Someone Like You

Many of the stories in this collection follow a somewhat predictable pattern, but they avoid feeling formulaic simply because they are so good:

We are introduced to a host of characters, many if not all of whom are presented as morally or physically defective--or both--in some entertaining way. Dahl manages to have even the attractive characters come off ugly, if only in the judgements of the narrator who frequently professes a distate for and distrust of the attractive and tall;

One or several of them find themselves involved in some kind of scheme or ploy that, if it starts out by their initiative or consent, quickly outstrips their capacity to control it or even grasp its true nature, revealing something sinister and unpredictable in show more their character or the world at large;

Some twist, often announced in the very last paragraph, somehow manages to deepen the already disturbing and macabre atmosphere of alienation that Dahl has painted. show less

If one were to sum up Dahl's short stories in a single word, that word would be cruelty. Unalloyed viciousness is the medium through which Dahl crafts his tales, unmixed with hope or kindness. They are, as such a description may suggest, best consumed in small doses. One cannot dwell for too long in the rarefied world in which man practices upon his fellow man constantly.

But each story (barring the last few, a loosely linked set of rather clumsy stories that don't live up to the earlier stories and don't really belong in the collection) is as perfectly crafted as a Venetian stiletto. Dahl is a practiced master of the whip-crack ending, but his real skill as a virtuoso is revealed in his depictions of people suffering from trauma. show more Indeed, he anticipates modern trauma theory and brings to life neurological disorder in stories like "The Soldier," vividly depicting the horrors of such disorders, the flashing faces, unexplained footsteps, the nerves that don't feel.

The relations of lovers come in for special digs here as elsewhere in Dahl's work, with partners committing all manner of psychic and physical violence upon one another. The result is as likely to be comedy as horror, and the suspension between the two is what propels the stories forward. In Dahl's world, if the meek inherited the earth, they would promptly rain ingenious terror on their former oppressors while the reader watched, caught in a deliciously uneasy space between horror and delight. show less

Considering it's Roald Dahl, I was honestly expecting a lot weirder from a book of horrorish stories. Most of the stories were about kinda weird things that happen to upper-class Frasier types, which are really well-written, but weren't my thing. There were also stories here that I loved though, namely "The Wish" and "The Ratcatcher."

[b: Someone Like You|816953|Someone Like You|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1336001301s/816953.jpg|802840] clocks in as a solid collection of decidedly adult short stories by [a: Roald Dahl|4273|Roald Dahl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311554908p2/4273.jpg]. Reading these, it's very easy to see how he ended up writing a screenplay for [a: Ian Fleming|2565|Ian Fleming|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1364532740p2/2565.jpg]. I was hesitant at first to shelve this under 'horror', but as the stories went on it proved to be more than just an impulse; these stories are distinctly in the horror genre, although they are not without that wry, twisted, wholly James Bondian style humor. Think 'he disagreed with show more something that ate him' after a certain someone got mauled by a shark. These things happen...

The stories vary in quality, but I would be hardpressed to call any of them less than amusing. The story "Lamb to the Slaughter" is a classic, and a classic that has been aped by many at this point in time. The "Claud's Dog" series of stories is downright horrific but well worth getting through for the ending, and its horror is all the better for being firmly rooted within the realities of Greyhound racing. "The Great Automtic Grammatomizer" is cynical and dry and did get a good laugh out of me. The rest of the stories, well, I didn't actively dislike a single one and several do bear mentioning although I can't recall the titles.

All in all this is a good collection, but not a great one. I'd highly recommend "Lamb to the Slaughter" to anyone, but the remainder of the stories are a bit more difficult to pin down. I'd say this book is best if the aforementioned story gets a laugh from you, and if it doesn't... perhaps this just isn't the right book for you. [a: Roald Dahl|4273|Roald Dahl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311554908p2/4273.jpg] can be a bit harsh even in his kids work, after all. show less

St. Bart's 2015 #8 - A very intriguing set of short stories, many of which literally had the ability to make me feel uncomfortable. And this from the author who gave us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG!!!!! I stumbled across this at a used book sale and had to have it since I was unaware that he wrote other than children's fare. Well, now I know! Some truly unsettling situations are presented throughout, and happily for me, a host of unexpected twists at the end. My favorites were 'Lamb to the Slaughter,' 'Skin,' & 'Neck.'. A nice ride in unexpected territory. Now, if I could only tell what the artwork represents on my charming old Dell paperback cover.....any thoughts???

This book made me appreciate reading short stories again. Roald Dahl's dark, bizarre and sometimes grotesque stories are brilliantly written.

It turns out that this is the title of the book, but Dahl's short story of the same name is NOT included. still the forteen selected stories are quite engrossing. It starts with the story about identifying a wine's vinyard, and bottling year by an expert. Perhaps this was the first use of this device?