I was disappointed in this book. Basically, it was the same book as "Boy" but in a different format with an introduction by Dahl's widow. ( )

I adore Roald Dahl. I know that in this snowflake generation I'm not supposed to, given he's been outed as a philandering racist with a dyspeptic streak, amongst other things, but I'm sorry - I can't let that overshadow the brilliant output of his prolific imagination and enduring capacity to see life through the lens of a 7 year old boy. Plus, somehow he managed to figure out the secret of living multiple lives when the rest of us have to make do with one. Spy, fighter pilot, medical inventor, adult fiction writer, children's writer - how, just how?

This book is an embellishment of the original Boy: Tales of Childhood (which was Dahl's early memoirs), and includes extra letters and stories gathered by his widow. As you would expect, it's full of the most wonderful japes and tomfoolery, many of which were the sources of inspiration for his best known characters and stories. My favourite was the mean old sweet shop lady with the filthy dirty fingers who was later reincarnated as one of The Twits. Dahl got caned for hiding a dead mouse in her jar of gobstoppers - a perfectly naughty escapade fit for one of his characters!

As an older boy, his school were regularly enrolled by Cadburys as chocolate tasters. I shall send a silent prayer of thanks next time I eat a bar of Fruit and Nut. Imagine if that hadn't happened and Dahl had never come up with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It doesn't bear thinking about.

Although a children's book, I thoroughly enjoyed More About Boy. The stories were fabulous and larger than life, and it was terrific that nearly every page had photos or letters from Dahl to his Mama which illustrated the stories being told.

4 stars - with rose-tinted glasses. ( )

This one is largely the same as "Boy" except that the ebook has better illustrations and perhaps a few more bits, but not that I could tell. Having read "Boy" already, I didn't want to read it all over again. Maybe I'll pick it up again another time ...