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24th out of 32 books
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44 voters
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Collected Stories (Everyman's Library (Cloth))
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)
The only hardcover edition of Roald Dahl’s stories for adults, the Collected Stories amply showcases his singular gifts as a fabulist and a born storyteller.
Later known for his immortal children’s books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, Dahl also had a genius for adult short fiction, which he...more
The only hardcover edition of Roald Dahl’s stories for adults, the Collected Stories amply showcases his singular gifts as a fabulist and a born storyteller.
Later known for his immortal children’s books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, Dahl also had a genius for adult short fiction, which he...more
Hardcover, 888 pages
Published
October 17th 2006
by Everyman's Library
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Steve Carpenter
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone with a sick sense of humor
Shelves:
lightreading
By far one of my favorite collections of short stories. If you really enjoyed thinking of Roald Dahl as the sweet children's author of the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate factory then you shouldn't pick this one up. Dahl shows his truly sick and twisted colors in these wonderfully colorful, tales- each with its own twist or cliffhanger at the end. Dark, explorative, and quite a refreshing read.
Selentingan entah dari mana pernah membisiki aku kalau Roald Dahl itu seorang misantrop. Entah benar apa tidak, tapi cerpen-cerpen beliau dalam antologi tebal ini bisa saja menegaskan anggapan demikian. Semua kisah memiliki plot yang 'menikung' tajam di akhir cerita, dikisahkan dengan bahasa yang santai tanpa emosi tipikal Inggris.
Cerpen yang paling mengesankan buatku, lupa judulnya, adalah tentang istri polisi yang membunuh suaminya dengan paha domba beku dan kemudian menyajikannya ...more
Cerpen yang paling mengesankan buatku, lupa judulnya, adalah tentang istri polisi yang membunuh suaminya dengan paha domba beku dan kemudian menyajikannya ...more
There are a few weak stories in here -- The Last Act and The Surgeon: oy -- but for the most part this collection is definitely one to pick up if you're a Dahl fan. A lot of the classics are in here, like Lamb to the Slaughter and Man from the South, but so are a lot you've probably never read. The stories are in chronological order, complete with parallel a time line showing what was going on in Dahl's life and in the rest of the world when each story was published, which alone is worth the pr...more
When everyone said the stories in this collection were markedly well written I invented an fantastical expectation wherein Roald Dahl was a writer whose dual geniuses bifurcated him so completely that only sacrosanct ditheistic terms would be appropriate descriptors. Instead I found that these "adult" stories were constructed in the exact formula that Dahl used to craft his children's stories, except most here include elements of sex and death. Main characters still turn in to squawk...more
Uttam Pal
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one
Recommended to Uttam by:
Sumitash Jana
I read only four short stories from this book."Yesterday was Beautiful" was my first random choice. The story goes as follows:
[An English RAF pilot has ejected from his plane and parachuted onto a Greek island. He sprained his ankle when he landed and he's now looking for a boat to take him back to the mainland. The village he finds is nearly deserted though. Eventually he finds an old man sitting near a drinking trough and asks him if he knows of anyone with a boat. The ol...more
[An English RAF pilot has ejected from his plane and parachuted onto a Greek island. He sprained his ankle when he landed and he's now looking for a boat to take him back to the mainland. The village he finds is nearly deserted though. Eventually he finds an old man sitting near a drinking trough and asks him if he knows of anyone with a boat. The ol...more
I've always thought of Roald Dahl as a children's author. I've had this book sitting on my shelf for over a decade, and it never occurred to me to have a look at what was inside of it. Now that I've started reading short stories in between novels, a Twitter buddy suggested a story from this book: "Lamb To The Slaughter". Who knew? It's a great story, simply and smartly told, with wry humour. I think it's too early to rate this book, but I'll definitely be reading more of it.
wow, i mostly loved this collection. the one thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that not all the stories are 5-star quality. in fact, there's a good stretch of stories in there about being on a greek island during war or something, through which i drudged, slept, and finally wised up and skipped. roald dahl: not just for children. in fact, i wouldn't recommend many of these stories at all for children.
I can't remember how long it took me to realise Roald Dahl didn't just write for kids (I think I was probably hitting my teens)- and these definitely aren't for kids! Yes, what I consider to be the essential elements of Dahl's work - gleefully nasty fates for the mostly deserving, a tendency towards the shaggy dog story and of course, the sting in the tail - but all are amped up and woven through with decidedly non-child-friendly elements. It's interesting reading all his short stories to spot w...more
3.5 STARS
Most people are familiar with Dahl because of his kiddie lit. His short stories are the same sort of thing; dark and twisted but written in such a carefree and amusing way that you don't realize it unless you actually take a moment to stop and think about it. Roald Dahl's work is weird in its very own unique way. There aren't adequate words to describe it. I think he's one of those authors who create an atmosphere that readers will either love or hate, with very little room in...more
Most people are familiar with Dahl because of his kiddie lit. His short stories are the same sort of thing; dark and twisted but written in such a carefree and amusing way that you don't realize it unless you actually take a moment to stop and think about it. Roald Dahl's work is weird in its very own unique way. There aren't adequate words to describe it. I think he's one of those authors who create an atmosphere that readers will either love or hate, with very little room in...more
Reading all of Dahl's adult short stories in one place is quite a pleasure. It also gives one the opportunity to see common themes that run through a lot of his work. Firstly there's a sort of lazy, colonial racism that probably stems from him being a product of his time than anything more sinister. There's a certain disregard and disrespect for woman that to some degree might be dismissed on the same grounds, but actually feels a little more nasty in places.
Most of all, you get to s...more
Most of all, you get to s...more
The first time I read some of these it was not strictly age-appropriate. I was eleven or twelve, I had recently finished reading pretty much every Dahl children's book, and I thought to myself "Score! There's so much more!" Whoops. I remember being horrified and fascinated by everything, and mortified in particular by the stories The Great Switcheroo and Bitch. I also remember losing interest after the initial shock and awe wore off. So it was quite delicious to return to these amazing...more
Every vegetarian should read the short story titled, "Pig".
To many readers around the world, Roald Dahl is known as a inventive, witty writer of children's stories such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "The Witches", "Matilda", "The Fantastic Fox", "The BFG", "James and the Giant Peach", just to list a few. He is also, however, equally prolific in adult literature, especially short stories. Dahl began writing around the same time as Ray Bradbury, and his short stories have that same fe...more
I can't get enough of Roald Dahl! I'm in the middle of too many books right now, but I couldn't resist when I came across this treasure at the library!
Dahl is a marvelous storyteller--simply brilliant!--but I sometimes wonder if I would enjoy his adult short stories as much if I hadn't first loved his children's books as a young girl. (This--which is probably true for most of us--is actually a reversed order. Dahl began his writing career with these short stories, and most of his ...more
Dahl is a marvelous storyteller--simply brilliant!--but I sometimes wonder if I would enjoy his adult short stories as much if I hadn't first loved his children's books as a young girl. (This--which is probably true for most of us--is actually a reversed order. Dahl began his writing career with these short stories, and most of his ...more
Most of these stories I still half remembered from reading them as a child. I am still as amazed as I was then at how delightfull twisty some of those stories are. Unfortunately, for some of them, it was as if the whole story was just about the twist, but fortunately there are few of those. The absolute majority is just fantastic in all senses. I won't let my future children read this at the age I did, though - the story about the man who enjoys betting with people's fingers at stake gave me nig...more
Patrice
is currently reading it
An African Story :(
Only This :)
Katina :/
Beware of the Dog :)
They Shall Not Grow Old :(
Someone Like You :(
Death of an Old Man :/
Madame Rosette :)
A Piece of Cake :(
Yesterday Was Beautiful :(
Nunc Dimittis :)
Skin :)
Man from the South :)
The Soldier :(
The Sound Machine :/
Mr. Botibol :)
Vengeance is Mine Inc. :)
The Wish :)
Poison :)
Taste :)
Dip in the Pool :/
The Great Automatic Grammatizator :)
Cla...more
Only This :)
Katina :/
Beware of the Dog :)
They Shall Not Grow Old :(
Someone Like You :(
Death of an Old Man :/
Madame Rosette :)
A Piece of Cake :(
Yesterday Was Beautiful :(
Nunc Dimittis :)
Skin :)
Man from the South :)
The Soldier :(
The Sound Machine :/
Mr. Botibol :)
Vengeance is Mine Inc. :)
The Wish :)
Poison :)
Taste :)
Dip in the Pool :/
The Great Automatic Grammatizator :)
Cla...more
A wonderful collection of short stories by one of the most creative people on earth. I have bought eight copies of this book now, having loan the previous copies to friends and never see them again! This book is such a gem that I am only happy to oblige.
A must read and must have on your book shelf. If you like all things weird and wonderful, you will no doubt enjoy the twisted storylines that are just a dash saucy, to spice things up.
A must read and must have on your book shelf. If you like all things weird and wonderful, you will no doubt enjoy the twisted storylines that are just a dash saucy, to spice things up.
As is frequently the case with collections that span an entire career, the content can be uneven. There are moments of exemplary misanthropic humor, and even stories that are quite sweet. But there are also times when the work feels hackneyed and you can see the construction of "the twist to come" far too easily. But it's a great book for indulging in the schadenfreude of watching unpleasant people get their comeuppance.
Any collection of short stories is going to have hits and misses and fortunately this contains more hits. As a point of fact this is in fact a collection of collections comprising of five of Dahl’s books (Kiss Kiss, Over to You, Switch Bitch, Someone Like You and Eight Further Tales of The Unexpected).
The stories in Over To You did nothing for me and count against the book but the rest deliver some startling stories with great twists. Not to mention that Dahl is a superb exponent of...more
The stories in Over To You did nothing for me and count against the book but the rest deliver some startling stories with great twists. Not to mention that Dahl is a superb exponent of...more
I first read this book in 1983 on a plane trip to Saudi Arabia. I couldn't put it down. I laughed until my sides hurt. It's so subtle, the short stories are so subtle, and they catch you off guard like surprise.
He is by far one of the most original short story writers I have read, and his characters don't seem to carry a lot of guilt around for the things they do.
An hilarious book.
Antoinette McKain
He is by far one of the most original short story writers I have read, and his characters don't seem to carry a lot of guilt around for the things they do.
An hilarious book.
Antoinette McKain
I got this collection from the library because although I have read almost every one of his short stories, there are a couple in this compilation I haven't yet read. Last night I read 3 and I have to say that my devotion to Roald Dahl has been unwavering since I discovered him as a kid. Once I was a teenager and started reading Tales of the Unexpected, I knew I was on to something amazing. 17 years later and he remains my favorite author. No one. NO ONE tells a story as well as he does. He...more
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So much fun to have returned to fiction after my recent non-fiction binge. Loved it! I think he's just as twisted and clever a writer of adult stories as he is of children's books. I think it's amazing how he can consistently generate characters that are ridiculous caricatures of people, but that still somehow feel very true to life. Not every story was a winner, but I think that's to be expected in a collection this large.
Dahl's adult stories are just as creepy as his children's stories. I highly enjoyed most of these, and they're each a pretty quick read. I did skip a few of the military stories and some near the end when the stories started to follow the same pattern. "Skin" and "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat" stand out in my memory.
One of my all time favorites. But I must admit, it's hard to read in one sitting.. best spread out over time. Dahl has an incredible imagination and loves quirky twists. It can become dull when that unexpected twist becomes expected. You may not know what the twist will be, but you can be sure that there will be one.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I love Roald Dahl and my favourite of his books is his short stories. My favourite short story in this book is 'The Umbrella Man'm It is a interesting yet funny story. I would suggest Roald Dahl books as a MUST READ for kids. This book deserves 4 stars.
Roald Dahl was clearly a balla. 99% of the stories of genius, simple and dark. The one that actually has a happy ending is just as good.
Most of these are fairly dated...but the dark humor is timeless. Almost as timeless as this review.
Almost.
Most of these are fairly dated...but the dark humor is timeless. Almost as timeless as this review.
Almost.
At nearly 900 pages this book is a force to be reckoned with. And being as it's a collection of short stories, it's not meant to be read all at once. If you check it out from the library you may need to renew it once or twice. The stories are in chronological order. Most of the first ones about about flying, reflecting Dahl's experiences as a pilot in the RAF during World War II. The stories are of varying lengths, but all are of about the right size to read in bed at night before you fall aslee...more
UUGH. Roald Dahl is RUINED FOREVER for me. So much apathetic animal abuse just thrown in like hey that'll work as a plot device -- LETS ELECTROCUTE RATS, LETS THROW CATS IN BONFIRES, LETS EXPLOIT DOGS cause YA KNOW, it makes for a good story. I don't buy that his writing is misogynistic, not at all, the women and men get an equally bad rap in his stories. I'm down with the focus on unsavoury characters and unsavoury motives. But the portrayal of animals in these stories makes me queezy. Maybe I'...more
Dahl has a fantastic ability to draw the reader into the worlds he creates in his short stories, whether it be the stories based on his time in the air force during the war, or his numerous fictional stories with odd twists.
Absolutely brilliant - Dahls proves himself as a master of both children's and adult's fiction. I especially loved 'Lamb to the Slaughter' - I really love the way Dahl's mind worked!
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Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.
Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as...more
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Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as...more
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“There are many other little refinements too, Mr. Bohlen. You'll see them all when you study the plans carefully. For example, there's a trick that nearly every writer uses, of inserting at least one long, obscure word into each story. This makes the reader think that the man is very wise and clever. So I have the machine do the same thing. There'll be a whole stack of long words stored away just for this purpose."
Where?"
In the 'word-memory' section," he said, epexegetically.”
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Where?"
In the 'word-memory' section," he said, epexegetically.”
