peterrrrr2's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ruyanda's review
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
aiueocha's review against another edition
4.0
First ever Roald Dahl book and it was BOMB. His autobiography threw me off at first but it goes along amazingly, like a prologue, with the short stories included. Some parts of the autobiography are straight up hilarious! Don't get me started with Taste, Galloping Foxley, and the others, which were delightful reads.
readymadereader's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
syahisreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
talesof_tk's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
I really liked this one more than I thought I would!
I love tales of boyhood/childhood and seeing how they play a part in a person's life -- even more so as this was Roald Dahl, the first author whose books I devoured as a child. My favourite of all has to be the last part, where he talked about his lucky break as an author. It feels very nostalgic.
I love tales of boyhood/childhood and seeing how they play a part in a person's life -- even more so as this was Roald Dahl, the first author whose books I devoured as a child. My favourite of all has to be the last part, where he talked about his lucky break as an author. It feels very nostalgic.
xjuwita's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read almost all of Dahl’s short stories, including the ones in this book. What I haven’t read was Boy. And since this book began with Boy, I now have a much better understanding of his life, and how it has contributed to his storytelling.
His stories are always enjoyable and never disappoint. He totally deserves that title, World’s No. 1 Storyteller.
His stories are always enjoyable and never disappoint. He totally deserves that title, World’s No. 1 Storyteller.
aliilman's review
5.0
A collection of 5 stories, 2 being autobiographical and the rest being fictional.
1. Boy
The first autobiography of the lot. Up there with the best autobiographies I’ve ever read.
Tells the tale of how his father ended up in France and then Wales, how his mother coped with his father’s and sister’s deaths, how he thought he’d ‘murdered’ a Mrs Pratchett, his life at school, his time in Norway on summer holidays, and how he ended up working for Shell.
One of the notable parts of this autobiography is Roald Dahl sharing about life at St Peter’s and Repton. Education now may be different to how it was back then, but goodness me, the hypocrisy of the headmasters were ridiculous. They ran these schools like bullies, one such example is caning students even due to minor things.
Can’t really blame Dahl for doubting the existence of God because of what he had witnessed the supposedly men of God did as headmasters. The very same headmasters went on to become archbishops!
2. Taste
This short story tells the tale of innocence and seemingly utter foolishness of a man. I was on the edge of my seat reading the latter parts of this story.
The narrator and his wife went for dinner at the house of their friend, Mike Schofield. They were joined by Mike’s wife and daughter, and Richard Pratt, a gourmet. This Richard Pratt was a man who describes wine he tastes with amusing words.
Throughout dinner, Richard tried to converse with Mike’s daughter, Louise, but his attempt was fruitless.
Usually at the Schofields, Mike and Richard will bet on the name of the wine they’re drinking.
After the second course of dinner has been consumed, Mike went to retrieve a claret from his study. He told Richard that guessing the name of such claret is difficult. They settled on a bet. Richard wants Mike’s daughter’s hand in marriage, to the horror of Mike’s wife and daughter. Mike kept his composure and felt way beyond confident that Richard will lose the bet. Mike wants two of Richard’s houses if he wins.
Much is at stake. One that has sipped many fine wine and has a good taste might actually be a distasteful person.
3. Galloping Foxley
A story about a man recalling memories of a bully he knew while at Repton. It’s got that autobiographical feel to it. It could even be inspired by a true story.
William Perkins was on the train to Cannon Street station as he always has been every week for the last 36 years. He enjoyed his routine, observing the people around him and even seeing some familiar faces frequently. Perhaps it’s fair to say the routine kept his life organised.
One morning, taking the same train, he noticed a handsome man, probably around his age. He thought to himself, this man looks familiar, but he just can’t recall who it may be. He kept stealing looks at the man but still he can’t make out who it is. The next time he was on the train, the very same man is here yet again, this time in the same compartment as him.
This time, he thought about the cane the man brought with him. It occurred to him that this man is Galloping Foxley! This brought a recalling of his memories from nearly 50 years ago.
How did it all started? Back in 1907, William’s father was dropping him off at a station. William was heading to Repton. The station was hectic! In the middle of it, Foxley was rushing through the crowd and pushed William’s father with force. William’s father is a courteous man, and he didn’t take this push lightly. He quickly grabbed hold of Foxley and asked him, ‘Don’t they teach you better manners than that at this school, young man?’. And from that moment onwards, Galloping Foxley tormented William Perkins throughout their time at Repton.
Now now, fast forward to the present. Is the man with the cane Galloping Foxley? I’ll leave it here.
1. Boy
The first autobiography of the lot. Up there with the best autobiographies I’ve ever read.
Tells the tale of how his father ended up in France and then Wales, how his mother coped with his father’s and sister’s deaths, how he thought he’d ‘murdered’ a Mrs Pratchett, his life at school, his time in Norway on summer holidays, and how he ended up working for Shell.
One of the notable parts of this autobiography is Roald Dahl sharing about life at St Peter’s and Repton. Education now may be different to how it was back then, but goodness me, the hypocrisy of the headmasters were ridiculous. They ran these schools like bullies, one such example is caning students even due to minor things.
Can’t really blame Dahl for doubting the existence of God because of what he had witnessed the supposedly men of God did as headmasters. The very same headmasters went on to become archbishops!
2. Taste
This short story tells the tale of innocence and seemingly utter foolishness of a man. I was on the edge of my seat reading the latter parts of this story.
The narrator and his wife went for dinner at the house of their friend, Mike Schofield. They were joined by Mike’s wife and daughter, and Richard Pratt, a gourmet. This Richard Pratt was a man who describes wine he tastes with amusing words.
Throughout dinner, Richard tried to converse with Mike’s daughter, Louise, but his attempt was fruitless.
Usually at the Schofields, Mike and Richard will bet on the name of the wine they’re drinking.
After the second course of dinner has been consumed, Mike went to retrieve a claret from his study. He told Richard that guessing the name of such claret is difficult. They settled on a bet. Richard wants Mike’s daughter’s hand in marriage, to the horror of Mike’s wife and daughter. Mike kept his composure and felt way beyond confident that Richard will lose the bet. Mike wants two of Richard’s houses if he wins.
Much is at stake. One that has sipped many fine wine and has a good taste might actually be a distasteful person.
3. Galloping Foxley
A story about a man recalling memories of a bully he knew while at Repton. It’s got that autobiographical feel to it. It could even be inspired by a true story.
William Perkins was on the train to Cannon Street station as he always has been every week for the last 36 years. He enjoyed his routine, observing the people around him and even seeing some familiar faces frequently. Perhaps it’s fair to say the routine kept his life organised.
One morning, taking the same train, he noticed a handsome man, probably around his age. He thought to himself, this man looks familiar, but he just can’t recall who it may be. He kept stealing looks at the man but still he can’t make out who it is. The next time he was on the train, the very same man is here yet again, this time in the same compartment as him.
This time, he thought about the cane the man brought with him. It occurred to him that this man is Galloping Foxley! This brought a recalling of his memories from nearly 50 years ago.
How did it all started? Back in 1907, William’s father was dropping him off at a station. William was heading to Repton. The station was hectic! In the middle of it, Foxley was rushing through the crowd and pushed William’s father with force. William’s father is a courteous man, and he didn’t take this push lightly. He quickly grabbed hold of Foxley and asked him, ‘Don’t they teach you better manners than that at this school, young man?’. And from that moment onwards, Galloping Foxley tormented William Perkins throughout their time at Repton.
Now now, fast forward to the present. Is the man with the cane Galloping Foxley? I’ll leave it here.
marisasreads's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved "Boy". It's a collection of Dahl's memories of his childhood. Then we get some tales that I honestly didn't care about so I didn't finish the book technically. But "Boy" is absolutely amazing