Boy by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is a captivating writer, and one of my favorites. Though I have read much of his fiction, I had never read his nonfiction before. Boy, is an autobiographical book about Dahl’s childhood, which was published in 1984. Rather than writing an autobiography full of uninteresting details, Dahl chose to write a series of personal sketches about the moments that stood out most to him and sat on the surface of his memories.

Dahl writes about his mother and siblings, candy stores, visits to Norway, having his nose nearly sliced off, and other surgeries, all without anesthesia. He tells stories of his early schooling, and of violent headmasters and older students and their use of the cane. Dahl reveals real-life events, which shaped his later fiction. For instance, Dahl and his classmates were mailed new Cadbury chocolate samples to evaluate, which later provided inspiration for his story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You will recognize the models for the hateful adult figures who are out to harm children in Dahl's fiction.

Dahl's gift for storytelling extends to his autobiographical anecdotes. They are filled with childlike innocence, horror, humor, darkness, and joy, often all within a single story.

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At the Foot of the Rainbow by Gene Stratton-Porter

At the Foot of the Rainbow (1907) by Gene Stratton-Porter is the story of a three people: a deceived man and woman and a second man who is haunted by the lies he told them over fifteen years ago. The story is set in Rainbow Bottom on the Wabash River in Indiana.

Dannie Macnoun lives next door to his best friend Jimmy Malone and Jimmy's wife Mary. Although Dannie rarely expresses his feelings, he has been in love with Mary for over fifteen years. Years ago, Mary chose Jimmy over Dannie. Rather than becoming resentful, Dannie is a good man, who continues to be devoted to both Jimmy and Mary.

Dannie does more than his share of the work. He looks after Mary and takes care of any troubles Jimmy gets into. When Jimmy spends his savings on drinks at the bar, Dannie gets him home safely and even lends him money. Dannie is steadfast and devoted in contrast with Jimmy, who is childish, spoiled, and loves telling stories.

Jimmy's cheer fades as the story proceeds, and he is haunted by a sin from his past. Jimmy did not marry his wife Mary fairly, and he stole her from Dannie. All three characters are unhappy for different reasons, and Jimmy's growing torment begins to tears them apart.

Related Reviews:
A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter

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The Dangerous Summer by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemmingway wrote The Dangerous Summer in 1960 for LIFE magazine. Here, Hemingway recounts the summer he spent in Spain in 1959 watching a series of bullfights between two great matadors. Luis Miguel Dominguin and his brother-in-law Antonio Ordonez became rivals in a mano a mano (hand-to-hand duel). Throughout the summer, Dominguin and Ordonez tried to show one another up as performers in the ring while traveling from city to city and match to match.

I read an edited version of Hemingway’s LIFE magazine piece with an introduction by James Mitchener. The book serves as an introduction to bullfighting, gives insight into Hemingway’s personal life, and gives the reader beautiful glimpses of Spain as they travel the country. The Dangerous Summer is one of Hemingway’s last stories, and in it, Hemingway looks back upon his life.

Hemingway was friends with both Dominguin and Ordonez, and had broken his personal rule to stop being personally involved with bullfighters. Ordonez was the son of Cayetano Ordonez, a friend of Hemingway's in the 1920s and the model for Pedro Romero in The Sun Also Rises. Although Hemingway is friends with both Dominguin and Ordonez, he favors Ordonez throughout, believing him to be an exceptional bullfighter. Hemingway draws a contrast between these young, vibrant matadors and provides lasting sentiments on their bravery and immortality.

External Link:
"The Last Ole” By William Kennedy, The New York Times

Related Review:
In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway

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The Reef by Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton’s The Reef (1912) tells the story George Darrow and his former love Anna Leath. Darrow was interested in Anna when he was young, but she married another man. After the death of Anna’s husband, they resume contact and plan to meet in Paris.

As Darrow is ready to travel from London to France to see Anna, she postpones their meeting with a short note, giving him no explanation. Darrow feels angry and humiliated, but decides to go to France. He meets a young woman named Sophy Viner. Sophy is a poor and sincere woman, and while Darrow cares little for her, he enjoys charming her and treating her to fancy meals and nights at the theatre. Darrow also wants to put Anna out of his mind. Darrow and Sophy have an affair.

It is unclear how their affair ends. Months later, Darrow is at Anna’s home, where she lives with her daughter, former mother-in-law, and stepson Owen. The plot thickens when Darrow meets Sophy again. She has taken a job as the governess of Anna’s daughter. Darrow and Sophy hide their relationship from the others.

Meanwhile, Anna and Darrow plan their wedding. Anna talks to Darrow about Owen’s interest in a young lady, and Darrow eventually learns that Owen has proposed to Sophy. His sympathy for Sophy conflicts with his opinion that she is not a suitable wife for Owen. Darrow and Sophy’s affair is eventually revealed in this perfectly executed plot.

Related Reviews:
Summer by Edith Wharton
Twilight Sleep by Edith Wharton

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The Aspern Papers by Henry James

The Aspern Papers (1888) by Henry James is the story of an American editor obsessed with getting his hands on letters written by a dead poet named Jeffrey Aspern. This unnamed editor narrates the story. He arrives in Venice to meet Aspern's former lover, Miss Juliana Bordereau, who is now an old woman. He believes that Aspern’s last missing letters were to Juliana, and he aims to obtain them.

The narrator weasels his way into boarding at the Bordereau home under a false name. Juliana is aloof, but he makes some progress in flattering her younger sister Tina. Tina misunderstands his intentions, and the narrator is so focused on getting the letters that he deceives and romances her. Through all this, the narrator seemingly fails to realize his effect on the two women.

What is key to this story is the honesty of the narrator. Since we know he is both unscrupulous and amoral, we must wonder if the narrator is also deceiving us.

Related Review:
Daisy Miller by Henry James
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

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The Girl Most Likely by Rebecca Sparrow

Lately, I have been trying to add more modern authors to my mix of books. I spotted The Girl Most Likely (2003) on a weekend visit to the library. I knew nothing of the book or its author, Rebecca Sparrow. It was the Fruit Loops on the spine that caught my eye, and I decided to check the book out. Luckily, this spontaneous decision led me to read a charming novel.

In The Girl Most Likely, Rachel Hill returns to her childhood home in Brisbane at the age of 27. She’s soon to be divorced, but has only confessed her mistake of a marriage to her friend Zoe. Her parents and sister are still in the dark, and her divorce papers are left sitting in the fridge with a jar of Miracle Whip.

Facing her quarter-life crisis, Rachel reflects upon all the things she excelled at when she was 17 and on where she thought she’d be by 28. She wonders what her younger self would think of how she’s ended up. She finds a list of things she wanted to do by age 28. The list includes learning a movie theme song, which she begins to practice incessantly.

Slowly, Rebecca begins moving in wider circles outside of her mother and father’s yard. By reassessing her idea of happiness, she begins to accept herself again.


Check out Rebecca Sparrow's website. After writing three fictional novels, she’s focused on writing non-fiction for tween and teenage girls to help them have better experiences in high school. She’s a lovely person. I sent her a thank you message after reading her book, and she sent me the sweetest response.

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