Another set of short stories, some were in the collection I read previously, but this set is more specific about the theme: "life as a person who is trying to take something without getting caught with a best friend in tow." Some were a little abrupt in their endings, but were nice prequels into other stories. He does a nice job leaving some of the story up to the imagination of the reader. Such fun to read but not for the squeamish. ( )

Just couldn't get into this book. I like his children's stuff though. ( )

Collection of short stories about a group of country characters. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other Roald Dahl short stories that I have read in the past. However it is a good collection and I would recommend it. ( )

Most people are familiar with Roald Dahl's children's books, but the man proves himself equally adept at writing for adults. Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life is a collection of rural short stories, most revolving around a friend, poacher, and gambler, Claud. Amongst the bits of country wisdom (pointing a heifer toward the sun will always result in a heifer calf, while pointing it away will give you a bull calf) and farcical situations arising from Claud's latest get-rich-scheme of substituting a ringer in for a losing greyhound is a grim story of what's under the hayrick and a disgusting ratcatcher who resembles the vermin he catches in more way than one.

Dahl's humor is understated and he is perfectly content to play up the comic potential of his neighbors, including Claud, while the narrator is an interested bystander.

The last story, regarding Claud's grand plan to hit a new record with the most pheasants poached in one night, ends on a side-splitting note. Dahl's true gift is in the description of his characters and the visual imagery. The characters absolutely sparkle.

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This collection is comprised of seven of Roald Dahl's agrestic short stories: the eponymous 'Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life', as well as 'Parson's Pleasure', 'The Ratcatcher', 'Rummins', 'Mr Hoddy', 'Mr Feasey', and 'The Champion of the World'; each displaying an aspect of country life and each, in their own strange way, dismantling the concept of the bucolic British paradise. The characters (reused throughout the collection) are endowed with simplistic yet real personalities, and the situations constructed around them are wonderfully crafted and playfully irreverent, displaying an expert blend of both the silly and the sinister. An undemanding read and an altogether superb collection.