Much to our glee here at college, we discovered that September is a very special month.
It’s Roald Dahl month.
The Diabolically Delightful Mr. Dahl’s birthday is on the 13th. Therefore, we’re toasting him this Saturday.
Therefore, everyone should read one of his short stories on his birthday.
I think I’ve already said how much I love booksales. I went to another today and picked up Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for fifty cents. You can’t turn that down.
I also got a twenty-eight story omnibus of Roald Dahl’s adult stories…woohoo!
The great thing about booksales (at least in my community) is that they also benefit the library. Old books for cheap, we load up on ’em, and then give them back to be sold once again. I rarely buy new books (stingy poor college student), so fifty cent paperbacks and one dollar hard covers is the way to go.
Up to 14 already? And I don’t even review every book I read (though it sure seems like it!)
The Irregulars by Jennet Conant is a remarkable story. Its the story of the British spy ring in WWII Washington, and focuses specifically on Roald Dahl (yes, he of James and the Giant Peach).
While I found Conant’s writing a bit prone to cliches (or at least over familiar turns of phrase) at times, the story line is absolutely fascinating. Truth really is more interesting than fiction. The characters are larger than life, but at the same time, real. Dahl, the charismatic RAF pilot. David Ogilvy, the polling genius. William Stephensen, the Canadian head of the BSC. And, of course, Ian Fleming.
There are some real laugh-out loud moments (intentional, I’m sure), as these amatuer spies are quite spirited.
I’d wanted to read this book since Entertainment Weekly reviewed it last year…and my roommate had me read some of Dahl’s adult short stories (including “Genesis and Catastrophe” which I urge everyone to read).
This book is really what got me thinking that my WIP should be set during WWII. I was half way there already. I just needed the proper encouragement.
And somehow, in one photograph and a paragraph, I got on a Leslie Howard kick. Must update my Netflix queue.
Recommended for any one who has an interest in WWII espionage or Roald Dahl.
Ned Wolfe 