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bibliobethreads's review against another edition
2.0
Roald Dahl was one of my favourite authors as a child and I have also enjoyed his short stories for adults. However, these ghost stories chosen by him didn't really hit the spot. Disappointing!
reanimatedreader's review against another edition
1.0
Borrowed from the library on a whim.
Introduction by Dahl was a pile of sexist rubbish so that kinda set the tone for the rest of the book. The rest didn’t improve mostly the stories were misogynistic or racist.
The stories weren’t scary or particularly interesting. All very predictable and dull. Incredibly disappointed after enjoying Dahl’s books as a kid.
Introduction by Dahl was a pile of sexist rubbish so that kinda set the tone for the rest of the book. The rest didn’t improve mostly the stories were misogynistic or racist.
The stories weren’t scary or particularly interesting. All very predictable and dull. Incredibly disappointed after enjoying Dahl’s books as a kid.
ameliasbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is definitely one of the better ghost stories collections I have read. Which also surprisingly includes a lot more female writers than are usually considered in classic anthologies. Dahl actually reflects on this in his induction, started out well in his adoration, but then ruined it completely with some eye rolling dumb comments.
_marianal_'s review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
Some of the stories are very predictable and not very scary.
Some of the stories are very predictable and not very scary.
nuffy375's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, stories are not written by Roald Dahl, which is my fault for not paying more attention, but reading the other reviews makes me feel better for not realizing that as well. The publishers definitely knew what they were doing when they designed this book cover, because I definitely only bought this book thinking the stories were written by Dahl.
But I'm a fan of ghost stories, so I was still on board. Like any collection of short stories, each story is different, and the quality ranges. It seems when Dahl was picking ghost stories, the creepy factor was not high on his list. Very few of the stories are creepy at all (and some of the ones that try to be creepy very much miss the mark).
My top stories in this collection: Harry by Rosemary Timperley, The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith, Playmates by A.M. Burrage, The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan L Fanu (actually creepy).
The weakest stories imo: Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie, Ringing in the Changes by Robert Aickman (started promising, but REAL weak conclusion), The Telephone by Mary Treadgold, Afterward by Edith Wharton
But I'm a fan of ghost stories, so I was still on board. Like any collection of short stories, each story is different, and the quality ranges. It seems when Dahl was picking ghost stories, the creepy factor was not high on his list. Very few of the stories are creepy at all (and some of the ones that try to be creepy very much miss the mark).
My top stories in this collection: Harry by Rosemary Timperley, The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith, Playmates by A.M. Burrage, The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan L Fanu (actually creepy).
The weakest stories imo: Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie, Ringing in the Changes by Robert Aickman (started promising, but REAL weak conclusion), The Telephone by Mary Treadgold, Afterward by Edith Wharton
sangloup's review against another edition
3.0
Book #41 of the EBN Book Challenge at my Library.
Challenge Topic: A book with a Person's name in the title.
This is a book a ghost stories compiled, not written, by Roald Dahl. He was doing research for a TV series he was going to be part of and read almost 800 ghost stories to find 24 that he thought would be good for the series. Well... the series didn't make it, so of the 24 stories, he put 14 into this book for our enjoyment.
There were a few I liked... but most of them were kind of blah for me.
Challenge Topic: A book with a Person's name in the title.
This is a book a ghost stories compiled, not written, by Roald Dahl. He was doing research for a TV series he was going to be part of and read almost 800 ghost stories to find 24 that he thought would be good for the series. Well... the series didn't make it, so of the 24 stories, he put 14 into this book for our enjoyment.
There were a few I liked... but most of them were kind of blah for me.
myweereads's review against another edition
4.0
“The crazy eyes staring at me beneath the matted white fringe of hair frightened me. Mad people are terrifying. One can pity them, but one is still afraid.”
Roald Dahl’s Book Of Ghost Stories is a collection of what he thought were the best ghost stories written. It begins with an introduction on the art of writing a good ghost story. What I like about this collection is that it still manages to creep the reader out. Ive seen that some readers have found the tales to be dated however I think it’s that traditional ghost story telling which gives them that intensity.
Some of my favourites in this collection are:
W.S. by L.P. Hartley
Harry by Rosemary Timperley
The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith
In the Tube by E.F. Benson
Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley
.
Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie
Playmates by A.M. Burrage
The Telephone by Mary Treadgold
The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
I found these particular stories to be spooky. I liked the range within them, how some were more in your face where as others were subtle with the eerie atmosphere. I think whilst reading these it’s easy to see how they may have influenced ghost stories of today as specific themes and characteristics are recognisable.
A fun wee collection of ghost stories picked out by an amazing author.
Roald Dahl’s Book Of Ghost Stories is a collection of what he thought were the best ghost stories written. It begins with an introduction on the art of writing a good ghost story. What I like about this collection is that it still manages to creep the reader out. Ive seen that some readers have found the tales to be dated however I think it’s that traditional ghost story telling which gives them that intensity.
Some of my favourites in this collection are:
W.S. by L.P. Hartley
Harry by Rosemary Timperley
The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith
In the Tube by E.F. Benson
Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley
.
Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie
Playmates by A.M. Burrage
The Telephone by Mary Treadgold
The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
I found these particular stories to be spooky. I liked the range within them, how some were more in your face where as others were subtle with the eerie atmosphere. I think whilst reading these it’s easy to see how they may have influenced ghost stories of today as specific themes and characteristics are recognisable.
A fun wee collection of ghost stories picked out by an amazing author.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
¡Primer libro del barrifest del terror 2018!
Debo admitir que la introducción es algo dolorosa y de penita ajena, a pesar de que normalmente aprecio mucho a Dahl. Pero si hay momentos en que me dan ganas de decirle que ya se siente.
Las historias no dan miedo. Eso hay que saberlo desde el principio. Muchos de los fantasmas ni siquiera son malignos. Algunas cosas parecen predecibles o clicheteras, pero creo que tiene que ver con que es una antología con fines específicos de textos ya bastante viejos.
Sin embargo, casi todas las historias están muy bien escritas y son entretenidas de leer, so fue una buena opción para empezar este Octubre.
Debo admitir que la introducción es algo dolorosa y de penita ajena, a pesar de que normalmente aprecio mucho a Dahl. Pero si hay momentos en que me dan ganas de decirle que ya se siente.
Las historias no dan miedo. Eso hay que saberlo desde el principio. Muchos de los fantasmas ni siquiera son malignos. Algunas cosas parecen predecibles o clicheteras, pero creo que tiene que ver con que es una antología con fines específicos de textos ya bastante viejos.
Sin embargo, casi todas las historias están muy bien escritas y son entretenidas de leer, so fue una buena opción para empezar este Octubre.
innmartinsm's review against another edition
4.0
Não há nada como um livro bem spooky para acompanhar este Outono, certo? Ghost Stories é uma coleção de histórias de fantasmas pela curadoria do extraordinário autor Roald Dahl (conhecido por histórias como Matilda ou Charlie e a Fábrica de Chocolate).
São 14 dos mais de 700 contos que Roald Dahl leu e criteriosamente selecionou como os melhores para partilhar connosco. Entre histórias mais assustadoras e outras mais melancólicas, Ghost Stories é a companhia perfeita para um serão entre mantas e chávenas quentinhas. Não achei as histórias particularmente macabras ao ponto de não conseguirmos dormir, portanto, é uma leitura fantasmagórica leve e adequada aos corações mais sensíveis! Algumas até com lições valiosas a reter.
Com uma ilustração fabulosa na capa, recomendo que não deixem escapar a introdução com assinatura do autor, onde partilha a sua visão sobre literatura infanto-juvenil e sobre a importância de mulheres escritoras no mundo editorial.
São 14 dos mais de 700 contos que Roald Dahl leu e criteriosamente selecionou como os melhores para partilhar connosco. Entre histórias mais assustadoras e outras mais melancólicas, Ghost Stories é a companhia perfeita para um serão entre mantas e chávenas quentinhas. Não achei as histórias particularmente macabras ao ponto de não conseguirmos dormir, portanto, é uma leitura fantasmagórica leve e adequada aos corações mais sensíveis! Algumas até com lições valiosas a reter.
Com uma ilustração fabulosa na capa, recomendo que não deixem escapar a introdução com assinatura do autor, onde partilha a sua visão sobre literatura infanto-juvenil e sobre a importância de mulheres escritoras no mundo editorial.