Scan barcode
journeymouse's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
espbear's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
directorpurry's review against another edition
3.0
Overall rating: 3.25 stars
I'm not sure whether I was drawn to this book more because of "Roald Dahl" in conjunction with ghosts or this cover. A relatively short little collection of some of Dahl's favorite ghost stories. I wouldn't say these were my favorites, but there were some gems in here.
I'd like to try and read all my ghost anthologies so I can narrow down the ones I keep on my shelf, so this was the first one!
"W. S." by L P Hartley - 3 stars
"Harry" by Rosemary Timperley - 3.5 stars
"The Corner Shop" by Cynthia Asquith - 3 stars
"In the Tube" by E F Benson - 2 stars
"Christmas Meeting" - 4 stars:
This is the first story I've actually felt enough about to comment on! Dahl mentions in his introduction that these stories were originally compiled for an anthology show (think The Twilight Zone but all ghost story adaptations) and this one would be an excellent short film. Three pages, but with perfect pacing. The adaptation would work really well for this one.
"Elias and the Draug" by Jonas Lie - 3 stars
3 stars not because it was a good ghost story but because it made me laugh lol. They were just so casual about
And he never went on the ocean again...
"Playmates" by A M Burrage - 3 stars
Would have been 4 but the ending ruined it.
I'm not sure whether I was drawn to this book more because of "Roald Dahl" in conjunction with ghosts or this cover. A relatively short little collection of some of Dahl's favorite ghost stories. I wouldn't say these were my favorites, but there were some gems in here.
I'd like to try and read all my ghost anthologies so I can narrow down the ones I keep on my shelf, so this was the first one!
"W. S." by L P Hartley - 3 stars
"Harry" by Rosemary Timperley - 3.5 stars
"The Corner Shop" by Cynthia Asquith - 3 stars
"In the Tube" by E F Benson - 2 stars
"Christmas Meeting" - 4 stars:
This is the first story I've actually felt enough about to comment on! Dahl mentions in his introduction that these stories were originally compiled for an anthology show (think The Twilight Zone but all ghost story adaptations) and this one would be an excellent short film. Three pages, but with perfect pacing. The adaptation would work really well for this one.
"Elias and the Draug" by Jonas Lie - 3 stars
3 stars not because it was a good ghost story but because it made me laugh lol. They were just so casual about
Spoiler
all their kids dying on that boat. Like, "Oops, lost another one into the sea!" "Ope, there goes Mom!" "Oh no a giant sea monster avatar omen of death!! [insert Shocked Pikachu here] What will I do??And he never went on the ocean again...
"Playmates" by A M Burrage - 3 stars
Would have been 4 but the ending ruined it.
ladykatka's review against another edition
Terribly boring and not what I expected at all.
kslhersam's review against another edition
4.0
This was probably 3.5 stars. I checked this out at the library thinking it was a book of ghost stories for children that Roald Dahl had written. It turned out to be a collection of ghost stories Roald Dahl gathered together, but didn't author. I considered returning it unread, but decided to read the introduction by Roald Dahl and it intrigued me enough to read it.
I am the type of person who gets freaked out by little noises in my house, thinking there is a burglar or murderer trying to break in. So I wasn't sure I would enjoy scary stories...but these stories are all literally about ghosts and they didn't scare me that much, since I don't believe in ghosts. Some of the stories were not that scary, and some of them were. I enjoyed reading them mainly because they were so different from what I normally read.
I am the type of person who gets freaked out by little noises in my house, thinking there is a burglar or murderer trying to break in. So I wasn't sure I would enjoy scary stories...but these stories are all literally about ghosts and they didn't scare me that much, since I don't believe in ghosts. Some of the stories were not that scary, and some of them were. I enjoyed reading them mainly because they were so different from what I normally read.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
Roald Dahl spent years reading over 700 ghost stories to put together material to make a TV show with. I would think it would've been like the Twilight Zone. The pilot did not get picked up, so Roald put the stories together in this little book.
The ranger from the late 1890s to the 1970s is the lates one I saw, while the majority are from the 50s. The authors vary as well and some of them are very British, some are told with purple prose. It is a collection of all kinds of short stories and some of them are a bit spooky. Most of them are around 15 pages, some are longer. I think young kids might find them spooky if they are short enough, but they might get bored also.
I did enjoy reading this collection. My favorite story of the collection was 'Playmates' by A. M. Burrage. It was good. My least favorite was a story by Edith Wharton and it was like she was trying to prove how awesome a writer she is by sounding writerly and using the most obscure words. The story was boring and her writing style got on my nerves. I'm someone who enjoyed Ethan Frome in school, but I didn't like this story.
I think a good experiment would be to read this when there are different generations around, kids, parents, grandparents, and see what the people think.
It's too bad that Roald Dahl didn't try his hand at at least one scary story. I would like for one of his stories to be in here.
The ranger from the late 1890s to the 1970s is the lates one I saw, while the majority are from the 50s. The authors vary as well and some of them are very British, some are told with purple prose. It is a collection of all kinds of short stories and some of them are a bit spooky. Most of them are around 15 pages, some are longer. I think young kids might find them spooky if they are short enough, but they might get bored also.
I did enjoy reading this collection. My favorite story of the collection was 'Playmates' by A. M. Burrage. It was good. My least favorite was a story by Edith Wharton and it was like she was trying to prove how awesome a writer she is by sounding writerly and using the most obscure words. The story was boring and her writing style got on my nerves. I'm someone who enjoyed Ethan Frome in school, but I didn't like this story.
I think a good experiment would be to read this when there are different generations around, kids, parents, grandparents, and see what the people think.
It's too bad that Roald Dahl didn't try his hand at at least one scary story. I would like for one of his stories to be in here.
__luiza's review against another edition
4.0
Eu queria um livro com histórias de fantasmas para ler durante o inverno e ganhei na loteria com "Roald Dahls's Book of Ghost Stories"! Os contos, em sua maioria, são interessantes e arrepiantes. Alguns deles me deixaram apavorada. Achei um livro ideal para ler antes de dormir com a companhia de uma vela e chá.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Roald Dahl personally chose this collection of stories. Not all are scary but most are entertaining and all will make you think.