Boy and Going Solo
- Downloads：3949
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-11-23 09:54:06
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Roald Dahl
- ISBN：0142417416
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Roald Dahl's personal stories together in one edition！ Where did Roald Dahl get all of his wonderful ideas for stories？ From his own life， of course！ Boy includes tales of sweetshops and chocolate， mean old ladies， and the Great Mouse Plot。 And then Going Solo tells of how， when he grew up， Roald Dahl left England for Africa and later went flying with the Royal Air Force。
Reviews
Paupi121
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I enjoyed most the book except for the last bit where he tells us about his experience as a RAF flyer。 This is where I started to get bored and skiped to the end。 I hoped his autobiography would include his experience writing his novels and his life as a writer but was a bit dissapointed that this did not happen。
Tia Raina
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I have a particular affinity towards Roald Dahl books but this one tied into my love for autobiographies。 Fascinating to see the life incidents where some of his memorable incidents in books have come from。 Would own this book。
Cindy
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I feel weird giving a star rating to someone’s autobiography， so I’ll probably skip the rating for now。Ronald Dahl is considered “the world’s number one storyteller” and in the first part of this autobiography it feels a lot like a complication of short stories considering the fact that it focuses on Dahl’s childhood shenanigans。 The writing just seems very light and it flows a lot like one of his original stories rather than an autobiography。 There’s a few serious and troubled moments in his ch I feel weird giving a star rating to someone’s autobiography， so I’ll probably skip the rating for now。Ronald Dahl is considered “the world’s number one storyteller” and in the first part of this autobiography it feels a lot like a complication of short stories considering the fact that it focuses on Dahl’s childhood shenanigans。 The writing just seems very light and it flows a lot like one of his original stories rather than an autobiography。 There’s a few serious and troubled moments in his childhood written lightly so it’s not so depressing and sad。 Which seems to be how he handles the subject matter in his children’s books。 The first half takes place from his birth/upbringing/childhood to graduating and joining the workforce as a businessman rather than continuing into higher education because he wanted to travel。 I didn’t really have any expectations when reading this autobiography but I figured eventually it would lead into his career in writing。 There’s mention of his inspiration for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but then we get to the point where he talks about being a writer as something dreadful and I don’t know if it’s meant for humor or not。 A Boy I enjoyed it。 I really did。 I began to realize how simple life could be if one had a regular routine to follow with fixed hours and a fixed salary and very little original thinking to do。 The life of a writer is absolute hell compared with the life of a businessman。 The writer has to force himself to work。 He has to make his own hours and if he doesn’t go to his desk at all there is nobody to scold him。 If he is a writer of fiction he lives in a world of fear。 Each new day demands new ideas and he can never be sure whether he is going to come up with them or not。 P218 Then we move on to his young adult life in part 2。Going SoloA life is made up of great number of small incidents and a small number of great ones。 An autobiography must therefore， unless it is to become tedious， be extremely selective， discarding all the inconsequential incidents in one’s life and concentrating upon those that have remained vivid in the memory。 P231 Part 2 mostly revolves around his travels in Africa， going into World War 2 and then eventually returning home。 During this time period he still held on to his love of photography and mentions his first published work in the newspaper which was a witness statement in an encounter with a lion。 It’s wild the lack of training involved in preparing for world world 2 and he managed to do his part and survive。 There’s a lot of hardship he went through throughout his life and he writes it with enough humor to balance out those moments and his relationship with his mother is amazing; there’s so much love there。 Kinda wish this autobiography took the time line further into his career as a writer。 。。。more
Kara
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Can’t remember either of these books super well bc I read them when I was like 10， but I do remember it was written so well that it had a 10 year old reading a long autobiography and loving it so for that it deserves 5 stars imo :）
rin ☾
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4。5this is overall an extremely interesting book。 roald dahi is one of my fav writer so i was really excited to read his autobiography and know more about his life。the book is divided in two parts。 in the first part he talks about his young life from age 6 till high school。 the second part is my fav he talk about his life after high school and what he decided to do with it。 it's really amuses me that he had all this adventures and he visited many countries。i know that everyone have their diffiic 4。5this is overall an extremely interesting book。 roald dahi is one of my fav writer so i was really excited to read his autobiography and know more about his life。the book is divided in two parts。 in the first part he talks about his young life from age 6 till high school。 the second part is my fav he talk about his life after high school and what he decided to do with it。 it's really amuses me that he had all this adventures and he visited many countries。i know that everyone have their diffiicltly in life but i feel roald went through many things and he was a really hard working person。although this is a non fiction book but roald wrote it as if he is writing his own story like his other fiction books。 i hope this makes sense。 if you are a fan of his work i highly recommend to read his autobiography :（🤍🤍 。。。more
Joy
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I really enjoyed listening about Roald Dahl's life。 I really enjoyed listening about Roald Dahl's life。 。。。more
Stephanie
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I listened to a BBC reading/production of these titles。 It was lovely。 Roald Dahl's life experiences are fascinating and entertaining。 His writing is transportive and fun。 Definitely recommend！ I listened to a BBC reading/production of these titles。 It was lovely。 Roald Dahl's life experiences are fascinating and entertaining。 His writing is transportive and fun。 Definitely recommend！ 。。。more
Scarlett
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This was my favorite Roald Dahl book。 One of the best books I have ever read。
Chris Walter
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It's a positive and uplifting autobiography by a kind and good man。 Pleasing， soothing， educational， humorous， and touching It's a positive and uplifting autobiography by a kind and good man。 Pleasing， soothing， educational， humorous， and touching 。。。more
Jorik Breban
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Zo leuk！ Roald Dahl <3Ook fijn om te zien hoe enkele dingen die Roald Dahl meemaakte in zijn leven een inspiratie zijn geweest voor zijn latere boeken。
Alyson Walton
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Just loved this！ I have read these as a young adult and listened to them as audio。 Each time， I am amazed at this authors capacity to write。 Laughed，cried and enjoyed every little bit。
Siti Sumaiyyah
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This was a fun little read and gave an insight as to how Mr Dahl got such extraordinary ideas for his books。 I'm not sure I'd buy the book or that it is a re-readable one but I did enjoy it quite well。 This was a fun little read and gave an insight as to how Mr Dahl got such extraordinary ideas for his books。 I'm not sure I'd buy the book or that it is a re-readable one but I did enjoy it quite well。 。。。more
livenca
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I learnt something new today- dahl actually flew
Rick Nonsense
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Really good。 He is a master of relaying tough events in a comfy way。
Samarth Sinha
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This was a great and easy read。Hard to put down once started。What an adventure！A wonderful description of his own life's adventures brought to life。Gues I will read all of his works。 This was a great and easy read。Hard to put down once started。What an adventure！A wonderful description of his own life's adventures brought to life。Gues I will read all of his works。 。。。more
Alike Last
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Ongelooflijk， wat een leven！ Boeiend en met veel humor geschreven
Sonia
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Absolutely loved this。 Very entertaining and a fascinating read， especially Going Solo！
Chad
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Listened to audiobook with Dahl narrating。 Thought that was a great way to "read" these two books。 Listened to audiobook with Dahl narrating。 Thought that was a great way to "read" these two books。 。。。more
Luminos Lime
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This book was very funny， it had lots of little stories about Roald Dahls life。 All these stories are very funny and definitly worth a read。 if you like funny stories and lots of thrilling adventures you should definitly read this book。
Celeste
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Finished this in a flash while skipping the Chinese New Year visitations this year， including over a Daim almond cake and coffee in Ikea by the window。This book is a compilation of 2 books that could have been published separately。 Boy captures Dahl's early years— spending summers in Norway and then his （mis）adventures in boarding school。 Going Solo documents Dahl's early adult years as he graduated from boarding school， joined Shell to be shipped off to Africa and join the colonialists continui Finished this in a flash while skipping the Chinese New Year visitations this year， including over a Daim almond cake and coffee in Ikea by the window。This book is a compilation of 2 books that could have been published separately。 Boy captures Dahl's early years— spending summers in Norway and then his （mis）adventures in boarding school。 Going Solo documents Dahl's early adult years as he graduated from boarding school， joined Shell to be shipped off to Africa and join the colonialists continuing the British Empire， and then as a fighter pilot during the first World War。 Both books had distinct writing styles。 Boy is Roald Dahl as we know it， masterful writer of children's books。 The way he described his headmaster or the delights of receiving chocolates to taste from Cadbury were straight out of Mathilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory。 In Boy， Dahl is a whimsical storyteller。 Going Solo is a big more grim， documenting the horrors and the folly of war， and incompetent upper/ middle management that send many young men out to die。 Initially I was rather bored of the unfolding adventures， even as Dahl seemed to have a death wish in the missions he undertook （Which Alex would remark， "There but for the grace of God， go I"）， but the last page brought tears into my eyes as it covered Dahl's reunion with his mother， who had not seen him for 3 years， who did not know if he was dead or alive。Three years is a long time to wait for the return of an only son who is flying fighters in places like the Western Desert and Greece。 Eight months ago [my mother] had seen the village postman standing at the door of the cottage holding a buff-coloured telegram envelope in his hand。 Every wife and every mother in the country lived in dread of opening the front door to a postman with a telegram。 Many of them refused even to slit the envelope。 They could not bear to read the terse War Office message: We regret to inform you of the death of your husband [or son] killed in action。 Dahl's mother sounded like an amazing， courageous woman; who singlehandedly raised a family of 5 children after her husband died from grief。 The stories of her packing 7 suitcases for the kids while sailing day and night to reach Norway from Wales was already formidable， but so was the story of her quarrelling with farmers while Dahl broke his nose and was trying to get him to the surgeon。 And I can't imagine if my only son said he wanted to join the war。 Sometimes I wonder if these strong women are born great， or being a mother kicks off an instinct and propels an ordinary woman into an extraordinary pillar of strength。 It made me think of that time as a kid when my mom and I both got food poisoning at the same time， but while I lay immobile on the sofa， she managed to carry herself to a clinic， get medicine， get food for the both of us， and come home。 And I'm pretty sure she took the public bus instead of a taxi。Dahl's story of flying or traveling to different countries by boat took me back to a time where travel was infinitely more difficult but more romantic。 I'll end off with Jo Stafford's You Belong To Me:Fly the ocean in a silver planeSee the jungle when it's wet with rain。。。See the pyramids along the NileWatch the sun rise on a tropic isle。。。See the marketplace in old AlgiersSend me photographs and souvenirs 。。。more
Agnieska Ieva Banaite
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I have read this book for my seven-year-old son。 I found it interesting， as I am very found in the author。 However， my son has found it a little odd and a bit boring。 The way how children were treated at schools in the past was cruel and uneven。
Gunn
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The book is very interesting and fun story line that is in the book。 It tell nicely about roald dahl's life how he lived his life when he was young The book is very interesting and fun story line that is in the book。 It tell nicely about roald dahl's life how he lived his life when he was young 。。。more
Kayleigh Osborne
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4。5*
Katrijnd
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it was really nice and interesting to get to know more about the life of this famous author。
Sarah
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I love this book。 Its everything you could want Roald Dahl's autobiography to be。 I've read this several times I love this book。 Its everything you could want Roald Dahl's autobiography to be。 I've read this several times 。。。more
Danielle
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I found this a very intreating read。 I've read many of roald dahl growing up and currently working my way thought the book box set with my 5 year old。 It was amazing to read about how childhood and early adult life， how he became the author we know today。 It they are not a book I'll be reading to my 5 year old just yet but as a 26 year old I truly enjoyed them。 It was a nice change。 I found this a very intreating read。 I've read many of roald dahl growing up and currently working my way thought the book box set with my 5 year old。 It was amazing to read about how childhood and early adult life， how he became the author we know today。 It they are not a book I'll be reading to my 5 year old just yet but as a 26 year old I truly enjoyed them。 It was a nice change。 。。。more
Dongqin Feng
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Amazing experiences captured in the best story-telling！
Anne Taylor
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I love everything ever written by Roald Dahl。 I read his two autobiographies years ago and it’s been a delight to rerun to them in audio。
Sam
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Both books are incredible and they can be read together very easily。 What an amazing life！ One adventure after another - just brilliant。
Varad Patankar
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While I was reminiscing over my childhood， the name of Roald Dahl came flashing into my mind。 As a child， Dahl’s outlandish stories with his slightly twisted and inappropriate sense of humor fascinated me。 I felt that I should read about his real-life to know what inspired these stories。 What was the inspiration behind that strange but entertaining and whacky mind？And I was not surprised。 Since childhood， Dahl’s life was anything but normal。 His bold escapades with his friends and family in his While I was reminiscing over my childhood， the name of Roald Dahl came flashing into my mind。 As a child， Dahl’s outlandish stories with his slightly twisted and inappropriate sense of humor fascinated me。 I felt that I should read about his real-life to know what inspired these stories。 What was the inspiration behind that strange but entertaining and whacky mind？And I was not surprised。 Since childhood， Dahl’s life was anything but normal。 His bold escapades with his friends and family in his childhood seem to act as fodder for his stories for children。 To not be mistaken， if his childhood adventures gave his stories jocular twists， his later years in the RAF， fighting the Second World War add somberness to his stories。 He describes his years during the war with apparent nonchalance， but it is impossible to not be mightily influenced by his experiences during the war。 From fighting the Luftwaffe in Greece， Egypt， Syria， Lebanon and other European countries to himself being shot， he did it all。 Not knowing if he would stay alive to see the next dawn he moved around throughout the continent。His only sources of strength it seems were， his adventure-seeking spirit， and his intermittent correspondence with his mother with whom he shared an intimate bond The hope to see her after all the fighting must have prodded him along during hopeless times。For those who relished his stories as kids， this book will provide closure to the delightfully weird world Roald Dahl introduced us to。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Boy and Going Solo
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Boy and Going Solo&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Boy and Going Solo&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0