About book The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar And Six More (2001)
This book is composed of seven superb stories by the master himself, Mister Roald Dahl. I would like to review the seven stories briefly... The Boy Who Talked With Animals is a story about a boy who saved a captured giant turtle from being killed by fishermen and hotel tourists. This story took place in Jamaica, and from the view of a tourist who, despite being the narrator, seemed to be a passive character in the story. I personally like this story because of the unexpected ending. I didn't know that the story would end like that. I read this in my Literature class and the story fascinated me. Reading this story was the one thing that made me borrow the whole book from my teacher, and I'm glad I did. The Hitchhiker is about a man who found out that the man he had given a lift to is an "extraordinary" person. This short story is marvelous and smartly written. I read this first in eighth grade and it's one of those stories you don't forget about easily. The Mildenhall Treasure is an interesting non-fiction story about how, one day, a simple plowman had found valuable Roman treasure while working in a field. The story tells of what happened to the treasure after it was found, and how it ended up being exposed to public, three years later. I find this story entertaining, although it is a work of non-fiction, and the ending, once again, just left me impressed. Mr. Dahl is able to make something factual and supposedly boring into a splendid and interesting piece of literature. The Swan tells the story of an animal-loving boy who was tormented by two bullies. When the two bullies killed a swan, the boy was outraged, but the two bullies had something else planned for him. This story is, honestly, horrible to me. The two bullies were just unbelievably cruel, and it's hard to think that so many kids (teenagers, mostly) are so damaged nowadays. I feel lucky to grow up in a surrounding where there is nearly no act of bullying at all, where I can feel secure and don't have to be cautious and afraid when I step into school or when I go outside to play. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is about a wealthy man who found out how to see with his eyes closed. He then started to use his ability to win over money in casinos around the world. I find this story the most wonderful of all, so I think the title suits the story very much. Every bit of the story was just mind-blowing, and once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. Lucky Break - How I Became A Writer is an extra that Mr. Dahl wrote about the journey of his life, and how he had stumbled into the world of fiction writing. I find this extra very inspiring. Writing fiction is my strongest passion in life, and I know I am still far from being a good one. What Mr. Dahl had written in this extra about fiction writing, and what it really is to be a writer, are valuable to me. I intend to copy this story down and reread it to encourage myself in becoming a better writer. Last but not least, Piece of Cake is Mr. Dahl's first story, published in 1942 in the Saturday Evening Post. This story is the first of two non-fiction stories Mr. Dahl had ever written in his life (the other one being The Mildenhall Treasure). It tells the story of Mr. Dahl's adventure when he was in the Royal Air Force, and when his plane crashed somewhere in the Libyan desert. All and all, this book is enthralling and beautiful. People of all ages would find this book enchanting. I strongly recommend it especially to teenagers like myself, who, as Dahl said in the opening of this book, "are going through that long and difficult metamorphosis when they are no longer children and have not yet become adults." Come on everyone, go pick up this book and start delving yourselves into the brilliant mind of Mr. Roald Dahl!
This is a fantastic collection of stories by a brilliant author, where no two stories are anything like the same. The Boy Who Talked with Animals: A story set in Jamaica which feels worryingly plausible. A turtle is caught by a fisherman and a group of people get very excited by the prospect of turtle soup. One small boy is unhappy with the way the turtle is being treated though. The best thing about this is the ending, quite dark but rather satisfying all at the same time. The Hitch-hiker: Usually stories with hitch-hikers involve a murder but this is light-hearted. The hitch-hiker that is picked up keeps what he does a secret but the curious driver is desperate to know what it is. It turns out to be very pleasing and has a great little twist at the end. The Mildenhall Treasure: This is actually a non-fiction story about a farmer finding some treasure, although if Dahl hadn't said it was true you would assume it was a work of fiction. A great telling of something that really happened, capturing the magic of the classic treasure-finding story. The Swan: I didn't like this one as much as the others. A boy is bullied by two louts who keep going further and further with their torments. It has a weird supernatural ending which I just didn't feel worked very well. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: Idle rich man Henry Sugar learns an impossible talent, to be able to see through playing cards. Now he can make even more money but is that really what he wants to do. A good story with a unique idea in it but far longer than it really needed to be. Lucky Break: Less of a story and more of an essay on how Dahl got into writing. It's a bit like a speedy autobiography of the first part of his life, going through his school days, his first job and his time in the Second World War. Nothing particularly outstanding here but as you read you realise Dahl was one of those people who lived a remarkable life. Piece of Cake: The first story Dahl ever wrote it tells of his experience as a pilot in the war. It's really well told although the extended bizarre dream towards the end feels a bit unnecessary. Still, you feel like you are actually there and it is another case of Dahl telling a non-fiction story so magically it feels like it must be a fiction story. All in all an enjoyable and speedy read. I didn't think it was quite as good as some of his other short story collections as here the stories are toned down, they don't really go very dark and are light, easy reads. However there are lots of good things to be said about the collection and it reminded me of just how brilliant an author Roald Dahl was.
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Roald Dahl's books always have wonderful effect on me.When I read The Witches, I thanked God I didn't meet any witch as a child.When I read Matilda, I think she's the brightest girl ever.When I read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, I believe that there is a very big and magical chocolate factory somewhere in this world.When I read the Magic Finger, suddenly I have some hatred to these animal hunters.When I read Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator, I wish that I can go to space hotel as well.When I read the Twits, I want to thrown up.When I read James and The Giant Peach, I want to go inside the amazing peach.When I read this book, I can't say more than amazing. This book makes me almost believe about something, which I tell you, almost impossible.But who's Roald Dahl? He knocks the 'im' in 'impossible' word.
—Hilda
After falling in love with Dahl (via Matilda), I read this fantastic collection of short stories. A couple are actually written for adults but were tame enough to transfer well to a younger audience. The tales had such a profound effect on me that I remember them clearly to this day (despite not having read this collection since the umpteenth time when I was in my teens), and I still think fondly about one of them in particular on a regular basis. If I were to be trapped on a desert island with just a handful of books to read again and again, this would definitely be one of my picks.
—Rachelle
I enjoyed reading this book. It is a collection of Short Stories. Some of my favorites where:The Boy who talked with Animals. - I love the turtle!!The Mildenhall Treasure - which is based on a true storyThe Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - Sugar Yes Please!! hahaha!!andLucky BreakI love Roald Dahl. I love how his imagination works. I love his books and it is such a great joy to read them. This book tells us of 7 Different Stories which all of them are amazing. I love the story of Henry Sugar and the story of the Man who sees without his eyes, it is so well written and just beautiful. Lucky break also one story that I like because it is Roald Dahl's story, His first time being a writer and finding what he really wants to do. Roald Dahl's books are always such a delight to read and whenever you read his books sometimes your mind starts to wander and starts to imagine beautiful things and just feel so happy. ^^
—Elaine
