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Mar 05, 2011

Cristine rated it:

This is one of my favorite books for kids. I remember my Mom reading it to us as kids during our Cape Cod vacation. I read it with Hope, Gracie and Henry (he loves the name of the book). It is a great story about how people can change & has a metaphysical bent. Read it aloud to a kid.

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Aug 09, 2009

A.K. added it

A book I tried to like. But I fell asleep, and then I died, because it was so boring. Don't think this doesn't make me feel black-hearted. Worse, I am now afraid to revisit all the Dahl for children I read as a child myself; sensing it may be akin to expecting Houdini and getting Criss Angel's PHENOMENON instead. That is, a visitation of soul-devouring disappointment. The simple prose and magical realism that is so, um, simple and magical and real in his work for young adults didn't translate. More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 13, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

Didn't everyone try to learn to see through things using the flame trick like Henry Sugar?

0 comments like (9 people liked it)

Sep 18, 2007

Rachelle rated it:

After falling in love with Dahl (via Matilda), I read this fantastic collection of short stories. A couple are actually written for adults but were tame enough to transfer well to a younger audience. The tales had such a profound effect on me that I remember them clearly to this day (despite not having read this collection since the umpteenth time when I was in my teens), and I still think fondly about one of them in particular on a regular basis. If I were to be trapped on a desert island with More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 08, 2009

Gette added it

The Great Automatic Grammartizator and Other Stories[return]Paperback, 264 pages[return][return]The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More[return]Paperback, 213 pages[return][return]Roald Dahl[return]Published by Puffin Books[return][return][return]I recently developed a fascination for the works of Roald Dahl, perhaps years too late. But better late than never. I found the 2001 Puffin Books editions irresistible and decided that it's probably a good investment for my personal library.[retu More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 12, 2012

Abi rated it:

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More is arranged in the proper order: it gets more and more amazing as you go through it. And, it is made of Dahl-spun wonderfulness throughout.

English language arts teachers and aspiring writers (or, "I wish I could be an aspiring writer..."s) should take note of Dahl's story "Lucky Break: How I Became a Writer," in which Dahl advises that writers "possess or...try to acquire" seven characteristics to become More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Maria rated it:

Remembering the joy of reading Road Dahl as a child, I felt very excited when I received ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, And Six More’ as a birthday present. I read this book eagerly and was not disappointed. With seven short stories to capture the reader; including fiction and non-fiction, Roald Dahl once again writes with imagination, wit and intelligence. His use of description throughout these stories is spot on, enabling the reader to conjure some fantastic images. From a boy who can More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 02, 2010

Michael rated it:

Re-read the main story but I read all of them as a kid. Was poking through the others and found this gem, from Lucky Break:

"Here are some of the qualities you should possess or should try to acquire if you wish to be fiction writer:

1. You should have a lively imagination.
2. You should be able to write well. By that I mean you should be able to make a scene come alive in the reader's mind. Not everybody has this ability. It is a gift, and you either have it or y More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 31, 2011

Andy rated it:

This is another book which has sat on various shelves for many months now before finally being completed. The short stories (7 of them) are mainly directed at an older age group though touch on similar themes to his younger work. My copy has a different cover which doesn't appear here.

I've read 'The Hitch-hiker' before and enjoyed it, found 'The Swan' quite dark and disturbing (taking the bullying of his younger books to more dangerous regions). 'Henry Sugar' though felt a little di More...

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May 02, 2010

Britt-goodie of newsieness is currently reading it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 05, 2011

Earline rated it:

I'm not usually interested in non-fiction, even Roald Dahl admits he isn't either, but his three non-fiction short stories collected in this book will blow you away.

Out of the seven stories in this book, my favorites would have to be:

"The Hitchhiker" - Loved the ending! did not see it coming! Also the Tales of the Unexpected episode based on this story rawks! Check it out.

"The Mildenhall Treasure" - true story about the two ordinary men who found More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 25, 2009

jill rated it:

Collection of 6 of Roald Dahl's stories, including three non-fiction works. Unsurprisingly, his non-fiction isn't as amazing as his fiction, but it's still pretty excellent. One of the non-fiction pieces is the story of how he became a writer, and Dahl says in it that he doesn't really like to write non-fiction because what he loves about writing is inventing stories. It reminds me of an Elie Wiesel quote that I love (and once considered getting as a tattoo): "God created Man because he More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 21, 2009

Kate rated it:

I was quite surprised when I read this book, after reading all of Dahl's children's stories. The title suggests that these are happy wonder-filled stories. They are, however, written more for adults or at least teens. The title story involves a man who wanted to be able to cheat at cards by "seeing" through them, and goes off on a huge spiritual journey to study with a yogi to learn how to do this. There was another story about a boy who rides a sea turtle.

The story t More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

baRbRa rated it:

As you can tell, I loved - still love - Roald Dahl. This was one of my favorite books - one, because it's all short stories and two, I wanted to be Henry Sugar. I even tried the candle bit.

"A Piece of Cake" is also well-worth the read. It's autobiographical and if you've read Boy and his other books about himself, you'll enjoy it too. His life is almost unbelievable. Needless to say, I also wanted to be him too when I was young.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 19, 2011

Riadiani rated it:

This book is composed of seven superb stories by the master himself, Mister Roald Dahl. I would like to review the seven stories briefly...

The Boy Who Talked With Animals is a story about a boy who saved a captured giant turtle from being killed by fishermen and hotel tourists. This story took place in Jamaica, and from the view of a tourist who, despite being the narrator, seemed to be a passive character in the story. I personally like this story because of the unexpected ending. More...

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Mar 29, 2010

Heather rated it:

We just finished listening to this story on two CDs. Other reviewers mention other stories in this collection, but Henry Sugar is all that we got. It was shelved with other juvenile literature, and the picture on the cover looks humorous and inviting for kids, but it really did not turn out to be a kid's story at all. Not that it contained anything offensive or bad. However, a story about a rich, bored adult who wants to gamble and cheat at cards, men searching for yoga powers, and the docume More...

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Jul 21, 2011

Katie rated it:

We didn't read the "Six More" stories, we just listened to The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. My 5 and 6 year old boys both found it interesting, and the reader was very good, especially with the Indian accent. Roald Dahl is a wonderful storyteller, but I just thought this was a little too adult for my younger children. I think it's better for kids a little older, maybe 8 or 9 and up. That being said, it was kind of interesting to teach my boys about gambling and casinos and they More...

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Apr 24, 2009

Purplycookie rated it:

If you could see with your eyes closed, how would you use your power? That’s what Henry has to decide in one of the seven stories in this extraordinary collection.

"The Boy Who Talked With Animals" >> Is about a young tourist boy at a beach resort who seeks to free a giant sea turtle which has been captured by the hotel management. This sounds like a children's story, but the characterization and the setting are quite adult.

"The Hitchhiker" >> More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

May 21, 2010

Julie rated it:

I was really torn about giving this 3 or 4 stars. I loved two of the stories especially, but the others were a little more average. The whole collection really wasn't what I expected, after my many years of reading Dahl's books. Unlike his children's books (which is where this book is shelved), there are very few children involved and while the stories do have some whimsical elements they aren't nearly as fantastical as his books. I was trying to decide the whole time if I would have liked t More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 15, 2009

Anthony rated it:

Roald Dahl has been my favorite childhood author, and still is today. I still enjoy all of his books because of the writing style he uses. He is not afraid to get down and dirty with graphic stories and rhymes and the occasional naughty words. The book I have read recently is called The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More.
The book is made up of 7 different stories, all supposedly "true" which include stories of a child talking to animals, a hitchhiker with More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 07, 2011

eve rated it:

I unexpectedly love this book. Accidentally found in a book swap, this book gave me plenty of joy and good time. It contains Roald Dahl first piece of writing, written when he was in the States by the request of C.S. Forester, on the subject of his flying experience in the Second World War. To Roald Dahl's utter delight, he wrote in trance and later received a note from Forester:

Dear RD,
You were meant to give me notes, not a finished story. I'm bowled over. Your piece is marv More...

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Dec 27, 2010

Sean rated it:

Almost inevitably, as a child of the 90's before Pottermania swept through our little Welsh valley, I enjoyed many of Roald Dahls children's stories. As an adult, There's something I can't just put my finger on which robs me of satisfaction from many of his short stories - something about the endings which sit ill with me.

But it has been a while and, after enjoying the new Fantastic MR Fox movie on Christmas Eve, I thought I'd give these a go today.

The Mildenhall Treasure an More...

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Feb 14, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

Dustin and I were on a date night at the book store when we came across this Dahl book. I was astonished to find one that I hadn't read, so we bought it. I picked it up to read as a break from the Russian (crime and punishment) expecting to find a delightful collection of children's short stories (was found in the children's section). This IS NOT a book for children, though it is completely Dahl in every way, it isn't innocent and hilarious. These read like thought-provoking short stories we More...

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Dec 31, 2010

Maria rated it:

1. The Boy Who Talked with Animals - A fast read that seems almost like an urban legend.
2. The Hitchhiker - A conversation between Dahl and an hitchhiker with a magical talent.
3. The Mildenhall Treasure - This is one of my favorites in the collection. It is a non-fiction account about the discovery of an enormous trove of Roman silver in the English countryside.
4. The Swan - Probably the darkest story in the collection, "The Swan" champions two of Dahl's favorite he More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 28, 2010

Juka added it

i've heard such stories, but do not really know whether they are right of not. but i know one thing that education can alter a person. some people just need a lot time to realise what they want from this life. i think, when one finds his / her true way of life and is able to follow it is the best gift. but as usually it is hardly ever possible to change a thing in your life and do not even worry about your past comfort. we are brave when we talk but fulfillment is another thing. still i do not k More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 10, 2010

Damon rated it:

Roald Dahl is one of the greatest child authors, and still is today. I enjoy reading his books because of the writing technique he uses. He is not afraid to get down and grimy with graphic stories and rhymes and the occasional curse words. The book I have read is called The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More.
The book is made up of 7 different short stories, all supposedly true which include stories of a child speaking to animals, a hitchhiker with a weird talent, a man named Henr More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 04, 2010

Arun rated it:

I'm reading The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl. It is a very interesting fiction book. It has small stories with various settings and plot. One example is the story of Henry Sugar, the man who sees without his eyes. Henry finds out how to cheat in cards and wins big at casinos. All his earnings go to a charity to build orphanages all over the world.I could connect to this story because it partly took place in a small village in India that I have visited. This gave me a More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 06, 2010

Hilda rated it:

Roald Dahl's books always have wonderful effect on me.

When I read The Witches, I thanked God I didn't meet any witch as a child.
When I read Matilda, I think she's the brightest girl ever.
When I read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, I believe that there is a very big and magical chocolate factory somewhere in this world.
When I read the Magic Finger, suddenly I have some hatred to these animal hunters.
When I read Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator, I wish th More...

5 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jan 22, 2009

bookczuk rated it:

Great Stories, with that slightly skewed Roald Dahl view on the world. Included is the story of how he started writing and his first attempt,
Seven stories, but for some reason I have only listed 4... hmmmm

* The Boy Who Talked With Animals - in which a stranded sea turtle and a small boy have more in common than meets the eye.
* The Hitchhiker - proves that in a pinch a professional pickpocket can be the perfect pal.
* The Mildenhall Treasure - a true tale of fortune More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 19, 2011

Nathanial rated it:

Dahl, wonderfully funny as usual, also does some unusual meta-narrative stuff that I hadn't noticed when I was ten, but which stand out as polished jewels now. "The Mindenhall Treasure," prefaced by his introductory note about interviewing the protagonist in a real-life buried-treasure find, includes musings in the voice of a secondary character (seen but not interviewed); his "Henry Sugar" story turns on the wry comment "Now, if this were a work of fiction, the author w More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

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