D Is for Dahl: A gloriumptious A-Z guide to the world of Roald Dahl

D is for Dahl is one of those fantastically quick and fun reads that I think every parent should read with their child (or in my case the adult with the heart of a child). This book is especially fun for those fans of the writer who may not know much about the man himself. He was such a unique, kind individual and that spirit shone through in his writings for both children and adults. To learn about the eccentricities of his private life is to have your estimation of the character of Dahl increase exponentially. For something delightfully funny with a fast pace, this is the perfect book to pick up.

D is for Dahl is one of those fantastically quick and fun reads that I think every parent should read with their child (or in my case the adult with the heart of a child). This book is especially fun for those fans of the writer who may not know much about the man himself. He was such a unique, kind individual and that spirit shone through in his writings for both children and adults. To learn about the eccentricities of his private life is to have your estimation of the character of Dahl increase exponentially. For something delightfully funny with a fast pace, this is the perfect book to pick up.

If you, like me, have ever wondered how to pronounce Roald Dahl's first name, this is the book for you! It's a short, breezy read consisting of alphabetically organized topics related to Dahl's life and works. I enjoyed the plethora of interesting little tidbits like these:

• James and the Giant Peach was originally James and the Giant Cherry;
• Dahl wrote his books in a secluded hut on his property and his home was called Gipsy House;
• his father died when he was three;
• he was a fighter pilot during WW2 and almost didn't survive a plane crash/explosion;
• he loved chocolate with a passion, but not chocolate-flavored foods like chocolate cake;
• he once helped his daughter cheat on a short story assignment for school, writing show more it for her (and the hilarious thing was, the paper got a C with the comment that she could do better!);
• he and a neighbor invented a therapy that allowed his first wife to recover completely from her strokes;
• he always tried to personalize his comments to children during book-signings, even though this made the signings much longer;
• his partnership with illustrator Quentin Blake went beyond professional respect into personal friendship;
• he loved writing villains and thought beards were disgusting (hence the bearded villains who appear);
• Matilda was the only book he was truly pleased with upon finishing;
• and his family was Norwegian and that's what they spoke at home...

... to mention just a few!

The book is written in a "cute" style that is slightly condescending here and there and a little forced in its humor. It is obviously intended for younger readers, but there are items of interest for adult fans as well. I found it fascinating to learn of Dahl's insecurity about his books and his fear, after the completion of each one, that he would not be able to produce another. Although this book is primarily a goofy celebration of all things Dahl, I appreciate the fuller picture it helped me form of the man behind the zany stories. Now I want to revisit his books!

(Oh, and for anyone who is wondering, "Roald" is pronounced "roo-ahl.") show less

Who doesn’t love the writings of Roald Dahl? This title is a collection of some of his writings and thoughts as compiled by an editor (although the Library of Congress gives authorship credit to Dahl himself). It was a fast read, laid out as a kind of encyclopedia with “terms” which have definitions about or as supplied by Dahl himself. You’ll learn about his service in WWII, the invention of a device to drain fluid from the brain (this was real and actually used), his marriage to Patricia Neal (I had no idea) as well as all kinds of tidbits about his writing, the characters and the illustrations. The book itself is illustrated by the same illustrator of his works.

Don’t look at this as another Dahl story – it’s completely show more nonfiction, with some facts less interesting than others (the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars) and provides an insight into the “man” apart from his “work”. Highly Recommended. show less

Filled with fun facts that even readers of Boy and Going Solo would be unfamiliar with. I enjoyed it very much, even though might just be a grab for cash by the Dahl estate.

Truly enjoyed knowing Dahl in such an interesting fact filled book! Apparently not a biography but just an amazing book with silly, funny yet all true facts! He's a big generous giant to me

You can read my full review here:
http://www.sholee.net/2016/05/mpov-d-is-for-dahl-gloriumptious-z.html

An alphabetical look at the life of one of childrens literature's best authors. For children or parents who loved the writing of Roald Dahl, this book is a good inside look at his life and inspirations. It sometimes mentions his books for teens, but never his books for adults.