NOVEMBER 2013 - AudioFile
With a varied pace and a veritable arsenal of spot-on accents, Andrew Scott takes to Dahl’s short stories with a deft hand and a playful, deliberate enthusiasm. His ability to rapidly juggle characters carries him gracefully through complex dialogue and heavily detailed monologues, and his meticulous pacing helps listeners to absorb the smallest of plot points and the most intimate of moments without sacrificing the momentum of each account. Distinction is key with short story collections, and Scott has a gift for developing rich characterizations in a short amount of time, giving an additional layer of life to the stories. His soft intonation escorts listeners through the text with ease. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"Few modern writers have attracted such an appreciative audience among adults and children as Dahl. . . . All the tales are entrancing inventions." —Publishers Weekly
School Library Journal - Audio
★ 01/01/2014
Gr 4–8—Dahl story's are written to be enjoyed, to be provocative, to bypass adults and speak directly to children's psyches, and they certainly are birthed from a wellspring of imagination that is entirely unique in the world of children's literature. But few among his legions of fans will have read this collection of short stories originally published in 1977. These are complex, compelling, and complicated stories for more mature listeners. Mature not in an age-related sense, but in literary way; Dahl rewards patient and attuned listeners with stories that illuminate the meanness of children, the tenderness of a mother, or the greed of a character like Henry Sugar. The narration in this audio recording is spot on and superb. Andrew Scott's British lilt provides an intimate listening experience, as if we are all huddled together around a flashlight, long past our bedtimes, hanging on every word.—Meg B. Allison, Moretown School, Moretown, VT
NOVEMBER 2013 - AudioFile
With a varied pace and a veritable arsenal of spot-on accents, Andrew Scott takes to Dahl’s short stories with a deft hand and a playful, deliberate enthusiasm. His ability to rapidly juggle characters carries him gracefully through complex dialogue and heavily detailed monologues, and his meticulous pacing helps listeners to absorb the smallest of plot points and the most intimate of moments without sacrificing the momentum of each account. Distinction is key with short story collections, and Scott has a gift for developing rich characterizations in a short amount of time, giving an additional layer of life to the stories. His soft intonation escorts listeners through the text with ease. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
