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Kiss Kiss

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'Kiss Kiss' by Roald Dahl is a collection of 11 short stories that delve into the dark and macabre, often with unexpected twists. The writing style is described as crisp, surprising, and smoothly written, with a touch of British black humor. Each story starts innocently but ends with a chilling or eccentric conclusion, leaving the reader both entertained and slightly unsettled. Dahl's unique storytelling perspective shines through in these tales of the unusual, reminiscent of stories one might expect to find in 'Twilight Zone'.

Characters:

The characters are complex, often unlikable, and deal with moral ambiguity, frequently exhibiting dark traits or motivations.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is crisp and smoothly executed, infused with British black humor, characterized by a deceptive simplicity and unexpected twists.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features crisp and surprising storylines that delve into dark and macabre themes, with characters confronting sinister situations.

Setting:

The settings are varied, often starting mundane but gradually revealing darker undertones, with familiar yet eerie backdrops.

Pacing:

The pacing is steady, maintaining tension that builds up to twists, although predictability may develop after several stories.
Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train, with a change at Swindon on the way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the evening and the moon was c...

Notes:

Kiss Kiss is a collection of 11 short stories by Roald Dahl.
The stories often contain surprising twists and dark humor.
One story, 'The Landlady,' features a young man staying in a peculiar bed and breakfast.
'William and Mary' explores themes of death and the afterlife in a twisted marriage context.
In 'The Way Up To Heaven,' a woman's desperate situation with her husband's sadistic behavior is highlighted.
The character in 'Parson's Pleasure' disguises himself as a clergyman to trick farmers.
'Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat' deals with the consequences of infidelity in marriage.
'Royal Jelly' involves a man turning his daughter into a bee using a special ingredient.
Dahl's adult stories contain psychological thrills and often reflect the darker sides of human nature.
The collection's original title was rumored to be 'Sick Sick,' due to its macabre themes.
Many stories in Kiss Kiss have been adapted into episodes of 'Tales of the Unexpected.'
The stories are known for their crisp writing style and surprising conclusions.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes revolving around death, dark humor, psychological distress, and macabre situations.

From The Publisher:

In Kiss Kiss you will find eleven devious, shocking stories from the master of the unpredictable, Roald Dahl.

What could go wrong when a wife pawns the mink coat that her lover gave her as a parting gift? What happens when a priceless piece of furniture is the subject of a deceitful bargain? Can a wronged woman take revenge on her dead husband?

In these dark, disturbing stories Roald Dahl explores the sinister side of human nature: the cunning, sly, selfish part of each of us that leads us into the territory of the unexpected and unsettling. Stylish, macabre and haunting, these tales will leave you with a delicious feeling of unease.

'Roald Dahl is one of the few writers I know whose work can accurately be described as addictive' Irish Times

Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.

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About the Author:

The son of Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916 and educated at Repton. He was a fighter pilot for the RAF during World War Two, and it was while writing about his experiences during this time that he started his career as an author. His fabulously popular children's books are read by children all over the world. He died in November 1990.

 
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