More About Boy ~Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
–published 2008 (25th anniversary edition of 1984 book)
–Farrar, Straus and Giroux
–240 pages
–4.5/5 stars
I wish I could say that I grew up reading Roald Dahl…and perhaps I can, but not in the traditional sense. While I did not meet any of Mr. Dahl’s wonderful characters as a child, I became acquainted with him while working in a bookstore in my early 20’s, and I’ve certainly ‘grown up’ some since then. But not so much that I have lost my childlike enthusiasm for good childrens stories, or for the authors who create such works of magic. Roald Dahl is one of those magicians, in his stories for children and his adult short stories.
I have wanted to read Boy since I first watched Meg Ryan read from it in the film, You’ve Got Mail. There are a couple of really enchanting moments that happen in her small bookstore in the film, and the reading of The Great Mouse Plot was one of them. The desire to include some nonfiction in my own personal Once Upon a Time IV quest made this the perfect time to pick up this delightful, and sometimes disturbing, book.
The edition I borrowed from the library is the 25th Anniversary edition, which I understand has some added material, including a plethora of pictures (many shot by Dahl himself, who was an award-winning photographer) and many warmly-familiar illustrations by Dahl-illustrator Quentin Blake. More About Boy is Dahl’s autobiography from birth up until the time he got his first job post-graduation. Much of the book is taken up with stories from the various boarding schools he attended in England, but he also speaks of family vacations, early adventures, and gives some background of his father and mother from before his birth.
More About Boy is written as a work that can be experienced by his young audience and yet appreciated greatly by adults as well. Included in this volume are numerous interesting facts about Roald Dahl’s life as well as insights into the world as it was then. Also included are many snapshots of the many letters that Dahl wrote to his mother throughout her life. It is an easy to read, moving and touching story. It is surprisingly dark at times, particularly when Dahl relates tales of being caned by headmasters or the older boys in school. Corporal punishment of one sort or another is a recurring theme in the book and Dahl is very candid about how this effected his views of school and those in authority. I know for a fact that I could not have made it in that system of education. I always was a bit of a smart-aleck and during my pre-teen and teen years was quite stubborn and determined to follow my own rules. I would not have reacted well to a teacher whipping me with a cane. Not at all! Makes me thankful for my own less painful elementary and secondary school education. 🙂
Despite those negative aspects, much of the book points to the parts of his life that one envies and wants to emulate today: the close knit family, the appreciation for good food and the long holiday adventures that he experienced. More than once Dahl laments the fact that travel is so instantaneous today and he says that “nothing is fabulous anymore” because of that. You can’t help but imagine that longer boat or train journeys would allow you to savor the sights and sounds of the land you were traveling through more than riding in an airplane far above it all.
If you have not allowed yourself to experience the pleasure of the wickedly funny sense of humor Dahl exhibits in his stories for children, I cannot urge you enough to remedy that. And I would also highly recommend More About Boy. It is a well written biography that I would imagine is unlike most author biographies ever written. I plan on reading his continued adventures (he was a WWII fighter pilot) in his book, Going Solo. More About Boy is also an ideal book to read to the family as it is not only educational but is fun. This volume has a 20 question quiz at the end and I was proud that I got 18 out of 20 correct! 🙂
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This book is my:
Twelfth read for the 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge
and my 5th read for the:
I’m really confused. I can find a book by Dahl titled BOY, and one titled GOING SOLO but not one with the title you show here (which suggests it is the second in a series of autobiographical books, since it has the words “more about” in the title). Is the book here and BOY that same book? I did see you say this is an updated version, but did they change the title?
Okay, more research has clarified it, the one you review here is the same plus the new material. I have ordered it and the next (Going SOLO) from the library. Thanks for the tip!
I grew up reading Dahl, and his stuff was always some of my favorites. I found a Dahl Omnibus a few years back and picked it up for whenever I have kids. Great review.
Richard: More About Boy is the 25th anniversary edition of Boy. The re-released it in this version in 2008 with more pictures and some additional material. For the most part I think they are the same except for some additional bells and whistles. Going Solo is the second autobiography, covering his war years and beyond, as I understand.
Oops, and now I see you found this out for yourself. 🙂 I’ve ordered Going Solo from the library as well. I wish it would come in before my vacation, but I doubt it will. I’m planning on taking the Chandler you recommended though.
Logan: Dahl is so great to read to kids. I read several of them to my daughter. The Twits is my favorite and I just love to read it aloud even though I crack myself up whenever I do so.
When I was doing student teaching, my classroom’s reading teacher used The BFG with the 5th graders – they loved it so much they didn’t even mind all of the real reading work the lessons involved. I imagine this book would be a nice way to introduce kids to non-fiction/auto-biographies in a less dry, more entertaining version of the genre. Thanks for the review.
I have just picked up a Roald Dahl book after nearly 25 years. I never read a lot of his books as a child, but now have an urge to remedy it. I just read James and the Giant Peach and loved it. Boy sound fabulous and definitely one I need to read.
Vivienne: I cannot recall now whether I’ve read James and the Giant Peach or not. I know that I own it and am fairly sure I have. But I’ve also seen the film and so my memory of reading it is faulty. Read The Twits, it is a hoot!
Bumbles: Books like the ones Dahl writes are so perfect to be used in a classroom or family reading setting because they are funny without being stupid. There is a real story in them included with the humor. And this book was written in a way that makes it not so dry for kids of a certain age.
Dahl was always a favourite of mine growing up. I loved The BFG, but I think that Danny Champion of the World was my favourite by him. I think I read Boy & Sole when I was 12 or 13, and the story of him almost slicing his nose off has always stayed with me.
Gak, that should read Going Solo, not Sole. I don’t think he ever wrote a book called Sole, although I’d read it if he had 🙂
The only Dahl book I read (to my sons) is James and the Giant Peach… I think I liked him best when he was married to the actress Patricia Neal
Deslily: Now I’m wishing I owned James and the Giant Peach, the film, because suddenly I’m in the mood to watch it. I didn’t know he was married to Patricia Neal…but then I haven’t read his later autobiography yet, so I don’t know much about him at all beyond his first job out of school. 🙂
Fence: I’d read it too, Fence. 😉 I know for sure I haven’t read Danny. Obviously need to remedy that.
Your entry reminded me of how much I loved reading Roald Dahl as a kid. (I must’ve read “Matilda” at least twelve times!) But for some reason, I never picked up “Going Solo.” Thanks for reminding me of it; I’ll need to read it soon!
Forgot to say, HAVE A GREAT VACATION! Be sure and give us a trip report when you can.
Will do! Just a few more days until we leave. Monday will be a movie/restaurant day here and then we leave on Tuesday. Can’t wait!
Hmmmm….this review might just have saved the book from my discard pile. I’ve been tallying up my tbr books (not even the ever rising books that I want to read, but rather, the books that I already own and at some point purchased because i wanted to read them). I began organizing them via a separate library thing account (I’m anal, I know…) thru first, second, and third strings. Vowing that I would get rid of my third string books if I ever went over 200. Wouldn’t you know, I’m close to 200 (eight off…) and this book was listed in my 3rd string.
I didn’t find Dahl until later in my life….um maybe late 20’s? And I love what I have read. Unfortunately it just hasn’t been that much. Hmmm…which is probably why it made the 3rd string. I think I’ll add it to 2nd string.
Hurrah! Dahl definitely deserves to be moved up. It really is a pretty quick read, one you might want to consider reading and then moving on to make room. 🙂
Roald Dahl remains one of my students’ favorite authors. A sophomore in college came back to visit me earlier this week and asked, “Do you still read The BFG?” That’s their favorite, it seems. But, my husband’s favorite was the far lesser known Danny, The Champion of The World, and Boy is the best memoir I can think of. Who can forget the story of rat mash becoming licorice laces, or the horrible mean woman in charge of the candy store? (Personally, I’ve never read Witches, but it might be a great pick for your RIP.
I can easily see why he remains a favorite, his is the kind of writing that begs to be shared, particularly by reading aloud. Danny is one I haven’t read but want to. I did read Witches many years ago but barely remember it.
I’m a huge Dahl fan and both Boy and Going Solo are wonderful. You should try some of his short stories for adults. They’re deliciously dark.
Melissa: I have read some of his adult short stories in the past and did enjoy them. It has been a looong time though and I’m thinking I need to add him to my list for this year’s R.I.P. Challenge in Sept/Oct. They would be perfect for it.