Dahl is a great writer, and I grew up on his children books. Perhaps, that set the bar very high, and that's why the book didn't quite make it, for me. The stories are quirky and enjoyable, some more some less so, but didn't blow my mind. In a few instances, I'm afraid that the moral(ising) undertones that work fine in children stories were a bit too explicit for "adults". I enjoyed the two autobiographical pieces, Lucky Break and A Piece of Cake.