_marianal_'s review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
Some of the stories are very predictable and not very scary.
Some of the stories are very predictable and not very scary.
nuffy375's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, stories are not written by Roald Dahl, which is my fault for not paying more attention, but reading the other reviews makes me feel better for not realizing that as well. The publishers definitely knew what they were doing when they designed this book cover, because I definitely only bought this book thinking the stories were written by Dahl.
But I'm a fan of ghost stories, so I was still on board. Like any collection of short stories, each story is different, and the quality ranges. It seems when Dahl was picking ghost stories, the creepy factor was not high on his list. Very few of the stories are creepy at all (and some of the ones that try to be creepy very much miss the mark).
My top stories in this collection: Harry by Rosemary Timperley, The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith, Playmates by A.M. Burrage, The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan L Fanu (actually creepy).
The weakest stories imo: Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie, Ringing in the Changes by Robert Aickman (started promising, but REAL weak conclusion), The Telephone by Mary Treadgold, Afterward by Edith Wharton
But I'm a fan of ghost stories, so I was still on board. Like any collection of short stories, each story is different, and the quality ranges. It seems when Dahl was picking ghost stories, the creepy factor was not high on his list. Very few of the stories are creepy at all (and some of the ones that try to be creepy very much miss the mark).
My top stories in this collection: Harry by Rosemary Timperley, The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith, Playmates by A.M. Burrage, The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan L Fanu (actually creepy).
The weakest stories imo: Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie, Ringing in the Changes by Robert Aickman (started promising, but REAL weak conclusion), The Telephone by Mary Treadgold, Afterward by Edith Wharton
sangloup's review against another edition
3.0
Book #41 of the EBN Book Challenge at my Library.
Challenge Topic: A book with a Person's name in the title.
This is a book a ghost stories compiled, not written, by Roald Dahl. He was doing research for a TV series he was going to be part of and read almost 800 ghost stories to find 24 that he thought would be good for the series. Well... the series didn't make it, so of the 24 stories, he put 14 into this book for our enjoyment.
There were a few I liked... but most of them were kind of blah for me.
Challenge Topic: A book with a Person's name in the title.
This is a book a ghost stories compiled, not written, by Roald Dahl. He was doing research for a TV series he was going to be part of and read almost 800 ghost stories to find 24 that he thought would be good for the series. Well... the series didn't make it, so of the 24 stories, he put 14 into this book for our enjoyment.
There were a few I liked... but most of them were kind of blah for me.
myweereads's review against another edition
4.0
“The crazy eyes staring at me beneath the matted white fringe of hair frightened me. Mad people are terrifying. One can pity them, but one is still afraid.”
Roald Dahl’s Book Of Ghost Stories is a collection of what he thought were the best ghost stories written. It begins with an introduction on the art of writing a good ghost story. What I like about this collection is that it still manages to creep the reader out. Ive seen that some readers have found the tales to be dated however I think it’s that traditional ghost story telling which gives them that intensity.
Some of my favourites in this collection are:
W.S. by L.P. Hartley
Harry by Rosemary Timperley
The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith
In the Tube by E.F. Benson
Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley
.
Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie
Playmates by A.M. Burrage
The Telephone by Mary Treadgold
The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
I found these particular stories to be spooky. I liked the range within them, how some were more in your face where as others were subtle with the eerie atmosphere. I think whilst reading these it’s easy to see how they may have influenced ghost stories of today as specific themes and characteristics are recognisable.
A fun wee collection of ghost stories picked out by an amazing author.
Roald Dahl’s Book Of Ghost Stories is a collection of what he thought were the best ghost stories written. It begins with an introduction on the art of writing a good ghost story. What I like about this collection is that it still manages to creep the reader out. Ive seen that some readers have found the tales to be dated however I think it’s that traditional ghost story telling which gives them that intensity.
Some of my favourites in this collection are:
W.S. by L.P. Hartley
Harry by Rosemary Timperley
The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith
In the Tube by E.F. Benson
Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley
.
Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie
Playmates by A.M. Burrage
The Telephone by Mary Treadgold
The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
I found these particular stories to be spooky. I liked the range within them, how some were more in your face where as others were subtle with the eerie atmosphere. I think whilst reading these it’s easy to see how they may have influenced ghost stories of today as specific themes and characteristics are recognisable.
A fun wee collection of ghost stories picked out by an amazing author.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
¡Primer libro del barrifest del terror 2018!
Debo admitir que la introducción es algo dolorosa y de penita ajena, a pesar de que normalmente aprecio mucho a Dahl. Pero si hay momentos en que me dan ganas de decirle que ya se siente.
Las historias no dan miedo. Eso hay que saberlo desde el principio. Muchos de los fantasmas ni siquiera son malignos. Algunas cosas parecen predecibles o clicheteras, pero creo que tiene que ver con que es una antología con fines específicos de textos ya bastante viejos.
Sin embargo, casi todas las historias están muy bien escritas y son entretenidas de leer, so fue una buena opción para empezar este Octubre.
Debo admitir que la introducción es algo dolorosa y de penita ajena, a pesar de que normalmente aprecio mucho a Dahl. Pero si hay momentos en que me dan ganas de decirle que ya se siente.
Las historias no dan miedo. Eso hay que saberlo desde el principio. Muchos de los fantasmas ni siquiera son malignos. Algunas cosas parecen predecibles o clicheteras, pero creo que tiene que ver con que es una antología con fines específicos de textos ya bastante viejos.
Sin embargo, casi todas las historias están muy bien escritas y son entretenidas de leer, so fue una buena opción para empezar este Octubre.
innmartinsm's review against another edition
4.0
Não há nada como um livro bem spooky para acompanhar este Outono, certo? Ghost Stories é uma coleção de histórias de fantasmas pela curadoria do extraordinário autor Roald Dahl (conhecido por histórias como Matilda ou Charlie e a Fábrica de Chocolate).
São 14 dos mais de 700 contos que Roald Dahl leu e criteriosamente selecionou como os melhores para partilhar connosco. Entre histórias mais assustadoras e outras mais melancólicas, Ghost Stories é a companhia perfeita para um serão entre mantas e chávenas quentinhas. Não achei as histórias particularmente macabras ao ponto de não conseguirmos dormir, portanto, é uma leitura fantasmagórica leve e adequada aos corações mais sensíveis! Algumas até com lições valiosas a reter.
Com uma ilustração fabulosa na capa, recomendo que não deixem escapar a introdução com assinatura do autor, onde partilha a sua visão sobre literatura infanto-juvenil e sobre a importância de mulheres escritoras no mundo editorial.
São 14 dos mais de 700 contos que Roald Dahl leu e criteriosamente selecionou como os melhores para partilhar connosco. Entre histórias mais assustadoras e outras mais melancólicas, Ghost Stories é a companhia perfeita para um serão entre mantas e chávenas quentinhas. Não achei as histórias particularmente macabras ao ponto de não conseguirmos dormir, portanto, é uma leitura fantasmagórica leve e adequada aos corações mais sensíveis! Algumas até com lições valiosas a reter.
Com uma ilustração fabulosa na capa, recomendo que não deixem escapar a introdução com assinatura do autor, onde partilha a sua visão sobre literatura infanto-juvenil e sobre a importância de mulheres escritoras no mundo editorial.
house_of_hannah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
The story behind why this novel came to be is more interesting than some of the ghost stories in here. Roald Dahl read over 700 ghost stories in trying to find the top 24 for a new TV show he was to be involved in. Unfortunately, they chose poorly for the pilot episode, so the series was cancelled before it even began. Thus he put 14 of those stories into this collection.
These are seemingly not in any order, and are not chronological. I highly recommend reading the introduction to this one; it's quite funny actually. There are no spoilers in the intro either. I had only heard/read of one of these authors before, Sheridan Le Fanu, which I am actually glad of, as I get to be exposed to new authors I wouldn't have otherwise.
The following is a little description of each story, the year it was written or published, and my rating.
W.S. by L. P. Hartley (written 1954, 1973 published posthumously) - An author receives increasingly alarming postcards from an individual with the same initials as him. 3.5 Stars
Harry by Rosemary Timperley (1955) - A couple adopts a baby whose past is unknown to them. When the little girl is 5 years old she starts talking to a person that only she can see named Harry. 4 Stars
The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith (1926) - A man’s luck changes when he purchases a cheap trinket from a corner shop that ends up being worth money. Questions arise though when he tries to share the money with the man who sold him the trinket. 5 Stars
In the Tube by E. F. Benson (1923 UK, 1924 US) - A man sees a figure while taking the last train home that disappears from one moment to the next. When he meets the man in the flesh the next day his confusion grows as he wonders the cause. 3 Stars
Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley (1952) - A woman reminisces about past Christmases, as she is spending this one alone, when a strange man walks into the room. 5 Stars
Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie (1902) - A man injures a creature that lies in wait to enact its revenge. This is more of a creature story than anything. 2 Stars
Playmates by A.M. Burrage (1927) - An old man adopts a girl after her father passes away. He wishes to conduct an experiment where the girl does not go to school, or interacts with other children, and instead receives her education from what she picks out in the home library. After they move to a new house the girl starts talking and playing with what everyone thinks are 7 imaginary friends. 3.5 Stars
Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman (1964) - A newlywed couple with a 24 year age gap honeymoon in a town neither of them has been to before. The entire night they are there the church bells will not stop ringing. 2 Stars
The Telephone by Mary Treadgold (1955) - A man’s wife leaves him whe she discovers his infidelity. Shortly after he marries his mistress, his first wife dies. Then they begin to receive mysterious phone calls from the house that man used to live in with his first wife. 2 Stars
The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu (1861) - Essentially what would happen if Thing from the Addam’s Family decided to terrorize a family. 2.5 Stars
The Sweeper by A. M. Burrage (1931) - A young woman is employed to be the companion of an old woman. One evening in autumn she hears the sounds of sweeping on the path outside. When she investigates she comes face to face with a man who she realizes is transparent. 4 Stars
Afterward by Edith Wharton (1902) - A couple moves into a home that is supposedly haunted, but everyone says you won’t realize you saw a ghost until long afterward. 3 Stars
On the Brighton Road by Richard Middleton (1912) - A man wakes up buried in snow on the side of a road. As he walks down the road he meets a boy who poses the question, “How do you know you aren’t dead?” 4 Stars
The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford (1885) - A man boards a ship to cross the Atlantic. Thinking that he is rooming alone, he is surprised to see another man’s things when he goes to bed for the night. By morning though, the second man has disappeared, and the porthole is open. That is when he finds out that for the past 3 trips (now 4th), someone who has slept in that room has jumped overboard. 3 Stars
Averaging all the scores comes out to a 3.3, which is quite normal for a short story collection. I think it provides the ghostly vibes quite well, and is perfect for this time of year.
These are seemingly not in any order, and are not chronological. I highly recommend reading the introduction to this one; it's quite funny actually. There are no spoilers in the intro either. I had only heard/read of one of these authors before, Sheridan Le Fanu, which I am actually glad of, as I get to be exposed to new authors I wouldn't have otherwise.
The following is a little description of each story, the year it was written or published, and my rating.
W.S. by L. P. Hartley (written 1954, 1973 published posthumously) - An author receives increasingly alarming postcards from an individual with the same initials as him. 3.5 Stars
Harry by Rosemary Timperley (1955) - A couple adopts a baby whose past is unknown to them. When the little girl is 5 years old she starts talking to a person that only she can see named Harry. 4 Stars
The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith (1926) - A man’s luck changes when he purchases a cheap trinket from a corner shop that ends up being worth money. Questions arise though when he tries to share the money with the man who sold him the trinket. 5 Stars
In the Tube by E. F. Benson (1923 UK, 1924 US) - A man sees a figure while taking the last train home that disappears from one moment to the next. When he meets the man in the flesh the next day his confusion grows as he wonders the cause. 3 Stars
Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley (1952) - A woman reminisces about past Christmases, as she is spending this one alone, when a strange man walks into the room. 5 Stars
Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie (1902) - A man injures a creature that lies in wait to enact its revenge. This is more of a creature story than anything. 2 Stars
Playmates by A.M. Burrage (1927) - An old man adopts a girl after her father passes away. He wishes to conduct an experiment where the girl does not go to school, or interacts with other children, and instead receives her education from what she picks out in the home library. After they move to a new house the girl starts talking and playing with what everyone thinks are 7 imaginary friends. 3.5 Stars
Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman (1964) - A newlywed couple with a 24 year age gap honeymoon in a town neither of them has been to before. The entire night they are there the church bells will not stop ringing. 2 Stars
The Telephone by Mary Treadgold (1955) - A man’s wife leaves him whe she discovers his infidelity. Shortly after he marries his mistress, his first wife dies. Then they begin to receive mysterious phone calls from the house that man used to live in with his first wife. 2 Stars
The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu (1861) - Essentially what would happen if Thing from the Addam’s Family decided to terrorize a family. 2.5 Stars
The Sweeper by A. M. Burrage (1931) - A young woman is employed to be the companion of an old woman. One evening in autumn she hears the sounds of sweeping on the path outside. When she investigates she comes face to face with a man who she realizes is transparent. 4 Stars
Afterward by Edith Wharton (1902) - A couple moves into a home that is supposedly haunted, but everyone says you won’t realize you saw a ghost until long afterward. 3 Stars
On the Brighton Road by Richard Middleton (1912) - A man wakes up buried in snow on the side of a road. As he walks down the road he meets a boy who poses the question, “How do you know you aren’t dead?” 4 Stars
The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford (1885) - A man boards a ship to cross the Atlantic. Thinking that he is rooming alone, he is surprised to see another man’s things when he goes to bed for the night. By morning though, the second man has disappeared, and the porthole is open. That is when he finds out that for the past 3 trips (now 4th), someone who has slept in that room has jumped overboard. 3 Stars
Averaging all the scores comes out to a 3.3, which is quite normal for a short story collection. I think it provides the ghostly vibes quite well, and is perfect for this time of year.
jamiedarlin's review against another edition
4.0
When I first purchased this book, I was under the impression that it contained ghost stories written by Roald Dahl--a favorite childhood author of mine.
However, much to my (not unpleasant) surprise, I found, instead, that the book was a collection of Roald Dahl's favorite ghost stories written by various authors.
Odd and unexpectedly gender-biased introduction not-withstanding, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of haunting stories. They are, indeed, ones to remember.
However, much to my (not unpleasant) surprise, I found, instead, that the book was a collection of Roald Dahl's favorite ghost stories written by various authors.
Odd and unexpectedly gender-biased introduction not-withstanding, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of haunting stories. They are, indeed, ones to remember.