Boy: Tales of Childhood

The advantage of going home is being able to grab old childhood novellas off the shelf and stuff them into bookrace. In this case, Boy is quite a good book, a touching and darkly humorous collection of anecdotes about Dahl's childhood in his massive Norwegian family in England, the tragedy of losing his sister and father in a less confident era of medicine, magical summers in the Oslofjord, and above all, English boarding schools. Dahl's education was a nightmare of canings from cruel figures of authority, from the headmaster on down to prefects. Somehow, Dahl kept his natural contrary nature, taking pleasure in the little things like taste-testing chocolates (inspiration for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), sports, or photography. show more There's of prelude to the future African adventurer and WW2 fighter pilot, but little that would make one think that this is the childhood of a beloved children's author--except for the crystal clear quality of the reminiscences. show less

A book I've been meaning to read for sometime and a lovely glimpse into the boy behind the man behind the author. It shows that many of his much loved characters originate from real people of his childhood. I love the mental picture he creates of the archetypical Matron at his first boarding school. Speaking of her enormous bosom he writes, "....it was like a battering-ram or the bows of an icebreaker..." The writing's in keeping with Dahl's easy style with many a wry smile throughout. This is part one of his autobiography and finishes as he's about to depart for his first job in East Africa. I'm keen to read part two - Going Solo.

All we can say after reading this book is, no wonder anti-smacking laws have been passed. None of us would ever want to attend an English boarding school in the 1930s. The teachers, headmasters, and even older students were absolutely brutal to the young boys at all of the schools that Roald Dahl attended. There were some lighter incidents from his boyhood. We especially enjoyed a prank played on the ancient half-sister’s manly lover. I was impressed with Roald’s relationship with his widowed mother, too. It was very interesting to read this book while thinking about the children’s novels he wrote, and to see where some of the inspiration came from for those books.

Mostly wonderful tales about Dahl's childhood, and two really scary (to modern sensibilities) situations. 1) is the description of medical procedures done on children without anesthesia, or indeed, in a hospital setting. This includes an apendectomy, anoidectomy, and lancing a boil. There was also a description of Dahl's having to have his nose sewn back on, but at least he was given ether. The second disturbing thing is the utterly despicable,verging on prurient, abuse meted out by the Masters and Househeads at the English boarding schools Dahl attended. Flogging with a cane across one's naked buttocks was the norm for any infraction, drawing blood seems to have been the goal, as was humiliation and extreme pain. I agree with Dahl's show more distaste for religion founded on the actions of a particularly nasty Headmaster, who eventually became the Bishop of Canterbury and presided at Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Overall, an enjoyable and enlightening entertainment. show less

Roald Dahl is one of my favorite childhood authors. I love his imagination, as well as how in all of his books, his generosity of spirit and unconventional thinking shine through. His characters are simply, but completely drawn, don't patronize or talk down to younger readers and speak to the child in all of us. I've read most of his stories several times...except this one.

Written in much the same style/tone, Boy is a compilation of Dahl's childhood memories grouped by age - his family, summer adventures, early schooling and boarding school as well as some family photographs. It's like reading a time capsule of growing up in Norway, boarding school in Britain and ends with a preview of his first job/experiences in East Africa show more post-school.

It is a very charming and enjoyable snapshot of a fairly regular and non-remarkable boyhood in a very different era. His mother seems like a very interesting person--much of the book is a love letter of sorts to her, to childhood friends, and to formative experiences both painful (surgery without anesthesia! cruel headmistresses! canings!) and pleasurable (summer adventures! letters from home! and how they shape us into the adults we become.

I think I would have really enjoyed knowing and chatting with Roald Dahl and maybe, in a life after this one, I'll get my chance. Highly recommended for Dahl fans. show less

It's rare that I read a book that I would describe as "charming." Even more rare is that I like that book. But Roald Dahl's Boy has charm in spades, and damn I enjoyed it.

Mr Dahl's memoir tells a series of stories from his earliest memories to his employment in Africa by Shell Oil. And through all of it, his strong, sure voice shines through. It's as if you are sitting next to Mr Dahl, sharing a drink and listening to him spin stories all night long.

When I closed the book, it was with some regret: I definitely want more. I know there is a sequel out there. I'll have to hunt it down.

While I’ve never been a fan of Roald Dahl’s fiction, “Boy” is one of the finest books I’ve ever read. Detailing his youth in the UK and holidays in Norway, Dahl writes with humour and pathos, recalling key moments of his early life and showing how the young boy became one of the most popular writers of the twentieth century. Whether it’s slipping a dead mouse into a jar at a lollie shop owned by a horrid old women (and his subsequent caning with said horrid old woman watching on sadistically), his holidays in Norway, his boarding school experience and, most importantly, his mother, you feel transported back to his youth and made me itching to read his follow-up “Going Solo”.