Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Harmondsworth, Eng. : Penguin Books in association with Michael Joseph, 1962.
Description
In these wickedly anarchic stories, Dahl explores the dark, sinister side of the psyche: the cunning, sly, selfish part of human nature that makes for unexpected outcomes and horrifying conclusions.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ocgreg34
This collection of 11 stories deal with the intricacies—and sometimes the horrors—of love. Most of the stories throw a twist into the mix, such as the tale of a priest trying to stave off a horde of hungry women in "Georgy Porgy" or the tale of a husband who wanted immortality so he agrees to
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have his brain removed and preserved much to the devilish delight of his haggard wife in "William and Mary". A few other stories deal with a different kind of love, such as that for a man who dresses as a parson to secure antique furniture from unwitting farmers in "Parson's Pleasure" or the landlady who doesn't want her boarders to leave—ever—in "The Landlady". They're all wonderfully twisted and delightful to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member espadana
Dark, macabre and incredibly funny. I knew some of Dahl's children's books, but had never read any of his other work, so "Kiss Kiss" was a great surprise. I loved everything about the stories, but especially the black zany humour that Dahl so perfectly masters. A great collection, and I will
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definitely go back for more. Show Less
LibraryThing member stipe168
I don’t read enough crappy books, but if I did I would understand the genius of Roald Dahl. This is a collection of his short stories. They are flowing, seamless, devilish, eccentric, amazing.
LibraryThing member datrappert
It really isn't fair to rate a book like this after reading it straight through. Knowing Dahl, you are aware that every story is going to have an "unexpected" ending -- trouble is, because you know that, the ending often isn't unexpected at all. After reading a few stories, you either get bored
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with it or exasperated - especially the story about the piece of Chippendale furniture. So, perhaps if you read one of these stories, then wait six months for the next, it might get 4 stars. For a bit more refined and long-lasting take on this sort of writing, try John Collier. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ameise1
This was a fantastic listening. There are ten short stories, each beginning very harmless and ending with something macabre each time. His writing style is great and British black humor comes with every story. As a listener, you wait curiously for the end, even if you can usually guess what will
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happen. The nape of the hairs begin to pose and it makes great pleasure when the solution comes. Show Less
LibraryThing member richardderus
Rating: 2.75* of five
A cruel and demanding husband, or so his first wife Patricia Neal would have us know; a creepy old party, as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory amply demonstrated, with a great deal of disdain for Jewishness and gluttony and greed in general. His adult fiction is largely out of
I decided to read this collection for some reason or another (maybe it was the 1960 Edgar-winning story, "The Landlady"?), I can't honestly recall why now. I know that I began to regret my decision as early as "William and Mary," the second story, wherein this is from the text of a letter written by Dahl as coming from beyond the grave of a man to his newly-widowed wife of thirty years:
"He is a magnificent neurosurgeon, one of the finest, and recently he has been kind enough to let me study the results of some of his work, especially the varying effects of prefrontal lobotomies upon different types of psychopath."
And then he goes on to give orders like "don't get a TV" and "disconnect the phone because I don't need it anymore"! How appalling. Sixty years ago, when this collection was published, that wasn't, whole and entire, a horrendous thing to say? I'd say it was, but I was a babe in arms at the time and have no direct knowledge of the way it would sound to the era's denizens. I suspect it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow on either of my parents, but they were right wingnuts and often didn't hear things that made, and make, my skin crawl.
And with this mordant but unamusing set of eleven weirdly unappealing tales, Dahl leaves my readerly ken for. fucking. ever. No more. No! I refuse. I liked three of the eleven stories enough to be glad that I'd read them, and recognized one story from my long-ago high-school read of it in an anthology I had to buy for school, but that's just not enough for me to want to know more about what went on in Roald Dahl's head.
A cruel and demanding husband, or so his first wife Patricia Neal would have us know; a creepy old party, as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory amply demonstrated, with a great deal of disdain for Jewishness and gluttony and greed in general. His adult fiction is largely out of
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print in the US, and he was never really quite The Thing here as he was in Britain. I suppose his light sneers at us, so evident in his attitude towards the US's involvement in the Second World War, prevented his eventual literary rise from gaining the same boost as it did among the countrymen who saw, heard, absorbed his flying prowess and spying nous.I decided to read this collection for some reason or another (maybe it was the 1960 Edgar-winning story, "The Landlady"?), I can't honestly recall why now. I know that I began to regret my decision as early as "William and Mary," the second story, wherein this is from the text of a letter written by Dahl as coming from beyond the grave of a man to his newly-widowed wife of thirty years:
"He is a magnificent neurosurgeon, one of the finest, and recently he has been kind enough to let me study the results of some of his work, especially the varying effects of prefrontal lobotomies upon different types of psychopath."
And then he goes on to give orders like "don't get a TV" and "disconnect the phone because I don't need it anymore"! How appalling. Sixty years ago, when this collection was published, that wasn't, whole and entire, a horrendous thing to say? I'd say it was, but I was a babe in arms at the time and have no direct knowledge of the way it would sound to the era's denizens. I suspect it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow on either of my parents, but they were right wingnuts and often didn't hear things that made, and make, my skin crawl.
And with this mordant but unamusing set of eleven weirdly unappealing tales, Dahl leaves my readerly ken for. fucking. ever. No more. No! I refuse. I liked three of the eleven stories enough to be glad that I'd read them, and recognized one story from my long-ago high-school read of it in an anthology I had to buy for school, but that's just not enough for me to want to know more about what went on in Roald Dahl's head.
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LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Roald Dahl is a favourite author of mine. His point of view and storytelling is unique and enjoyable…and sometimes a little off kilter.
This book is a collection of 11 short stories. Stories of the unusual. Stories you might expect to find on Twilight Zone.
The stories start out on a normal plane
“A Way Up To Heaven,” “Parson’s Pleasure,” and “The Champion of the World” are a few titles. The thing is the stories do tie to the titles but not in a way you expect. I suggest you read the book and find out what is behind these titles.
This is a book for older readers, but I have found that Dahl’s unique perspective can be found in the many kid books he has written. Definitely some unusual Good Reading…
This book is a collection of 11 short stories. Stories of the unusual. Stories you might expect to find on Twilight Zone.
The stories start out on a normal plane
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but little twists seem to appear. Twists that can take you in a very different direction and place.“A Way Up To Heaven,” “Parson’s Pleasure,” and “The Champion of the World” are a few titles. The thing is the stories do tie to the titles but not in a way you expect. I suggest you read the book and find out what is behind these titles.
This is a book for older readers, but I have found that Dahl’s unique perspective can be found in the many kid books he has written. Definitely some unusual Good Reading…
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1959
Physical description
232 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0140018328 / 9780140018325
Local notes
Contains: 'The Landlady', 'William and Mary', 'The Way up to Heaven', 'Parson's Pleasures', 'Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat', 'Royal Jelly', 'Gregory Progy', 'Genesis and Catastrophe', 'Edwards the Conqueror', 'Pig', and 'The Champion of the World'.