George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl (originally published in 1981) is a book I never got to enjoy as a child, but since I have always loved Roald Dahl ridiculousness, I knew this would be a fun one. In fact, my son was the one who originally checked it out (fresh off of a reread of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). After he finished it, he could not stop talking about the funny parts of it. I knew I had to give the brief volume a read!
In this story, George is tired of his complaining Grandmother whom he must care for every afternoon. He decides to concoct a new medicine that will stop her whining once and for all. I love the ridiculous magical effects! First, his medicine makes her grow too tall, and then his medicine . . . well, I could tell you, but that would spoil the fun!
There is a complete sense of impossibility behind the magical medicine he creates. Although magic is never acknowledged, of course, the variety of household products George uses would never produce such magical effects. Nevertheless, I loved how George becomes a hero to his mother and father! (Let’s ignore the disturbing idea of eliminating an annoying grandmother in this manner. She deserved it, right?)