Switch Bitch

I read three of these four stories previously in a different compilation, none of which was very good. Switcheroo tries to back out of being nothing but an extended rape fantasy with its “twist” but doesn't really succeed. The only one I hadnt read was The Last Act and when I grabbed this from the library after reading the recent NYRB essay on Dahl I thought I might as well read it to be thorough. It's bad.

Woah. If you've only ever read Roald Dahl's children books, this is a bit of a shocker. I suppose the title would give it away, but dang. They should put an R rating on this one, lest any young fans of the BFG or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory think they're in for tales of charming fantasy and adventure (vs lots of casual sex).

These 4 stories were non-nutritive & very dirty, but well-written and thoroughly entertaining. The characters portray well-charted but enjoyable tropes of wealthy English womanizers, but there is an appreciated sense of self-awareness from the author that makes all the nasty stuff funny instead of gross. The first two stores especially had hilarious and truly unexpected plot twists. The third story was lackluster, and the fourth was just okay. Overall, this book was a fun and quick read.

Men being beastly
tricking wives, nursing grudges
everyone gets screwed.

I didn't love it because it is too short to fully appreciate his genius, and I enjoyed 3 out of the 4 stories - the last act is great and cruel, and the switcheroo seemed too alike the other one.

I think this was my first meeting with Roald Dahl as an author for adults. And I liked it. :-D
It's truly wicked. Wicked in all the meanings of the word. It's very clever, it's funny, and it's evil.
The lecherous goat uncle Oswald got exactly what he deserved. :-D