Thrift store purchase for wild release.

Delightful stuff - if you haven't read these you've missed some wonderful stories.

Just couldn't resist grabbing this off the table at our Twin Cities meetup!

Not every story in this collection is perfect - but those that are will live forever.

'Filboid Studge' is one of my favorites, and anyone who has ever been fed a dish of unappetizing cereal will probably share my suspicions that this product, renamed and repackaged, is still being sold. And 'The Schartz-Metterklume Method' always makes me snicker, as does 'Crispina Umberleigh.' The elegant writing of 'Laura' is a feast - just reflect on one line: ' "I don't know about it being serious; it is certainly Saturday," said Laura.'

We do have plenty of outstanding American short story writers with a gift for this kind of twist ending - O. Henry and Damon Runyon certainly spring to mind. But achieving such brilliant results in so few pages is hard to match. Sheesh, you'd think those wily Brits invented the language!

But this is just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?

Placed in Aberpeter's Read and Journaled bookbox

I've read Saki's wonderful stories before (and have a hefty hardcover keeper-copy at home) so I'm leaving this in the box for someone else, but wanted to add my comments.

I delight in the mix of drawing-room humor and often-dark horror (sometimes in the same story). I love nearly all the tales, but among my favorites in this collection are "Gabriel-Ernest" (hapless landowner meets feral youth), "Tobermory" (if cats could speak, look out!), "Shredni Vashtar" (tormented child's revenge), "Filboid Studge" (oh, that name!), "Laura" (reincarnation rocks), and the classic "The Open Window" - which, oddly enough, failed to interest me during my youthful gobbling-down-ghost-stories days, but which has gained a great deal as I've matured {wry grin}. The chilling "Easter Egg" is another memorable tale, that one rather heartbreaking...

This is only a small sample of Saki's output, of course. There's an entire collection of his "Clovis" tales, starring the reprehensible (yet charismatic) youth who appears here as one of the more amused guests in "Tobermory", and much, much more. Recommended!

[There's a TV Tropes page on the author, with some entertaining tidbits, but do beware of spoilers.]

Taking this book from Aberpeter's Read and Journalled Bookbox.

I decided not to read this one, so it's ready to travel.

If you have found this book, welcome to Bookcrossing and thank you for taking the time to let us know about its journey. Feel free to enjoy the book and pass it along to a friend, neighbor, family member or co-worker, or simply leave it somewhere for another lucky reader to enjoy as you did! This book isn’t your type of read? No problem, don't feel obliged to read it, just be kind enough to help it on its journey.

This book is starting out in the Teens Shrinking Bookbox.

I must've read "The Open Window" some time around sixth grade, and have never forgotten the story or the author; I do have another collection of Saki's stories somewhere, but I'll gladly take this from JennyC1230's Shrinking Teens Bookbox to read and release.

Reading this now: I'd noticed the name of Clovis in two of the stories so far (both in "Tobermory" and briefly at the end of "Filboid Studge"), so it's interesting to find out from Gory that there's a collection of Clovis tales out there.

So many of the stories in this particular collection seem familiar that I'm wondering if I've read it before: the previous title Humor, Horror, and the Supernatural rings a small bell, so it's possible.

I rather like the pardon Octavian receives after completing "The Penance": "un-Beast."

So many instances of people who are really behaving quite outrageously: great fun to read but I have to admit that they'd drive me batty in person.

When I first read "The Open Window" as a kid, it taught me about French windows and another meaning for "romance" - I've never forgotten that last line, but of course Saki meant it to be memorable. I think I must've actually had to do a report on this story for school.

Also, I didn't remember "syce" (in "The Guests"), so I looked it up, but it seems to mean pretty much exactly what the context implies: stableman/groom/servant who works with the horses. So that's my new word for the day, I guess. :)

Headed to South Carolina to help stock a new UBCZ...or maybe to be set free elsewhere; who knows?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm so glad you've found this book!

Won't you please make a journal entry to let the book's previous readers know that it's safely in your hands? How did you find it? What did you think of it? What are you going to do with it next?

It's now your book, for you to do with as you please: keep it, pass it to a friend, or maybe even leave it where someone else can find it!

If you've ever wondered where your books go after they leave your hands, join BookCrossing and you may find out: you'll be able to follow the further adventures of your books as new readers make journal entries - sometimes from surprisingly far-flung locations.

BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!

This book was received in a parcel from the lovely hyphen8, for our library/book exchange/UBCZ here at The Bristol in Charleston. Thank you so much! this will go out on the shelf very soon.

To the finder of this book:

Welcome to BookCrossing, a unique community of book lovers, sharing their libraries with the world. This book is now yours to read, enjoy, keep or pass on to another reader. The BookCrossing ID, which you entered in the "Enter a BCID" box on the website, is unique to this copy of this book. If you make a journal entry (either anonymously, or as a BookCrossing member) all previous readers of this actual book will be notified by email, and can follow the book as it travels. BookCrossing is free to join, completely confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address) and a heck of a lot of fun. Be on the lookout for other books left in the "Wild"!

PS And if you find yourself liking BookCrossing, there may be local BookCrossers who meet regularly in your area. Come join us!

Have pulled this from the shelf to pass to a friend who is homeschooling her kids. If it doesn't work for the curriculum, it will be passed on or wild released.

To the finder of this book:

Welcome to BookCrossing, a unique community of book lovers, sharing their libraries with the world. This book is now yours to read, enjoy, keep or pass on to another reader. The BookCrossing ID, which you entered in the "Enter a BCID" box on the website, is unique to this copy of this book. If you make a journal entry (either anonymously, or as a BookCrossing member) all previous readers of this actual book will be notified by email, and can follow the book as it travels. BookCrossing is free to join, completely confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address) and a heck of a lot of fun. Be on the lookout for other books left in the "Wild"!

If you find yourself liking BookCrossing, there may be local BookCrossers who meet regularly in your area. Come join us! I've been a BookCrosser since 2003 and have found books left by others, discovered new authors to read, watched my books travel all over the world, and discovered a delightful group of readers online through BookCrossing.