Dark Tales

This is a phenomenal collection of Shirley Jackson short stories. If you like this, you should go ahead and get the collection “The Lottery” as well. These two books collect, in my opinion, the very best of her short stories.

There are about 10 dark tales from Shirley Jackson. Nothing a what it seems and the stories start out normal but they get scarier as you read them. Each tale has a certain theme, what is the worst that can happen does. Ghosts can kill you, decisions can be distarous, visits that never end, hell, captivity, there is a story for Dylan Thomas. I really enjoy Shirley Jackson because it is so matter of fact but terrifying. She takes you into the dark recessed of the mind and makes a left turn.

I love this edition and I love Shirley Jackson. I read this in a week, a couple of stories a night before bed. Very please that my book came in perfect condition!

Cross-posted from Good Reads Most of these stories I'd read in other Jackson collections at some point, but years ago, so they were mostly like reading them for the first time. The foreward by Ottessa Moshfegh is perfectly suited to the tone & tenor of these stories. There's 17 stories in the collection, & the curator of the collection really knows how to bend the arc of narrative with the arrangement of the pieces. It opens & closes with a banger -- The Possibility of Evil (with a shiveringly wicked closing line) & The Summer People, (also with a hell of a last line) that made me creeped out at the thought of my parents (you guessed it...in a cabin by the lake in New England.) The stories in the middle are evenly paced and alternate between the mildly unnerving (Louisa Please Come Home) to the downright creepy (Jack the Ripper.) For me, however, the unsung gem of this collection is The Beautiful Stranger, which is poignant in the helplessness the reader feels at the ending -- particularly so if you've ever had a mean husband & wished that a kind one would just up and take his place. In a way, I feel like this collection of Jackson's work bears a lot in common with Rod Serling's writing for The Twilight Zone -- I could easily envision most of these stories as an episode. I recently finished Jackson's biography, and this was a great way to follow up.

I didn’t hate this but calling it dark is a stretch. It was more uncomfortable than thrilling. I still liked the writing style. I honestly might even read another one of her books just to see what else she has. There were a couple good ones in here and it was really good to distract myself with

The many varied short stories in this anthology keep the reader engaged throughout. Each of these tales by Shirley Jackson include her signature love of the macabre, making the reader wish for still more.

Did not find stories to be particular grabbers. Author is well known for other works but few of these seemed to add to her reputation.

Her style of writing is instantly recognizable and yet her stories are so varied. Most often letting the reader fill in the shadows and twists. Every story is a winner.

I especially like finding stories in the style/ genre of Shirley Jackson. I haven't read ALL of her stories yet because I don't want to have nothing else to read, no surprises left. I keep her books to read over and over. Glad to have found this book, which was completely new to me.

Every single story from this volume it's absolutely delightful for those who love dark and ingenious literature. Totally whort it!

Tales of the weird, written in Jackson's signature style. Some are more shocking than others. Leaves you thinking over the horror in everyday life.

Acquistato per un regalo,contiene numerosissimi racconti non tradotti in Italia,veramente molto belli! Permette di conoscere meglio sia lo stile che l'autore. Consigliatissimo!

Shirley Jackson's tales are a weird sideways look at 1950's America. Not quite Roald Dahl or Twilight zone...but you get the idea. Well worth a read. Totally recommend.