Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
This took me years to get through because it's all short stories so was easy to put down and come back to much later. The stories are all bizarre and absurd and often have twist endings. Eventually it got slightly predictable but still quite entertaining.
so cleverly written & as interesting in content as it is in style :)
" 'When Beaumont planted the yew trees for the chess-men and the other things, he knew they wouldn't amount to much for at least a hundred years. We don't seem to possess that sort of patience in our planning these days, do we?' "
"There is nothing more tantalizing than a thing like this which lingers just outside the borders of one's memory."
"There is nothing more tantalizing than a thing like this which lingers just outside the borders of one's memory."
" 'When Beaumont planted the yew trees for the chess-men and the other things, he knew they wouldn't amount to much for at least a hundred years. We don't seem to possess that sort of patience in our planning these days, do we?' "
"There is nothing more tantalizing than a thing like this which lingers just outside the borders of one's memory."
"There is nothing more tantalizing than a thing like this which lingers just outside the borders of one's memory."
The best short story collection I've ever read. Loved it since I was thirteen years old and still find incredible fascination and entertainment in each story today.
I love his books geared for younger readers (e.g. Mathilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches.) But this (adult) book is incredible. Five stars!
Recommended for anyone who hasn't read any of Dahl's "grownup" stories. They are dark in the way you might expect from his children's books. As the title of the collection suggests, the stories are generally structured with building tension that ultimately leads to an unexpected plot twist. In a way, they are a bit formulaic and the structure can feel repetitive. On the other hand, Dahl is very effective at building tension, and the plotlines are varied enough to keep it interesting. Most of the time, the "reversal" revolves around someone hatching a plan that relies on the assumption that they can outsmart everyone else, and then getting their comeuppance. Elise must have told me about the story "Umbrella Man" about 6 years ago, so I am glad I finally got around to reading it!
Truly unexpected!! Enjoyed this rollercoaster of little stories with quirky characters and twist endings. Something to surprise you and shake you up.
Some of these stories were really dark. The first few took a while for me to get through, but then it gets really entertaining.