A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

Depth required to set up brilliant ending, 11 Apr 2008
A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.

Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.

This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.

The best of times, the best of endings, 19 Mar 2008
Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again

A Stunning Read, 21 May 2005
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).

A Tale of Two Citys, 24 Oct 2001
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.

Worth reading, but patience is required, 02 May 1999
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.

A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

Depth required to set up brilliant ending, 11 Apr 2008
A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.

Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.

This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.

The best of times, the best of endings, 19 Mar 2008
Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again

A Stunning Read, 21 May 2005
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).

A Tale of Two Citys, 24 Oct 2001
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.

Worth reading, but patience is required, 02 May 1999
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.

I like it!, 17 Feb 2008
Everyone knows the original stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf and The Three Little Pigs, written by Charles Perrault (Cinderella), Brothers Grimm (all the rest); but Roald Dahl has changed the stories and put in some gruesome humour - these rewrites are not suitable for grumpy old grown ups so be aware! My favourite story out of all of Dahl's altered fairy tales is definitely Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf & the three little pigs because they are linked together with Little Red Riding Hood who gives the wolf and the pigs' horrible endings! I would rate this book 9/ 10 because it could have had another one or two other famous tales included like The Princess and the Pea but apart from that it was really good. I would recommend it to kids only and parents should not even have a peep because they cannot enjoy such humorous things like us.

Amusing, Amusing, Amusing!, 06 Aug 2007
This is an excellent poetry book by one of the best children's writers of all time.
Never aging or boring Road Dahl brings a new light to those fairytales we all know and love.

By far the best is Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf . . .
'The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creatures's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.'

Admittedly not for really young readers because there is the killing of the wolf and 'sl*t' is mentioned in cinderella, but I read this book at primary school when I was 8 or 9 and I was so fond bought my own copy as an adult and still love it just as much today.


Still laughing, 14 Nov 2006
I was read this book at school, about 18 years ago now. Children do find it funny and so do adults. Okay so I didn't get all the jokes when I was 9 or 10, but Red Riding Hood's wolf slaying had us giggling for ages.

I cannot believe there are bad reviews, with violence as the reason! Have you never read any Grimm brothers?

Contains swearing. Not for young children. , 02 Nov 2006
I bought this from amazon a few weeks ago, and was alarmed when I read the first rhyme, and found Prince Charming calling Cinderella a "sl*t". Returned the book immediately.Have rated it with stars for the quality of writing. Dahl is funny, but this one isn't for younger children, and has no business being in this section.

The children loved it, 24 Feb 2006
I teach a Year 5 class and we ahve recently been doing a someone staid narrative poetry topic in Literacy. To brighten it up I hae been reading thre Revolting Rhymes to them, and they have absolutely loved them! It is an ideal way of getting kids enthusiastic about poetry, not always an easy task. The are modern and in simple everyday language, hilariously funny and make poetry accessible for every child. My class gasped with delight, giggled, cringed, and raved. They have been talking about Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes non stop to anyone who will listen ever since - what better recommendation can you get?

A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

Depth required to set up brilliant ending, 11 Apr 2008
A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.

Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.

This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.

The best of times, the best of endings, 19 Mar 2008
Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again

A Stunning Read, 21 May 2005
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).

A Tale of Two Citys, 24 Oct 2001
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.

Worth reading, but patience is required, 02 May 1999
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.

I like it!, 17 Feb 2008
Everyone knows the original stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf and The Three Little Pigs, written by Charles Perrault (Cinderella), Brothers Grimm (all the rest); but Roald Dahl has changed the stories and put in some gruesome humour - these rewrites are not suitable for grumpy old grown ups so be aware! My favourite story out of all of Dahl's altered fairy tales is definitely Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf & the three little pigs because they are linked together with Little Red Riding Hood who gives the wolf and the pigs' horrible endings! I would rate this book 9/ 10 because it could have had another one or two other famous tales included like The Princess and the Pea but apart from that it was really good. I would recommend it to kids only and parents should not even have a peep because they cannot enjoy such humorous things like us.

Amusing, Amusing, Amusing!, 06 Aug 2007
This is an excellent poetry book by one of the best children's writers of all time.
Never aging or boring Road Dahl brings a new light to those fairytales we all know and love.

By far the best is Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf . . .
'The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creatures's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.'

Admittedly not for really young readers because there is the killing of the wolf and 'sl*t' is mentioned in cinderella, but I read this book at primary school when I was 8 or 9 and I was so fond bought my own copy as an adult and still love it just as much today.


Still laughing, 14 Nov 2006
I was read this book at school, about 18 years ago now. Children do find it funny and so do adults. Okay so I didn't get all the jokes when I was 9 or 10, but Red Riding Hood's wolf slaying had us giggling for ages.

I cannot believe there are bad reviews, with violence as the reason! Have you never read any Grimm brothers?

Contains swearing. Not for young children. , 02 Nov 2006
I bought this from amazon a few weeks ago, and was alarmed when I read the first rhyme, and found Prince Charming calling Cinderella a "sl*t". Returned the book immediately.Have rated it with stars for the quality of writing. Dahl is funny, but this one isn't for younger children, and has no business being in this section.

The children loved it, 24 Feb 2006
I teach a Year 5 class and we ahve recently been doing a someone staid narrative poetry topic in Literacy. To brighten it up I hae been reading thre Revolting Rhymes to them, and they have absolutely loved them! It is an ideal way of getting kids enthusiastic about poetry, not always an easy task. The are modern and in simple everyday language, hilariously funny and make poetry accessible for every child. My class gasped with delight, giggled, cringed, and raved. They have been talking about Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes non stop to anyone who will listen ever since - what better recommendation can you get?

The Sources of Goodness, 18 Jul 2004
Great Expectations succeeds beyond almost all novels of its time in exploring the roots of character and moral behavior. Charles Dickens makes the case for there being the potential for good in everyone. Evil and sin follow from a combination of being self-absorbed and selfish. What is remarkable about the way these themes are handled is that they are clearly based on an assessment of human psychology, long before that field was established.

The book is also remarkable for its many indelibly memorable and complex characters. Miss Havisham, Pip, Magwitch, Mr. Jaggers, and Estella are characters you will think about again and again in years to come.

The book also surrounds you with a powerful sense of place. Although the England described here is long gone, it becomes as immediate as a nightmare or a dream that you have just awakened from.

For a book about moral questions, Great Expectations also abounds in action. The scenes involving Pip and Magwitch are especially notable for way action expresses character and thought.

Great Expectations also reeks of irony, something that is seldom noticed in more modern novels. Overstatements are created to draw the irony out into the open, where it is unmistakable. Yet the overstatements attract, rather than repel. The overstatements are like the theatrical make up which makes actors and actresses look strange in the dressing room, but more real on the stage when seen from the audience.

At the same time, the plot is deliciously complex in establishing and solving mysteries before that genre had been born. As you read Great Expectations, raise your expectations to assume that you will receive answers to any dangling details. By reading the book this way, you will appreciate the craft that Mr. Dickens employed much more.

This is the third time that I have read Great Expectations over the last 40 years. I found the third reading to be by far the most rewarding. If you like the book, I encourage you to read it again in the future as well. You will find that the passage of time will change your perspective so that more nooks and crannies of the story will reveal themselves to you.

If this is to be your first reading of the book, do be patient with the book's middle third. It may seem to you that the book is drifting off into a sleep-inducing torpor. Yet, important foundations are being lain for your eventual delight.

Mr. Dickens wrote two endings for Great Expectations. Be sure to read both of them. Which one do you prefer? I find myself changing my mind.

Give love with an open heart, without expectations!

A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

Depth required to set up brilliant ending, 11 Apr 2008
A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.

Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.

This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.

The best of times, the best of endings, 19 Mar 2008
Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again

A Stunning Read, 21 May 2005
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).

A Tale of Two Citys, 24 Oct 2001
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.

Worth reading, but patience is required, 02 May 1999
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.

I like it!, 17 Feb 2008
Everyone knows the original stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf and The Three Little Pigs, written by Charles Perrault (Cinderella), Brothers Grimm (all the rest); but Roald Dahl has changed the stories and put in some gruesome humour - these rewrites are not suitable for grumpy old grown ups so be aware! My favourite story out of all of Dahl's altered fairy tales is definitely Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf & the three little pigs because they are linked together with Little Red Riding Hood who gives the wolf and the pigs' horrible endings! I would rate this book 9/ 10 because it could have had another one or two other famous tales included like The Princess and the Pea but apart from that it was really good. I would recommend it to kids only and parents should not even have a peep because they cannot enjoy such humorous things like us.

Amusing, Amusing, Amusing!, 06 Aug 2007
This is an excellent poetry book by one of the best children's writers of all time.
Never aging or boring Road Dahl brings a new light to those fairytales we all know and love.

By far the best is Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf . . .
'The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creatures's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.'

Admittedly not for really young readers because there is the killing of the wolf and 'sl*t' is mentioned in cinderella, but I read this book at primary school when I was 8 or 9 and I was so fond bought my own copy as an adult and still love it just as much today.


Still laughing, 14 Nov 2006
I was read this book at school, about 18 years ago now. Children do find it funny and so do adults. Okay so I didn't get all the jokes when I was 9 or 10, but Red Riding Hood's wolf slaying had us giggling for ages.

I cannot believe there are bad reviews, with violence as the reason! Have you never read any Grimm brothers?

Contains swearing. Not for young children. , 02 Nov 2006
I bought this from amazon a few weeks ago, and was alarmed when I read the first rhyme, and found Prince Charming calling Cinderella a "sl*t". Returned the book immediately.Have rated it with stars for the quality of writing. Dahl is funny, but this one isn't for younger children, and has no business being in this section.

The children loved it, 24 Feb 2006
I teach a Year 5 class and we ahve recently been doing a someone staid narrative poetry topic in Literacy. To brighten it up I hae been reading thre Revolting Rhymes to them, and they have absolutely loved them! It is an ideal way of getting kids enthusiastic about poetry, not always an easy task. The are modern and in simple everyday language, hilariously funny and make poetry accessible for every child. My class gasped with delight, giggled, cringed, and raved. They have been talking about Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes non stop to anyone who will listen ever since - what better recommendation can you get?

The Sources of Goodness, 18 Jul 2004
Great Expectations succeeds beyond almost all novels of its time in exploring the roots of character and moral behavior. Charles Dickens makes the case for there being the potential for good in everyone. Evil and sin follow from a combination of being self-absorbed and selfish. What is remarkable about the way these themes are handled is that they are clearly based on an assessment of human psychology, long before that field was established.

The book is also remarkable for its many indelibly memorable and complex characters. Miss Havisham, Pip, Magwitch, Mr. Jaggers, and Estella are characters you will think about again and again in years to come.

The book also surrounds you with a powerful sense of place. Although the England described here is long gone, it becomes as immediate as a nightmare or a dream that you have just awakened from.

For a book about moral questions, Great Expectations also abounds in action. The scenes involving Pip and Magwitch are especially notable for way action expresses character and thought.

Great Expectations also reeks of irony, something that is seldom noticed in more modern novels. Overstatements are created to draw the irony out into the open, where it is unmistakable. Yet the overstatements attract, rather than repel. The overstatements are like the theatrical make up which makes actors and actresses look strange in the dressing room, but more real on the stage when seen from the audience.

At the same time, the plot is deliciously complex in establishing and solving mysteries before that genre had been born. As you read Great Expectations, raise your expectations to assume that you will receive answers to any dangling details. By reading the book this way, you will appreciate the craft that Mr. Dickens employed much more.

This is the third time that I have read Great Expectations over the last 40 years. I found the third reading to be by far the most rewarding. If you like the book, I encourage you to read it again in the future as well. You will find that the passage of time will change your perspective so that more nooks and crannies of the story will reveal themselves to you.

If this is to be your first reading of the book, do be patient with the book's middle third. It may seem to you that the book is drifting off into a sleep-inducing torpor. Yet, important foundations are being lain for your eventual delight.

Mr. Dickens wrote two endings for Great Expectations. Be sure to read both of them. Which one do you prefer? I find myself changing my mind.

Give love with an open heart, without expectations!

A tragi-comedy from 1960s Ireland, 05 Jul 2008
Written from a ten-year-old's perspective, this book will remind anyone of the fun, the pains and the misunderstandings of growing up. The star of the book is constantly asking "why", but gets no answers to find out what makes these strange adults behave as they do. Set in poorest Dublin, the adult characters struggle to make a life for themselves, while their children celebrate in the adventures of "messin". The black comedy finds highs in childhood, but eventually reflects on the challenge to sustain lasting relationships in a rapidly changing community. Barrytown is developing with the pace of change in the 1960's, and the characters tragically cannot keep up.



There are no messers in Heaven, 04 Apr 2008
Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and saw his first novel, "The Commitments" published in 1987. It was later adapted for the big screen, a version that saw Star Trek's Colm Meaney and a very young Andrea Corr among the cast. Doyle went on to win the Booker Prize in 1993 with "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha".

The book is set in the 1960s Barrytown, and is told by Paddy Clarke- the eldest child of his family. Although he has a few younger sisters, it's only his younger brother Sinbad who features to any degree. He's a Manchester United supporter, and particularly idolises George Best. His chief hobbies involve playing football, and messing around with his friends on neighbouring farm and nearby building sites.

Sinbad doesn't always get a fair deal from his brother. He cries constantly, wets the bed and as a baby, he once got his head stuck in the bars of his cot. He never smiles in photos and doesn't eat his dinner - something that particularly infuriates his Paddy Sr. Despite wearing glasses with one black lens - to deal with an eye problem - he's a great dribbler on the football pitch. (Paddy and his friends used to make Sinbad be Nobby Stiles when playing football - so he stopped supporting United, and started following Liverpool).

Out of Paddy's friends, he's probably closest to Kevin Conway - though, to be honest, Kevin isn't an entirely likeable kid. James O'Keefe, for the most part, is a good deal more - deapite being, quite possibly, the biggest liar in Barrytown. O'Keefe is hated by their teacher Mister Hennessy - he even gets blamed on making noise in class when he's off sick. (Henno does appear to have a slight vindictive streak in him - in fact, he reminded me a little of a teacher I once had at secondary school). The two most likeable of Paddy's friends, however, are a pair of brothers called Liam and Aidan. The boys' mother is dead, and though their father is trying his best, he seems to be a little lost. The neighbours aren't above gossiping about him and - although they are officially part of the gang - Liam and Aidan are also on the receiving end of a fair few nasty comments. As much as Paddy loves going over to their house, even he's not immune to a touch of snobbery.

The story is told more from a child's point of view rather than by an adult looking back on things. There are some things that raised a smile - the childhood theories about Purgatory, for example - and it even inspired a touch of nostalgia sometimes. However, it's set at a time when not only is Barrytown changing, but Paddy's home life is changing dramatically too. Naturally, Paddy doesn't always understand his parents and the things they say - so it's only gradually, as the frights become more and more frequent, that you come to realise there are problems between Paddy's dad and mum. There's a certain sadness about watching Paddy grow up as the story is told, while the difference between Paddy at the book's beginning and on the book's final couple of pages is tragic. A lovely book, though very sad.

Not his best work, 28 Sep 2007
I found this book rather hard going to read as it seems to me very disjointed and doesn't flow well. The insights into childhood are great and the dialogue is cracking on the whole but somehow the lack of plot means that the book just doesn't get going. My least favourite of the Barrytown triolgy.

What the child can teach the man..., 27 Sep 2007
The Barrytown trilogy were such fantastic heart warming novels the only question left was how can Roddy Doyle follow this? With hindsight it was obvious; write `Paddy Clark, Ha, Ha, Ha'.

Paddy is a ten year old boy growing up on a new housing estate built to accommodate the urban sprawl of Dublin in 1968, this is not really his story but the story of his parents divorce seen from his perspective. The novel is written in the first person by a middle age man who somehow manages to write with all the breathless excitement and wonder of a questioning mind and an uncluttered logic which make the voice totally convincing as a ten year old. The depiction of childhood is so totally convincing it crosses cultural, regional and generation gaps to make the nostalgia for 1960's Ireland to still reverberate with 1980's England and I'm fairly confident that today's' ten year olds will find common themes should they be reading this ten years from now.

This novel was totally inspirational for me on addressing my own past and putting it into context. Paddy Clarke shows us that we are all products of our own past but that it can still be celebrated for what it was.


It restored the word "gick" to my vocabulary, 23 Jan 2007
Classic Doyle. I've wanted to read this book for over 10 years and I finally got around to it this weekend. It is a superb insight into the mind of a young boy, but it is set in a Dublin that has long since vanished and typically Doyle manages to communicate so much through his dialogue.

The book follows little Paddy Clarke as he reflects on life. He is a kid and so the story jumps for serious to trivial in the space of a paragraph. He is a smart kid though so you end up laughing out loud constantly at the scrapes he gets into. I was once a little boy and the unflinching cruelty that their ignorance can bring out is captured superbly by Doyle. This is no sentimentalising of childhood. Clarke is a little brat at times.

As the novel progresses we get to see a child's eye view of the breakup of a marriage and the effect that this has on the world the protagonist lives in. It is done with real expertise. I have read some reviews that had difficulty with the plot-less-ness of the book, but for me Paddy is the subject. He is a boy who is telling us how things are. Of course he won't be able to impose a plot on events.

Its a typically witty, warm and insightful read from Doyle's Barrytown days. You'll love it.

A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

Depth required to set up brilliant ending, 11 Apr 2008
A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.

Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.

This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.

The best of times, the best of endings, 19 Mar 2008
Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again

A Stunning Read, 21 May 2005
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).

A Tale of Two Citys, 24 Oct 2001
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.

Worth reading, but patience is required, 02 May 1999
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.

I like it!, 17 Feb 2008
Everyone knows the original stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf and The Three Little Pigs, written by Charles Perrault (Cinderella), Brothers Grimm (all the rest); but Roald Dahl has changed the stories and put in some gruesome humour - these rewrites are not suitable for grumpy old grown ups so be aware! My favourite story out of all of Dahl's altered fairy tales is definitely Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf & the three little pigs because they are linked together with Little Red Riding Hood who gives the wolf and the pigs' horrible endings! I would rate this book 9/ 10 because it could have had another one or two other famous tales included like The Princess and the Pea but apart from that it was really good. I would recommend it to kids only and parents should not even have a peep because they cannot enjoy such humorous things like us.

Amusing, Amusing, Amusing!, 06 Aug 2007
This is an excellent poetry book by one of the best children's writers of all time.
Never aging or boring Road Dahl brings a new light to those fairytales we all know and love.

By far the best is Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf . . .
'The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creatures's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.'

Admittedly not for really young readers because there is the killing of the wolf and 'sl*t' is mentioned in cinderella, but I read this book at primary school when I was 8 or 9 and I was so fond bought my own copy as an adult and still love it just as much today.


Still laughing, 14 Nov 2006
I was read this book at school, about 18 years ago now. Children do find it funny and so do adults. Okay so I didn't get all the jokes when I was 9 or 10, but Red Riding Hood's wolf slaying had us giggling for ages.

I cannot believe there are bad reviews, with violence as the reason! Have you never read any Grimm brothers?

Contains swearing. Not for young children. , 02 Nov 2006
I bought this from amazon a few weeks ago, and was alarmed when I read the first rhyme, and found Prince Charming calling Cinderella a "sl*t". Returned the book immediately.Have rated it with stars for the quality of writing. Dahl is funny, but this one isn't for younger children, and has no business being in this section.

The children loved it, 24 Feb 2006
I teach a Year 5 class and we ahve recently been doing a someone staid narrative poetry topic in Literacy. To brighten it up I hae been reading thre Revolting Rhymes to them, and they have absolutely loved them! It is an ideal way of getting kids enthusiastic about poetry, not always an easy task. The are modern and in simple everyday language, hilariously funny and make poetry accessible for every child. My class gasped with delight, giggled, cringed, and raved. They have been talking about Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes non stop to anyone who will listen ever since - what better recommendation can you get?

The Sources of Goodness, 18 Jul 2004
Great Expectations succeeds beyond almost all novels of its time in exploring the roots of character and moral behavior. Charles Dickens makes the case for there being the potential for good in everyone. Evil and sin follow from a combination of being self-absorbed and selfish. What is remarkable about the way these themes are handled is that they are clearly based on an assessment of human psychology, long before that field was established.

The book is also remarkable for its many indelibly memorable and complex characters. Miss Havisham, Pip, Magwitch, Mr. Jaggers, and Estella are characters you will think about again and again in years to come.

The book also surrounds you with a powerful sense of place. Although the England described here is long gone, it becomes as immediate as a nightmare or a dream that you have just awakened from.

For a book about moral questions, Great Expectations also abounds in action. The scenes involving Pip and Magwitch are especially notable for way action expresses character and thought.

Great Expectations also reeks of irony, something that is seldom noticed in more modern novels. Overstatements are created to draw the irony out into the open, where it is unmistakable. Yet the overstatements attract, rather than repel. The overstatements are like the theatrical make up which makes actors and actresses look strange in the dressing room, but more real on the stage when seen from the audience.

At the same time, the plot is deliciously complex in establishing and solving mysteries before that genre had been born. As you read Great Expectations, raise your expectations to assume that you will receive answers to any dangling details. By reading the book this way, you will appreciate the craft that Mr. Dickens employed much more.

This is the third time that I have read Great Expectations over the last 40 years. I found the third reading to be by far the most rewarding. If you like the book, I encourage you to read it again in the future as well. You will find that the passage of time will change your perspective so that more nooks and crannies of the story will reveal themselves to you.

If this is to be your first reading of the book, do be patient with the book's middle third. It may seem to you that the book is drifting off into a sleep-inducing torpor. Yet, important foundations are being lain for your eventual delight.

Mr. Dickens wrote two endings for Great Expectations. Be sure to read both of them. Which one do you prefer? I find myself changing my mind.

Give love with an open heart, without expectations!

A tragi-comedy from 1960s Ireland, 05 Jul 2008
Written from a ten-year-old's perspective, this book will remind anyone of the fun, the pains and the misunderstandings of growing up. The star of the book is constantly asking "why", but gets no answers to find out what makes these strange adults behave as they do. Set in poorest Dublin, the adult characters struggle to make a life for themselves, while their children celebrate in the adventures of "messin". The black comedy finds highs in childhood, but eventually reflects on the challenge to sustain lasting relationships in a rapidly changing community. Barrytown is developing with the pace of change in the 1960's, and the characters tragically cannot keep up.



There are no messers in Heaven, 04 Apr 2008
Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and saw his first novel, "The Commitments" published in 1987. It was later adapted for the big screen, a version that saw Star Trek's Colm Meaney and a very young Andrea Corr among the cast. Doyle went on to win the Booker Prize in 1993 with "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha".

The book is set in the 1960s Barrytown, and is told by Paddy Clarke- the eldest child of his family. Although he has a few younger sisters, it's only his younger brother Sinbad who features to any degree. He's a Manchester United supporter, and particularly idolises George Best. His chief hobbies involve playing football, and messing around with his friends on neighbouring farm and nearby building sites.

Sinbad doesn't always get a fair deal from his brother. He cries constantly, wets the bed and as a baby, he once got his head stuck in the bars of his cot. He never smiles in photos and doesn't eat his dinner - something that particularly infuriates his Paddy Sr. Despite wearing glasses with one black lens - to deal with an eye problem - he's a great dribbler on the football pitch. (Paddy and his friends used to make Sinbad be Nobby Stiles when playing football - so he stopped supporting United, and started following Liverpool).

Out of Paddy's friends, he's probably closest to Kevin Conway - though, to be honest, Kevin isn't an entirely likeable kid. James O'Keefe, for the most part, is a good deal more - deapite being, quite possibly, the biggest liar in Barrytown. O'Keefe is hated by their teacher Mister Hennessy - he even gets blamed on making noise in class when he's off sick. (Henno does appear to have a slight vindictive streak in him - in fact, he reminded me a little of a teacher I once had at secondary school). The two most likeable of Paddy's friends, however, are a pair of brothers called Liam and Aidan. The boys' mother is dead, and though their father is trying his best, he seems to be a little lost. The neighbours aren't above gossiping about him and - although they are officially part of the gang - Liam and Aidan are also on the receiving end of a fair few nasty comments. As much as Paddy loves going over to their house, even he's not immune to a touch of snobbery.

The story is told more from a child's point of view rather than by an adult looking back on things. There are some things that raised a smile - the childhood theories about Purgatory, for example - and it even inspired a touch of nostalgia sometimes. However, it's set at a time when not only is Barrytown changing, but Paddy's home life is changing dramatically too. Naturally, Paddy doesn't always understand his parents and the things they say - so it's only gradually, as the frights become more and more frequent, that you come to realise there are problems between Paddy's dad and mum. There's a certain sadness about watching Paddy grow up as the story is told, while the difference between Paddy at the book's beginning and on the book's final couple of pages is tragic. A lovely book, though very sad.

Not his best work, 28 Sep 2007
I found this book rather hard going to read as it seems to me very disjointed and doesn't flow well. The insights into childhood are great and the dialogue is cracking on the whole but somehow the lack of plot means that the book just doesn't get going. My least favourite of the Barrytown triolgy.

What the child can teach the man..., 27 Sep 2007
The Barrytown trilogy were such fantastic heart warming novels the only question left was how can Roddy Doyle follow this? With hindsight it was obvious; write `Paddy Clark, Ha, Ha, Ha'.

Paddy is a ten year old boy growing up on a new housing estate built to accommodate the urban sprawl of Dublin in 1968, this is not really his story but the story of his parents divorce seen from his perspective. The novel is written in the first person by a middle age man who somehow manages to write with all the breathless excitement and wonder of a questioning mind and an uncluttered logic which make the voice totally convincing as a ten year old. The depiction of childhood is so totally convincing it crosses cultural, regional and generation gaps to make the nostalgia for 1960's Ireland to still reverberate with 1980's England and I'm fairly confident that today's' ten year olds will find common themes should they be reading this ten years from now.

This novel was totally inspirational for me on addressing my own past and putting it into context. Paddy Clarke shows us that we are all products of our own past but that it can still be celebrated for what it was.


It restored the word "gick" to my vocabulary, 23 Jan 2007
Classic Doyle. I've wanted to read this book for over 10 years and I finally got around to it this weekend. It is a superb insight into the mind of a young boy, but it is set in a Dublin that has long since vanished and typically Doyle manages to communicate so much through his dialogue.

The book follows little Paddy Clarke as he reflects on life. He is a kid and so the story jumps for serious to trivial in the space of a paragraph. He is a smart kid though so you end up laughing out loud constantly at the scrapes he gets into. I was once a little boy and the unflinching cruelty that their ignorance can bring out is captured superbly by Doyle. This is no sentimentalising of childhood. Clarke is a little brat at times.

As the novel progresses we get to see a child's eye view of the breakup of a marriage and the effect that this has on the world the protagonist lives in. It is done with real expertise. I have read some reviews that had difficulty with the plot-less-ness of the book, but for me Paddy is the subject. He is a boy who is telling us how things are. Of course he won't be able to impose a plot on events.

Its a typically witty, warm and insightful read from Doyle's Barrytown days. You'll love it.

Giant-Sized Adventure for Enormous Fun!, 08 Aug 2004
Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. James and the Giant Peach was one of her picks.

The book is a wonderful witty exploration of the marvels of imagination as applied to nature. Every reader will look much more closely at the world around after finding so many interesting details to consider.

The story begins when James Henry Trotter was about four years old. He had been living happily with his parents in England. One day, they went shopping and were eaten by an angry runaway rhinoceros which had escaped from the London zoo. As a result, their wonderful home was sold and James Henry Trotter came to live with his decidedly dastardly aunts Sponge and Spiker. They mistreated and overworked James Michael Trotter much like the abuse that Cinderella experienced at the hands by her evil stepmother and stepsisters.

Poor James! He has become the most unhappy, lonely, and woebegone orphan in the world.

But his luck changes when a mysterious old man gives him some magic, in the form of wriggling little green things to put into water and drink. Then their magic will help James. "Whoever they meet first, be it bug . . . or tree, that will be . . . who gets the full power of their magic!" James is told to hold the bag tight and to hurry. But, alas, he trips and the contents of the bag spill out underneath the old barren peach tree in the yard. Quickly, the magic seeps into the ground as James scrambles to retrieve it.

Soon, the aunts spot a peach growing in the very top of the tree. And it keeps growing . . . and growing . . . and growing . . . and growing . . . until it's the size of a house. They concoct a scheme to get rich by charging admission to see the peach, while James is to stay out all night cleaning up the mess the visitors have made. Tired, he decides to look at the giant peach. He notices a hole, like a giant worm's tunnel in the bottom. He climbs in. What he finds leads him on one of the most amazing journeys that any 7 year old has ever had or imagined!

This story has a lot in common with Alice in Wonderland. Everything that happens prior to going through the hole in the peach is but a preamble for the role reversal in which the peach and the insects inside of it are made to be enormous. This is like Alice drinking the potion that makes her small. Yet the rest of the world stays its normal size. Basically, this is an encouragement to take the qualities of peaches and insects more seriously by exaggering their significance. You will learn a lot, and be charmed by how the information builds the story.

Along the way, Mr. Dahl asks some very interesting questions:

How do grasshoppers make sounds?

What benefits do earthworms, lady bugs, and spiders bring for people?

How many legs does a centipede have?

He also provides many fantastic explanations of natural processes, introducing cloud-men to make rainbows, hail, and rain. These are great fun and help develop the story.

Whenever James seeks to create a balance in and with nature, things work just fine. A good example is that he uses filament spun by the silk worm and the spider to tie to gulls who carry the peach aloft over the ocean. Harness just the right number of gulls and progress is smooth. Harness too few, and nothing happens. That subliminal message is a valuable one for every reader.

The ending is particularly fine for expanding on the concept of how each being's peculiarities can be strengths. The book appears to draw on The Ugly Duckling story for inspiration. Even James' loneliness serves him well, in the end.

I also like this story for its potential to inspire writers. Walk into your kitchen, and pick up the first item you see. Then build a story around it, like Mr. Dahl has done with this peach. If you do this with a child, you will both be the richer for the experience.

After you are done enjoying the story and writing your own, I also suggest that you think about ways that you can live in greater harmony with nature. What aspects of your life would you have to change? How could you be as useful to nature as the earthworm is to the farmer? What gratifications would you feel from doing this? Spring will be coming in a few months, and the opportunity to do some organic gardening using the materials in your own yard will be there. Plan to get closer to nature, and make notes about what you observe every day. You will enjoy great peace as a result. If you haven't read Thoreau recently, this would be a good time to do so.

Have a peachy time!

this books the great chance to send your imagination crazy!, 06 Dec 2000
this book is about a boy called charlie. His familys poor!. But one day he finds 5 pence on the ground and charile buys a chocolate bar, and he wins the competition. He gets the golden wrapper! many adventures await young charile!. To see what happens read the book today!.

A Christmas Carol, 02 Jan 2008
It seems that lots of Christmas traditions were born in the UK between 15th and 19th century. Charles Dickens cleverly used the background of the Victorian houses and societies and produced a splendid Christmas story.

The highlight of this classic is that Mr Scrooge gradually becomes aware of his selfishness and indifference whilst being hooked on earning a lot of money for himself, while his former colleague, Marley takes him to the world where an awful number of people are suffering from the poverty. Marley who died seven years ago feels extremely guilty for ever not helping the poor when he was alive. Having become a ghost, he begs Mr Scrooge to provide goodwill to the miserable people. Moreover, he is taken to various places, in line with Christmas in his past, present, and future.

A series of dramatic dreams shows him the moral of Christianity and conveys the true spirit of Christmas, i.e. peace and goodwill to all. Consequently, he changes his mind, presents a cheerful manner, and offers generous support to people, to the astonishment of his employee, Bob Cratchit who is told by his boss that his salary will be raised.


The classic Victorian Christmas story, 15 Dec 2007
A Christmas Carol is the classic Victorian Christmas story. Even though we know it well it continues to be a joy to read. Dickens creates some wonderful pictures of the bustling life in 19th century London. Some of the dialogue remains so fresh and still raises a smile in the reader no matter how many times you have read the book before. "You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose" says Scrooge to his clerk on Christmas Eve. And the conversation between Scrooge and the two gentlemen who are asking him for donations to help the poor and destitute at Christmas is as funny (and poignant) as anything in any Dickens novel.

Although it is sometimes described as a children's book I do feel parents need to make an assessment as to how their children may react to some of the ghost scenes. Some adults I know say they had nightmares as a result of the appearance of Marley's ghost and the rattling chains!

It just would not be the same without it........, 03 Oct 2007
My all time fave story and I just have to re-read at least twice in the Xmas run-up. The writing just grabs you in a way that no other writer can and as for the characters, well they are already written into folklore.

Baa... Humbug, 02 Jan 2007
Christmas is a time to give and this story really gives the reader something!
Charles Dickens has a magical power over a reader and he used it over me!
Hope you enjoy this childrens classic!
One little point though... to everyone who doesn't like Dickens don't bother writing a review!

great classic novel, but difficult to read, especially for children, 17 Sep 2006
The review below is slightly misleading as this particular version is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
I would recommend reading a simplified version first, if you are not familiar with the story. Then have a dictionary to hand as you read this one!
The classic story is timeless, and one of Charles Dickens' most well known tales. As with many of his stories, the pictures he conjures up are rooted in his own experience of life in Victorian Britain, with it's great contrast between rich and poor.

Depth required to set up brilliant ending, 11 Apr 2008
A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.

Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.

This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.

The best of times, the best of endings, 19 Mar 2008
Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again

A Stunning Read, 21 May 2005
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).

A Tale of Two Citys, 24 Oct 2001
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.

Worth reading, but patience is required, 02 May 1999
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.

I like it!, 17 Feb 2008
Everyone knows the original stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf and The Three Little Pigs, written by Charles Perrault (Cinderella), Brothers Grimm (all the rest); but Roald Dahl has changed the stories and put in some gruesome humour - these rewrites are not suitable for grumpy old grown ups so be aware! My favourite story out of all of Dahl's altered fairy tales is definitely Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf & the three little pigs because they are linked together with Little Red Riding Hood who gives the wolf and the pigs' horrible endings! I would rate this book 9/ 10 because it could have had another one or two other famous tales included like The Princess and the Pea but apart from that it was really good. I would recommend it to kids only and parents should not even have a peep because they cannot enjoy such humorous things like us.

Amusing, Amusing, Amusing!, 06 Aug 2007
This is an excellent poetry book by one of the best children's writers of all time.
Never aging or boring Road Dahl brings a new light to those fairytales we all know and love.

By far the best is Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf . . .
'The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creatures's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.'

Admittedly not for really young readers because there is the killing of the wolf and 'sl*t' is mentioned in cinderella, but I read this book at primary school when I was 8 or 9 and I was so fond bought my own copy as an adult and still love it just as much today.


Still laughing, 14 Nov 2006
I was read this book at school, about 18 years ago now. Children do find it funny and so do adults. Okay so I didn't get all the jokes when I was 9 or 10, but Red Riding Hood's wolf slaying had us giggling for ages.

I cannot believe there are bad reviews, with violence as the reason! Have you never read any Grimm brothers?

Contains swearing. Not for young children. , 02 Nov 2006
I bought this from amazon a few weeks ago, and was alarmed when I read the first rhyme, and found Prince Charming calling Cinderella a "sl*t". Returned the book immediately.Have rated it with stars for the quality of writing. Dahl is funny, but this one isn't for younger children, and has no business being in this section.

The children loved it, 24 Feb 2006
I teach a Year 5 class and we ahve recently been doing a someone staid narrative poetry topic in Literacy. To brighten it up I hae been reading thre Revolting Rhymes to them, and they have absolutely loved them! It is an ideal way of getting kids enthusiastic about poetry, not always an easy task. The are modern and in simple everyday language, hilariously funny and make poetry accessible for every child. My class gasped with delight, giggled, cringed, and raved. They have been talking about Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes non stop to anyone who will listen ever since - what better recommendation can you get?

The Sources of Goodness, 18 Jul 2004
Great Expectations succeeds beyond almost all novels of its time in exploring the roots of character and moral behavior. Charles Dickens makes the case for there being the potential for good in everyone. Evil and sin follow from a combination of being self-absorbed and selfish. What is remarkable about the way these themes are handled is that they are clearly based on an assessment of human psychology, long before that field was established.

The book is also remarkable for its many indelibly memorable and complex characters. Miss Havisham, Pip, Magwitch, Mr. Jaggers, and Estella are characters you will think about again and again in years to come.

The book also surrounds you with a powerful sense of place. Although the England described here is long gone, it becomes as immediate as a nightmare or a dream that you have just awakened from.

For a book about moral questions, Great Expectations also abounds in action. The scenes involving Pip and Magwitch are especially notable for way action expresses character and thought.

Great Expectations also reeks of irony, something that is seldom noticed in more modern novels. Overstatements are created to draw the irony out into the open, where it is unmistakable. Yet the overstatements attract, rather than repel. The overstatements are like the theatrical make up which makes actors and actresses look strange in the dressing room, but more real on the stage when seen from the audience.

At the same time, the plot is deliciously complex in establishing and solving mysteries before that genre had been born. As you read Great Expectations, raise your expectations to assume that you will receive answers to any dangling details. By reading the book this way, you will appreciate the craft that Mr. Dickens employed much more.

This is the third time that I have read Great Expectations over the last 40 years. I found the third reading to be by far the most rewarding. If you like the book, I encourage you to read it again in the future as well. You will find that the passage of time will change your perspective so that more nooks and crannies of the story will reveal themselves to you.

If this is to be your first reading of the book, do be patient with the book's middle third. It may seem to you that the book is drifting off into a sleep-inducing torpor. Yet, important foundations are being lain for your eventual delight.

Mr. Dickens wrote two endings for Great Expectations. Be sure to read both of them. Which one do you prefer? I find myself changing my mind.

Give love with an open heart, without expectations!

A tragi-comedy from 1960s Ireland, 05 Jul 2008
Written from a ten-year-old's perspective, this book will remind anyone of the fun, the pains and the misunderstandings of growing up. The star of the book is constantly asking "why", but gets no answers to find out what makes these strange adults behave as they do. Set in poorest Dublin, the adult characters struggle to make a life for themselves, while their children celebrate in the adventures of "messin". The black comedy finds highs in childhood, but eventually reflects on the challenge to sustain lasting relationships in a rapidly changing community. Barrytown is developing with the pace of change in the 1960's, and the characters tragically cannot keep up.



There are no messers in Heaven, 04 Apr 2008
Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and saw his first novel, "The Commitments" published in 1987. It was later adapted for the big screen, a version that saw Star Trek's Colm Meaney and a very young Andrea Corr among the cast. Doyle went on to win the Booker Prize in 1993 with "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha".

The book is set in the 1960s Barrytown, and is told by Paddy Clarke- the eldest child of his family. Although he has a few younger sisters, it's only his younger brother Sinbad who features to any degree. He's a Manchester United supporter, and particularly idolises George Best. His chief hobbies involve playing football, and messing around with his friends on neighbouring farm and nearby building sites.

Sinbad doesn't always get a fair deal from his brother. He cries constantly, wets the bed and as a baby, he once got his head stuck in the bars of his cot. He never smiles in photos and doesn't eat his dinner - something that particularly infuriates his Paddy Sr. Despite wearing glasses with one black lens - to deal with an eye problem - he's a great dribbler on the football pitch. (Paddy and his friends used to make Sinbad be Nobby Stiles when playing football - so he stopped supporting United, and started following Liverpool).

Out of Paddy's friends, he's probably closest to Kevin Conway - though, to be honest, Kevin isn't an entirely likeable kid. James O'Keefe, for the most part, is a good deal more - deapite being, quite possibly, the biggest liar in Barrytown. O'Keefe is hated by their teacher Mister Hennes