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A review by ashleighjadereads
The Great Automatic Grammatizator and Other Stories by Roald Dahl
4.0
I love Roald Dahl's stories to bits, but gave this volume four stars simply because his children's books are the ceiling for me.
My top five in this collection were:
1.) The Landlady
This packs a hefty punch of eerie atmosphere into just over ten pages. The landlady in question is a special, schizoid brand of crazy and harbours only a select few guests for long-term stays... .
2.) Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
I love the title of this story as it fittingly describes how the much sought after coat never ends up belonging to Mrs Bixby at all. It ties in with the recurring theme of rotten characters being served their due, an idea which Dahl was quite preoccupied with in his writing.
3.) Katina
I'm not sure if this story is based on true events which occurred while Dahl was working in the RAF, nevertheless it's incredibly touching and heartbreaking in the end. It leaves you with the feeling of despair that can only be induced by the loss of innocent lives, especially during wartime.
4.) Vengeance Is Mine Inc.
Another delightful story about gaining revenge, except in this one the main characters use the desire for vengeance in others to turn a profit for themselves.
5.) The Way up to Heaven
A highly strung wife and a patronising husband make for a dynamic which can only tend to the survival of one. Perhaps this is what Dahl imagines women fantasise about when they begin to grow tired of their husbands.
My top five in this collection were:
1.) The Landlady
This packs a hefty punch of eerie atmosphere into just over ten pages. The landlady in question is a special, schizoid brand of crazy and harbours only a select few guests for long-term stays... .
2.) Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
I love the title of this story as it fittingly describes how the much sought after coat never ends up belonging to Mrs Bixby at all. It ties in with the recurring theme of rotten characters being served their due, an idea which Dahl was quite preoccupied with in his writing.
3.) Katina
I'm not sure if this story is based on true events which occurred while Dahl was working in the RAF, nevertheless it's incredibly touching and heartbreaking in the end. It leaves you with the feeling of despair that can only be induced by the loss of innocent lives, especially during wartime.
4.) Vengeance Is Mine Inc.
Another delightful story about gaining revenge, except in this one the main characters use the desire for vengeance in others to turn a profit for themselves.
5.) The Way up to Heaven
A highly strung wife and a patronising husband make for a dynamic which can only tend to the survival of one. Perhaps this is what Dahl imagines women fantasise about when they begin to grow tired of their husbands.