Product Description
The gates of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory areopening at last . . . and only five children will beallowed inside.Amazon.com Review
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel, Charlie and the GreatGlass Elevator, along with Roald Dahl's other tales for youngerreaders, make him a true star of children's literature. Dahl seems toknow just how far to go with his oddball fantasies; in Charlie andthe Chocolate Factory, for example, nasty Violet Beauregarde blowsup into a blueberry from sneaking forbidden chewing gum, and brattyAugustus Gloop is carried away on the river of chocolate he wouldn'tresist. In fact, all manner of disasters can happen to the mostobnoxiously deserving of children because Dahl portrays each incidentwith such resourcefulness and humor.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a singular delight,crammed with mad fantasy, childhood justice and revenge, and as muchcandy as you can eat. The book is also available in Spanish (Charlie y la Fabrica deChocolate). (The suggested age range for this book is 9-12,but nobody this reviewer has met can resist it, including New YorkCity bellhops, flight attendants, and grumpy teenagers.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (490)

Later and uglier than expected.
Book wasn't in great condition but it did say that it was in "good" not "excellent" condition. It came pretty late too, but it came within the time frame. Love this book by the way.

Great book!
I bought this for my seven year old son and he loves it, it will be a book that we will probably read over and over.

Fizzy Lifting Drink?
My memories of Charlie are from the movies.I never read the book, but the movies do add things as movies will do and now I understand the differences arising between the two Chocolate Factory movies.The directors had to add some sort of conflict.Dahl's story is like this: Charlie is poor; Charlie gets golden ticket; Charlie is virtuous where the other children are bad; Charlie is awarded factory by Wonka.

Inthis, the original story, everything plays out nicely and everything is too simple.Charlie is poor but his family is entirely good.All the others we see are horrible and one-dimensional and their defining traits become the mode for their downfall.But if you're poor you can be good just by keeping your head down and good things will happen to you.I was dismayed to learn that Charlie and his grandpa avoided the Fizzy Lifting Drink and avoided any complexity to their characters as is in the version I cherished.

Wonka is an entirely wonderful and novel creation, and I understand why such talented actors wanted to fill his shoes.However, he is not a hero of the working class.Expelling all your workers as a way to avoid corporate espionage is bad enough, but enslaving a whole race of people as your personal worker-army is a little much.I would hope that the Salts or the Gloops or one of the other families enlighten the government as to the conditions at the factory.Also: Wonka has a beard.

In the end, reading the book for beloved stories like this always create more perspective.Dahl is a talented writer but this creation is written for a different audience than me.In that respects, I feel it is an effective text.For me however, it works in concert with the creative efforts spawned by it to forge a synthetic idea of just Who Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket really are.I am glad I read it.

Actually a Horror Story
This book is a classic and I was thrilled to read it again this week. When I'm working on a middle grade project, I like to spice up my reading with both new books and books I loved from my childhood. Roald Dahl was/is my favorite author (him and Stephen King), and I figure when I'm seeking inspiration I could do a lot worse. For that reason, expect plenty more of Dahl's books to be my Book of the Week.


I'm not going to bother with a summary of this book. If you're reading a blog about middle grade novels, I'll assume you're familiar with the basic story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That's one of the reasons I chose to reread the book now. Its story is so well known to me I can all but ignore it and focus my attention on Dahl's craftsmanship. I know that Charlie is a character we're hoping will find a golden ticket and get to tour the chocolate factory, but why do we hope this? How does Dahl convince us to care about Charlie and his lack of a chocolate factory tour?

What I learned this time through is that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is actually a horror story for children. Seriously. How else is one to explain the chapter in which a little girl is attacked by an army of squirrels in what has to be one of the creepiest scenes in all of middle grade and adult fiction? And after all, Roald Dahl wrote a great deal of horror for adults (another reason I love him). When I read this book as a child, I hadn't spent any time watching, reading, or writing horror, so I never picked up on it before. Reading the book again as an adult, I have now written a fair amount of horror and I know it when I see it.

Willy Wonka is a scary dude. So get this: he invites 5 children to tour his chocolate factory, then disposes of one child after another until he is left with one child (innocent and pure like the best teenage virgin horror heroines) who is rewarded with survival and a chocolate factory. Note to any screenwriters reading this blog: you could totally adapt this plot to a teen scream fest. Imagine five teenagers go someplace creepy, like say a factory, and a maniac kills the ones who have sex, who do drugs, who drink, who pollute the environment (it's your morality play, pick your vices), until there is only the one virgin left who defeats the maniac or reaches a compromise and gets to live happily ever after because he/she is a virgin.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the same story, only instead of doing drugs or having sex, the sinners in this tale watch too much television, chew too much gum, eat too much food, and are spoiled to the point of being a "bad nut." If you don't believe me, reread the rhymes spoken by the oompa loompas who serve mainly as a Greek chorus, and are pleased when each sinner has been disposed of. Willy Wonka accidentally on purpose puts each of these terrible children in a situation where their own vice is turned against them, sort of like Kevin Spacey's character in Se7en, but for kids! If I were Charlie, by the end of that tour I would be screaming my head off in terror, worried about how Willy Wonka was going to blow me up into a blueberry, shrink me to the size of cockroach, let me get sucked into a pipe, or sick an army of squirrels on me (just thinking about it sends a shiver up my spine).

Don't get me wrong. Knowing that Dahl wrote a horror story for children almost as scary as The Witches only makes me love him more. Part of the appeal of the horror story is that the reader is able to see characters get what they deserve. If a person is a jerk in a horror story, the reader can look forward to seeing that character get what's coming to him. Children have to deal with jerks just as surely as adults do. I think part of the reason I loved this story as a child is because it was fun to see the bad kids punished.


The last observation I want to make is just how skilled Dahl is at moving a story. He conveys settings and actions through dialogue, thus saving space and increasing his pace. He jump cuts frequently and isn't afraid to have characters state their motivations so long as they do it in a funny or clever fashion. Roald Dahl moves his stories along so fast he could have written War and Peace in about 150 pages or so and you wouldn't notice anything missing from the original.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

Charlie Bucket's story touched my heart the first time I read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," when I was much younger. I still like to pull it out from time to time and relive the magic of Willy Wonka's amazing chocolate creations, and the humor of the four nasty children who got what they deserved.

Charlie is a poor child, and lives with his four grandparents and parents in a little ramshackle house. The family barely has enough money to buy food, and survive mostly on cabbage. Mr. Bucket, Charlie's father, works screwing toothpaste caps on full tubes. The only bright spot in their lives are Grandpa Joe's stories, particularly the ones about the mysterious Willy Wonka.

Wonka's factory has been closed to the public for over a decade, but when he puts five Golden Tickets in candy bars, five lucky children have the chance to enter the factory, as well as win a lifetime supply of goodies. Charlie's desperate for a ticket, but his family can only afford one candy bar a year, and he isn't lucky. But as readers of Dahl's works know, good children get their due, and Charlie and Grandpa Joe find a Golden Ticket...

What can I say about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" It's one of my favorite of the author's works, and I tend to reread it every few years. If you've never read anything by Roald Dahl, this book is a great place to start.

5/5. ... Read more

Product Description
This extraordinary collection takes readers on a fascinating journey into Dahl's unique imagination. At over 400 pages, it contains excerpts from Dahl's best-loved fiction for children and his autobiographical material. There are stories, rhymes, and memoirs as well as unpublished poetry and letters. Lavishly produced and illustrated in full-color, it features artwork by such prominent illustrators as Quentin Blake, Lane Smith, and Raymond Briggs.Amazon.com Review
Anyone who has ever read James and the GiantPeach or Charlie and the ChocolateFactory knows that Roald Dahl is aman capable of working magic on young people. The wonderfully weirdworlds he evokes are so perfectly in tune with children's imaginationsthat--PRESTO!--he has completely enchanted kids (and adults, we admit)around the world.

This splendidly illustrated treasury--which wediscovered with unfettered glee--showcases excerpts from the abovebooks, along with short stories, rhymes, memoirs, unpublished poetry,and personal letters. A host of Dahl's best-loved characters are here,from the Enormous Crocodile to Willie Wonka. The whole shebang isfabulously illustrated by Quentin Blake, Ralph Steadman, and a myriadof other fine artists. Young Roald Dahl fans will devour this bookeagerly, and those who have never met Charlie Bucket, Matilda, or theVermicious Knids will want to get their hands on everything he's everwritten. (All ages) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Xmas request
I love giving books to my kids and now grandkids.
My gdaughter requested this book specifically.
She tells me that it is one of her all time favs.

Wonderful assortment of Dahl's childrens work
This is a beautiful book full of colorful illustrations, which is always a major plus, most of which are by Quentin Blake. This has some of Roald Dahl's poetry (such as his hilarious fairy tale retellings), short stories, excerpts from his children's novels, recipes, letters from fans, and other nice little tidbits, like a sheet Dahl filled out about his birthday, favorite color, food, etc. I think this book is well worth the money, because I got this a few years ago and haven't grown out of it since!

A superb, fantastic, and wonderful book
This book, like all other books of Rohld Dahl, is detailed, humorous, and just plain good. I spent 9 hours just sitting in a chair, reading this book, defanatly another fanatic book of Rolhd Dahl. I loved it. WOW!

What I liked and didn't like about the Dahl Treasury
I am nine and a half years old.I liked the variety of stories and poems, but I was frustrated at first because I thought I would be reading entire stories.Instead, I found that the Treasury included only chapters of some stories.Short stories, like the Enormous Crocodile, were entirely included.

This book left me searching for the complete works of Roald Dahl.

an awesome book
The Roal Dahl Treasury is really great because aside from the extracts, it includes poems, letters, and true stories from Roald's past. An excellent book for all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
Going Solo is the action-packed tale of Roald Dahl’s exploits as a World War II pilot. Learn all about his encounters with the enemy, his worldwide travels, the life-threatening injuries he sustained in a plane accident, and the rest of his sometimes bizarre, often unnerving, and always colorful adventures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Really good book
This a great book.It is very discreptive it tells everything about his life and is very well done.Before you read this book read Boy tales of a childhood. ... Read more

Product Description
Dahl tells the story of his adventures and misadventures as a child: his involvement in the Great Mouse Plot of 1924; his first automobile ride, in which he nearly lost his nose; his many canings by Headmasters; and his vacations at home in Wales with his big family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (146)

A Childhood to Build On
On the first page Dahl proclaims, "This is not an autobiography.I would never write a history of myself."And, indeed, Boy does not fit the definition of an autobiography, as he describes it in his introduction.Free from "boring details," Boy is a collection of memories that remained significant to Dahl in his adulthood.From houses, to vacations, to dead mice and even canings, Dahl paints a vivid picture of his life at home and school, until his life lead him to be a pilot in WWII.Occasionally heartbreaking, often funny, and consistently charming, Boy is a wonderful exercise in non-autobiographical writing.

Insight to a genius writer
I read this book in Year 7 at High School. I am satisfied that this book is palatable for readers of all ages, but I am inclined to recommend it from age 12 onwards. Roald Dahl's early life was fun, tragic, and full of adventures. This book brings out the young person in us all!

Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Author

As in most of his books
I've picked up a couple of Roald Dahl books because of rave reviews.I've read enough to realize these shouldn't be children's books.They have a lot of abuse.My daughter has had nightmares.Roald Dahl definately has a dark side.

Insightful anecdotes of a Norwegian born, English-boarding-school-attending children's book author.
Having just finished reading this book after listening to the version on CD (as read fabulously by Andrew Sachs), I recommend that prospective readers acquire both versions. The book on CD, with the various voices performed by the reader is spectacular (my rating, five stars), while the book adds a lot in the way of supplementary graphics related to the text. Due to my family's interest in Dahl's books and movies based on them (between us, we've read and/or watched most of the lot), it is fascinating to learn a bit about his childhood and young adult years. The author claims from the start that Boy is "not an autobiography." If anything, it is more a potpourri of memories, most involving incidents that occurred during his time at various boarding schools (unfortunately, many involving canings). It also includes some family history, anecdotes from the annual Dahl summer holiday, the amazing fact that his mother saved (and had returned to him after her death) 600 letters he'd written her between 1925-1945, and a bit about his post-school life. From what I've learned since, the book is not without controversy, especially in his contention that one of the worst offenders in the headmasters-who-cane-students department of his childhood went on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury. That issue aside, the book/book on CD (as a great source for photos, sketches and letter excerpts) combination of "Tales of Childhood" is excellent. I only wish it had continued further into his writing career. Also good: pretty much anything written by Roald Dahl.

Delightful read for all ages
I'm a big fan of Roald Dahl and used to read his books as a child. I was just recently introduced to his "adult" or grown-up novels and I've rekindled my love for this writer. "Boy" is an autobiography of sorts highlighting some of his experiences and memories as a young boy growing up in England. It's pretty cool to get a glimpse of his early life and his family background.

As usual, he infuses all his stories with plenty of heart and comedy that is uniquely "Dahl"-ian: a sort of laugh-out-loud humor that is also slightly dark. The book is a mix of Dahl's childhood mischief and pranks, and the touchingly close emotional ties he had with his mother. As a child who was sent abroad for a better education, I totally identify with Dahl's experience at the English boarding school, making his homesickness especially poignant to me.

Overall, this is a wortwhile read for kids (and adults) of all ages and all walks of life. "Boy" is a reminder of the universal childhood mischief, joys and memories that we all share. ... Read more

Product Description
Mr. Hoppy is in love with his neighbor, Mrs. Silver, but she is in love with her pet tortoise. Mr. Hoppy comes up with an idea to get Mrs. Silver’s attention. If his plan works, Mrs. Silver will certainly fall in love with him. After all, everyone knows the way to a woman’s heart is through her tortoise. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

A little bit of crazy fun followed by an unrewarding conclusion
Esio Trot is a fun little book which takes virtually no time to read.It initially captivates the reader with romance in later life and what the man enthralled with a woman will do in order to win her.And this is where the fun begins as well as the zany plot that will captivate the younger audiences for whom this tale was written.

As I said, the story is fun, but far too silly to take any more seriously or be any more enjoyable than the least enjoyable Dr. Seuss book.I was very disappointed that Mrs. Silver never learns the truth behind Mr. Hoppy's exploits.I realize it's meant for children, and therefore many may say that the moral themes are not that serious.But my position is that the moral themes of a children's story are all the more serious if for no other reason than that it is a children's story.

All that to say, check it out of your local library and have a brief period of fun.But afterward I would recommend much more enjoyable and rewarding literature like THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, the Puffin Classics, or even such contemporary favorites as HOLES.

Okay
This book was actually a disappointment, Dahl seems to be saying that deceit in order to achieve one's ends is acceptable. Though it sends a wrong message, it is entertaining to read.

good book......
Hi I'm Elyssa I'm in 2nd grade. I'm 7 years old. I just finished reading Esio Trot .It is about a man named Mr.Hoppy. Who loves a woman named Ms.Silver.Ms.Silver has a pet tortoise that she wants to grow so Mr.Hoppy gives her a piece of paper that says some weird words.I like this book because it is funny. I think the funniest part of this book is when Mr.Hoppy gives Ms.Silver the piece of paper and Ms.Silver says there are an awful lot of poos in there aren't there? I love Roald Dahl books. My favorite Roald Dahl book is Matilda. Matilda is a little girl who can read all the books in her house by the age of 3.I recommend both Matilda and Esio Trot for ages 7 and up. I wish I could tell you the ending .But you'll have to read the book to find out.

TURTLE LOVE-- LITE
Humorist Roald Dahl and illustrator Quentin Blake have teamed up to produce a delightful senior romance. Now, if you are expecting to meet a character hint ed at in the title, forget it, for ESIO TROT is not a name--nor a person--at all.Elderly Mr. Hoppy has a secret crush on his below-balcony neighbor, Mrs. Silver, but how can he earn her gratitude-- and hopefully more--when he is too shy to invite her up for tea?

Desperate to make a favorable impression the gentleman concocts a clever scheme to ingratiate himself with the lady.He courts her by appealing to her devotion to her pet tortoise, Alfie. With great patience and mechanical ingenuity this bashful suitor sets out to win his sweetheart.Literary Disclaimer: No turtles were harmed during the writing of this short, light-hearted read.For kids of all ages!

For dirty old men and to teach small children that cheating is OK
If you don't bother to think about this story, then it is a whimsical little tale (only 55 pages) about a couple of elderly people who have unusual character traits and who end up getting married and living happily ever after. How sweet, just the thing to entertain young malleable minds.

But what is really going on here?

Let's start with Mr. Hoppy, who is retired and who has always been a lonely man and is very shy. Presumably he has never been married. He loves gazing down on Mrs. Silver when she is out on her balcony, which conveniently juts out a good bit further than Mr. Hoppy's balcony.

As for the widow Mrs. Silver, she tells Mr. Hoppy, "I'll be your slave for life" if he can tell her how to make her beloved pet tortoise Alfie grow faster. "Size, of course, was everything," as it says a few pages later.

"Back in his flat, Mr. Hoppy was simply quivering all over in excitement. 'Your slave for life', he kept repeating to himself. What bliss!"

Hmm, time to call in Freud?

So Mr. Hoppy devises a deceitful plan whereby he convinces Mrs. Silver that she should recite a silly incantation to Alfie three times a day. Mrs. Silver is gullible enough to believe this.

Mr. Hoppy then snatches Mrs. Silver's beloved Alfie from the balcony below, and lowers a slightly larger tortoise to replace him. He repeats this operation eight times over the next two months. Mrs. Silver is sure that Alfie has grown due to Mr. Hoppy's incantation that she is still reciting to "Alfie" three times a day.

"You're a miracle-man, you are indeed!" says Mrs. Silver.

"Mrs. Silver, please will you marry me?" blurts out Mr. Hoppy.

As for the illustrations, Mrs. Silver is shown to be a plump and well-endowed woman who favors low-cut dresses. Several drawings show the splendid view that Mr. Hoppy has from his vantage point on the balcony above. No wonder he loves leaning over his balcony-rail and gazing down on Mrs. Silver.

The moral of the story? All's well that ends well.

Rennie Petersen ... Read more

Product Description
These four stories are, by turns, funny, bawdy, touching, and outrageous. They are for lovers of tales that combine the macabre and the erotic with intriguing twists of plot. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

excellent short stories
I rarely read short stories anymore because I think there are very few good writers in this genre. The reason for that, I think, is because good short stories are hard to write. You've got to be able to pack a lot of punch into a small space. And this is exactly what Roald Dahl is able to do. He creates memorably eccentric characters and unexpected plot elements, usually culminating in something deliciously surprising by story's end. I recommend this collection for anyone who appreciates well-crafted short stories. Paul Gehrman, Author, Kaleidoscope

The Return of Uncle Oswald & More
There are only four stories in this collection but it's well worth reading, especially if you've already read MY UNCLE OSWALD, one of the funniest adult books I've ever read (that Roald Dahl wrote a book where he gets to describe all the great minds of Victorian England in the uncontrollable throes of passion is hilarious in itself!).

The two middle stories deal with a scheming husband lusting after his neighbor's wife and a widow looking up a high school sweetheart she dumped 25 years ago.The first and last story star Oswald Cornelius, the cultured lech-at-large whose life appears to be one long sexual adventure.(Reading the last story, I wondered if Dahl could have sued the author of PERFUME since they both wrote about a perfume that provokes men to ravish the closest woman--Dahl for laughs, PERFUME for a dark murder mystery).

Extremely well written, not as smutty as you'd think but still very adult in content, sharp and perceptive.It's been a long time since I read MY UNCLE OSWALD but now I feel like reading it again.If you liked these stories, then check that one out.

Unique, funny, pleasantly disturbing
When I first read Dahl's adult writings as a kid, I was a Wonka and Peach fan. I was surprised to see how easily he dealt with far darker themes, and as an adult I appreciate his wit even more.
Not everything here is great, but the highlights are very special indeed.
Roald twists things around but is never cruel to the reader or character; justice is usually served, often a la carte...
When he's at his best, I'd rank Dahl up there with Saki and O'Henry for knowing how to stand a short story on its head. That's high praise!
Very entertaining.

A Must Have Short Story Collection
This is quite possibly the most entertaining a hilarious collection of short stories I have ever read.Dahl's humor is flawless and he leaves you on the edge throughout every strangely sexual tale in this book.I didn't know what I was getting into when I began reading this for my Comedy in the United States class, but I have never read an author with more style and wit, comparable to Mark Twain, and who never failed to keep me interested throughout the entirety of this collection.It simply leaves you wanting more.

A wonderful collection of my favorite Dahl stories
..
This is easily Dahl's most sfnal work, and is mostly erotic humor, a micro-genre that is in woefully short supply.

Here's a sample from "Bitch", my favorite. The protag has been dosed with the world's most potent aphrodosiac:

[quote] ...the two of us were millions of miles up in outer space, flying through the universe in a shower of meteorites all red and gold. I was riding her bareback... "Faster!" I shouted, jabbing long spurs into her flanks. "Go faster!" Faster and still faster she flew, spurting and spinning around the rim of the sky, her mane streaming with sun, and snow waving out of her tail. The sense of power I had was overwhelming. I was unassailable, supreme. I was the Lord of the Universe, scattering the planets and catching the stars in the palm of my hand...

Oh, ecstasy and ravishment! Oh, Jericho and Tyre and Sidon! The walls came tumbling down and the firmament disintegrated, and out of the smoke and fire of the of the explosion, the sitting-room in the Waldorf Towers came swimming slowly back into my consciousness like a rainy day..."

What a pity that Roald Dahl didn't write more adult fiction. Anyway, if you haven't read Switch Bitch, some wonderfully sly, bawdy and remarkably well-written entertainment awaits you. Bon appetit!

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Great Book
Wonderful stories, fun to read and as the title states perfect short tales to read at bedtime.

Great Gift for Roald Dahl Lover!
I bought this book for my fiance who loved Roald Dahl as a child. I also got him an original copy of Matilda that he read as a kid. He had never read any of Dahl's "adult" fiction and loves it. While he is a great fan, I am pleased that I was able to show him a new side of Roald Dahl that he'd never before known. Thanks for this great collection of stories!

Roald Dahl, The Ever Changing Writer
For many years I had associated Roald Dahl with, "Charlie's Chocolate Factory", "Matilda" etc. REcently I discovered his ghost stories and
other writings. Dahl issomeone likeConan Doyle and Agatha Christie;
you wish they could have lived forever to keep writing tales to enchant us.

bears repeating
To say that Dahl's short stories are superbly plotted and crafted is an understatement. Like Maupassant, he is a master of the surprise ending.
As the introduction notes, those wanting rich characterization had best look elsewhere--say, Chekhov (excellent in his own right). Yet Dahl's stories work on several levels--they are horrifying, witty, sexy and imaginative. And unlike today's gorehounds, Dahl can evoke terror without shedding a single drop of blood.The economy of Dahl's prose makes for repeated reading--I never get tired of reading any of these tales."Royal Jelly," "The Great Switcheroo," and "Genesis and Catastrophe" are especially good, but every story in this collection is a winner. The battle of the sexes is a recurrent theme here, and I can't help but wonder if that was a reflection of his turbulent marriage to Patricia Neal.

Not just for sleepless nights
Roald Dahl has a reputation for being a great writer of disturbing, perverse short stories.This reputation doesn't quite do him justice.Yes, more than a fair share of his stories explore the darker side of human nature, but that's not what he's all about.I think it's more fair to say that he's a talented short story writer, regardless of genre.

Take for example "The Great Automatic Grammatisator."There are no gruesome deaths, no wives murdering their husbands, etc.But it's still a great story, and vintage Dahl.Here he pokes fun at his own profession, inventing a machine that can spit out full-length novels at the press of a button, simply by pulling from a list of generic characters, plot structures, and vocabulary lists.The commentary on the state of the writing profession is not very subtle, but it's hilarious nonetheless.

And that brings us to Dahl's wonderful sense of humor.Take, for instance, the following passage from the same story:"There's a trick that nearly every writer uses, of inserting at least one long, obscure word into each story.This makes the reader think that the man is very wise and clever."When asked where the machine stores all these words, the response is:"In the word-memory section," he said, epexegetically.

Or how about this exchange in "Pig," when a young man goes to the town doctor to request a death certificate for his recently-passed great aunt."My God, is she dead?""Certainly she's dead.If you will come back home with me now I will dig her up and you can see for yourself.""How deep did you bury her?""Six or seven feet down, I should think.""And how long ago?""Oh, about eight hours.""Then she's dead.Here's the certificate."

There are many gems in this collection, and not just the ones that you've probably already read like "Lamb to the Slaughter" and "The Way Up to Heaven."Read them all; only a few are disappointing."Dip in the Pool" is fantastic, as is "The Great Switcheroo."

The one criticism I have of Dahl is that his children's fiction alter-ego tends to make an appearance every once in a while.A handful of his stories are either too simplistic or just plain silly, like they were written for a nine-year-old audience.Sorry, but I can't get into a story about a woman who finds a stray cat and thinks that the reincarnated spirit of Liszt is trapped inside.And occasionally the prose and dialog fail to connect with the mind of an adult reader.But that's okay.Dahl isn't striving for any fancy literary awards.His goal is to entertain, not exercise the mind.
... Read more

Product Description
Matilda longs for her parents to be good and loving and understanding. But they are none of these things. They are perfectly horrid to her. Matilda invents a game of punishing them each time they treat her badly and she soon discovers she has supernatural powers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

A Teachable Moment!
As a teacher in a multi-lingual school, a copy of a book in ANY language other than English is like gold!Matilda is a great book for any child.
Most children today are avid movie goers.A book that "goes with" a movie has gotten my students reading, reading, reading!After viewing the video AND reading the book makes for a great compare and contrast lesson...putting the book in Spanish allows for me to expand that experience and the growth of my Spanish speaking learners!
I highly recommend this book to teachers working with non-English speaking students.

Book Review For Matilda
BOOK REVIEW FOR MATILDA

4/16/02 Arvin

I really liked the book Matilda because the author that wrote this book wrote lots and lots of details in the book that you could imagine the picture of what it would be like. Also I like this book because the girl in the story is very determined to study.

In this story, a little girl lives with two mean parents who are upsets with watching T.V including their son. But not Matilda! She wants to read and study. So when in the morning Matilda�s mom goes out to play bingo and her dad goes to his business with her brother going to school, Matilda goes to the library to read.

One day Matilda goes to school and meets a wonderful teacher. Miss Honey!But not only does Matilda meet a nice teacher, but also Matilda finds out something about her that no one else can do.Magic!Matilda uses her ability on her real enemy The Trunchbull.

Through reading this book, I have learned a valuable lesson.The father of Matilda loved to earn money so he cheated on the people, and his cars were cheap and would break down very fast.That was lying.I learned not to lie because Matilda�s father got in trouble and ran away.Another lesson I learned was to not give up!When Matilda meets the mean principle, Matilda didn�t stop standing up for herself and did not give up.

Read this trilling story to walk through the adventures with Matilda! It will never get off your hands until you are finished reading this book. I loved this book and I think you will too!

Another Dahl Masterpiece...
Matilda is the enchanting tale of a five-year-old girl who has more brain power than any adult you'll come across. Matilda Wormwood started showing her spectacular skills at birth, but her parents(the naive little gits), did not take the slightest of notice. Soon enough, however, she is sent to Crunchem Hall, a horrid school whose Headmistress is the Towering Terror, The Trunchbull. She hates children, and will stop at nothing to make their lives miserable. She too fails to notice Matilda's extraordinary prowess. But, the Trunchbull does get her just desserts. Using her newly found telekinetic powers, Matilda gets revenge on all those who abused and neglected her. You can take my word for it, or read the book for yourself. The choice is yours.

All I can say to conclude this is that Roald Dahl's Matilda is definitely worth the time.

Matilda
Matilda

The novel, Matilda, by Roald Dahl, is a story about young Matilda's discovery of books and her school years. Matilda is a girl who falls in love with books by the time she is three. She goes to the library every day while her mother is playing bingo. That is, until she goes to primary school. Matilda works hard to study ahead of her classes. Also, she plays secret tricks on her parents when they are more mean than usual to her. Matilda has to find a way to get through primary school without getting expelled.
I like Matilda, the main character. She is wise and very bright. Miss Honey has a great personality, she's very sweet, and isn't very wealthy. I didn't like "The Trunchbull" because she was evil and hated all little kids no matter what. Mr. And Mrs. Wormwood are so mean to Matilda, no wonder she wants to go to the library and get her mind off her home and family. The message of Matilda is to do what you'd like, and not what others do. That will get you farther. The ending was the best part of the entire story (but I can't tell you why!). The part I disliked was when Ms. Trunchbull blamed Matilda for something she didn't do. I was very satisfied with the ending because something you don't expect happens to Matilda.
Roald Dahl keeps his audience interested and paying attention. He gives in detail what each person looks like and how they act. Some of the vocabulary is a little difficult, but most vocabulary you will be able to understand. Children of all ages will enjoy this story, but I recommend it for ages 9 to 13because of vocabulary reasons. I definitely recommend this book because of the adventure she has in her small town. You don't have to go far to have fun! I give this book ***** out of *****.

MDF

Matilda
Gotta check this out if you have already seen the movie and loved it or if you have not seen the movie yet. Matilda is one of my favorite books and is funny. With the Trunchball nothing can stop Matilda. She is one smart kid with the principal and her father telling her that she is nothing but a pain ... Then there is Ms. Honey telling her that she is a sweet child. Matilda reads a lot and does some prettty nasty stuff to her dad. Only when he deserves it of coures. Matilda is also pretty sneaky and is able to do magic powers. With lots of laughs this book is for you. ... Read more

Product Description

Roald Dahl's hilarious and outrageous novels have made him one of the most popular children's authors of all time. Here, the author himself brings five of his wickedly funny stories to life:

Customer Reviews (4)

Awesome collection
I bought this collection for my son's fifth birthday, it is a year and a half later and this collection is still on a nightly rotation.He absolutely loves to listen to Roald Dahl read these wonderful books.I highly recommend this audio collection!

Mr. Dahl reads his own stories
I purchased this recording on cassette at a flea market and have been absolutely delighted with it - oh, yeah, my 7-year-old likes it, too!Roald Dahl's voice fleshes out the stories and characters, as well as his typical dry observations, in a refreshing departure that satisfies kids and adults alike (we've been testing it). Remember the songs the Oompa-Loompas sang in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" or the poems in "James and the Giant Peach?" I found them to be a bit disruptive when I read those books as a child; didn't "get" them. Hearing Mr. Dahl read them really allowed me to enjoy them as well.
One word to the content:I'd forgotten that Roald Dahl does write (and read) about some tough stuff, "warts and all," as it were.Sponge and Speicker are hateful and abusive to James.The three farmers in "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" are portrayed in disgusting detail.James loses his parents scarily and suddenly when they are killed in New York (richly enough, they are eaten by a rhinocerous, which are neither native to New York nor carniverous).It's a tough world in his books.Yet it's a wondrous, fanciful one.I want my son to hang on to the perfect illusion of the latter and learn about the former aspect of the world as late as possible.He's already got hip to the tough world bit, though; so we'll aim to integrate life's knocks and laughs as best we can.
The first words I hear when I start the car engine are "Kid's tape!" sometimes alternating with, "Kid's tape, please?" or "Would you please put on a kid's tape when you get the chance?" (Guess who suggested that last version?)Suffice to say, I hear a lot of "kid's tapes," so I prefer ones I can enjoy as well.This is one of those. The recordings are long, too, like this r-

Wonderful set
We bought this set for our 5-year-old son after having checked it out of the library a kazillion times. The authorwho reads the stories has a wonderful story-telling voice. My son listens to them over and over and over again. Great stories to read, and a wonderful CD set to listen to.

Grandkids love these CDs!
I ordered this CD set for my grandkids to listen to.They have "joint custody" of the set.It rotates from house to house by the week.This is part of a circulating set that they listen to a bedtime.On busy nights, when Mom and Dad don't have time to read, this satisfies their desire for a bedtime story, plus it lasts longer than a short story or two.They sometimes drift off to sleep listening to the CDs.With 11 grandkids, this comes in handy.I'm very glad I bought this set and am so impressed that it is read by the author.This way we get the intended inflection and each nuance. ... Read more

Product Description
When Roald Dahl, a dashing young wounded RAF pilot, took up his post at the British Embassy in Washington in 1942, his assignment was to use his good looks, wit, and considerable charm to gain access to the most powerful figures in American political life. A patriot eager to do his part to save his country from a Nazi invasion, he invaded the upper reaches of the U.S. government and Georgetown society, winning over First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her husband, Franklin; befriending wartime leaders from Henry Wallace to Henry Morgenthau; and seducing the glamorous freshman congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce.

Dahl would soon be caught up in a complex web of deception masterminded by William Stephenson, aka Intrepid, Churchill's legendary spy chief, who, with President Roosevelt's tacit permission, mounted a secret campaign of propaganda and political subversion to weaken American isolationist forces, bring the country into the war against Germany, and influence U.S. policy in favor of England. Known as the British Security Coordination (BSC) -- though the initiated preferred to think of themselves as the Baker Street Irregulars in honor of the amateurs who aided Sherlock Holmes -- these audacious agents planted British propaganda in American newspapers and radio programs, covertly influenced leading journalists -- including Drew Pearson, Walter Winchell, and Walter Lippmann -- harassed prominent isolationists and anti-New Dealers, and plotted against American corporations that did business with the Third Reich.

In an account better than spy fiction, Jennet Conant shows Dahl progressing from reluctant diplomat to sly man-about-town, parlaying his morale-boosting wartime propaganda work into a successful career as an author, which leads to his entrée into the Roosevelt White House and Hyde Park and initiation into British intelligence's elite dirty tricks squad, all in less than three years. He and his colorful coconspirators -- David Ogilvy, Ian Fleming, and Ivar Bryce, recruited more for their imagination and dramatic flair than any experience in the spy business -- gossiped, bugged, and often hilariously bungled their way across Washington, doing their best to carry out their cloak-and-dagger assignments, support the fledgling American intelligence agency (the OSS), and see that Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term.

It is an extraordinary tale of deceit, double-dealing, and moral ambiguity -- all in the name of victory. Richly detailed and meticulously researched, Conant's compelling narrative draws on never-before-seen wartime letters, diaries, and interviews and provides a rare, and remarkably candid, insider's view of the counterintelligence game during the tumultuous days of World War II.Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, September 2008:Long before Willy Wonka sent out those five Golden Tickets, Roald Dahl lived a life that was more James Bond than James and the Giant Peach. After blinding headaches cut short his distinguished career as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot, Dahl became part of an elite group of British spies working against the United States' neutrality at the onset of World War II. The Irregulars is a brilliant profile of Dahl's lesser-known profession, embracing a real-life storyline of suave debauchery, clandestine motives, and afternoon cocktails.If this sounds oddly familiar, it's no coincidence: both Ian Fleming (the creator of 007) and Bill Stephenson (the legendary spymaster rumored to be the inspiration for Bond) were members of the same outfit. Although "Dahl...Roald Dahl" doesn't quite carry the same debonair ring, there is no discrediting this fascinating look at the British author's covert service to the Allied cause during WWII. --Dave Callanan

... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Rote historical work
For a story about a dashing young RAF pilot turned spy, you would expect some excitement, but there isn't much here. Mostly this is because the overall subject matter is not that interesting. This isn't cloak and dagger stuff. It's politics and influence. So there's lots of paper pushing, creating rumors, and trading information among high society types. What intrigue does come up is really quite tame. After a promising start, I had to force my way through the rest of the book.

Well, Irregular
I found this book to be somewhat tedious.Roald Dahl seems to go from one "affair" to another.Both Churchill and FDR seem to be trying to use him for their own ends.He seems to have found a way to "do his patriotic duty" by flipping from one bed or party to the next.Heck of a way to spend the war.

I never found myself sufficiently engaged to "like" the title character.(I've read other books about really rotten people who, I'm ashamed to say but credit the author, I somewhat "liked" by the end of the book.This is not one of those books.)After the first hundred pages, I really had to force myself to continue.

There is some good background information.If the reader had never been exposed to the "chess game" Winnie and FDR were playing with each other, he'd learn something of it here.I already knew that LBJ was a womanizing scoundrel, but it was nice to see it confirmed.

If you enjoy gossip columns, I suppose you'll like this.I don't/didn't.

Roald Dahl before the children's books
If you have kids or grandkids you probably know Roald Dahl as the writer of children's books. Among his best known are James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda, all of which have been made into movies of varying quality. The books, however, all hold to a high standard.

But this book is not about Roald Dahl, the writer of children's books and silly poems. This is about Roald Dahl before he found that talent within himself. In WWII, after he was invalided out of the RAF, he was assigned to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., where he was recruited by British Intelligence to spy on the U.S.

Did you think all the spies in the U.S. during WWII were German or Japanese or Italian? Well, they weren't. Britain was concerned that the U.S. would wait the war out -- sentiment was strong in the U.S. to stay out of the war. Churchill wanted to know who in our government supported helping England and who didn't. So a group of "friendly" spies, Dahl among them, gathered information that was forwarded to England.

It is an interesting account of Washington during WWII from a perspective seldom encountered. I enjoyed it both as history and as a side I didn't know of an author I have long appreciated.

No Spark
I trudged through 100 pages or so of this book and could not finish it. Books of this genre that work the best give you a great sense of time and place. This book did not do that for me. There were too many characterswith to little meaning.

"Unreliable Narrators"
The subject of this interesting book, which I read through to the end, is ostensibly espionage. The spies though, which included not only Dahl but also Ian Fleming and Noel Coward, flit through the narrative rather like moths in the background. Because their activities are only dimly lit (and none of them gets close enough to the flame to be burned), one gets only occasional glimpses of the precise nature of what they actually did (which may indicate their effectiveness as spies). Dahl's own character, which seems to hover between British Schoolboy humor and Nordic angst, remains as elusive as does the account of his espionage.

The book, however, provides insight on behind-the-scenes politics of wartime Washington. I was particularly fascinated reading about those politicians whose names I remember hearing on the radio (or my parents discussing) but to which I never paid much attention as a child. It was especially interesting to read about Roosevelt at Hyde Park and the early ascent of Lyndon Johnson. It was also interesting to read that the president then had as much opposition as the president now. Things do not seem to change much in politics.

In her introduction, the author notes that "spies are notoriously unreliable narrators." Perhaps this is why the substance ofthe book remains elusive and the title seems misleading. I think that the book would have been more aptly titled: "Roald Dahl in Wartime Washington." Then some readers, who have criticized the book, would not have been expecting revelations about espionage that never materialize.

I would recommend this book, which is subtly footnoted (The quotes are cited by page number at the back of the book.) and has a respectable bibliography, to anyone who is interested in the Washington scene of the 1940s. Since I am a layman as far as the history of wartime Washington is concerned, I cannot comment on the reliability of the narrative, but I can say that I found it quite compelling. ... Read more

Product Description
A 3-tape collection of Roald Dahl's work. ... Read more

Product Description
anny’s dad had a secret, but now the secret’s outand it’s going to lead Danny on the adventure ofa lifetime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Favorite of my Daughter and Grandchildren
When my daughter was a child, a friend was teaching at a military base in the UK.Mr. Dahl came to the base to promote his new book.He was better known in the UK for his scary adult books.She purchased a book and had it autographed to my daughter with a prepublished date.My grandkids love the book and I am adding more of his children's books to their collection.

Ethical challenges?
I just want to chime in here and express what a fantastic book this was for me growing up. It was the first full book I read as a child that had a real, engaging plot and wasn't a comic book.
The primary reason for my review is to share with potential parents that the only thing I ever remembered about this book (keep in mind that I only read it once) was the relationship the son had with the father and that poaching is bad. I've seen a few reviews that make mention of this ethical topic in the story and I feel THAT is what keeps it from being one of Dahl's more popular stories. So, from my inner child's mind, I assure you that the story is stronger than the message. And that if you're a good parent you can be there to answer any questions that the child may have. But, like I said, I read it without supervision from my school's book club over 30 yeas ago and I never poached any pheasants nor judged rich people as being evil along the way. I am looking forward to reading it again. Maybe to my own child someday.
That is all.

Champion
The book was a gift to my son for Christmas, Impeccable and fast service. Thanks

great book
I read this book when I was in 4th grade. Roald Dahl is a wonderful author. The story was great fun. I loved the relationship between Danny and his father. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has kids. for the people reviewing this book who say that roald dalh encourages poaching. It is just a work of fiction, meant to entertain and it does a wonderful job.

Stellar storytelling from the master: a beautiful reflection on the child-parent relationship
Danny is a poor child, who has lost his mother.But thanks largely to his father's spirit and strength, Danny lives a life that is rich and purposeful. With his father Danny finds the magic in late-night snacks and walks in the wood.He learns to cherish the simple things all around him and the great joy in being with a loved one.All of these things are greatly heightened in the novel's core pursuit: the game of poaching pheasants.Danny discovers with his father the excitement in a nerve-wracking sport: but most of all, he discovers again that, whatever the outcome, the greatest game of all is being with the ones you love.One of my top five favorite books as a kid, and now one of my daughter's too.Like Danny and his father, my daughter and I, in reading this book, found connectedness and pleasure in the time shared together. ... Read more

Product Description
Did you know that Roald Dahl loved chocolate, but never ate spaghetti?Or that he was a terrible speller? Or that he had four sisters?D Is for Dahl is an A to Z collection of facts, trivia, and zany detailsthat bring Roald Dahl and his memorable characters to life. Filledwith Quentin Blake’s illustrations plus black-and-white photos, eachspread is exploding with information about the creator of Willie Wonka,James, and Matilda—from his family tree to the exact type of pencil heused to write his stories. Perfect for devoted fans and Dahl newcomersalike, this is a gloriumptious guide to the world of Roald Dahl. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

great book
i loved the book because i learned a lot and i liked how it wasn't paragraph after paragraph and it was just plain facts. very organized.

Dahl, biography, humor
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 10) for Reader Views (2/08)

"D is for Dahl: A gloriumptious A-Z guide to the world of Roald Dahl," by Roald Dahl and Wendy Cooling, is not a kindergartner's A-B-C book but a quirky alphabetized biography.This book is full of fun, humorous, eclectic and even inspirational facts about Roald Dahl.

Despite its unusual format, the reader will be entertained and learn a lot about one of the world's best children's authors.The entries are brief but meaty. For example, under F there is an entry for "Freezer."The paragraph describes how Roald Dahl stretched his shoes by filling his shoes with plastic bags full of water and then putting the shoes in the freezer.Making the book even more appealing are funny illustrations by Quentin Blake, who illustrated most of Roald Dahl's books.There are also photos, a copy of his report card, and a few recipes.

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Great Britain to Norwegian parents.He wrote twenty-seven children's books, including the well-loved "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "The Witches" and "James and the Giant Peach."He was very critical of his own work and was only truly pleased with Matilda.He had an excellent sense of humor and said that his funniest moment was being born.

My favorite part of the book was learning that Roald Dahl loved chocolate so much and the fact that he thought that kids should learn the dates of when all the greatest candies were made instead of dates in history.He once said "If I were a headmaster I would get rid of the history teacher and get a chocolate teacher instead."

I would recommend this book to fans of Roald Dahl's books. People who want to be writers would also enjoy this book because it talks about how he got his ideas for books and how he planned his daily routine to get his writing done."D is for Dahl" was a great book, and I hope that every one who reads it likes it as much as I did.

Fun new info on a great author
This is a great review of Dahl's life and career in a really fun format that will make it fun for kids.By making it an "alphabet book" his life and times are peppered with bits from his books, funny words he invented, and lots of great illustration from Blake.I've been reading it just a bit at a time in order to savor it, because it's worth it.This is a must have for Dahl fans of any age. ... Read more

Product Description
Misogynist, anti-Semite, misanthrope -- Roald Dahl was reputed to be these, as well as war hero, devoted father, and philanthropist. As a friend once commented, "almost anything you could say about him would be true." To some, Dahl was the dashing husband of actress Patricia Neal and loving family man. To others, he was a ruthless, egotistical bully. And to millions worldwide, Dahl was the Evelyn Waugh of children's books, the beloved scrumdiddlyumptious storyteller of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, The Witches, and James and the Giant Peach, among other classics.

In this acclaimed unauthorized biography of Dahl, Jeremy Treglown reveals the man behind the controversy, tracing Dahl's life from its comfortable beginnings through shocking personal tragedy and enormous commercial success to his death in 1990. Drawing on Dahl's correspondence as well as on interviews with Patricia Neal, two surviving children, and numerous others, Treglown has crafted a "scrupulously fair-minded" portrait of a complex man, "the perfect antidote to Dahl's own triumph at image making" (New York Times Book Review). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Decent biography of often unlikable author
Decently good biography of Dahl, an often unlikable author of famous children's books, and a few less famous adult ones.

Most famously, of course, are James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Puffin Novels), both made into major Hollywood movies with loving attention to detail and no expenses spared.

Dahl would have approved.

it sure helped
this biograhpy helped me learn more about this wonderful author, and see into the depths of Dahl's works. ... Read more

Product Description
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the kitchen-Roald Dahl's recipes are back!Inspired by his most popular stories, these recipes use the most common ingredients to create the most uncommon treats.Not sure how to entertain the kiddies?Surprise them with tummyticklers like Pickled Spines of Porcupines and Hornets Stewed in Tar.There's no better way to liven up a party than to dine on Lizards' Tails and enjoy a delicious Liquid Chocolate Mixed by Waterfall.Like anything by Roald Dahl, it's sure to be extraordinarily funny!

illustrated by Quentin Blake ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thirty One Dreadful Recipes!!
Recipes revolting beyond belief include the Royal Breakfast for the BFG, Hot House Eggs, The Hotel Breakfast from BOY, Hornets Stewed in Tar from JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, Pickled Spines of Porcupines from JAMES, Doc Spencer's Pie from DANNY CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, Phishlets from GIRAFFE THE PELLY AND ME, Plushnuggets to go with GIRAFFE, Strawberry Bon Bons to go with BOY, Tummy Ticklers to go with GIRAFFE, Boiled Slobbages to go with JAMES, Glumptious Globgobblers to go with GIRAFFE, Toad in the Hole to go with GIRAFFE, Willy Wonka's Whipple-scrumptous Fudgemallow Delight to go with CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Hot Noodles Made From Poodles to go with JAMES, Hot Dogs to go with JAMES, Grobswitchy Cake to go with THE BFG, A Plate of Soil with Engine Oil to go with JAMES, and twelve more! Kids will love reading and eating in this dreadful combination volume. Also check out other recipes at www.cookingupreading.com

a fun read, but not great recipes
I own this book along with the orignial Revolting Recipes.While the premise of the book is lots of fun and may encourage kids to get into the kitchen, the recipes themselves are quite disapointing.None that I've made have turned out well.Magic Green Crystal: into the garbage. The Whipple-Scrumptios Fudgemallow Delight was a pain to make and it tasted awful.Many of the recipes have missing or vauge directions, such as Pishlets' "Spoon into the baking pan and spread evenly", but they don't say what size baking pan nor how thin to spread the mixture.Do I use an 8x8 pan?A 10x17 pan?There's also a lot of recipes that I'm just unwilling to try because I'm suspicious of the ingredient combinations, such as Plushnuggets (puff pastry with bananas, maple syrup and OLIVE OIL). Other recipes just seem impractical for their ingredients (amber sugar crystals??) or portions (Bean's Cider: 4 apples, pureed and strained to make 1 mug cider).It's fun to read through though, which is why it does get 3 stars, and may very well entice a reader to go pick up one of Dahl's other books from which the recipes are based.

Great fun in a cookbook
These recipes are presented in classic Roald Dahl style.Each recipe takes its name from Dahl's books such as Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight and Spitsizzlers.Quentin Blake, who illustrated many of Dahl's books also lends a hand to this collection so the reader truly relates to the material as if these were the recipes that Dahl spoke of in his books.Also, each recipe starts out with a quote from the book that served as that recipe's namesake.The author is careful to note that several of these recipes require an adult's supervision as they are listed as part of the ingredients in those recipes that use heat.This will be a clever addition to the cookbook collection that may even inspire the reader to look into Dahl's books serving as the inspiration for these recipes. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Before he was a world-renowned children's book writer, Roald Dahl was a master of short stories for adults. The eleven tales collected here represent his finest work. By turns shocking, ironic, humorous, and touching, these stories are filled with bizarre twists and unexpected delights, and prove Roald Dahl's standing as one of the world's foremost storytellers. Readers will be spellbound from the opening lines.

"Packed with imaginative characters, quirky plots, and surprise endings, these eleven gems are the kinds of stories readers will want to share with their friends." (Children's Literature)

"These stories offer teens a superbly crafted, satisfying read." (Booklist)Amazon.com Review
"'This is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I'm afraid,' he said." With those words, Patrick Maloney seals his fate. He has no idea that his mousy wife, Mary, isn't about to take his abandonment of their marriage lightly. He never sees the frozen leg of lamb that hits him squarely in the noggin. And he'll never know how tidily Mary cleans up the evidence--by having the local police dine on the murder weapon! The late Roald Dahl, best known for children's novels such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, also wrote many wonderfully wicked short stories, like the aforementioned "Lamb to the Slaughter," collected in Skin, a succinct, darkly humorous anthology for teen readers. Besides the murderous Mary Maloney, a host of other odd characters will leave teens gasping with surprise or chuckling with guilty laughter. In "The Surgeon," Dr. Robert Sandy is given a priceless diamond in exchange for saving a life, promptly loses it, then recovers it again from the strangest of places. "An African Story" chronicles a lonely mountain hermit's bid for revenge that involves a deadly black mamba snake, and "The Sound Machine" describes how a wacky inventor nearly drives himself mad when he creates a contraption that allows him to pick up noises outside the human range of hearing. There is something for the naughty side of everyone in this Twilight Zone-ish compilation, a recommended read for fans of Dahl's other teen short-story collection, The Umbrella Man. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Hits and Misses From One of the Best Storytellers of Our Time
Roald Dahl is one of the best storytellers of our time.As evidenced by this short story collection, not everything he wrote was great, but his control over the English language is a rare gift.The way he can have two people talking about such a mundane issue, debating back and forth, without making it monotonous or boring is truly admirable, and just one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading this book.I'll break it down, story by story.

SKIN: Weak beginning that builds up to a story of great intrigue that serves as a great opener to this volume.

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER: Probably Dahl's most popular short, and rightfully so.It's deliciously cruel and just so witty.

THE SOUND MACHINE: Captivating and somewhat scary.Top three.

AN AFRICAN STORY: Staggeringly creative and just so odd.Beautifully written story from an imagination so vast and so weird that it'll leave you wondering where all of those ideas come from.

GALLOPING FOXLEY: Great build-up that ends in a somewhat cheap twist, but still, overall, a good read.

THE WISH: Worst story in the collection. A shot at metaphorical story telling that lands on incoherent.

THE SURGEON: Could very well be my favorite of the collection. A unique tale that is so well told that you might find yourself wanting to peek at the end to see how it turns out.

DIP IN THE POOL: One of the less entertaining stories here.

THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD: Captivating and hilarious.

BEWARE OF DOG: The opening scene is evocative, describing the thought process of a pilot who has lost his leg, and how he tries to bale out of his craft.The second half of the story is still interesting, but noticeably loses its footing after the initial attraction.

MY LADY, MY DOVE: Very interesting story about a man with an overbearing wife, and how the two of them react to things very differently.There are so many interesting ideas at work here, from the "secret" way of playing the game to the twist ending.

7/10

You will be jumping out of your "skin"!
"...Mary Maloney simply walked up behind him and without any pause swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down as hard as she could on the back of his head..."
Patrick Maloney was dead.
In "Skin" come eleven chilling tales that are sure to keep you hooked from the beginning words right up until the horrifying surprise ending. Roald Dahl (Celebrated children's writer; author of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.") will shock you with his audacious writing in "Skin." Who would guess that Mrs. Maloney, after successfully killing her husband with a frozen leg of lamb, would later feed the only evidence to the police? Or that an avaricious art dealer would stop at nothing, not even an innocent old man's life, to get a painting...that was tattooed on the poor man's back?
These wicked tales are sure to keep you open-mouthed with shock through each story, only to leave you rapacious for more once it's finished.Each story begins with a sweet and innocent storyline with what you think an obvious and predictable ending. Only until the last few pages does Roald Dahl drop the bombshell that will blow you away and keep you petrified for days afterward.
For example in "the Sound Machine," an ingenious yet nutty inventor creates a machine that reveal terrifying and astonishing sounds unknown to the human ear. And in "The Surgeon," a man's extremely valuable diamond is stolen, only to turn up again in the most unusual of places!!
If you enjoy "Skin", I recommend for you "The Umbrella Man" by the same author.
This is a rare read; don't pass it up! I can guarantee you'll love and treasure this book forever. Enjoy!

this book sucks!!!
This book totally sucks! When I bought it, I was like, yes! a good book finally! But majorly, this book is the worst book ever! I repeat: DON'T GET THIS BOOK!

TOO GOOD
Very good. Beyond words to describe..so i won't heheh =)

I liked it very much.

Such nice little stories...
Roald Dahl is such an endearing writer. His stories seem like cute little childrens stories, using very basic vocabulary and a style that does not even allude to being poetic. But then the plot twist at the end of each leaves you wondering how his sick mind comes up with these ideas. After the first 2 or 3 stories you start expecting the plot twists, and you find yourself wondering how he will spin the story you are reading into something dark and disturbing - and this curiosity drives you straight to the end of the story before you know it.

A good book that you will be able to put down, but I doubt it will take you more than 11 sessions to finish - I simply can't imagine putting this book down mid-story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A favorite
Love the book.Its one of the few that I remember reading as a kid.I was excited to see that I could still buy it many years later.What a fun read for boys! ... Read more

Product Description
Uncle Oswald, the great rogue and fornicator, has discovered the world's most powerful aphrodisiac and a method of quick-freezing sperm. So with the help of the gorgeous Yasmin Howcomely, he sets out to preserve 51 living geniuses and crowned heads, from James Joyce to King Albert and Henry Ford.Amazon.com Review
The nameless narrator has revealed snippets of the lovable,lascivious Uncle Oswald's life in other collections, but this is theonly novel--brief though it is--dedicated solely to the diaries of"the greatest fornicator of all time." Inspired by storiesof the aphrodisiac powers of the Sudanese blister beetle, thepalpable seductiveness of the lovely Yasmin Howcomely, and thescientific know-how of Professor A. R. Woresley, Uncle Oswald anticipates the concept of the Nobel sperm bank by some 40 years, flimflamming crowned heads, great artists, and eccentric geniuses intomaking "donations."The life of a commercial spermbroker has a few surprises even for a sophisticated bonvivant, and Dahl manages his signature sting-in-the-tail endingeven in one of his lightest comic works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

Juicy reading
Roald Dahl's only adult novel, and had me wishing there was more. It's unlike anything I've ever read before; creative, brilliant and devilishly silly.
Recommended reading!!

Very good book, but not the best Dahl has ever written
Roald Dahl's first novel for adults is definitely good. The writing is good, the humor is good, and of course you get the satisfying twist at the end. Although some may simply dismiss this as a book about sex, the plot is very clever and Roald Dahl did a fantastic job coming up with the whole idea, and pulling through with it. It's very interesting reading how the various famous people are portrayed in the particular situation. Very well written.

I have read many of Roald Dahl's short stories and children's books, and I personally love his writing style. With that said, I do not think that My Uncle Oswald is the best story he's ever written, but still a very good one, and a good read.

A new fan of Dahl
I can't wait for my next Roald Dahl book to get here! "My Uncle Oswald" was deliciously naughty and a good, quick read.

Dated and barely funny
All of the rave reviews on Amazon convinced me to give "My Uncle Oswald" a try. What I read led me to believe I was going to encounter a well-written ribald and hilarious satire.

I was disappointed. On all counts.

While there was nothing wrong with the writing technically, it was simply light -- the kind of thing Dahl must had dashed off in a week. Or, possibly, a short story that got away from him and he just said, "Why not?" and kept going until he'd fleshed it out (no pun intended_) to book-length.

The sexual satire was light as well -- not in the sense of being delicate or playful; just insubstantial and without edge or point. Like the kind of risque joke one's grandmother might tell.

I think at the time of publication this book may have generated a little excitement because its story line revolves completely around sex. But that's about as far as it goes. The language and situations haven't aged well at all: All the sexuality is cloaked in euphemism and nearly all described off-scene, which generates an "eyes-averted" tone that reduces the impact of the satire.

For real ribald satire that has an edge, I recommend Thomas Berger.

A fun and enjoyable (albeit slightly disturbing) read!
Growing up with Roald Dahl's childrens' books, I didn't really know what to expect of his grown-up fiction. This book came with a few friends' recommendations and I couldn't put it down. The narrative style is very intimate and irreverently British. Despite the protagonist's somewhat morally dubious actions and ambitions, he was still quite loveable and "relateable". The whole story was a mere snippet of Uncle Oswald's journal and I wish there was more! ... Read more

Product Description
The new vicar of Nibbleswicke possesses a speech impediment that leads to holy hysteria in an otherwise quiet country parish. Reprint. AB. K. PW. SLJ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Fiction or Not - this book is NOT funny to the Dyslexic
I was not thrilled at all with this book. Yes, it has a humorous spin on an eccentric Vicar. But, I can tell you now, the LAST thing a dyslexic needs to read or hear about is inaccuracies about their dyslexic struggles. I know that my son would much rather people UNDERSTAND his dyslexia then laugh at it. Just because it isn't a disability that can be seen doesn't mean it isn't a real issue for a child. I caution teachers that may feel lead to read this in a classroom setting. With 15-20% of the population struggling with this learning disability, there will be a few kids that won't find it so humorous.

A good laugh
This is a great book. When I read it outloud, I laugh so hard my stomach starts hurting.

Dangerously misleading view of dyslexia
As a parent of a dyslexic, I am concerned that this book presents a misleading view of dyslexia. In particular, dyslexics don't normally make errors of speech as the vicar does - their problems are typically more with reading. The idea that a dyslexic would ever introduce himself to someone by using an orthographically-backwards rendition of his last name is ludicrous. Also, the error of completely reversing the pronunciation of a long word is particularly ridiculous. Swapping a couple of letters, sure, but turning "trespasses" into "sessapsert"? Come on! More insidious is the idea that dyslexia can be easily cured. The doctor suggests the vicar walk backwards! I'm not trying to be the "PC police" here, but if this book is read by your child, it should be accompanied by an honest discussion of the subject of dyslexia from a less fictional standpoint.

Funny
Although this is not our favorite Roald Dahl book, it was a real treat.The vicar was a harmless, innocent character who gave us a big laugh.We did not find the "bathroom" humor offensive - it was clearly in good fun -more of what we have come to expect from Dahl.

Fun and silly!
This is a short but sweet story of a dyslexic vicar called Robert Lee that joins his first parish. He is nervous about his first day, as the previous vicar died and never got to show him the ropes; so nervous is Lee that he develops a new spin-off disease of dyslexia where he says words backwards. Word games being fun on their own, Dahl adds his usual flare for borderline adult humor. (One scenario has him addressing the parish to tell them that while the roads may be long and with few stops, that people in town should notjust "krap" on the side of the road as they please; there's also one on the proper amount of wine to take during the communion, to which he answers along the lines of "pis" slowly and gently and you'll have no problems of running out. Finding the naughty jokes was incredible fun, and the lighthearted approach to solving the vicar's problem by walking backwards so the words come out frontwards is charming. Fun! ... Read more