذوب نحوه‌ی روایت داستان از نشر ماه‌آوا شدم. احساس می‌کردم یه دختربچه‌ام که داره به یه قصه‌ی جذاب بانمک گوش می‌ده.
امتیازم بهش ۵ بود تا یک چهارم نهایی کتاب که یه مقدار از فاز اصلی خارج و جذابیتش برای دختر کوچولوی درونم کم شد.
در مجموع خیلی دوستش داشتم و توصیه می‌کنم اگر قصد خوندنشو دارید، نسخه‌ی صوتیش رو از ماه‌آوا بگیرید و گوش بدین. اولیپن بار بود که به نظرم نسخه‌ی صوتی یه کتاب از متنیشم بهتر بود.

Scarier than I remembered (damn those monsters really ate little kids!)

But of course this is another Dahl classic. I guess I was charmed the most by The Queen's appearance in the story (Does The Queen know about this? Has she read "The BFG", did Wills and Harry read it as kids- like we all did- and think, "Hey, that's Gran!"? -All good questions.)

I also liked the part at the Castle when they had to make a really big table, chair, plate, ect... so the BFG could have breakfast with them, this was the stuff I just loved as a kid.

Un piccolo libriccino straripante di avventure. Chi conosce Roald Dahl sa bene con quale immediatezza sia in grado rendere le sensazioni più complete e le descrizioni più magiche, terrorizzando e addolcendo, ma anche costruendo divertentissimi siparietti. Di recente adattato per lo schermo da Steven Spielberg, si è ben conservato, anche grazie alla mediazione delle illustrazioni di Quentin Blake.
http://athenaenoctua2013.blogspot.it/...

I'm a huge, huge Roald Dahl fan. I loved him as a kid. My favorite book is a toss-up between The Witches and Matilda.

Liz and I had agreed that we wouldn't read Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory out loud to the kids, so they would be able to experience it themselves. I would read The Witches, but I'm not sure if all of my kids could handle it yet.

So, it fell to The BFG. All three were in for most of the reading, though Poppy (being 3) left for large swaths. This was the longest book Gwen listened to in its entirety.

Dad: So, what did you think? Hold on - lets go one at a time. Gwen, go ahead and go first.

Gwen: It was good.

Dad: What was good about it? What was your favorite part? Actually, can you just start us off by telling us what the book was about?

Gwen: It was about a girl who lived at an orphanage. Her name was Sophie... and she saw a giant. And the giant got her.

Dad: Eleanor, pick it up from there.

Eleanor: Then, she talked with the giant - and found out that this giant did not eat human beings. He ate snozzcumbers - but there were other giants that DID eat human beings.

Dad: Poppy, what did you think about the book?

Poppy: Uhhh... The... The giant got her.

Eleanor: Wait. Daddy. We already wrote that. Dad.

Poppy: No. I just want to talk about it. (Playing with 3 My Little Ponies at the same time) No! You have to go this way. Neigh! Neigh neigh neigh neigh neigh... Mama! Mommy. Pretty. Mommy'na horsey ride... Ou can have a ride on my back.

Dad: Gwen, did you like the book?

Gwen: Yeah.

Dad: What did you like about it?

Gwen: (Thinking)

Eleanor: Did you like it when Sophie was taken to the BFG's house?

Gwen: I liked the dreams... all of the dreams...

Dad: Poppy, what was your favorite part?

Poppy: Ummmm... UH-OH! I DROPPED MY PONY!!!! Oh, there it is. Now I can talk. I liked the giant got her. *Starts playing with the ponies* Neigh. Neigh. Neigh.

Dad: Anything else?

Poppy: Nope. I liked when the giants fell in the hole. I liked that.

Dad: El?

Eleanor: If I had to choose, I would choose when they  captured all the other giants, and they tricked Fleshlumpeater, and when they had to eat snozzcumbers for the rest of their lives

Dad: How many stars should we give it?

El: 5! 5 5 5 5 5!!!

Gwen: 4. Because it was not really the best book. I liked it, but it wasn't the best book that we listened to. But I DID like it, still.

Poppy: Ummmmmm. Ummmmmmmm... Ummmmmmmmmm. Um. Um. UM!!! I can't say it, I CAN'T SAY IT!!!!!

Dad: Do you know?

Poppy: No.

Dad: Poppy, was the book good?

Poppy: Yeah.

Dad: Did you like it?

Poppy: Yeah.

Dad: Did you really like it?

Poppy: Yeah.

Dad: Was it amazing?

Poppy: Yeah.

Dad: Alright then, we'll say Poppy wants to give it 5 stars. I'll add that I think my favorite part might have been giving the queen the dream. Or giving the Troglehumper to the Fleshlumpeater.

Eleanor: How many stars would YOU give it?

Dad: I don't know. 4 or 5. Either way, I'm glad we liked it.

Do you know what the BFG stood for before his publisher told him he had to think of other words for the acronym? Dahl wasn't joking either, not at all. This story is of a man's interest in a prepubescent girl. The first thing he does is enter her bedroom in the middle of the night, blow "dust" over her and kidnap her. Taking her away from the orphanage she lives in to the land of the extremely unfriendly giants who, in the original draft forced the little girl to look at their giant 'clubs'. But the BFG's different, he's friendly....grooming It all ends with the little girl giving the BFG kisses and living next door to him and everyone is very happy. Dahl sees himself as the BFG giving Sophie, children, a new way to think, different from human adults, who don't even believe in giants.

It is an inventive story without doubt, and all fairy stories require you to absolutely suspend disbelief. Lots of them include sexual and violent elements which children either don't notice (sexual) or thoroughly enjoy (violent). When Disney gets hold of them, they lose both and become the anodyne Barbie-doll princesses (cue violins-in-the-background) we are used to. In that tradition, the BFG succeeds.

In the mid-to-late 20thC there was less emphasis on paedophilia than there is now, and I wonder if this book could have been written at all in the 21stC. Ironically, this book is banned in some educational districts in the US for 'teaching poor moral values' and cannibalism. Ridiculous. Children laugh at those sort of things. I don't believe in banning books, but Dahl was an unpleasant character and it is wilful blindness to ignore the feet of clay our heroes sometimes have as we place laurel wreaths on their brows.

Misogyny: Dahl's misogyny, especially in his adult stories, is quite extreme, and, in shades of Harper Lee and Go Set a Watchman being turned into To Kill a Mockingbird at the publisher's insistence, the first draft of Matilda:

"Painted the protagonist as a devilish little hussy who only later becomes "clever", perhaps because she found herself without very much to do after torturing her parents."Dahl's editor Stephen Roxburgh completely revised Dahl's last novel and, in doing so, turned it into his most popular book."

Anti semitism,: " In a 1983 interview with the New Statesman, he said, “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason. I mean, if you and I were in a line moving towards what we knew were gas chambers, I’d rather have a go at taking one of the guards with me; but they [the Jews] were always submissive.” Buzzfeed

Racism and rudeness. Remember the Oompah-Loompahs? The NAACP objected that in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the manual labor, performed by characters called Oompa-Loompas, are described by Dahl as African Pygmies, essentially brought-over slaves running the chocolate factory. Look at the original illustrations for the first edition of the book on Bidnessetc In the BFG, one of the giants, the Fleshlumpeater is supposed a black character, certainly another of them likes eating Turkish people.

There is also a discussion on Bignessetc on his general misogyny and unpleasant character leading his publishing company, Knopf, who made a lot of money from him to write,

"You have behaved to us in a way I can honestly say is unmatched in my experience for overbearingness and utter lack of civility."

Dahl used to belong to the only country club in South Wales that allowed Jewish members. My father and grandfather were members in their time. He once objected very loudly to the number of Jews dining there and how it fouled the atmosphere. The management threw him out and banned him. He is supposed to have done something similar at a gambling club in London with the same result!

I think he worked on the principle that everyone male, white and Christian shared his views on women, non-whites and Jews. I get it here, those sort of whites say racist things to me thinking because I am white I will go along with it. My clerks, always black, say they get complaints about whites from other blacks thinking they are bound to sympathise, but they don't. But most of us aren't racist or hate any group of people. Trouble is most people aren't vocal about that in a conversation and are likely to nod and just file it away. We need always to speak out.

Perhaps the best link of all to Roald Dahl is This Recording. He was without doubt a horrible person, but equally without doubt, a tremendously talented writer with an extraordinary imagination. I've enjoyed on some level all of his books and the films made of them.

First of all, I read this book in my native language and I think much of the BFG's way of speaking was lost in the translation process. While reading, I was constantly wondering what the original words might have been.

Second, my son had to read The BFG for school. I think the story failed to fully capture his attention. So, he found himself in the situation in which tomorrow is the Reading Club at school and he didn't read it. As his reading speed is quite low for his 8 years, I read the book to him.

The BFG was a nice read, but I'm not a huge fan either. This type of story is not what I usually go for. Even as a child, my feelings would have been the same. I like princesses, and princes, and dragons, and... well, pretty much everything that was not in this book.

I hope my son's next Reading Club book is girlier (so I can enjoy it if I have to read it). :)

This story is one of the most interesting ones, I remember reading it every day before bed. It talks about friendship, helping one another, and is a fun-to-read book!

Beautifully woven fantasy which takes you to another world where exist no humans but giants, all but one nasty, fearsome, ugly, fifty feet long brutes!

This is the story of The BFG aka The Big Friendly Giant, a 24-foot giant who only eats snozzcumbers and glugs frobscottle. BFG lives up to his name being kind, caring, loving, and really friendly as the name suggests.

The little girl Sophie awake in the witching hour had no idea she had a new adventure her way. The protagonist is a mature girl for her age who acts pretty wise and thinks well before she does something.