Containing all the stories from Roald Dahl's world-famous books - Over to You, Someone Like You, Kiss Kiss and Switch Bitch - plus eight further tales of the unexpected, this is the definitive collection by one of the great masters of the short story. Macabre, unsettling and deliciously enjoyable, these stories make the perfect bedtime read - but be warned, once you've started reading you won't be able to stop...

'Roald Dahl is one of the few writers I know who can accurately be described as addictive. Through his tales runs a vein of macabre malevolence, the more effective because it springs from slight, almost inconsequential everyday things. The result is a black humour of the most sophisticated kind' Irish Times

'Dahl is too good a storyteller to become predictable, so you never know whether the tyrant or the tyrannized will win in the end' Daily Telegraph

'One of the most widely read and influential writers of our generation' The Times

 

 
When I was a little kid, around 8 or 9, I would stay up late just to watch The Tales of the Unexpected (which I seem to remember followed the droolfest that was The Professionals). I could hardly keep my eyes open, but the stories were so good that some of them have left an indelible impression on my memory. Having flicked through the titles in this book at least two jumped out and caused a shudder. I'm most eager to start reading this. It was chosen as the book of the month for my book club, and they couldn't have picked better!

 

 
March 24th 2004
Up to page 48

I've read three of the stories in this anthology so far, and I have to admit I'm really enjoying them. Roald Dahl has a gift with the short story, and it's thrilled me because I don't usually enjoy the genre. I'm going to write about each story individually, that way this review might make a little more sense...unless I get too involved in the reading, and end up rushing through them.

The Landlady
This was a creepy little story about a young man moving in to a boarding house inhabited by a scary landlady. It was nicely constructed and the subtlety of the ending, hinting at what was to come without throwing it directly in your face, made it all the more shudder-educing.

William and Mary
I remember this story from the TV series, and especially the moment at the end when Mary confronted William in all his new found glory. *shudder* It was pretty nasty! The whole story is deeply disturbing, though it raises some pretty interesting questions about life and death. What exactly constitutes life, or more importantly quality of life. Can existence be considered better than death, whatever the circumstances? As a person who would never have believed a decade ago that I could live without leaving the house, or walking or going to the pub and doing all the other things I relied on for entertainment I have to say that you never can answer these questions until you're in the situation. For me at least my expectations about quality of life changed along with my illness and disability, and now I am able to find enjoyment in places I never imagined existed. Maybe the same can be said for William, though I really hope I'm never in the position to find out!

The Way Up to Heaven
Urgh, what a nightmarish husband this woman has! A total control freak, and I can't help but think he deserved his fate. Mary, however, was almost as frightening in the calculated nature of her actions, so it was pretty impossible to root for her. Great story though!

I'm really enjoying this collection so far, and can't wait to settle down to more. My only worry at the moment is that the style will become repetitive as time goes on.

 

 
March 29th 2004
Up to page 84

I'm loving these twisted, unpleasant stories which seem so far more like modern day fables. The bad guy almost always seems to get what's coming to them, which is pretty satisfying even if the method is tasteless. Anyway, on to the stories.

Parson's Pleasure
This was a great story about a total conman trying to cheat people out of their treasured and valuable antiques by saying they're worthless, and then offering to take them off their hands. Allowing the creep to take the goods and use them for his own exclusive shop. In this story he really got his comeuppance but did they have to do that to the commode!!

Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
Again, a great short tale that packs an almighty punch at the end. I loved seeing Mrs Bixby get screwed over by her husband and his new lover. Of course, I couldn't get excited about fur what with me being a total lefty about that particular subject. I felt very happy that this story ended perfectly, and all got what they deserved, especially Mrs Bixby!

 

 
April 3rd 2004
Up to page 139

As I'm trying to get Kane and Abel read I've been just reading this while on the exercise bike, so I'm not reading it as fast as I was. However, I'm still thoroughly enjoying it!

Royal Jelly
I remember this Tale of the Unexpected clearly, and it still made me shudder. It's quite funny in retrospect to hear some older attitudes to royal jelly in this age when people are popping it like sweeties. It's a horrible story, and really uncomfortable to read.

Georgy Porgy
I loved this tale, it was amusing (as well as disturbing) and I couldn't help feel sorry for the poor priest. I thought the ending, with the priest in a mental institution believing he had been literally eaten alive, was masterful. A really cool short story.

Genesis and Catastrophe
I wasn't keen on this story, because it was too short and too subtle. Clearly the point was that the father was killing his children until he got a good one to be his heir, but none of the motivations were explored and it ended far too abruptly.

 

 
August 1st 2004

I haven't picked this book up in a while, pretty much since my exercise bike broke and was sent back (I did some of my best reading whilst working out). I think it's a book I'll keep dipping into but I find it hard to read books of short stories from beginning to end. They become unsatisfying, and this is such a great collection that I want to enjoy them all. For now I'm going to set it aside and dip in and out when I'm in the mood.