I wasn't terribly fond of this one. Clearly Dahl was going for an anti-hunting message, but the story lacks pizzazz. The illustrations look like a third-grader's work. It would be fun, though, to have a magic finger you could point at people and turn them into animals.

This story wasn't bad, but unfortunately the whole narrative of a girl hating on a bunch of hunters didn't quite agree with me, since I read this book right after Danny the Champion of the World which spent more than 200 pages to explain how cool poaching is. This wasn't as bad as the other one; the story was actually kinda cute, but I am so disappointed at Roald Dhal right now for disliking all his works I recently read that I might just rate this book lower for that reason. So yeah, don't listen to me, I am just angry at my childhood's favourite author for not actually being as good as I remembered. It happens! :(

Great book for teaching empathy to children! Also, as a pescatarian, I appreciate the point that humans get to walk a mile in the shoes of a bird family. Very clever. I'd give it a 3 for my own personal enjoyment as an adult, but my 6.5 y/o said she thinks it's just as good as The BFG and Matilda. (Also, as a noteworthy side note, I am floored and curious about the fact that a man of his generation had heroines, as opposed to heroes, in all three of those books-Sophie, Matilda, and "the girl with the magic finger" whom he never gives a name, but identifies as an 8 y/o little girl.) Because it's meant to be a children's book, I am giving this book a 5 because it's my kid's rating that I think should matter and not mine. Plus, upon reflection, I realize I would've loved this book too as a kid. Another hit out of the ball park, Mr. Dahl! Such a talented and remarkably creative author!

I never got around to reading this one as a kid - the library didn't have a copy and it looks like I never found it in a second-hand bookstore. Did I miss out on anything? No.

The Magic Finger is the story of an unnamed girl. The girl has a magic finger which blasts people for being asses. There's a little backstory, how she got her teacher, and then it's onto the main event - a hunter and his boys who shoot ducks. This makes the girl angry!

Simple, moral, a touch of Dahl. But, despite the title, no magic - no Dahl magic. It amused me for about 20 minutes, and the baby was quiet for 20 minutes. But it's no Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

i wish i wish i wish i had a magic finger (or fist?). Our protagonista doesn't categorize herself, but to me she is a powerful good witch. Hunting, for fun,* yuck -the thought is simply inter-species rudeness on a didn't-your-mother-teach-you-anything? level.
Our heroine combines her supernatural gifts with fantastic logical consequences for adults - all in the name of one love. A lovely fable.

*not for survival

A pleasant reminder of my childhood when the library lady used read us such stories. I really wish we can revive this in our community ~ there's so much in a work of fiction that can turn a child's life all around!

Dahl does indeed have a celebrated imgination!

"Heeft Roadaal nog boeken geschreven?" Ik denk dat we aan een reeksje begonnen zijn.

I think part of the magic of Roald Dahl is that you’re never too old to enjoy his stories! No matter how old you are, they’re just so fun to read and to get into. What I particularly enjoy about this story is the way things are turned around on the bad guys, they have a taste of their own medicine and realize how hard it is to swallow. But despite having a moral, the story is still so lighthearted and fun!

3,5*
#lerosclássicos2021

Ter um dedo mágico que entra em acção quando uma pessoa se irrita parece-me um poder muito útil e, nesta história de Roald Dahl, a jovem protagonista usa-o para dar uma lição a uma família de caçadores. Dahl é meu pedagogo preferido, com a sua ética duvidosa e métodos radicais, mas esta história é a mais óbvia e simplista de todas as que já li dele.

“Fiquei tão zangada que comecei a gritar com eles. Os rapazes riram-se e fizeram-me caretas, e o Sr. Gregg disse-me para ir para casa e me meter nos meus assuntos. Pois foi exactamente o que fiz! Fiquei furiosa. E antes de conseguir conter-me, fiz uma coisa que nunca tivera intenção de fazer. Apontei o dedo mágico a todos eles!

It's almost tradition that the first book of the year is one by Roald Dahl. This year, I've chosen a book about an 8-year-old girl that remains unnamed (first-person narrator), who lives next door to a family with two boys. Both boys go hunting with their dad every day, which doesn't sit right with the girl since killing animals just for fun is wrong (I completely agree).
But this is no normal girl because she has the titular magic finger and when she gets angry ...


The story is a classic but no less wonderful tale of the value of life and how humans often think animals less. As usual in Roald Dahl's stories, they are being taught the error of their ways - and in a pretty funny way too. This is one of his shorter stories but has immediately become one of my favourites!

As usual, I have the edition with Quentin Blakes wonderful black-and-white illustrations that not only capture the spirit of the story but also its fine, schadenfreude-laden humour. A wonderful way to start the New Year.

An endlessly satisfying pro-animal tale - audiobooking this while on a run in natural environment is highly recommended!

I finished The Magic Finger by Raold Dahl in only 28 minutes! It's great! I have whole set of Roald Dahl books! And I have seen most of the movies!