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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A good read for anyone who wants to see the source material for the film, but ultimately I think the Disney version provides a more satisfying narrative.
Yes, it's a kids' book, yes I re-read it as a 45-year-old out of nostalgia after watching the movie on Disney+. No guilt, no shame! A bit of childhood magic, a bit of nostalgia, nothing but joy -- that is exactly what 2020 needs more of. What a delightful couple of hours.
Typical cutesy English siblings-go-on-adventures novel.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Having loved the Disney film growing up I was pleasantly surprised to come across the original books! Since I've read 'The Borrowers' I felt I could expect a good story. Unfortunately it was a bit of a mixed bag.
The first book, 'The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons' was a cute little story about Carey, Charles and Paul visiting their aunt in the country, and discovering a neighbor lady crashed in the garden. I liked how the origin of Miss Price's witch lessons was kept secret, and the sinister moments where Miss Price contemplated a nasty spell to keep the three children quiet about her secret.
There was only one excursion on the bed here, a planned outing to a distant South Seas island (not Nabumbu), supposedly uninhabited. I couldn't help laughing when Carey and Charles were captured by the 'cannibal' islanders and Carey sobbed "people should be careful what they write in encyclopedias!" The depictions of the islanders in text and image, the original illustrations were in my edition, are racist in the late imperialist kind of way, but it's a brief encounter.
The book ends with the children packed off back to London with the brass bed knob still in hand.
The second book, 'Bonfires and Broomsticks' had a little more action. Miss Price has mostly given up on magic already and only humors the children by giving them their one trip back in time in order to finish their pact involving the bed knob. Their trip back to the late 17th century led to them encountering the fraudulent necromancer Emilius Jones who they of course brought back with them to the present for an extended visit.
When they return Emilius to his time they discover they've left him in a bit of trouble and have to somehow save him from the witchhunters who would burn him at the stake. Insta-substitutiary locomotion might be involved.
All in all a decent little story, it was fun to spot the various details that Disney would incorporate into their film (Carey once remarks aloud why Miss Price wouldn't use magic for the National Defense, and is hushed.) The film is better though.
The first book, 'The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons' was a cute little story about Carey, Charles and Paul visiting their aunt in the country, and discovering a neighbor lady crashed in the garden. I liked how the origin of Miss Price's witch lessons was kept secret, and the sinister moments where Miss Price contemplated a nasty spell to keep the three children quiet about her secret.
There was only one excursion on the bed here, a planned outing to a distant South Seas island (not Nabumbu), supposedly uninhabited. I couldn't help laughing when Carey and Charles were captured by the 'cannibal' islanders and Carey sobbed "people should be careful what they write in encyclopedias!" The depictions of the islanders in text and image, the original illustrations were in my edition, are racist in the late imperialist kind of way, but it's a brief encounter.
The book ends with the children packed off back to London with the brass bed knob still in hand.
The second book, 'Bonfires and Broomsticks' had a little more action. Miss Price has mostly given up on magic already and only humors the children by giving them their one trip back in time in order to finish their pact involving the bed knob. Their trip back to the late 17th century led to them encountering the fraudulent necromancer Emilius Jones who they of course brought back with them to the present for an extended visit.
When they return Emilius to his time they discover they've left him in a bit of trouble and have to somehow save him from the witchhunters who would burn him at the stake. Insta-substitutiary locomotion might be involved.
All in all a decent little story, it was fun to spot the various details that Disney would incorporate into their film (Carey once remarks aloud why Miss Price wouldn't use magic for the National Defense, and is hushed.) The film is better though.
A classic that can still be enjoyed today, Bedknob and Broomstick reminded me a lot of Chronicles of Narnia - although in a much smaller format. We've got the same idea of children from a big town finding themselves in the countryside and discovering hidden magic that seems distant and unreal once they are back in their everyday lives. It seems to have been a popular idea at some point, I suppose.
Although the language used in the book has aged somehow (the constant "Oh!" exclamations were quite amusing), the story itself survives the test of time. After all, what child doesn't dream of finding out a big magic secret and experience exciting adventures with its help.
The journey to the island was the most amusing part of the book for how badly it aged - the lands that remained undiscovered and full of mystery and terror for Ms Norton are all very studiously covered nowadays. The magic battle left me a little unconvinced, since our fair and new-to-magic Englishwoman has been facing off against a witch with what we can assume are years of experience, but I suppose it's par the course for the protagonist to win every battle.
Speaking of battles, the final one at the burning stake had me fooled, I've got to admit! It was very cleverly linked to something that was mentioned but so taken in I was with the tension of the scene and the emotions of the children that the trick didn't even occur to me.
Overall, I think it still remains a nice lecture to share with children, although they might question the ending a little. I know I was and all I thought about was modern plumbing.
Although the language used in the book has aged somehow (the constant "Oh!" exclamations were quite amusing), the story itself survives the test of time. After all, what child doesn't dream of finding out a big magic secret and experience exciting adventures with its help.
The journey to the island was the most amusing part of the book for how badly it aged - the lands that remained undiscovered and full of mystery and terror for Ms Norton are all very studiously covered nowadays. The magic battle left me a little unconvinced, since our fair and new-to-magic Englishwoman has been facing off against a witch with what we can assume are years of experience, but I suppose it's par the course for the protagonist to win every battle.
Speaking of battles, the final one at the burning stake had me fooled, I've got to admit! It was very cleverly linked to something that was mentioned but so taken in I was with the tension of the scene and the emotions of the children that the trick didn't even occur to me.
Overall, I think it still remains a nice lecture to share with children, although they might question the ending a little. I know I was and all I thought about was modern plumbing.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
This was one of my favorite movies growing up. The book was different, a little more tame, but it was really good still!!
This was one of those books which you can tell was destined to become a children's classic. It is magical and cosy and I know I will re-read it multiple times throughout my lifetime.