Some of the stories were ok, but overall a total disappointment. ( )

Kas te teadsite, et Alfred Hitchcocki poolt kuulsaks filmitud ja hiljem Quentin Tarantino poolt filmis “Neli tuba” lausa kultuslikuks põlistatud lugu mehest, kes välgumihkli süttimise ja sõrmede maharaiumise peale kihla veab, on kirjutanud tuntud lastekirjanik Roald Dahl?
Jah. Kuigi Eesti lugejale on Roald Dahl senini olnud kindlasti rohkem tuntud kui suurepärane lastekirjanik, on tõeliselt tänuväärne, et nüüd on lugejani jõudnud ka esimene valimik Dahli täiskasvanutele kirjutatud jubejutte – need on kirjandusgurmaanidele tõeliseks maiuspalaks.
Kogumiku “Kiisu-kiisu” iseloomustavaks sõnapaariks oleks ehk “vaikne hullus” – kõik raamatusse koondatud 11 lugu uurivad veidi eemalseisval, kiretul ja pealtnäha lausa igapäevaslet asjalikul toonil inimloomuse süngeimaid ja sügavamaid hoovusi, mis viivad ootamatute ja judinaidtekitavate finaalideni, pakkudes korraga nii kirjanduslikku kui psühholoogilist naudingut.
Kõiki kogumiku jutte ei saa kindlasti klassifitseerida macabre stiili kuuluvaks – “Proua Bixby ja koloneli kasukas”, “Pastori rõõm” ja “Maailmameister” on vaimukad inimloomuse ahnust ja edevust pilavad jutud, mis toovad muige suule ilma igasugu judinateta –, aga enamus teisi lugusid on vähemal või suuremal määral seotud surmaga. Või siis sünniga, nagu näiteks “Mesilasema piim” ja “Genees ja katastroof”, aga ka need kaks pole lood, mida sa muidu imikutest lugeda võiks oodata.
Eriti õõvastavaks ja ometi kummaliselt köitvaks muudabki lood Dahli napp asjalik stiil, ootamatud pöörded, tajutav (kuid mitte ilmselgelt lõbustatud) toon ja igapäevaselt kodune õhustik, mis viitab eelmise sajandi keskpaigale – ajastule, kus naised olid veel naised, mehed olid mehed ja kodud olid kindlused. Selle glasuuri alt laseb Dahl aga aimata – ja mitte kordagi otse näha – tapamajade veriseid konkse, hullusärkidesse mähitud kogusid ja vihkamist, mis söövitab hullemini kui ükski hape.
( )

Most people in talk to about Roald Dahl tell me that they’ve never read his adult stuff, preferring to stick to his feel-good, very well-written children’s novels. To these people I say, all well and good. His children’s books are incredibly good and I do recommend them to anyone and everyone of any age group regardless, but his adult short stories are a thing to be reckoned with, and should really be given a chance too.
I’ve previously tried to write a review to another of Dahl’s collections – Skin and other stories – but I think that since I did that I’ve become a bit of a better reviewer, so I’m going to try and give this collection a bit more justice.
There are 11 short stories in this particular collection. Most of the stories have very adult themes – adultery, death, horror, reincarnation. The way that the stories are written, in Dahl’s peculiar fashion, means that there isn’t any kind of coarse language or language that would make people particularly uncomfortable, but the themes are very obviously not intended or aimed for children to read.
(The first time I read this collection I was thirteen years old, so maybe that explains a lot about me as a person now…)
What I especially love about Dahl’s writing in this collection is that it requires a lot of inferences and reading between the lines to figure out what has happened in the story. Dahl very rarely gives you a straight-up ending, but gives you all the necessary clues and hints needed for you to get to the end of the story all on your own, without him having to spell it out for you. I particularly like this about the stories because it feels like you’re actually watching a TV show. You know that moment when something is about to happen and you suddenly feel yourself piecing all the story together and a moment of realization just dawns over you? That’s the feeling you get when you’re reading Dahl’s short stories – he makes you feel as if you’ve come to the conclusion on your own even though all the hints he dropped were right there.
My favourite stories from this are difficult to chose, but maybe my top three have to be The Way Up to Heaven (which is about a wife who hates being late and a husband who seems to always try to make her late for things), Edward the Conqueror (the story of a cat who is thought to be a reincarnation of Liszt, the famous composer), and Pig (the story of a young man who has never tasted meat before and encounters a pig slaughter house on his journey around the world).
All in all, I’d give this book a 5/5. It’s full of beautifully written stories, short enough to keep your attention but long enough to reveal a very intricately woven story. The best part about it is how quickly you can get through a story but feel like it’s been resolved and closed without leaving a bad taste in your mouth (except for maybe The Landlady).
Read this book on a stormy day with a mug of something hot, as that is honestly the emotion that Dahl conveys in me often. Or maybe on a plane ride when you have to find something to occupy your time with. You won’t be disappointed.
( )

I had recently heard about adult stories writted by Dahl and was intrigued because I rather love his children's books. I was not disappointed! My library only had this option, a collection of short stories, so I chose it and set it down. I had just started another book "Girl with a Pearl Earring," and felt I should finish it first. This little book, though, kept calling me! So I set the other book aside and basically ate this book. I don't think it took me five days to read it. I carried it everywhere, ignored chores and children, and just read.

The first story, I thought, oh my! this is like The Twilight Zone! It was fantastic and I could hardly wait to start the next. That is a hard thing about short story collections, zooming into the next like it is the next chapter of a book. The next story was completely different and was as horrifying! Oh my! I am greatly enjoying this book! Roald Dahl is a perfectly twisted author.

The one story that keeps coming back to me, was one initially I didn't think I was liking as well. The character is a con artist who collects valuable antique furniture from unsuspecting people in rural communities. It has a lovely twist that made me gasp and then laugh with glee. "Parson's Pleasure"

I will be searching for copies of Roald Dahl's adult books now at old bookstores! These are well-crafted stories, with suggested wickedness and then blatant mind sickness that he just goes with so well.

Delightful ( )

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 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… ( )