Benjy: A Ferocious Fairy Tale

by Edwin O'Connor

Benjy is never bad. In fact, he is the most unbearably good little boy it may ever be your misfortune to meet. He plays such nice games that Sid, the dog, moves out of the house into a box marked 'refuse' in the backyard. All in all, the family are blissfully happy until a good fairy grants little Benjy a wish

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Edwin O'Connor was an American journalist, novelist, and radio commentator who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1962 for his novel The Edge of Sadness (1961). His ancestry was Irish, and his novels concerned the Irish-American experience and often dealt with the lives of politicians and priests.

Reviews

[Nicole Caliro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though characterized as a children's novel, it's written in a satirical style that ANY adult will also love. My favorite book as a child and remains in my top 10 as an adult.

[Balzac Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd actually give it three and a half. Benjamin Thurlow Ballou is spoiled rotten by his overbearing "mummy", rules the house (henpecked father and his dog) and is insufferable to the world. He's an order of magnitude worse than George Amberson Minafer-- and you find yourself desperately wishing for his comeuppance to arrive.

The book is, in some ways, more relevant than it was in the 60's, because more kids behave like Benjy and a lot more parents behave like his mother.

I deducted a star (and would go another half) because O'Connor goes so far over the top that he sacrifices any degree at plausibility-- to the point where you can't call it satire. All his characters are stock-- and as deep as a file card. He also narrates the book in an arch, deliberately obtuse tone that makes you want to skip the remaining pages and jump to the end to see if a 'happy' ending occurs.

It's still fun to read. But there's little satire .

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the quirkiness of this book as a child--so much so that I saved it--but I loved it even more reading it to my own children. It's an odd story about a spoiled little boy, deified by his mother, who meets a fitting end by pursuing his own self-interests, despite ample warming from his father.

It came out several years before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so I think it's fair to say, it may have influenced the creation of some of those characters. On the other hand, haven't we all fantasized about what could happen to spoiled little brats whose parents are incapable of disciplining them? This book should be dedicated to good children who are considerate of others.

[Divy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird

Do you ever read something and wonder if you completely missed the point ? I just did with this fairy tale. I didn't find it anything but annoying.