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Taste And Other Tales
[Penguin Readers Level 5]
In this collection of Roald Dahl's finest stories, we meet some quite ordinary people who behave in extraordinary ways. There is a man who is sure he can hear plants scream and the wife who discovers a perfect way to get rid of her husband. And there's a woman who finds an unusual use for a leg of lamb...
In this collection of Roald Dahl's finest stories, we meet some quite ordinary people who behave in extraordinary ways. There is a man who is sure he can hear plants scream and the wife who discovers a perfect way to get rid of her husband. And there's a woman who finds an unusual use for a leg of lamb...
102 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
19 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,472 books26.6k followersRoald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 4, 2017
I first read this book in 2004. Now, reading it after 13 years really has a different TASTE.. The moral hidden behind each tale is being used through these years..
How we grow up and look at things from different perspectives!!!
It is a nice book divided into short-independent-stories.. makes u smile at the end of each..
How we grow up and look at things from different perspectives!!!
It is a nice book divided into short-independent-stories.. makes u smile at the end of each..
January 14, 2025
para ser un libro de clase las historias estaban entretenidas
February 4, 2022
There is a gradual build-up of suspense throughout each story, until they come to an unexpected ending. Rather dark, they have a moral side and they seem to give the impression that no one can be fully trusted.
February 1, 2021
Las historias que más me gustaron fueron: The way up to Heaven, The leg of lamb y Birth and fate.
January 24, 2021
An easy read, full with moral values
January 29, 2023
Wowser!
100% unexpected tension and suspense!
Truth be told, I didn't get all of the twists but I was invested in every single tale.
Fantastic!
100% unexpected tension and suspense!
Truth be told, I didn't get all of the twists but I was invested in every single tale.
Fantastic!
June 1, 2025
men are gross. maids to the rescue
September 23, 2019
A policeman’s wife, happily married and expecting her first baby, has a rude shock—she is told by her husband that he’s leaving her. Another woman, who’s just had a baby, frets over whether or not it’s normal: all her three previous children have died, and this one too, she is certain, is bound for an early grave.
A man makes a sound machine that can tune into notes pitched far above human hearing range. Another man deliberately tries to irk his punctuality-paranoid wife by lingering and loitering when she’s pacing about, tense about a flight or a train or an appointment she may miss. A woman finds herself gifted an exquisite fur coat by an ex-lover, and hits upon the perfect way of getting to keep it without letting anyone cotton onto how she got it in the first place.
Roald Dahl’s Taste and Other Tales is a slim collection of eight of the author’s distinctive stories for adults: always with a twist in the tale, and more often than not, macabre. There are some chilling stories here (The Sound Machine, which I’ve read several times before, always makes my hair stand on end). Some are a delightful example of come-uppance (Taste, A Swim, Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat), and some are just the sort of story that, once read, you never forget—The Leg of Lamb (more commonly billed as Lamb to the Slaughter) being one.
I loved these stories. All of them show a somewhat cynical view of the human race. All are fine examples of the black humour genre, combining a deliciously quirky humour with something that’s not exactly ‘good’—and often managing to keep the suspense going till the very last sentence. And almost all I found thoroughly satisfying. The only story I’d have liked handled a little differently was Birth and Fate, which let the cat out of the bag too early: once that crucial detail had been revealed, the story should have been ended there, I thought.
But, overall an excellent read. Vintage Dahl.
A man makes a sound machine that can tune into notes pitched far above human hearing range. Another man deliberately tries to irk his punctuality-paranoid wife by lingering and loitering when she’s pacing about, tense about a flight or a train or an appointment she may miss. A woman finds herself gifted an exquisite fur coat by an ex-lover, and hits upon the perfect way of getting to keep it without letting anyone cotton onto how she got it in the first place.
Roald Dahl’s Taste and Other Tales is a slim collection of eight of the author’s distinctive stories for adults: always with a twist in the tale, and more often than not, macabre. There are some chilling stories here (The Sound Machine, which I’ve read several times before, always makes my hair stand on end). Some are a delightful example of come-uppance (Taste, A Swim, Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat), and some are just the sort of story that, once read, you never forget—The Leg of Lamb (more commonly billed as Lamb to the Slaughter) being one.
I loved these stories. All of them show a somewhat cynical view of the human race. All are fine examples of the black humour genre, combining a deliciously quirky humour with something that’s not exactly ‘good’—and often managing to keep the suspense going till the very last sentence. And almost all I found thoroughly satisfying. The only story I’d have liked handled a little differently was Birth and Fate, which let the cat out of the bag too early: once that crucial detail had been revealed, the story should have been ended there, I thought.
But, overall an excellent read. Vintage Dahl.
February 14, 2016
Me encantó. Divertido y fácil de leer. No hubo una historia que no me haya sorprendido, todas tienen esos plot twist que las hacen tan impredecibles. El condimento que le pone Dahl a todos sus cuentos es esa ironía y oscuridad que tienen todos sus personajes que hace que me llame muchísimo más la atención. Se lleva un 3/5 porque no acostumbro a leer cuentos cortos y quizás soy más fanática de las historias largas.
February 25, 2016
Tohle bylo jednoduše fajn, Roald Dahl to prostě se slovy uměl. Ze souboru povídek se mi asi nejvíc líbily tyto: Birth and Fate a A Swim. Celkově se člověk při čtení nad vším pozastaví a přemýšlí, dobře, teda aspoň já jsem dost polemizovala. Miloučké čtení na pár chvil.
February 5, 2017
Algunos relatos me han encantado. Otros no tanto.
February 12, 2021
Normally, books of short stories are not my preference, I often find them inadequate and unsatisfying. But I enjoyed this book from the odd, dark, warped mind of Roald Dahl. Each one was a nugget of surprises exploring the more depraved aspects of the human psyche. The first three stories really packed a punch, and left me feeling aghast, horrified, and then aghast again respectively. The story that struck me the most was “A Way up to Heaven”. Mr. Foster was a special breed of bastard, and it distressed me to see how he treated his wife. I have been in similar situations, and could relate to Mrs. Foster, though how she managed to stay married for so many years to such a toxic, selfish man without snapping is beyond me. Maybe it was indicative of the times when divorce and separation carried a huge stigma (for women). Still, when Mrs Foster decided to act – or not act as the case may be, and when I realized what happened at the end of the story, I was shook. However, I didn’t feel bad, and a part of me was relieved so does that make me evil? Roald Dahl books have the uncanny ability to make me question myself profoundly.
“The Sound Machine” was creepy and “Leg of Lamb” was another satisfying story of a wronged woman delivering comeuppance (Ok, there is something not quite right with me, I probably have to admit it now). The last two stories, I didn’t really see the points of. I suppose “Birth and Fate” is supposed to leave you with a sense of foreboding, but what was the point of “Poison”? I really want to know. If anyone wants to enlighten me, I’d appreciate it.
Most of the stories were definitely worth the read, and that’s not a bad proportion.
“The Sound Machine” was creepy and “Leg of Lamb” was another satisfying story of a wronged woman delivering comeuppance (Ok, there is something not quite right with me, I probably have to admit it now). The last two stories, I didn’t really see the points of. I suppose “Birth and Fate” is supposed to leave you with a sense of foreboding, but what was the point of “Poison”? I really want to know. If anyone wants to enlighten me, I’d appreciate it.
Most of the stories were definitely worth the read, and that’s not a bad proportion.
June 26, 2021
En annan sida av Roald Dahl än den jag mött i hans berättelser för barn och unga. En värld full av elaka och lynniga vuxna. Människor som agerar bitvis obegripligt och utan logik. Sen fullt logiskt men desperat och för att få en välkommen hämnd. Så dyker Hitlers mamma och pappa upp med en nyfödd Adolf.
Väl värd att spendera en dag tillsammans med.
Väl värd att spendera en dag tillsammans med.
August 27, 2021
hay algunos que son geniales (2), y la gran mayoría son de aburridos y sin plot. quite raro para ser un libro del colegio, chau
September 1, 2021
amo las mini historias de Roald Dahl
June 1, 2022
inconcistent as any compilation od short atories
March 24, 2023
Estás historias son unas de las pocas que no leí obligada en inglés, no se dan una idea cuánto ame este libro
August 22, 2023
3.5⭐️
Me gusto más de lo que esperaba.
Me gusto más de lo que esperaba.
December 11, 2023
que se yo lo lei en ingles particular esta bueno👍🏽
August 31, 2024
2.5 stars
December 15, 2024
la mayoría de las historias estab buenas, todas con plot twist y bien escritas
February 8, 2025
había leido un par d cuentos para inglés en 2018, pero nunca había leido todos. surprisingly, me acordaba de todos los leidos
January 24, 2021
Honestly, Don't take my review so seriously.
I had to read this book for my English'assignments and I can assure you I didn't enjoy it. Now, I don't know if it's due to the book itself or to the fact that it was mandatory.
Long short story … I didn't like it.
I had to read this book for my English'assignments and I can assure you I didn't enjoy it. Now, I don't know if it's due to the book itself or to the fact that it was mandatory.
Long short story … I didn't like it.
January 16, 2021
I'd say I'm not the greatest Roald Dahl's fan. By the way I really liked some of these tales, like the one about plants.
February 9, 2017
Taste and Other Tales ist eine Sammlung von 8 Kurzgeschichten die je zwischen 8 - 14 Seiten umfassen. Hierbei handelt es sich um durch die Bank moderne Geschichten die meistens das Thema den Spieß umzudrehen haben.
Auch wenn man bei Kurzgeschichtensammlungen immer interessantere und weniger fesselnde Geschichten hat, so gelingt es dem Autor doch in allen Fällen die Atmosphäre und Situation auf wenigen Seiten sehr gut einzufangen. Auch wenn die Charaktere nicht in die Tiefe ausgearbeitet werden, bleiben einem einige der Personen doch im Gedächtnis. Das fand ich sehr gut gemacht.
Der Nachteil ist, dass einige der Geschichten keine rechte Pointe hatten, bzw. man die Auflösung eigentlich immer nur angedeutet bekommt, sich den Rest aber selbst denken muss. Das funktionierte nicht bei allen der Geschichten gleich gut.
Meine Favoriten dieser Sammlung waren ganz klar "Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat", in dem eine Frau von ihrem heimlichen Liebhaber einen teuren Nerzmantel bekommt, den sie ihrem Mann unterjubeln muss und "The way up to heaven" über eine alte Dame mit einer Panik vor dem Zu spät kommen, deren Mann immer zu spät dran sein muss.
Eher schwach hingegen fand ich "Poison", über einen Mann auf deren Bauch eine hochgiftige Schlange eingeschlafen ist. Hier habe ich letztendlich die Pointe so gar nicht verstanden und das namensgebende "Taste", wo ich die Auflösung zu einfach und die Geschichte eher uninspiriert fand.
Auch wenn man bei Kurzgeschichtensammlungen immer interessantere und weniger fesselnde Geschichten hat, so gelingt es dem Autor doch in allen Fällen die Atmosphäre und Situation auf wenigen Seiten sehr gut einzufangen. Auch wenn die Charaktere nicht in die Tiefe ausgearbeitet werden, bleiben einem einige der Personen doch im Gedächtnis. Das fand ich sehr gut gemacht.
Der Nachteil ist, dass einige der Geschichten keine rechte Pointe hatten, bzw. man die Auflösung eigentlich immer nur angedeutet bekommt, sich den Rest aber selbst denken muss. Das funktionierte nicht bei allen der Geschichten gleich gut.
Meine Favoriten dieser Sammlung waren ganz klar "Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat", in dem eine Frau von ihrem heimlichen Liebhaber einen teuren Nerzmantel bekommt, den sie ihrem Mann unterjubeln muss und "The way up to heaven" über eine alte Dame mit einer Panik vor dem Zu spät kommen, deren Mann immer zu spät dran sein muss.
Eher schwach hingegen fand ich "Poison", über einen Mann auf deren Bauch eine hochgiftige Schlange eingeschlafen ist. Hier habe ich letztendlich die Pointe so gar nicht verstanden und das namensgebende "Taste", wo ich die Auflösung zu einfach und die Geschichte eher uninspiriert fand.
July 4, 2020
I used to love the books of Roald Dahl as a child. James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were among my favourite books.. It was the first time I read his books written for adults. I am surprised with the darkness of these short stories. The characters seem simple and maybe even boring at first, but then surprise you in unexpected ways. I still prefer the children book of Roald Dahl, but I did enjoy my read!
October 19, 2011
I adored this book! it has many srories in it! What i liked best was all the endings of all the stories. They all had a moral and i love these kinds of books! They had very nice and interesting themes
Read
December 14, 2013It includes:
-Taste
-A Swim
-The Way up to Heaven
-The Sound Machine
-The Leg of Lamb
-Birth and Fate
-Poison
I think I might have read some of these so I didn't get an unexpected ending. I like to know the ending of "The Way up to Heaven" because it is not clear to me.
-Taste
-A Swim
-The Way up to Heaven
-The Sound Machine
-The Leg of Lamb
-Birth and Fate
-Poison
I think I might have read some of these so I didn't get an unexpected ending. I like to know the ending of "The Way up to Heaven" because it is not clear to me.
April 12, 2015
Very exciting short stories. I think Roald's creative technique of having a twist shocking the reader towards the end of all of his stories has been successfully knitted and empolyed. Strongly, recommend it to read...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews