This short story collection reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Take a story, a good one, with beautiful prose and an interesting plot, and then boom, a talking dog walks in. Or a racehorse gives you a tip on who is winning the next race. Most of the tales was a bliss to read but there was one or two which gave me the headache, and I tried really hard to understand them. My two favourites were the story about the actress who falls for the spare Royal prince (wink-wink), and the one told by the toys of a little girl. By the end of the book, you will understand how these writings are connected, and you instantly want to go back to the beginning and start reading them again.

Short stories are not my favourite genre but these inter-connecting short stories were quirky and very well written with humour and interesting comments on life. My favourite was Classic Quest 17 - Crime and Punishment - it was laugh out loud hilarious. Many thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kate Atkinson is a consummate storyteller; over recent years she has written some of the finest contemporary English literature. The creation of short story stories is a path taken by many and often not successfully- it's a fine line to capture the essence of a character and a well formed plot in a concise structure. Normal Rules Don't Apply is a mixed selection- spinning a hypnotic web of curiosity, surreal imagination and some unique individuals. These stories are a cornucopia of fascination - twists and turns prevail and there are thread that links these stories- whether it be characters or events.( Franklin's world needed to be a novel in itself ). There is a sense of the 'Dahl-esque ' in the darker turns and conclusions. One thing is for sure is the magic of Kate Atkinson's pen - at times poetic in prose and certainly rich in vocabulary this a selection of stories to 'escape' and venture into new, imaginary and fantastical worlds pulling us into stories that will disturb, satisfy and certainly intrigue. Whether you are new to Kate Atkinson's work or already admirer, there is much here to cause reflection and ultimately enjoy

Kate Atkinson is a consummate storyteller; over recent years she has written some of the finest contemporary English literature. The creation of short story stories is a path taken by many and often not successfully- it's a fine line to capture the essence of a character and a well formed plot in a concise structure. Normal Rules Don't Apply is a mixed selection- spinning a hypnotic web of curiosity, surreal imagination and some unique individuals. These stories are a cornucopia of fascination - twists and turns prevail and there are thread that links these stories- whether it be characters or events.( Franklin's world needed to be a novel in itself ). There is a sense of the 'Dahl-esque ' in the darker turns and conclusions. One thing is for sure is the magic of Kate Atkinson's pen - at times poetic in prose and certainly rich in vocabulary this a selection of stories to 'escape' and venture into new, imaginary and fantastical worlds pulling us into stories that will disturb, satisfy and certainly intrigue. Whether you are new to Kate Atkinson's work or already admirer, there is much here to cause reflection and ultimately enjoy

This is a lovely collection of short stories, reminding me that I don't read short stories enough, and what a clever genre they are! Subtly connected by characters or story threads, this collection is an eclectic mix that will amuse. The characters are fascinating and the stories succinct and clever.