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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Roald Dahl was always my favorite as a child and I remember checking out every single one of his books from the library and obsessing over them. Revisiting this one brought me back to a time of sweet joy and merriment :) It’s so cute and funny and nastily clever.
I know most of you can empathize, but it has been a busy season. I hosted Thanksgiving for thirteen and I go all out (and then multiply what you were thinking by ten), my daughter’s birthday fell the day before this year, we are still in a pandemic, I have Christmas to make happen on a budget and for two kids plus a large extended family, I love to bake for others, I had to wrap up homeschool and co-op for the calendar year and rehearse and record for our church’s TV Christmas Eve service, and, quite frankly, we have our own personal stuff going on amidst all of this. So that’s where I’ve been. (I started NaNoWriMo, again, and strong, again, but I am always amazed that anyone ever chose November to write a novel. The first week or two—fine. But then the second half of November? Fuggetaboutit. Why not September or October? Or any of the months from January to May? The holiday season and the summer is always the busiest.)
So I can’t believe it, but I still have reviews waiting to be written from Halloween. (I also have Thanksgiving and Christmas waiting in the wings, so I’ll rush through the holidays before the new year.) One of the books I read for Halloween this year was (a re-read of) The Witches by Roald Dahl. I have done most of my Roald Dahl reading as an adult, but I just love his stuff. Matilda is my favorite, and I have long thought The Witches was my least favorite. I dunno. I think I would now switch that to The Twits. The Witches—though still not my favorite—isn’t quite as disappointing as I remember. I think there are a few issues here that get in the way of Dahl’s usually magical, kid-geared edgy, fantastic writing and story-telling.
The Witches is a dark, children’s fantasy story about an English boy (no name given) whose parents die (no surprise there) and he moves in with his grandmother in Norway. According to the parent’s will, however, they have to return to England for his education but Grandmother brings her Norwegian knowledge of witches with her and makes sure he is also educated on that front. When the pair vacation at a swanky hotel, the boy must use the knowledge she has given him to figure out that they are in the presence of the Grand High Witch and the annual conference of English witches, the scheme the witches are brewing, and how to escape with his life and—hopefully—the lives of the children of England.
Here are the issues: one is how scary it is. For some people, writing about the occult or any sort of witch is going to be a bridge too far for them. More generally, many kids are going to be scared by this book because it’s about witches killing little kids. Of course, Dahl presents things in his own completely forward and yet funny and child-oriented way (and kids are squished or vanished or turned into chickens instead of whatever gruesome things might be more realistic). Two, I’m sure there are people who object to this book on the basis of how the witches are portrayed. Sure, there are modern people who call themselves witches and they are not bald, cruel, or child-hunting, but “witches” is one of those words that is stretched too far, anyhow. Witches are, technically, female humans who do magic and so it can refer to fantastical, bad magical ladies or fantastical magical ladies in a more neutral sense or it can refer to any number of historical groups of women through time. Obviously, this book is a fantasy about witches of a certain stereotypical vein and Dahl gives them random flourishes to make the whole thing more interesting. (And now that I think about it, some people might get riled up about how this book deals with more serious themes, like kidnapping or missing children. But that is Dahl’s usual: taking something real and serious and giving it a spin that both drives it home and makes it light enough to talk about. Not that he would put it that way. I more get the sense from him that he just wants to tell a great story and he doesn’t care what feathers he’s ruffling. When the book was published in the 80s there was also objections made regarding misogyny, which I could see but not necessarily agree with.) And three, the ending is a bit nontraditional and can read as unfulfilling/disappointing. He does things along the way to get the reader ready for this, but I am still hoping for something else every time.
And still, the story is riveting, the imagination soaring, the chuckles abundant. Dahl is a master of story-telling and this story is not exception. It’s not my favorite and it probably won’t be yours, but as for a fun Halloween read for heartier families, this is a good family story.
MOVIES
There is a 1990 version starring Angelic Huston that gets decent to good reviews but the cinematic effects are quite outdated. The newest version, which I reviewed HERE, was not well received despite all the anticipation, though the CG is great.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
So I can’t believe it, but I still have reviews waiting to be written from Halloween. (I also have Thanksgiving and Christmas waiting in the wings, so I’ll rush through the holidays before the new year.) One of the books I read for Halloween this year was (a re-read of) The Witches by Roald Dahl. I have done most of my Roald Dahl reading as an adult, but I just love his stuff. Matilda is my favorite, and I have long thought The Witches was my least favorite. I dunno. I think I would now switch that to The Twits. The Witches—though still not my favorite—isn’t quite as disappointing as I remember. I think there are a few issues here that get in the way of Dahl’s usually magical, kid-geared edgy, fantastic writing and story-telling.
The Witches is a dark, children’s fantasy story about an English boy (no name given) whose parents die (no surprise there) and he moves in with his grandmother in Norway. According to the parent’s will, however, they have to return to England for his education but Grandmother brings her Norwegian knowledge of witches with her and makes sure he is also educated on that front. When the pair vacation at a swanky hotel, the boy must use the knowledge she has given him to figure out that they are in the presence of the Grand High Witch and the annual conference of English witches, the scheme the witches are brewing, and how to escape with his life and—hopefully—the lives of the children of England.
Here are the issues: one is how scary it is. For some people, writing about the occult or any sort of witch is going to be a bridge too far for them. More generally, many kids are going to be scared by this book because it’s about witches killing little kids. Of course, Dahl presents things in his own completely forward and yet funny and child-oriented way (and kids are squished or vanished or turned into chickens instead of whatever gruesome things might be more realistic). Two, I’m sure there are people who object to this book on the basis of how the witches are portrayed. Sure, there are modern people who call themselves witches and they are not bald, cruel, or child-hunting, but “witches” is one of those words that is stretched too far, anyhow. Witches are, technically, female humans who do magic and so it can refer to fantastical, bad magical ladies or fantastical magical ladies in a more neutral sense or it can refer to any number of historical groups of women through time. Obviously, this book is a fantasy about witches of a certain stereotypical vein and Dahl gives them random flourishes to make the whole thing more interesting. (And now that I think about it, some people might get riled up about how this book deals with more serious themes, like kidnapping or missing children. But that is Dahl’s usual: taking something real and serious and giving it a spin that both drives it home and makes it light enough to talk about. Not that he would put it that way. I more get the sense from him that he just wants to tell a great story and he doesn’t care what feathers he’s ruffling. When the book was published in the 80s there was also objections made regarding misogyny, which I could see but not necessarily agree with.) And three, the ending is a bit nontraditional and can read as unfulfilling/disappointing. He does things along the way to get the reader ready for this, but I am still hoping for something else every time.
And still, the story is riveting, the imagination soaring, the chuckles abundant. Dahl is a master of story-telling and this story is not exception. It’s not my favorite and it probably won’t be yours, but as for a fun Halloween read for heartier families, this is a good family story.
MOVIES
There is a 1990 version starring Angelic Huston that gets decent to good reviews but the cinematic effects are quite outdated. The newest version, which I reviewed HERE, was not well received despite all the anticipation, though the CG is great.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
Three cheers for Roald Dahl! I'm always reading something aloud to my kids, and it's been that way all their lives. They are 8 and 11 years old now, and their favorite author who has stood the test of time is Roald Dahl. They loved him as wee little kids; they love him now. I just finished reading The Witches to them, and there was much laughter and cheering. As many read-alouds as we've done over the years, I've learned (the hard way) that some books just lend themselves better to reading aloud than others do. Take The Secret Garden for example. I absolutely adore the book, but with the Yorkshire dialect, it made for a tedious read-aloud. Roald Dahl books have always been my very favorite to read to my kids. His humor, all the fun characters I get to voice, his bizarreness and charm, the way he creates wonderful stories without trying to simplify language or talk down to kids....I could go on and on. The Witches was one of our very favorites.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Witches is a captivating and slightly eerie children’s novel that masterfully blends fantasy and horror. The story follows a young boy and his grandmother as they uncover a secret society of witches who despise children and plot to turn them into mice.
Dahl’s writing is both whimsical and dark, creating a unique atmosphere that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The protagonist, an unnamed boy, is transformed into a mouse but remains determined to thwart the witches’ plans. His bravery and resourcefulness, along with his grandmother’s wisdom and support, make for a compelling duo.
One of the standout elements of the book is the vivid and grotesque depiction of the witches, particularly the Grand High Witch. Dahl’s descriptions are so detailed and imaginative that they bring the characters to life in a way that is both fascinating and terrifying.
The book also explores themes of courage, resilience, and the bond between the boy and his grandmother. Despite the dark subject matter, Dahl manages to infuse the story with humor and warmth, making it suitable for children while still being enjoyable for adults.
Overall, The Witches is a delightful and thrilling read that showcases Roald Dahl’s talent for storytelling. It’s a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, offering a perfect blend of adventure, humor, and a touch of spookiness.
This is a delightfully nasty little tale.
If you haven't read this, you should. And run and see the movie too - both the book and the film are perfect and creepy and genuinely upsetting, which I think is the precise point.
After the tragic car crash of his parents, a little boy goes to live with his Grandmother - she is Norwegian, but as per his parents' wishes, they return to England to stay. His Grandmother educates him on the dangers of 'witches' - and tells him tales from her childhood of her friends that disappeared due to the evilness of these 'demons in human form.'
The little boy's Grandmother suffers from ill health, and when they take a relaxing holiday by the sea in Bournemouth, he stumbles upon the yearly convention of England's witches and their plot to destroy the children of the UK, and eventually, the world.
This is a rollicking story, full of enough gore to keep kids happy, and give adults nightmares. The ending is sad but satisfying, and in my opinion, much more realistic than the movie. Dahl openly loathed the way the movie wrapped things up, so I think if you want to get the true experience he intended, relish the book and enjoy the film for what it is - awesome entertainment but perhaps not the bittersweet tale Dahl originally envisioned.
If you haven't read this, you should. And run and see the movie too - both the book and the film are perfect and creepy and genuinely upsetting, which I think is the precise point.
After the tragic car crash of his parents, a little boy goes to live with his Grandmother - she is Norwegian, but as per his parents' wishes, they return to England to stay. His Grandmother educates him on the dangers of 'witches' - and tells him tales from her childhood of her friends that disappeared due to the evilness of these 'demons in human form.'
The little boy's Grandmother suffers from ill health, and when they take a relaxing holiday by the sea in Bournemouth, he stumbles upon the yearly convention of England's witches and their plot to destroy the children of the UK, and eventually, the world.
This is a rollicking story, full of enough gore to keep kids happy, and give adults nightmares. The ending is sad but satisfying, and in my opinion, much more realistic than the movie. Dahl openly loathed the way the movie wrapped things up, so I think if you want to get the true experience he intended, relish the book and enjoy the film for what it is - awesome entertainment but perhaps not the bittersweet tale Dahl originally envisioned.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While The Witches has all of the charm and cleverness of Dahl's other novels, it's just not my favorite. Matilda is still my favorite, followed by The BFG and James and the Giant Peach. I think it's because of the lack of a well-rounded cast of characters. The villainy of the witches were explained by their past deeds and their one big plan but I wanted to know more about the witches individually and as a group. There also weren't as many supporting characters for the main character to interact with.
This book has one of my favorite all time quotes: "It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you." The bond between the boy and his grandmother is well-developed throughout the story but it is most importantly found in this quote. Even though the boy is changed by the end of the book, his grandmother still loves him and together they plan to take out all the witches of the world.
This book has one of my favorite all time quotes: "It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you." The bond between the boy and his grandmother is well-developed throughout the story but it is most importantly found in this quote. Even though the boy is changed by the end of the book, his grandmother still loves him and together they plan to take out all the witches of the world.
Esta e mais reviews em www.dosnossoslivros.blogspot.com
Quando eu andava no 7º ano, tive uma professora de Inglês absolutamente genial que me marcou imenso. Foi com ela que soube da existência da Matilda, essa menina génio que conseguia mover objectos com a força da mente (coisa que também tentei fazer com o meu estojo, mas que não consegui, não sei porquê). Assim, o nome Roald Dahl significava alguma coisa para mim, visto que era o autor de Matilda e também de Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mas, tirando alguns excertos do primeiro, nunca tinha lido nada deste autor.
A Eva Laginha (outra professora de Inglês da qual me lembro bem) ofereceu-me este livro, entre outros, pelo meu aniversário, depois de eu ter mencionado o meu interesse. Tinha lido a sinopse e pareceu-me engraçado, apesar de saber de antemão que este livro fará maior sucesso entre crianças.
Era uma vez um rapazinho e uma avó velhinha versada em Bruxas. Quando um dia a avó é aconselhada a tirar uns dias no Sul de Inglaterra para recuperar de uma pneumonia violenta, ambos estão longe de imaginar a mudança que se aproxima. É que o rapazinho irá confrontar-se, nada mais nada menos, com todas as Bruxas de Inglaterra, que se encontram no mesmo hotel para o Encontro Anual de Bruxas, tornando-se a primeira pessoa a testemunhar tal acontecimento. É que estas Bruxas estão muito bem disfarçadas e raramente se deixam apanhar. Podem ser aquela professora, aquela senhora muito simpática da paragem de autocarro, aquela outra muito bonita da estação dos correios... Mas mais ainda, o pequeno torna-se na única pessoa não-Bruxa a estar na presença da maior e mais poderosa Bruxa do Mundo - a Grand High Witch, uma criatura de características absurdamente asquerosas. E assim, o nosso narrador vive a experiência da sua vida. Ainda bem que a avó lhe ensinou uma coisa ou duas sobre Bruxas...
Gostei bastante. Na verdade, apesar de ser destinado a outras idades, não me pareceu vulgar ou previsível. Pelo contrário, fui surpreendida várias vezes com o torneado do enredo. É uma história simples, mas bem contada, e uma boa leitura para manter com uma criança, que irá adorar algumas das cenas que aqui se passam. Outras até achei um pouco drásticas e com as quais não estava exactamente a contar, mas é isso mesmo que torna este livro bom, o facto de não ser condescendente nem demasiado doce. Contava com outro tipo de final, lá está, mais em linha com um livro infantil, mas Dahl não está para nos embalar e faz-nos usar a imaginação da maneira que melhor nos aprouver. Cada um que pense o que quiser.
Descobri há pouco que em 1990 se fez um filme, em que a Grand High Witch é, nada mais nada menos, que a fabulosa Angelica Huston - quem melhor para fazer esse papel?
Vou mantê-lo por perto para ler às minhas crianças.
Quando eu andava no 7º ano, tive uma professora de Inglês absolutamente genial que me marcou imenso. Foi com ela que soube da existência da Matilda, essa menina génio que conseguia mover objectos com a força da mente (coisa que também tentei fazer com o meu estojo, mas que não consegui, não sei porquê). Assim, o nome Roald Dahl significava alguma coisa para mim, visto que era o autor de Matilda e também de Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mas, tirando alguns excertos do primeiro, nunca tinha lido nada deste autor.
A Eva Laginha (outra professora de Inglês da qual me lembro bem) ofereceu-me este livro, entre outros, pelo meu aniversário, depois de eu ter mencionado o meu interesse. Tinha lido a sinopse e pareceu-me engraçado, apesar de saber de antemão que este livro fará maior sucesso entre crianças.
Era uma vez um rapazinho e uma avó velhinha versada em Bruxas. Quando um dia a avó é aconselhada a tirar uns dias no Sul de Inglaterra para recuperar de uma pneumonia violenta, ambos estão longe de imaginar a mudança que se aproxima. É que o rapazinho irá confrontar-se, nada mais nada menos, com todas as Bruxas de Inglaterra, que se encontram no mesmo hotel para o Encontro Anual de Bruxas, tornando-se a primeira pessoa a testemunhar tal acontecimento. É que estas Bruxas estão muito bem disfarçadas e raramente se deixam apanhar. Podem ser aquela professora, aquela senhora muito simpática da paragem de autocarro, aquela outra muito bonita da estação dos correios... Mas mais ainda, o pequeno torna-se na única pessoa não-Bruxa a estar na presença da maior e mais poderosa Bruxa do Mundo - a Grand High Witch, uma criatura de características absurdamente asquerosas. E assim, o nosso narrador vive a experiência da sua vida. Ainda bem que a avó lhe ensinou uma coisa ou duas sobre Bruxas...
Gostei bastante. Na verdade, apesar de ser destinado a outras idades, não me pareceu vulgar ou previsível. Pelo contrário, fui surpreendida várias vezes com o torneado do enredo. É uma história simples, mas bem contada, e uma boa leitura para manter com uma criança, que irá adorar algumas das cenas que aqui se passam. Outras até achei um pouco drásticas e com as quais não estava exactamente a contar, mas é isso mesmo que torna este livro bom, o facto de não ser condescendente nem demasiado doce. Contava com outro tipo de final, lá está, mais em linha com um livro infantil, mas Dahl não está para nos embalar e faz-nos usar a imaginação da maneira que melhor nos aprouver. Cada um que pense o que quiser.
Descobri há pouco que em 1990 se fez um filme, em que a Grand High Witch é, nada mais nada menos, que a fabulosa Angelica Huston - quem melhor para fazer esse papel?
Vou mantê-lo por perto para ler às minhas crianças.