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  <title><![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]></title>
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    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[This may be the best collection of short stories I've ever read. It's undoubtably the most twisted. (And trust me. I read twisted.)<br/><br/>I've always been a huge fan of Dahl's kids' books. It's not a big leap, I suppose, to imagine Charlie all grown up and sick with chocolate power. And the cli...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6468173">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[There is no darker, funnier writer than Roald Dahl. His children's stories were the original series of unfortunate events. (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, etc.) In the 60's, Alfred Hitchcock had a television series, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2014794.The_Thirty_nine_Steps_" title="The Thirty-nine Steps. by John Buchan">Alfred Hitchcock</a> presents, in which he used many of t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/780921">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Ingrid]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 1997</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 24 09:53:15 -0700 2008</date_added>
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    <body><![CDATA[This was the most suprising read I have had in a long while. Because I know Roald Dahl as a childrens author and loved all of the fantastical stories the twits, matilda and so on, I was pleasntly suprised to re-discover him as an adult. These tales of adult pleasure and fantasy really knocked my soc...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18510567">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Michael]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <date_added>Mon Sep 17 09:14:26 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 17 09:14:26 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Adult stories by Roald Dahl... as opposed to his kids stories that I might enjoy more as an adult than I did then. This is a great collection. Ashley, a friend of mine used to read these aloud when we were camping in Colorado. I have an amusing memory of a group of adults sitting around a fire liste...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6326193">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Thu Jun 11 18:53:01 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[AWESOME BOOK! I really love books that have short stories in them because I feel there is more variety and it also helps for those people who cannot concentrate for too long on one book. It is like having multiple books in one. Each and everyone of Roald Dahl's short stories in this book holds their...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59342520">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59342520]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59342520]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <published>1978</published>
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  <date_added>Tue Dec 11 09:00:01 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Feb 26 14:55:25 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[this collection vaulted dahl to my official &quot;favorite storyteller of all time (no backsies)&quot; position.  isn't it childish putting things in such a linear fashion like that?  yes.  but it's also really fun to get drunk and argue about these things.  <br/><br/>not really anything special, ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10266056">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10266056]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Best of Roald Dahl]]>
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  <average_rating>4.25</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <published>1978</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Jun 27 19:28:33 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 13 21:28:14 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jun 27 19:28:33 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Roald Dahl was the quintessential story teller of all time. His prose cuts to the essential element of his characters and story. Not to mention that his subject matter is always amazingly unique and interesting. It's sad to think that there will never be another new Dahl story. <br/><br/>This pass...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24461162">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24461162]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Adam]]></name>
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  <isbn>0679729917</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780679729914</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">143</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
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  <read_at>Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Oct 19 05:57:27 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jan 01 15:37:42 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Dahl's short stories are interesting, especially in contrast to his books for children. In those, the protagonist often comes up with plots and schemes that succeed. In similar circumstances in these writings, they get thwarted more often (usually in the last few sentences of the story, abruptly). ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7928068">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7928068]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Moses]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768m/6330.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <published>1978</published>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jan 28 11:19:53 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jan 28 23:32:58 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Roald Dahl is truly the master of short stories and essay's. Once you read through these pages, I assure you only a major tragedy or disaster could get you to part or put down this book.  <br/><br/>Each of his short stories leaves you wanting to read the next one for no one story is ever the same ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44655005">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44655005]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Courtney]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
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  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1996</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 12 21:55:16 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 12 21:57:27 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Now this was a great read.  This is a collection of his more &quot;adult&quot; short stories.  By adult, I mean scary.  As in some of them are REALLY scary (Royal Jelly and the one about the trees that scream were two that really shook me).  Really good book to have around when you want shorter stor...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80823768">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80823768]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>44478955</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Carissa]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6330.The_Best_of_Roald_Dahl</link>
  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jan 26 21:26:30 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jan 26 21:29:02 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I am usually not a fan of short stories, and some of these are disappointing, but a few of them are completely unexpected (in a good way).  Basically, Roald Dahl has pretty creepy things going on in his head, and it gives a whole different perspective on some of my all time favorite children's books...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44478955">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44478955]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44478955]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>50749529</id>
    <user>
    <id>2104354</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Windy]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6330.The_Best_of_Roald_Dahl</link>
  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Mar 28 16:53:35 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Mar 28 16:57:18 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Some of the most delightfully twisted stories I've ever read.  Plus, I had never thought it could be somewhat funny for someone to contract syphillus!<br/><br/>(I remember the exact date I read this because I was in line to see Ryan Adams and the Cardinals at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson.)]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50749529]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50749529]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>41115712</id>
    <user>
    <id>829396</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Madelyn]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Richmond, VA]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">143</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768m/6330.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6330.The_Best_of_Roald_Dahl</link>
  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Scooter]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Dec 28 15:29:56 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jan 03 20:03:55 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A Perfect Day for Bananafish meets Cannibalism in the Cars. Dahl combines intelligence with an oblique, dark sense of humour in this compilation of his adult short stories, many of which are easily comparable to other greats in the field. It's amazing that he's best known for his childrens' books wh...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41115712">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41115712]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41115712]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>75384904</id>
    <user>
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  <isbn>0679729917</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780679729914</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">143</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768m/6330.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6330.The_Best_of_Roald_Dahl</link>
  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[adults who remember reading Dahl's children' s work]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Oct 22 11:03:42 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Oct 22 11:07:16 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[We are all familiar with Roald Dahl's children stories but this collection of short stories is full of wonderfully disturbing surprising tales which will make you gasp &quot;oh!&quot; and then smile wryly. Engaging, enticing, and packed with the ultimate twists and turns. An amazing read!]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75384904]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75384904]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>80944209</id>
    <user>
    <id>2171996</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Todd]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Gorham, NH]]></location>
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  <isbn>0679729917</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780679729914</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">143</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768m/6330.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6330.The_Best_of_Roald_Dahl</link>
  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Dec 14 03:45:50 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Dec 28 05:10:36 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[If you read these with the idea that they seem &quot;tame&quot; or not scary enough, you are missing something. Imagine the timeframe these stories were written.  Imagine how well crafted they are.  Imagine how hard Dahl works to make the reader use their imagination to fill in gaps and finish pictu...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80944209">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80944209]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80944209]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Wed Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Nov 11 13:54:37 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Feb 25 06:55:24 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I gotta admit, I was a bit disappointed here. This was the first time I'd tackled Dahl since my childhood, and the scandalous thrill of reading his 'adult centric' short fiction had been touted to me quite highly. It's true, he did get shockingly licentious in places - or, at least, licentious by th...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37450414">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37450414]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37450414]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Feb 26 10:17:17 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Feb 26 10:17:48 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Roald Dahl, author of &quot;Charlie and the Chocolate Factory&quot; and &quot;James and the Giant Peach&quot; started writing after he returned home from fighting in WWII.  This compilation includes a lot of his earlier, darker work.  Definitely not written for children.  Most of these stories invol...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16420251">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16420251]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Aug 08 08:57:09 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 08 08:58:33 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[His adult short stories are as shocking as his kids' stories are marvelous. Worth reading because they're great stories, but if you have only ever read the kids' books, you'll never think of him the same way.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66640756]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66640756]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>60064169</id>
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    <id>2424971</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Daniel]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165590768s/6330.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[My sister, kind of]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 17 12:54:15 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jun 17 23:22:52 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[So far, I am deeply satisfied with this book. Most of the stories, though witty and light, are also disturbing and moving. It is a strange blend that only this master of the modern gothic could pull off. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60064169]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60064169]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>57495666</id>
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    <id>522240</id>
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  <isbn13>9780679729914</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Best of Roald Dahl]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6330.The_Best_of_Roald_Dahl</link>
  <average_rating>4.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1232</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled. <br/><br/>&quot;Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible.&quot;--<em>Los Angeles Times</em><br/><br/>&quot;An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling.&quot;--<em>New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1978</published>
</book>

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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed May 27 09:22:59 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed May 27 09:28:57 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I can only imagine I will love this book...Roald Dahl was one of the biggest influences of my childhood. I'll never forget the description of them chewing and hacking through the wall of that peach. Genius.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57495666]]></url>
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