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The Witches
"This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches." So begins one of Roald Dahl's best books ever, and, ironically, it is such a great story because the premise is perfectly plausible from the outset. When the narrator's parents die in a car crash on page two (contrast this terribly real demise with that of James's parents who are devoured by an escaped rhinoceros in James and the Giant Peach), he is taken in by his cigar-smoking Norwegian grandmother, who has learned a storyteller's respect for witches and is wise to their ways.
The bond between the boy and his grandmother becomes the centrepiece of the tale--a partnership of love and understanding that survives even the boy's unfortunate transformation into a mouse. And once the two have teamed up to outwitch the witches, the boy's declaration that he's glad he's a mouse because he will now live only as long as his grandmother is far more poignant than eerie.
Of course, there's adventure here along with Dahl's trademark cleverness and sense of the grotesque. Dahl also communicates some essential truths to children: if they smoke cigars, they'll never catch cold, and, most importantly, they should never bathe, because a clean child is far, far easier for a witch to smell than a dirty one. (Ages 7 to 10, or read aloud to younger children) --Susan Harrison
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
4613 people are currently reading
171715 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,473 books26.6k followersRoald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,595 reviews
May 8, 2007
Warning: Extremely Long Review and Childhood Storytelling
When I was ten or eleven, I was sitting in the playground at summer camp, minding my own business and reading this book, when one of the playground supervisers came and asked me what I was reading. When I showed it to him, his eyes got wide and he took the book from me. Then he went to the trash can and started ripping it up, page by page. And he washed his hands afterwards, "to get rid of the filth." It was a library book. He was just going on and on about how young children shouldn't read about witchcraft because they might want to become witches, etc. etc. If you've read the book, you know that Dahl doesn't exactly idealize witches. Well, when my dad came to pick me up, he let this guy have it (yay Dad!) and I got a popsicle. So the story ends well, but I always remember this incident when I see this book. And because of that, this book is what I think of when I consider censorship and how detrimental it is to our society. I barely remember what happens in The Witches, but I love it simply because of what it represents to me.
When I was ten or eleven, I was sitting in the playground at summer camp, minding my own business and reading this book, when one of the playground supervisers came and asked me what I was reading. When I showed it to him, his eyes got wide and he took the book from me. Then he went to the trash can and started ripping it up, page by page. And he washed his hands afterwards, "to get rid of the filth." It was a library book. He was just going on and on about how young children shouldn't read about witchcraft because they might want to become witches, etc. etc. If you've read the book, you know that Dahl doesn't exactly idealize witches. Well, when my dad came to pick me up, he let this guy have it (yay Dad!) and I got a popsicle. So the story ends well, but I always remember this incident when I see this book. And because of that, this book is what I think of when I consider censorship and how detrimental it is to our society. I barely remember what happens in The Witches, but I love it simply because of what it represents to me.
December 26, 2025
"I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But--here comes the big "but"--not impossible."After the tragic loss of his parents, a young boy goes to live with his much beloved grandmother. He soon learns of the impossible - witches exist.
And they're sole joy in life is to find ways to make children disappear. Preferably in nasty and mysterious ways.
We soon discovers how to recognize a witch - they have clawed hands which they hide under gloves, they disguise their toe-less feet in pointy shoes and their spit has a faint blueish sheen. They excel at hiding in plain sight.
His fiercely protective grandmother does her absolute best to protect her grandson - arming him with enough knowledge to recognize and evade capture of one terrifyingly normal-looking neighborhood witch. During one summer vacation, things becomes significantly more...hairy...than expected.
"REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ORDINARY JOBS."
An absolute delight to read. Dahl truly outdoes himself - combining the right amount of sweet and scary. The grandmother-grandson relation was absolutely splendid. Highly, highly recommended.
Audiobook Comments
"It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you."
Like the other Dahl books - this is a full-production presentation of the novel. Plenty of side-effects and the characterizations were wonderful though the Grand Witch was a bit difficult to understand. I felt like such an oldie by having to rewind it to hear what she said.
The Finer Books Club- 2018 Reading Challenge - A banned book
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October 12, 2017
I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. Believe it or not, this is the very first Roald Dahl book that I have experienced. I enjoyed this book tremendously. This chapter book tells a story of a grandma, a grandson, and their journey together is ridding the world of 'real' witches and saving the world's children. I will be reading more of this author for sure. I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a fun read and well worth the experience!
August 9, 2016
Re-read for our classics discussion Friday 10/30! Still had me giggling from the very first chapter.
April 29, 2023
Roald Dahl is in my top 3 of favorite children's authors. I had read a few of his books as a child, but most of my exposure occurred as a young adult and while in college.
The Witches was actually a book I read after the movie with Anjelica Huston was produced. I am a huge fan of her work, and when she appeared in this movie, I was fascinated with the story. I'd definitely recommend reading the book first as the movie takes the story so much further.
For one thing, the book has an unnamed narrator and grandmother, whereas the movie is very detailed on the history of the characters, the various types of relationships, etc. But both were still very good.
It combines so many wonderful things for kids to love -- and to be scared of. Witches who can turn little boys into... well, I won't ruin the surprise. Suffice it to say, this can be a bit of a scary theme.
Dahl's style is so embracing and captivating. His characters are intense. The creativity and imagination from the works he's produced over the years is quite astonishing.
The Grand High Witch runs the show here, and she won't let you forget it. But it's the grandmother and the boy who may hold all the power. A classic battle of good and evil with some fun thrown in between.
A definite read for kids. And adults. When I was taking a course in college on "Reading in the Elementary School," I had to read 150 children's books and produce a portfolio showing a lesson plan for each book. Dahl featured in many of the lessons and books I had chosen, as I tried to incorporate some Newbery and Caldecott winners, but not all. What a joy to re-read these classics as a 21 year old thinking about becoming a teacher. Though I didn't stay in the teaching field (and possibly regret it to some degree), I will always go back to these books and this time period as one of the favorite parts of life.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
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The Witches was actually a book I read after the movie with Anjelica Huston was produced. I am a huge fan of her work, and when she appeared in this movie, I was fascinated with the story. I'd definitely recommend reading the book first as the movie takes the story so much further.
For one thing, the book has an unnamed narrator and grandmother, whereas the movie is very detailed on the history of the characters, the various types of relationships, etc. But both were still very good.
It combines so many wonderful things for kids to love -- and to be scared of. Witches who can turn little boys into... well, I won't ruin the surprise. Suffice it to say, this can be a bit of a scary theme.
Dahl's style is so embracing and captivating. His characters are intense. The creativity and imagination from the works he's produced over the years is quite astonishing.
The Grand High Witch runs the show here, and she won't let you forget it. But it's the grandmother and the boy who may hold all the power. A classic battle of good and evil with some fun thrown in between.
A definite read for kids. And adults. When I was taking a course in college on "Reading in the Elementary School," I had to read 150 children's books and produce a portfolio showing a lesson plan for each book. Dahl featured in many of the lessons and books I had chosen, as I tried to incorporate some Newbery and Caldecott winners, but not all. What a joy to re-read these classics as a 21 year old thinking about becoming a teacher. Though I didn't stay in the teaching field (and possibly regret it to some degree), I will always go back to these books and this time period as one of the favorite parts of life.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
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January 25, 2019
Más como un 3.5 :).
El libro me pareció bonito. Es el primer libro de Roald Dahl que escucho sin haber visto antes la película, así que ahora sí que no tenía idea de qué iba a pasar o de cómo se iban a solucionar las cosas. Estuvo sobre todo MUY gracioso, y creo que tuvo que ver con las voces que hacía la narradora. Cuando escucho audiolibros, todo suele ser muy neutro en cuanto al tono de voz, pero esta mujer sí se divertía exagerando las voces, especialmente las de las brujas, supongo que porque es un libro para niños (aunque los más grandes también podemos disfrutarlo, jajaja).
Me cayó muy bien la abuelita, creo que fue mi personaje favorito de la novela. Y con ese final me dieron ganas de que hubiera una segunda parte.
El libro me pareció bonito. Es el primer libro de Roald Dahl que escucho sin haber visto antes la película, así que ahora sí que no tenía idea de qué iba a pasar o de cómo se iban a solucionar las cosas. Estuvo sobre todo MUY gracioso, y creo que tuvo que ver con las voces que hacía la narradora. Cuando escucho audiolibros, todo suele ser muy neutro en cuanto al tono de voz, pero esta mujer sí se divertía exagerando las voces, especialmente las de las brujas, supongo que porque es un libro para niños (aunque los más grandes también podemos disfrutarlo, jajaja).
Me cayó muy bien la abuelita, creo que fue mi personaje favorito de la novela. Y con ese final me dieron ganas de que hubiera una segunda parte.
November 15, 2017
"Down vith children! Do them in!
Boil their bones and fry their skin!
Bish them, sqvish them, bash them, mash them!
Brrreak them, shake them, slash them, smash them!
Offer chocs vith magic powder!"
Oh, thank goodness for the likes of Roald Dahl, who can combine the scary with the funny stuff and open a treasure chest of children's fairy-tales with all the wisdom humanity is capable of (which, of course, still is quite limited).
As a child, I was terrified and fascinated at the same time when I read this story, hiding it under a pile of other books before turning off the light at night. I just couldn't stomach the idea of finding myself face to face with the witch and her friends in the vulnerable state between sleeping and being awake.
Later, when I read it to my own three children, my youngest cuddled up in my lap and bit her nails while her brothers tried to downplay their excitement. From that experience, I mostly remember the giggles when we tried to imitate the witches' funny accent.
And then I read it to school children. I will never forget those children sitting cosily in front of me on a carpet in the library, surrounded by books and drawings. I slowed down, and made my voice quiet, and read - very carefully - the witch warning:
"She might even be your lovely school-teacher who is reading these words to you at this very moment. Look carefully at that teacher. Perhaps she is smiling at the absurdity of such a suggestion. Don't let that put you off. It could be part of cleverness.
I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But--here comes the big "but"--not impossible."
I looked up and saw all those students' eyes staring at me. They remembered me dressing up as a witch at Halloween, and I believe for a moment they pondered the possibility of me being clever enough to cover up my actual "witchedness" by pretending to be one.
Recently, my son and I talked about this novel again, as his brother started reading it for the third or fourth time. And all of a sudden, we discovered another layer beyond the message of "stranger danger" and the power of love and friendship to overcome difficulties.
Those witches at the private meeting in the hotel are like celebrities and politicians believing they are alone and stripping themselves of the inconvenient political and ethical correctness which they officially claim to believe in while plotting against the future of the next generation for their own benefit.
Underneath the polished surface, we discover real life witches in all shapes and forms each time we check the news. And that is what Roald Dahl's sense of humour is based on. His characters may be unlikely, but they are not entirely impossible! There is a hint of truth in the bizarre story of witches who want to exterminate the "stink" of children.
"Everyone loves children, and nobody wants to hurt them" - that is a more absurd statement than the witches' mission if we just take into account human ACTIONS (as opposed to official STATEMENTS) during the past thousand years or so.
So, beware of witches! And you never know if I am not one myself, hiding behind the warning like Iago talking about jealousy, that green-eyed monster, that he stirred up himself?
Boil their bones and fry their skin!
Bish them, sqvish them, bash them, mash them!
Brrreak them, shake them, slash them, smash them!
Offer chocs vith magic powder!"
Oh, thank goodness for the likes of Roald Dahl, who can combine the scary with the funny stuff and open a treasure chest of children's fairy-tales with all the wisdom humanity is capable of (which, of course, still is quite limited).
As a child, I was terrified and fascinated at the same time when I read this story, hiding it under a pile of other books before turning off the light at night. I just couldn't stomach the idea of finding myself face to face with the witch and her friends in the vulnerable state between sleeping and being awake.
Later, when I read it to my own three children, my youngest cuddled up in my lap and bit her nails while her brothers tried to downplay their excitement. From that experience, I mostly remember the giggles when we tried to imitate the witches' funny accent.
And then I read it to school children. I will never forget those children sitting cosily in front of me on a carpet in the library, surrounded by books and drawings. I slowed down, and made my voice quiet, and read - very carefully - the witch warning:
"She might even be your lovely school-teacher who is reading these words to you at this very moment. Look carefully at that teacher. Perhaps she is smiling at the absurdity of such a suggestion. Don't let that put you off. It could be part of cleverness.
I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But--here comes the big "but"--not impossible."
I looked up and saw all those students' eyes staring at me. They remembered me dressing up as a witch at Halloween, and I believe for a moment they pondered the possibility of me being clever enough to cover up my actual "witchedness" by pretending to be one.
Recently, my son and I talked about this novel again, as his brother started reading it for the third or fourth time. And all of a sudden, we discovered another layer beyond the message of "stranger danger" and the power of love and friendship to overcome difficulties.
Those witches at the private meeting in the hotel are like celebrities and politicians believing they are alone and stripping themselves of the inconvenient political and ethical correctness which they officially claim to believe in while plotting against the future of the next generation for their own benefit.
Underneath the polished surface, we discover real life witches in all shapes and forms each time we check the news. And that is what Roald Dahl's sense of humour is based on. His characters may be unlikely, but they are not entirely impossible! There is a hint of truth in the bizarre story of witches who want to exterminate the "stink" of children.
"Everyone loves children, and nobody wants to hurt them" - that is a more absurd statement than the witches' mission if we just take into account human ACTIONS (as opposed to official STATEMENTS) during the past thousand years or so.
So, beware of witches! And you never know if I am not one myself, hiding behind the warning like Iago talking about jealousy, that green-eyed monster, that he stirred up himself?
November 27, 2018
My daughters and I had just wrapped up the audiobook of The Witches with Miranda Richardson yesterday, having listened to it all week in the car, and we were still blissed out on those wonderful, awful witches. . . .
. . . when this idiot playground dad got in my way.
So, the story goes like this. . . I'm an animated woman. I love stories, both listening to them and telling them, and I love a good joke, too. And I found myself, yesterday, engaged in conversation with a playground dad's mother, here visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday. We were having a good time, talking and laughing, but I could see that Sonny Boy was getting irritated, because this woman (me) was receiving attention from his Mommy, so when I made a joke about how everything in your body seems to hurt more, after you hit 40. . .
wounded Baby Man suddenly spat out, “Well, it's clear you're no spring chicken. I bet menopause is right around the corner for you.”
That, my friends, is called misogyny. He sought to insult me, but he made sure his insults were directed toward my womanhood, rather than my humanity.
Off come the gloves. . . sharp are the nails. . . fire fills my mind.
If only. . . oh, if only I could truly perform spells.
It's interesting, isn't it, that Roald Dahl (one of my most favorite writers) invented witches who loathe children and turn them into mice. . .
Why children? Why mice? They're all perfectly harmless enough. Well, of course, he chose witches and children and mice, because his brilliant story was written to make children laugh at the things they fear most.
But, we grown-up women know that the best story ever told about a witch was Circe from The Odyssey. . . men acting like pigs being turned into pigs. They eat her food, they sleep in her bed and they disrespect her island. They act like pigs, so she feeds them some magical food and summons their true essence.
I do not say this to disrespect men. I am surrounded, generally, by righteous men, and I tend to adore them.
But, to Baby Men. . . men who can't handle a woman's boldness. . . I say. . . with my eyes and my taloned fingers. . . I make you swine.
When we got back into the car after this harried playdate, I said to my daughters, “When a man reduces you to your female form, then pokes fun of you, just remember, he is afraid of you. . .
And you could do a lot worse than to summon your inner witch.”
(Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Witches everywhere, unite!!)
. . . when this idiot playground dad got in my way.
So, the story goes like this. . . I'm an animated woman. I love stories, both listening to them and telling them, and I love a good joke, too. And I found myself, yesterday, engaged in conversation with a playground dad's mother, here visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday. We were having a good time, talking and laughing, but I could see that Sonny Boy was getting irritated, because this woman (me) was receiving attention from his Mommy, so when I made a joke about how everything in your body seems to hurt more, after you hit 40. . .
wounded Baby Man suddenly spat out, “Well, it's clear you're no spring chicken. I bet menopause is right around the corner for you.”
That, my friends, is called misogyny. He sought to insult me, but he made sure his insults were directed toward my womanhood, rather than my humanity.
Off come the gloves. . . sharp are the nails. . . fire fills my mind.
If only. . . oh, if only I could truly perform spells.
It's interesting, isn't it, that Roald Dahl (one of my most favorite writers) invented witches who loathe children and turn them into mice. . .
Why children? Why mice? They're all perfectly harmless enough. Well, of course, he chose witches and children and mice, because his brilliant story was written to make children laugh at the things they fear most.
But, we grown-up women know that the best story ever told about a witch was Circe from The Odyssey. . . men acting like pigs being turned into pigs. They eat her food, they sleep in her bed and they disrespect her island. They act like pigs, so she feeds them some magical food and summons their true essence.
I do not say this to disrespect men. I am surrounded, generally, by righteous men, and I tend to adore them.
But, to Baby Men. . . men who can't handle a woman's boldness. . . I say. . . with my eyes and my taloned fingers. . . I make you swine.
When we got back into the car after this harried playdate, I said to my daughters, “When a man reduces you to your female form, then pokes fun of you, just remember, he is afraid of you. . .
And you could do a lot worse than to summon your inner witch.”
(Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Witches everywhere, unite!!)
November 6, 2017
Things that are cool:
-a cigar-smoking grandma who encourages you to take safe action
-investigating
-solving problems
-witches with accents
Things that are creepy:
-Having to stay a mouse the rest of your life
-Feet without toes
-Pet mice that go missing and are never found
-A boy who is never reunited by his family, or even mouse-trapped
-Talking about dying while in bed with your grandmother
Roald Dahl never worked for me as a kid. I distinctly remember picking up James and the Giant Peach and being singularly unimpressed by visuals or story. I gave this one a shot on strength of 1) Halloween spirit, 2) a friend review, and 3) adding to my witch lore. Alas, it was a no-go.
As an adult, there were a couple of parts that made me laugh, but conceptually, there was too much I didn't care for, and I'm pretty certain the 9 year-old self would have felt similarly, although perhaps for different reasons. Both of us were bothered by the indifference to the fate of the greedy boy who was also turned into a mouse.
As far as reading age, I think it'd be a narrow window. The head witch has an accent, so her extensive dialogue looks like this:
"Silence," shouted The Grand High Witch, raising her hands. "You know perrrfectly vell you must do nothing to drrraw attention to yourselves vhile you are living in the hotel! Let us by all means get rrrid of this eveil-smelling little sqvirt, but vee must do it as qvietly as possible, for are vee not all of us the most rrree-spectable ladies?"
Tricky for younger readers, and probably silly for older ones.
I'm the odd one out, judging by friends' fond recollections. That's okay. I never got into Harriet the Spy either.
-a cigar-smoking grandma who encourages you to take safe action
-investigating
-solving problems
-witches with accents
Things that are creepy:
-Having to stay a mouse the rest of your life
-Feet without toes
-Pet mice that go missing and are never found
-A boy who is never reunited by his family, or even mouse-trapped
-Talking about dying while in bed with your grandmother
Roald Dahl never worked for me as a kid. I distinctly remember picking up James and the Giant Peach and being singularly unimpressed by visuals or story. I gave this one a shot on strength of 1) Halloween spirit, 2) a friend review, and 3) adding to my witch lore. Alas, it was a no-go.
As an adult, there were a couple of parts that made me laugh, but conceptually, there was too much I didn't care for, and I'm pretty certain the 9 year-old self would have felt similarly, although perhaps for different reasons. Both of us were bothered by the indifference to the fate of the greedy boy who was also turned into a mouse.
As far as reading age, I think it'd be a narrow window. The head witch has an accent, so her extensive dialogue looks like this:
"Silence," shouted The Grand High Witch, raising her hands. "You know perrrfectly vell you must do nothing to drrraw attention to yourselves vhile you are living in the hotel! Let us by all means get rrrid of this eveil-smelling little sqvirt, but vee must do it as qvietly as possible, for are vee not all of us the most rrree-spectable ladies?"
Tricky for younger readers, and probably silly for older ones.
I'm the odd one out, judging by friends' fond recollections. That's okay. I never got into Harriet the Spy either.
January 4, 2025
I grew up watching the 1990 version of Witches, and despite its scariness, (When Angelica Houston removed her mask, my little jaw dropped!) I always loved the film. It wasn't until I heard about the 2020 remake (Also a great movie!), that I developed a curiosity about the original book. Much like Roald Dahl's other works, it is an easy read, has great characters, and there is just an expected dash of magic in each of his works that makes them all so special. This was no exception and even my seven year-old had a blast while I read it to her. The one line of the Grand High Witch, where she states that someone was 'frizzled as a fritter,' had me laughing for days. I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys something a little creepy, entertaining and family friendly.
December 24, 2017
My introduction to the fiction of Roald Dahl is The Witches and this is one of those books whose language and imagination are so exotic that I wanted to scribble down every paragraph, until the story pulled me in and I surrendered to its spell. Published in 1983 with illustrations by Quentin Blake, I was presented a 30th anniversary edition for Christmas--by a dear friend on Goodreads--which includes Blake's etchings. Without the mischievous charcoal drawings to accompany it, Dahl's text alone would be one of the scariest books I've read, electrified with truths only children know about the treachery of adults and the irrational evils of the world.
The story is spun by a seven-year-old British boy whose expertise with REAL WITCHES begins when he travels with his parents to visit his material grandmother in Norway for Christmas. Orphaned in a car accident north of Oslo, the boy is adopted by his grandmother, a big, loving, cigar smoking lady who takes her grandson's mind off tragedy with her stories. Eventually, Grandmamma arrives on the subject of witches. As huge snowflakes fall outside, she cautions the boy that witches are still around and children must be wary of them, as witches despise children, sniffing them out as if they reeked of dog droppings and doing despicable things to them like transforming them into animals.
Content to sit at the feet of his grandmother with the missing thumb and listen to her yarns, the boy is instructed by a family attorney that he is to return to England for his education. Grandmamma goes with him, warning her grandson that they must remain vigilant, as there is a Secret Society of Witches in every country. English witches are on a first-name basis, swapping deadly recipes and plotting to kill children under the direction of The Grand High Witch of All The World, who presides over their secret meetings. By Easter, life has almost returned to normal. The boy busies himself constructing a tree house in a big conker tree in their garden. Alone.
I worked away, nailing the first plank on the roof. Then suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a woman standing immediately below me. She was looking up and me and smiling in the most peculiar way. When most people smile, their lips go out sideways. This woman's lips went upwards and downwards, showing all her front teeth and gums. The gums were like raw meat.
It is always a shock to discover you are being watched when you think you are alone.
And what was this strange woman doing in our garden anyway?
I noticed that she was wearing a small black hat and she had black gloves on her hands and the gloves came up to her elbows.
Gloves! She was wearing gloves!
I froze all over.
"I have a present for you," she said, still staring at me, still smiling, still showing her teeth and gums.
I didn't answer.
"Come down out of that tree, little boy," she said, "and I shall give you the most exciting present you've ever had." Her voice had a curious rasping quality. It made a sort of metallic sound, as though her throat was full of thumbtacks.
The boy survives his encounter in the garden and averts tragedy when his grandmother falls ill with the flu. Unable to take him to the magical places in Norway she's reveled about when summer arrives, she books passage to the seaside town of Bournemouth, where they check in to the Hotel Magnificent. For company, his grandmother gives the boy two white mice, which he names William and Mary. Searching for somewhere he can train his mice far from the prying eyes of hotel management, the boy sneaks into an empty ballroom, reserved for the annual meeting of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Hiding behind a screen, the boy and his White Mouse Circus are unseen as the hotel manager escorts a great flock of ladies into the ballroom. Once they think they're alone, the ladies secure the door with a chain. The boy notices that all of the women wear gloves, just as his grandmother warned him witches do, and scratch at the bald scalps under their wigs, just as witches do. A stylish young lady addresses the meeting, removing her gloves to reveal claws for fingers and taking off her mask to reveal a cankered and worm-eaten face. The Grand High Witch herself goes into a fury with the others for their failure to eradicate England of its children.
Advising the witches to quit their day jobs and open candy stores, the Grand High Witch introduces a concoction she calls Formula 86 Delayed-Mouse Maker. This will transform English children to imbibe it into mice, once they're far away from the scene of the crime. The High Witch tests the stuff out on a gluttonous boy named Bruno Jenkins, lured to his fate by the promise of chocolate. As the meeting breaks up, the boy's scent--concealed by virtue of his not bathing for days--finally gives him away and set upon by witches, he is transformed into a mouse too. Finding he quite enjoys being a mouse, the boy reunites with his grandmother, who sees an opportunity.
All the rooms in the Hotel Magnificent had small private balconies. My grandmother carried me through into my own bedroom and out onto my balcony. We both peered down to the balcony immediately below
"Now if that is her room," I said, "then I'll bet I could climb down there and somehow get in."
"And get caught all over again," my grandmother said. "I won't allow it."
"At this moment," I said, "all the witches are down on the Sunshine Terrace having tea with the Manager. The Grand High Witch probably won't be back until six o'clock, or just before. That's when she's going to dish out supplies of the foul formula to the ancient ones who are too old to climb trees after gruntles' eggs."
"And what if you did manage to get into her room?" my grandmother said. "What then?"
"Then I should try to find the place where she keeps her supply of Delayed-Action Mouse-Maker, and if I succeeded, then I would steal one bottle of it and bring it back here."
"Could you carry it?"
"I think so," I said. "It's a very small bottle."
"I'm frightened of that stuff," my grandmother said. "What would you do with it if you did manage to get it?"
"One bottle is enough for five hundred people," I said. "That would give each and every witch down there a double dose at least. We could turn them all into mice."
My grandmother jumped about an inch in the air. We were out on my balcony and there was a drop of about a million feet below us and I very nearly bounced out of her hand over the railings when she jumped.
Roald Dahl is the truth. I loved how fantasy is used here to strip away the deceit and corruption of the adult world, as opposed to using fantasy for escapism. In Dahl's world, there are no gifted children but normal ones, and magical instruments are in the hands of adults, who use them to victimize the meek. The book is terribly frightening, particularly the appearance of a witch under a boy’s treehouse, but Dahl softens his delivery with language that is witty and delightful, meant to beguile rather than unsettle the reader.
All over the Dining Room women were screaming and strong men were turning white in the face and shouting, "It's crazy! This can't happen! Let's get the heck out of here quick!" Waiters were attacking the mice with chairs and wine bottles and anything else that came to hand. I saw a chef in a tall white hat rushing out from the kitchen brandishing a frying pan, and another one just behind him wielding a carving knife above his head, and everyone was yelling, "Mice! Mice! Mice! We must get rid of the mice!" Only the children in the room were really enjoying it. They all seemed to know instinctively that something good was going on right there in front of them and they were clapping and cheering and laughing like mad.
In addition to his craft with language, Dahl is able to express his love for children even as particularly ghastly things happen to children in his stories. Bad stuff happen when you're a kid, but ingenuity and a good heart are the keys to a better world, while greed ultimately leads to a dead end. A film version of The Witches produced by Jim Henson was released in 1990, the year both Dahl and Henson would pass away, at the ages of 74 and 53, respectively. While the ending of the film was changed to reassure audiences, Dahl's vision is magical, exciting and affirms that change, while terrifying, is a natural part of the world.
The story is spun by a seven-year-old British boy whose expertise with REAL WITCHES begins when he travels with his parents to visit his material grandmother in Norway for Christmas. Orphaned in a car accident north of Oslo, the boy is adopted by his grandmother, a big, loving, cigar smoking lady who takes her grandson's mind off tragedy with her stories. Eventually, Grandmamma arrives on the subject of witches. As huge snowflakes fall outside, she cautions the boy that witches are still around and children must be wary of them, as witches despise children, sniffing them out as if they reeked of dog droppings and doing despicable things to them like transforming them into animals.
Content to sit at the feet of his grandmother with the missing thumb and listen to her yarns, the boy is instructed by a family attorney that he is to return to England for his education. Grandmamma goes with him, warning her grandson that they must remain vigilant, as there is a Secret Society of Witches in every country. English witches are on a first-name basis, swapping deadly recipes and plotting to kill children under the direction of The Grand High Witch of All The World, who presides over their secret meetings. By Easter, life has almost returned to normal. The boy busies himself constructing a tree house in a big conker tree in their garden. Alone.
I worked away, nailing the first plank on the roof. Then suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a woman standing immediately below me. She was looking up and me and smiling in the most peculiar way. When most people smile, their lips go out sideways. This woman's lips went upwards and downwards, showing all her front teeth and gums. The gums were like raw meat.
It is always a shock to discover you are being watched when you think you are alone.
And what was this strange woman doing in our garden anyway?
I noticed that she was wearing a small black hat and she had black gloves on her hands and the gloves came up to her elbows.
Gloves! She was wearing gloves!
I froze all over.
"I have a present for you," she said, still staring at me, still smiling, still showing her teeth and gums.
I didn't answer.
"Come down out of that tree, little boy," she said, "and I shall give you the most exciting present you've ever had." Her voice had a curious rasping quality. It made a sort of metallic sound, as though her throat was full of thumbtacks.
The boy survives his encounter in the garden and averts tragedy when his grandmother falls ill with the flu. Unable to take him to the magical places in Norway she's reveled about when summer arrives, she books passage to the seaside town of Bournemouth, where they check in to the Hotel Magnificent. For company, his grandmother gives the boy two white mice, which he names William and Mary. Searching for somewhere he can train his mice far from the prying eyes of hotel management, the boy sneaks into an empty ballroom, reserved for the annual meeting of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Hiding behind a screen, the boy and his White Mouse Circus are unseen as the hotel manager escorts a great flock of ladies into the ballroom. Once they think they're alone, the ladies secure the door with a chain. The boy notices that all of the women wear gloves, just as his grandmother warned him witches do, and scratch at the bald scalps under their wigs, just as witches do. A stylish young lady addresses the meeting, removing her gloves to reveal claws for fingers and taking off her mask to reveal a cankered and worm-eaten face. The Grand High Witch herself goes into a fury with the others for their failure to eradicate England of its children.
Advising the witches to quit their day jobs and open candy stores, the Grand High Witch introduces a concoction she calls Formula 86 Delayed-Mouse Maker. This will transform English children to imbibe it into mice, once they're far away from the scene of the crime. The High Witch tests the stuff out on a gluttonous boy named Bruno Jenkins, lured to his fate by the promise of chocolate. As the meeting breaks up, the boy's scent--concealed by virtue of his not bathing for days--finally gives him away and set upon by witches, he is transformed into a mouse too. Finding he quite enjoys being a mouse, the boy reunites with his grandmother, who sees an opportunity.
All the rooms in the Hotel Magnificent had small private balconies. My grandmother carried me through into my own bedroom and out onto my balcony. We both peered down to the balcony immediately below
"Now if that is her room," I said, "then I'll bet I could climb down there and somehow get in."
"And get caught all over again," my grandmother said. "I won't allow it."
"At this moment," I said, "all the witches are down on the Sunshine Terrace having tea with the Manager. The Grand High Witch probably won't be back until six o'clock, or just before. That's when she's going to dish out supplies of the foul formula to the ancient ones who are too old to climb trees after gruntles' eggs."
"And what if you did manage to get into her room?" my grandmother said. "What then?"
"Then I should try to find the place where she keeps her supply of Delayed-Action Mouse-Maker, and if I succeeded, then I would steal one bottle of it and bring it back here."
"Could you carry it?"
"I think so," I said. "It's a very small bottle."
"I'm frightened of that stuff," my grandmother said. "What would you do with it if you did manage to get it?"
"One bottle is enough for five hundred people," I said. "That would give each and every witch down there a double dose at least. We could turn them all into mice."
My grandmother jumped about an inch in the air. We were out on my balcony and there was a drop of about a million feet below us and I very nearly bounced out of her hand over the railings when she jumped.
Roald Dahl is the truth. I loved how fantasy is used here to strip away the deceit and corruption of the adult world, as opposed to using fantasy for escapism. In Dahl's world, there are no gifted children but normal ones, and magical instruments are in the hands of adults, who use them to victimize the meek. The book is terribly frightening, particularly the appearance of a witch under a boy’s treehouse, but Dahl softens his delivery with language that is witty and delightful, meant to beguile rather than unsettle the reader.
All over the Dining Room women were screaming and strong men were turning white in the face and shouting, "It's crazy! This can't happen! Let's get the heck out of here quick!" Waiters were attacking the mice with chairs and wine bottles and anything else that came to hand. I saw a chef in a tall white hat rushing out from the kitchen brandishing a frying pan, and another one just behind him wielding a carving knife above his head, and everyone was yelling, "Mice! Mice! Mice! We must get rid of the mice!" Only the children in the room were really enjoying it. They all seemed to know instinctively that something good was going on right there in front of them and they were clapping and cheering and laughing like mad.
In addition to his craft with language, Dahl is able to express his love for children even as particularly ghastly things happen to children in his stories. Bad stuff happen when you're a kid, but ingenuity and a good heart are the keys to a better world, while greed ultimately leads to a dead end. A film version of The Witches produced by Jim Henson was released in 1990, the year both Dahl and Henson would pass away, at the ages of 74 and 53, respectively. While the ending of the film was changed to reassure audiences, Dahl's vision is magical, exciting and affirms that change, while terrifying, is a natural part of the world.
February 10, 2017
I am currently trying to read all of Roald Dahl's books! When reading this book I realized that I definitely read this when I was in elementary school :) It brought back some memories. I loved this book and the creativity and that Roald does with this story line.
October 28, 2020
2.5 stars, I suppose. While a cute, quick read, this was definitely less advanced than much of his other work. It blazed through the build and climax incredibly quickly and easily, leaving no tension at all. The ending was endearing, and the relationship between the grandmother and her grandson were the most heartwarming of all.
October 1, 2025
The Witches is a surprising book. The story is deceptively simple but many great ideas are buried in between the lines that tell it, making it a rich read leading to many buried treasures that shine in the light of the new understanding they bring.
It all starts when a seven year old boy whose name we never learn (isn't it that clever?) loses his parents in a car accident, and goes to live with his grandmother in Norway. Grandma is a master storyteller, who tells the boy about witches with claws instead of finger nails, bald heads, large nose holes, square feet, and blue spit. She also tells him that these aren't stories to scare him but to warn him, because witches are real and they loathe children.
When Grandma gets sick, to improve her health, the two of them travel to a hotel on the English coast. Random mishaps (or is it destiny mixed with fate?) put the boy in a locked room with two hundred witches. He hides, hoping the witches won't find him by his smell, and overhears the witches’ wicked plan to turn children into mice by putting Delayed Action Mouse-Maker in chocolate bars in candy shops all around England.
The boy's fear betrays him. The witches find him and turn him into a mouse but he manages to escape their clutches. On his escape, he finds Bruno, the very first boy turned to mouse by the wicked potion, and they both go on a quest to find the boy’s grandmother. The rest, as you may imagine, is just a delightful series of clever escapes and near misses until the witches are defeated.
In this book Dahl uses a lot of rhyming, which makes reading it aloud all the more fun, and as with all books by Roald Dahl, the story contains a lot of humorous elements and lots of irony at times well disguised by presenting them as the beliefs of the times like when Grandma tells the boy “I don’t care what age you are… You’ll never catch a cold if you smoke cigars.”
Dahl takes on subjects that all children are curious about but often fear to know much or ask more, and he does it in a light way, so even the possibility of dying is turned into a funny simile: “If a tiger were able to make himself look like a large dog with a waggy tail, you would probably go up and pat him on the head. And that would be the end of you”
One of the most significant messages of the book, one of those buried treasures I talked about, is that beauty is deceiving, for all of the witches seem pretty and nice on the outside, but on the inside it is a different story. So we, as the boy, are cautioned about judging others by their appearances.
I definitely like and recommend this book. Iit reads quickly, smoothly, and if you’re looking for a spooky read to share with your children though you want them to be able to sleep with the lights off, this eerie, funny, and witty kid’s classic will hit the spot.
It all starts when a seven year old boy whose name we never learn (isn't it that clever?) loses his parents in a car accident, and goes to live with his grandmother in Norway. Grandma is a master storyteller, who tells the boy about witches with claws instead of finger nails, bald heads, large nose holes, square feet, and blue spit. She also tells him that these aren't stories to scare him but to warn him, because witches are real and they loathe children.
When Grandma gets sick, to improve her health, the two of them travel to a hotel on the English coast. Random mishaps (or is it destiny mixed with fate?) put the boy in a locked room with two hundred witches. He hides, hoping the witches won't find him by his smell, and overhears the witches’ wicked plan to turn children into mice by putting Delayed Action Mouse-Maker in chocolate bars in candy shops all around England.
The boy's fear betrays him. The witches find him and turn him into a mouse but he manages to escape their clutches. On his escape, he finds Bruno, the very first boy turned to mouse by the wicked potion, and they both go on a quest to find the boy’s grandmother. The rest, as you may imagine, is just a delightful series of clever escapes and near misses until the witches are defeated.
In this book Dahl uses a lot of rhyming, which makes reading it aloud all the more fun, and as with all books by Roald Dahl, the story contains a lot of humorous elements and lots of irony at times well disguised by presenting them as the beliefs of the times like when Grandma tells the boy “I don’t care what age you are… You’ll never catch a cold if you smoke cigars.”
Dahl takes on subjects that all children are curious about but often fear to know much or ask more, and he does it in a light way, so even the possibility of dying is turned into a funny simile: “If a tiger were able to make himself look like a large dog with a waggy tail, you would probably go up and pat him on the head. And that would be the end of you”
One of the most significant messages of the book, one of those buried treasures I talked about, is that beauty is deceiving, for all of the witches seem pretty and nice on the outside, but on the inside it is a different story. So we, as the boy, are cautioned about judging others by their appearances.
I definitely like and recommend this book. Iit reads quickly, smoothly, and if you’re looking for a spooky read to share with your children though you want them to be able to sleep with the lights off, this eerie, funny, and witty kid’s classic will hit the spot.
June 30, 2010
I was a very sheltered child.
Or was I a wuss? I was probably a wuss.
For instance, when I was a little tot, Sammy Terry scared the shit out of me. I remember being frightened by commercials of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and the one time I inadvertently saw part of a Friday the 13th movie on TV? Fogettaboutit. Nightmares for weeks.
But that all came later.
But this book. Oh, this was traumatic shit.
I was in preschool, probably 4 years old, when the teacher decided to read us The Witches. Every day we'd sit on the carpet and listen to a little bit more, and . . . well, witches! Witches were frickin' scary at four, it didn't matter how cartoony they looked on the cover. I knew that real witches were scary looking and ugly. And *SPOILER ALERT* when that one kid got turned into a mouse, it scared me so bad I cried! I cried in front of the other kids, and they all thought I was a wuss!
When I got home, I told my mom about crying in front of the class, and SHE WAS SOOOOO pissed. She called the teacher that night and expressed her displeasure with great verbosity and eloquence, probably traumatizing the teacher every bit as much as The Witches traumatized me.
What happened the next day? We switched books. I can't remember the book that followed The Witches; it didn't scare me, whatever it was. Nobody found out what happened to the little kid who got turned into a mouse. For me, he will forever be a mouse. But at least we little chillens didn't have to hear about any more witches.
A happy ending? More of an ambiguous one. Just a couple weeks later, my parents withdrew me from the school after I, in passing, told mom that the teacher gave her two favorite students ice cream bars during lunch, but never gave anyone else one.
(I wasn't a tattle tale, I promise. I was just very talkative. And a wuss.)
Or was I a wuss? I was probably a wuss.
For instance, when I was a little tot, Sammy Terry scared the shit out of me. I remember being frightened by commercials of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and the one time I inadvertently saw part of a Friday the 13th movie on TV? Fogettaboutit. Nightmares for weeks.
But that all came later.
But this book. Oh, this was traumatic shit.
I was in preschool, probably 4 years old, when the teacher decided to read us The Witches. Every day we'd sit on the carpet and listen to a little bit more, and . . . well, witches! Witches were frickin' scary at four, it didn't matter how cartoony they looked on the cover. I knew that real witches were scary looking and ugly. And *SPOILER ALERT* when that one kid got turned into a mouse, it scared me so bad I cried! I cried in front of the other kids, and they all thought I was a wuss!
When I got home, I told my mom about crying in front of the class, and SHE WAS SOOOOO pissed. She called the teacher that night and expressed her displeasure with great verbosity and eloquence, probably traumatizing the teacher every bit as much as The Witches traumatized me.
What happened the next day? We switched books. I can't remember the book that followed The Witches; it didn't scare me, whatever it was. Nobody found out what happened to the little kid who got turned into a mouse. For me, he will forever be a mouse. But at least we little chillens didn't have to hear about any more witches.
A happy ending? More of an ambiguous one. Just a couple weeks later, my parents withdrew me from the school after I, in passing, told mom that the teacher gave her two favorite students ice cream bars during lunch, but never gave anyone else one.
(I wasn't a tattle tale, I promise. I was just very talkative. And a wuss.)
November 10, 2021
“It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.”
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
❗❗May contain some spoilers.❗❗
This won't take long, don't worry. I know I'm 24 years old and probably outgrew children's books but I JUST DON'T CARE. They are AWESOME and relax me.
I liked it. I really did. It's an entertaining story that children could definitely enjoy. There's a reason Roald Dahl is still so famous years after his death. I liked the plot, the rhyming, and the fun fonts of words that were emphasised. I found the art adorable, as well, perfect for children (and cool adults). I liked that all his books have the same illustrator (the editions I have, anyway - I don't know about previous editions).
However, there was some very questionable content in the book. It is deeply offensive to bald women AND women in general. There should be NO story where the grandmother insists that her UNDERAGED grandson should smoke cigars and shower only once a month. Not that her bedtime stories were any better but...I guess those are actually important to the story and very true. Also, why is every adult in this thing an asshole?!?! Seriously...ALL OF THEM. The witches I get. They're inherently evil, children-hating creatures. What's LITERALLY every other character's excuse????
I also heard some reeeally bad things about the author, Roald Dahl, which diminished my excitement over catching up with his works, but I don't know how much it matter since he's dead now. Many would chalk all this (Dahl as a person and the content of his stories) up to his generation, saying it's just the way it was back then, but I don't think that's a valid excuse. Just because an author was very famous in his time, doesn't mean everything he's done should be excused or glorified.
Aaaanyway, the story and plot weren't bad, someone definitely should rephrase some parts of the book, but the rest was pretty good. I guess I would recommend this, but I'd be more comfortable with it if some content was changed (I doubt that can/will be done, though).
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
❗❗May contain some spoilers.❗❗
This won't take long, don't worry. I know I'm 24 years old and probably outgrew children's books but I JUST DON'T CARE. They are AWESOME and relax me.
I liked it. I really did. It's an entertaining story that children could definitely enjoy. There's a reason Roald Dahl is still so famous years after his death. I liked the plot, the rhyming, and the fun fonts of words that were emphasised. I found the art adorable, as well, perfect for children (and cool adults). I liked that all his books have the same illustrator (the editions I have, anyway - I don't know about previous editions).
However, there was some very questionable content in the book. It is deeply offensive to bald women AND women in general. There should be NO story where the grandmother insists that her UNDERAGED grandson should smoke cigars and shower only once a month. Not that her bedtime stories were any better but...I guess those are actually important to the story and very true. Also, why is every adult in this thing an asshole?!?! Seriously...ALL OF THEM. The witches I get. They're inherently evil, children-hating creatures. What's LITERALLY every other character's excuse????
I also heard some reeeally bad things about the author, Roald Dahl, which diminished my excitement over catching up with his works, but I don't know how much it matter since he's dead now. Many would chalk all this (Dahl as a person and the content of his stories) up to his generation, saying it's just the way it was back then, but I don't think that's a valid excuse. Just because an author was very famous in his time, doesn't mean everything he's done should be excused or glorified.
Aaaanyway, the story and plot weren't bad, someone definitely should rephrase some parts of the book, but the rest was pretty good. I guess I would recommend this, but I'd be more comfortable with it if some content was changed (I doubt that can/will be done, though).
July 21, 2023
shapeshifting little boy and his morbid, chain-smoking grandmother mount a vicious and deadly campaign against a group of feminist wiccans who only want to rid the world of toxic pests. this was a tough read, emotional and grueling. Dahl clearly empathizes with the spiritualists - who function more like a kind of pagan PTA than anything remotely threatening - and the many disabilities that plague these brave and independent ladies. hair loss and baldness, challenges with the digits of both hands and feet, not to mention the existential trauma of being empowered women in a misogynist, ableist world that constantly favors and rewards young, able-bodied, privileged males and the females who enable them. I really appreciated Dahl's focus on the head wiccan - an admirable leader, a superior organizer, and even a talented singer/songwriter. reading what happens to her, and to the rest of her peers, at the hands of the story's two villains was exceedingly painful. but that's life, right? life is cruel to outsiders and I admire the author for taking such a realistic view of their terrible sufferings. people, let's do the work and learn to do better!
February 9, 2017
The story of the young unnamed narrator and his grandmother living between Norway and England and affronting the Great Witch and her minions was delightful and fun. It would not be in my Top 5 of Dahl though (I appreciated the two Charlie books, the BFG, the Magic Finger and James and the Giant Peach more.) I love reading them to my kids in any case and getting all excited on what crazy twists the stories will take.
January 11, 2021
Finally! After all the ups and downs, I finally re-read a book by Roald Dahl (my favourite author from my childhood) and end up liking it just as much! I was honestly losing hope for this. This is a surprisingly creepy, funny rollercoaster of hilarious adventures, plot twists and straight absurdity from the good ol' crazy Roald! Absolutely delightful.
March 17, 2017
Roald Dahl is one of the best and my favorite children's writer.
He's a master in depicting ordinary details in excellent manner.
Uptill now, I didn't find anything written by him which I don't love. ♡
He's a master in depicting ordinary details in excellent manner.
Uptill now, I didn't find anything written by him which I don't love. ♡
July 7, 2022
This is a middle grade book. This book is about witches. I have to say I hated the beginning, but by the middle of the book I really liked it. My daughter really did not like it, but she does not like scary book. I would say this book is very scary for kids.
September 6, 2023
Todo surgió cuando a Roald Dahl le contaron un cuento...
En realidad 3,5
Mi primer contacto con esta historia no fue por la película de 1990, protagonizada por Anjelica Huston, sino por un libro de texto que usaba mi madre para realizarnos dictados a mis hermanos y a mí en temporada de vacaciones: Esto, para que no perdiéramos ni la costumbre, ni la velocidad de escribir. Diferentes fragmentos de obras literarias conocí gracias a ese libro, que si bien detestábamos cuando nuestra madre nos obligaba a escribir un dictado, era una buena compañía si nuestro propósito era solo leer para pasar el rato. El fragmento de Las brujas que aparecía allí trataba sobre la conversación entre una abuela y su nieto acerca de cómo identificar una bruja en el mundo real. Un pequeño fragmento, de tan solo cuatro páginas, que cada vez que leí me dejó con anhelos de leer la obra completa. Pues bien, después de muchos años por fin he cumplido mi deseo.
En el argumento de Las brujas se nos cuenta la historia de cómo un pequeño y su abuela intentan detener a una organización llamada «La Real Sociedad para la Prevención de la Crueldad contra los Niños», la cual realmente está integrada por malvadas brujas que intentan destruir a todos los niños del planeta. No es un argumento complejo, ni mucho menos, pero es suficiente teniendo en cuenta que el contenido está orientado a un público infantil. Eso sí, es probable que pueda ser marcado por muchos lectores como «simple» teniendo en cuenta que otras obras del autor tienen un mejor desarrollo de la trama. Sin embargo, nadie podrá negar que el libro tiene una idea original, es bastante fácil de leer, y que el vocabulario usado por Roald es preciso y adecuado para su público objetivo. Del argumento, quizás lo único que no me ha gustado es el final que lo percibí soso y sin gracia. De lo demás no tengo queja alguna.
El mejor aspecto del libro es la construcción de sus personajes antagónicos, es decir, las brujas. Roald describe perfectamente estos seres en todos los aspectos, desde sus costumbres a apariencia física, desde su lenguaje hasta sus anhelos. Muy bien construidos aquellos personajes que fueron basados en historias que escuchó cuando solo era un niño. ¿Quién le contó esas historias? Ante esta pregunta no puedo ofrecer una respuesta confiable. Hay sitios web donde se afirma que fue su madre la que le contaba esas historias, en otros lugares se dice que fue su abuela. ¿A quién creerle? No importa. Lo que importa es que su familia lo inspiró para crear esta y otras historias y el mundo se los agradecerá eternamente por ello. Gracias a su familia, Las brujas existen. También me ha encantado la forma como el autor presenta sus personajes antagónicos en su libro. En vez de usar descripciones largas y tediosas, Roald emplea el uso de la conversación como mecanismo para atraer la atención del lector; de hecho, creo que es más fácil recordar las características que tienen las brujas por esta vía que por una descripción tradicional. Además, es una manera bonita de representar la forma como le contaron las historias a él cuando era un niño. Es como un homenaje a su familia, y a su pasado. Es como el recordatorio de que siempre tuvo muy presente sus orígenes. Así lo interpreto yo, y eso me parece muy especial.
Si tuviera que mencionar algo negativo mencionaría—quizás es mi impresión— que sentí que el clímax de la historia no alcanza a ser espectacular en el libro como en las películas. Es más, después de cierto momento, la intensidad de la historia empieza a diluirse lentamente hasta llegar al final. El interés que sentí al inicio, y el deseo con que leí los primeros capítulos, no se compara con la manera como terminé. Esto no significa que la historia pierda su calidad, pero si me hizo falta quizás un poco de adrenalina, frenetismo, peligros, o demás. Algo similar me sucedió cuando leí «Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate», lo que me hace deducir —correcta o incorrectamente— que tal vez a Roald Dahl no se le facilitaba cerrar sus historias. Pero se valora la intención, sus historias, y por supuesto su legado.
Como información para tener en cuenta mencionaré que esta es una de esas historias que requiere adaptaciones con el paso del tiempo; de lo contrario, estará condenada a caer en el olvido. Las adaptaciones son necesarias en este caso debido a que las «nuevas generaciones» disfrutan de un tipo de contenido diferente, por lo que si no se produce una renovación —teniendo en cuenta que el libro está orientado para los más pequeños— Las brujas podrían entrar en peligro de extinción.
Ahora, si se quisiera extraer una moraleja sobre esta historia, podríamos pensar que esta obra es un claro ejemplo de que siempre existirán seres malvados que quieren destruir la infancia y la inocencia de los niños. Aquí lo hacen intentando convertirlos en ratones, pero en la vida real lo intentan por medio de la delincuencia, la prostitución, la pornografía, el odio, la violencia, y demás. Estos seres malvados en vez de dedicarse a realizar buenas acciones que nos ayuden a vivir en un mundo mejor, parece que disfrutan destruyendo lo que ellos ya no tienen. Pero, afortunadamente, como ocurre en esta novela, siempre encontraremos personas dispuestas a sacrificarse y luchar por los derechos de los más pequeños. Quizás nadie les agradezca sus servicios, pero cada vez que un niño sonríe, juega, y crece con buenos valores, esas personas sentirán que todo su trabajo ha valido la pena. En todo el mundo siempre hay brujas, pero cada uno de nosotros tiene la pócima secreta para eliminarlas.
En resumen, una historia que me ha gustado y he disfrutado a pesar de no ser perfecta. Ha sido corta, agradable e interesante leerla. La calificación de 3,5 me parece adecuada, teniendo en cuenta los pros y contras mencionados en los párrafos anteriores. Misión cumplida.
En realidad 3,5
Mi primer contacto con esta historia no fue por la película de 1990, protagonizada por Anjelica Huston, sino por un libro de texto que usaba mi madre para realizarnos dictados a mis hermanos y a mí en temporada de vacaciones: Esto, para que no perdiéramos ni la costumbre, ni la velocidad de escribir. Diferentes fragmentos de obras literarias conocí gracias a ese libro, que si bien detestábamos cuando nuestra madre nos obligaba a escribir un dictado, era una buena compañía si nuestro propósito era solo leer para pasar el rato. El fragmento de Las brujas que aparecía allí trataba sobre la conversación entre una abuela y su nieto acerca de cómo identificar una bruja en el mundo real. Un pequeño fragmento, de tan solo cuatro páginas, que cada vez que leí me dejó con anhelos de leer la obra completa. Pues bien, después de muchos años por fin he cumplido mi deseo.
En el argumento de Las brujas se nos cuenta la historia de cómo un pequeño y su abuela intentan detener a una organización llamada «La Real Sociedad para la Prevención de la Crueldad contra los Niños», la cual realmente está integrada por malvadas brujas que intentan destruir a todos los niños del planeta. No es un argumento complejo, ni mucho menos, pero es suficiente teniendo en cuenta que el contenido está orientado a un público infantil. Eso sí, es probable que pueda ser marcado por muchos lectores como «simple» teniendo en cuenta que otras obras del autor tienen un mejor desarrollo de la trama. Sin embargo, nadie podrá negar que el libro tiene una idea original, es bastante fácil de leer, y que el vocabulario usado por Roald es preciso y adecuado para su público objetivo. Del argumento, quizás lo único que no me ha gustado es el final que lo percibí soso y sin gracia. De lo demás no tengo queja alguna.
El mejor aspecto del libro es la construcción de sus personajes antagónicos, es decir, las brujas. Roald describe perfectamente estos seres en todos los aspectos, desde sus costumbres a apariencia física, desde su lenguaje hasta sus anhelos. Muy bien construidos aquellos personajes que fueron basados en historias que escuchó cuando solo era un niño. ¿Quién le contó esas historias? Ante esta pregunta no puedo ofrecer una respuesta confiable. Hay sitios web donde se afirma que fue su madre la que le contaba esas historias, en otros lugares se dice que fue su abuela. ¿A quién creerle? No importa. Lo que importa es que su familia lo inspiró para crear esta y otras historias y el mundo se los agradecerá eternamente por ello. Gracias a su familia, Las brujas existen. También me ha encantado la forma como el autor presenta sus personajes antagónicos en su libro. En vez de usar descripciones largas y tediosas, Roald emplea el uso de la conversación como mecanismo para atraer la atención del lector; de hecho, creo que es más fácil recordar las características que tienen las brujas por esta vía que por una descripción tradicional. Además, es una manera bonita de representar la forma como le contaron las historias a él cuando era un niño. Es como un homenaje a su familia, y a su pasado. Es como el recordatorio de que siempre tuvo muy presente sus orígenes. Así lo interpreto yo, y eso me parece muy especial.
Si tuviera que mencionar algo negativo mencionaría—quizás es mi impresión— que sentí que el clímax de la historia no alcanza a ser espectacular en el libro como en las películas. Es más, después de cierto momento, la intensidad de la historia empieza a diluirse lentamente hasta llegar al final. El interés que sentí al inicio, y el deseo con que leí los primeros capítulos, no se compara con la manera como terminé. Esto no significa que la historia pierda su calidad, pero si me hizo falta quizás un poco de adrenalina, frenetismo, peligros, o demás. Algo similar me sucedió cuando leí «Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate», lo que me hace deducir —correcta o incorrectamente— que tal vez a Roald Dahl no se le facilitaba cerrar sus historias. Pero se valora la intención, sus historias, y por supuesto su legado.
Como información para tener en cuenta mencionaré que esta es una de esas historias que requiere adaptaciones con el paso del tiempo; de lo contrario, estará condenada a caer en el olvido. Las adaptaciones son necesarias en este caso debido a que las «nuevas generaciones» disfrutan de un tipo de contenido diferente, por lo que si no se produce una renovación —teniendo en cuenta que el libro está orientado para los más pequeños— Las brujas podrían entrar en peligro de extinción.
Ahora, si se quisiera extraer una moraleja sobre esta historia, podríamos pensar que esta obra es un claro ejemplo de que siempre existirán seres malvados que quieren destruir la infancia y la inocencia de los niños. Aquí lo hacen intentando convertirlos en ratones, pero en la vida real lo intentan por medio de la delincuencia, la prostitución, la pornografía, el odio, la violencia, y demás. Estos seres malvados en vez de dedicarse a realizar buenas acciones que nos ayuden a vivir en un mundo mejor, parece que disfrutan destruyendo lo que ellos ya no tienen. Pero, afortunadamente, como ocurre en esta novela, siempre encontraremos personas dispuestas a sacrificarse y luchar por los derechos de los más pequeños. Quizás nadie les agradezca sus servicios, pero cada vez que un niño sonríe, juega, y crece con buenos valores, esas personas sentirán que todo su trabajo ha valido la pena. En todo el mundo siempre hay brujas, pero cada uno de nosotros tiene la pócima secreta para eliminarlas.
En resumen, una historia que me ha gustado y he disfrutado a pesar de no ser perfecta. Ha sido corta, agradable e interesante leerla. La calificación de 3,5 me parece adecuada, teniendo en cuenta los pros y contras mencionados en los párrafos anteriores. Misión cumplida.
November 6, 2010
I've noticed for years and years that critics love to say that Roald Dahl is "spinning in his grave" over some such filmic adaptation of his works. I'm a curious type person so I had to look up what the hell was in his grave, anyway. He was buried with pool cues, his typewriter and pencils (backup?). Guess he'd need to hustle his way past the pearly gates? I'm kidding! Don't dance on my grave. (Gosh, real critics are so harsh.) If he's spinning I guess there's plenty in there to make lots of racket.
The movie wasn't that bad. Okay, the American kid was a weanie and the special effects were cheesey. But Anjelica Huston was scary and oversexed. That was kinda awesome.
I was a Dahl fanatic as a kid. We read most of them as school assignments, but not The Witches for some reason. Maybe 'cause they want to do bad things to children. (Hold up, Trunchbull of Matilda did nasty things to kids! Ah, but she had administrative permission, which fooled yet more administrative permissors into permitting their administrative permissions for further kid terrorizing. Only the ones who read, mind, like Matilda. Reading Matilda.) Anyway, it was funny and gruesome and nasty and I loved it. It still holds up to adult nasty senses of humor.
Dance, dance, dance!
The movie wasn't that bad. Okay, the American kid was a weanie and the special effects were cheesey. But Anjelica Huston was scary and oversexed. That was kinda awesome.
I was a Dahl fanatic as a kid. We read most of them as school assignments, but not The Witches for some reason. Maybe 'cause they want to do bad things to children. (Hold up, Trunchbull of Matilda did nasty things to kids! Ah, but she had administrative permission, which fooled yet more administrative permissors into permitting their administrative permissions for further kid terrorizing. Only the ones who read, mind, like Matilda. Reading Matilda.) Anyway, it was funny and gruesome and nasty and I loved it. It still holds up to adult nasty senses of humor.
Dance, dance, dance!
March 8, 2008
I would love to know why I am the only person on the planet who did not like this book. I tried to find some bad reviews on GoodReads, but the only one and two star reviews said things like "Bad no like mousey! dlksk djglsk diewqls!" I'm assuming they were in a foreign language and not written by a kid who could not type, but I was too lazy to click on the profiles. Maybe I should learn the language and go live there, where we can all unite in our hatred of this book.
It seems to me that 90% of the reviews said things like "Scared the crap out of me as a kid, but I like it now." Except...this is supposed to be for kids? So why give it five stars when children can't read it without being frightened?
As an adult I see that this book is about the power of imagination and the triumph of good over evil. I get it. As a teacher and a mother, I think it's the author's perverse attempt to terrify little kids. It's really funny as a grown-up to think about how you hated certain teachers and thought of them as witches; this book brings childhood nostalgia back for this reason. As a kid, though, you end up terrified that you'll see a violet glow in your teacher's eyes if he or she gets short or loses patience with you. I do enough scaring of children just by getting my job done; I don't need a book around that's going to convince kids that I am about to eat them too.
It seems to me that 90% of the reviews said things like "Scared the crap out of me as a kid, but I like it now." Except...this is supposed to be for kids? So why give it five stars when children can't read it without being frightened?
As an adult I see that this book is about the power of imagination and the triumph of good over evil. I get it. As a teacher and a mother, I think it's the author's perverse attempt to terrify little kids. It's really funny as a grown-up to think about how you hated certain teachers and thought of them as witches; this book brings childhood nostalgia back for this reason. As a kid, though, you end up terrified that you'll see a violet glow in your teacher's eyes if he or she gets short or loses patience with you. I do enough scaring of children just by getting my job done; I don't need a book around that's going to convince kids that I am about to eat them too.
December 29, 2020
**Re-read in October 2020 for the release of the HBOMax adaption. I loved it just as much as I did the first time around. Such a fun, whimsical, and spooky read!
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This was my first Dahl read ever and I LOVED it. The movie is one of my favorites so when I found it was a book years ago I wanted to read it and haven't gotten the chance until now. I think this is one of the good ones that has been adapted to film almost perfectly as well. I read this on audiobook too, narrated by the amazing Miranda Richardson and that made it 10x better. I can't wait to read more of Dahl.
__________________________
This was my first Dahl read ever and I LOVED it. The movie is one of my favorites so when I found it was a book years ago I wanted to read it and haven't gotten the chance until now. I think this is one of the good ones that has been adapted to film almost perfectly as well. I read this on audiobook too, narrated by the amazing Miranda Richardson and that made it 10x better. I can't wait to read more of Dahl.
January 23, 2022
i am made up of unpopular opinions.
i know people are said to be, like, 75% water or whatever, but i think all the parts of me that are supposed to be good old H20 are actually exclusively hot takes.
it seems i have been put on this earth to be a chaos agent, a disruptor, an annoying figure and ruiner of mornings.
but here i am to say: children's content is the scariest content.
i don't get frightened at horror movies, and i find adult thrillers often silly and indulgent, and i can walk down streets at night with earbuds in without a fuss.
but give me a creepy children's book and i'm sleeping with the lights on.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago
i know people are said to be, like, 75% water or whatever, but i think all the parts of me that are supposed to be good old H20 are actually exclusively hot takes.
it seems i have been put on this earth to be a chaos agent, a disruptor, an annoying figure and ruiner of mornings.
but here i am to say: children's content is the scariest content.
i don't get frightened at horror movies, and i find adult thrillers often silly and indulgent, and i can walk down streets at night with earbuds in without a fuss.
but give me a creepy children's book and i'm sleeping with the lights on.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago
February 7, 2017
What is a witch? After my last book, all about the Salem Witch Trials, I have a pretty good idea about what the Puritans thought. However, it would serve me well to allow Roald Dahl to present an answer to that for his childhood readers. According to Dahl, a witch has claw-like fingers (always gloved), remains bald (but wears a wig), and has squared feet (no toes and a horror when shopping for shoes!). But, the most important piece of knowledge about witches is that they DESPISE children more than anything. From there, in a sort of faux memoir about his youth, Dahl recounts losing his parents in an automobile crash and living with a Norwegian grandmother. She, of course, knows much more about witches and counsels him about them, since Norway has had witches for centuries. While on holiday, young Dahl and his grandmother are in a hotel and stumble across a gathering of all English witches, who are meeting under the guise of a fairly popular and heart-warming organisation. What happens next will test young Dahl's ability to remember all the traits and actions witches undertake, as well as a conspiracy that the Grand High Witch of the World has for all the children. A delightful book to pique the curiosity of the young reader without any trials, tortures, or tribulations. Salem or the quaint English seaside, witches are all over and Dahl finally helps us identify them. Do YOU know a witch in your daily life?
Dahl's magical way of presenting things to children is highly entertaining and allows me, a full-fledged adult reader, to tackle an enjoyable and short piece. Intentionally bordering on the silly, Dahl offers his readers some background before setting sail on a reading voyage that will both educate and entertain. His personalising the story pulls the reader in a little more and, even faced with adversity, Dahl does not push things to the edge of despair. I have always liked Dahl stories in my youth and see now just how uplifting I feel. I hope that in a few years, when my son is ready for something a little more dense, we might explore the world of witches and all they have to offer.
Kudos, Mr. Dahl for another winner. Children have a goldmine of reading when they discover all that you had in your mind and put to paper.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Dahl's magical way of presenting things to children is highly entertaining and allows me, a full-fledged adult reader, to tackle an enjoyable and short piece. Intentionally bordering on the silly, Dahl offers his readers some background before setting sail on a reading voyage that will both educate and entertain. His personalising the story pulls the reader in a little more and, even faced with adversity, Dahl does not push things to the edge of despair. I have always liked Dahl stories in my youth and see now just how uplifting I feel. I hope that in a few years, when my son is ready for something a little more dense, we might explore the world of witches and all they have to offer.
Kudos, Mr. Dahl for another winner. Children have a goldmine of reading when they discover all that you had in your mind and put to paper.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 7, 2020
What a fun time I had reading this book as an adult!
I didn't get a chance to read The Witches as a kid so I went into this book not knowing the plot or characters.
The Witches is about a boy and his Grandmamma taking on and stopping a whole coven of witches from doing evil deeds.
The witches in this story are more of the "cooking and eating Hansel" type and not the "helping and protecting munchkins" type.
I loved how Roald Dahl describes the witches along with how evil and cunning they are. He was very imaginative with the characters and all the mischief that goes down in the book.
One of the best parts of this book is the relationship with the little boy and his Grandmamma. It was a loving, accepting and fun relationship. It brought back memories of my own relationship with my grandma.
I also liked how the little boy took a bad situation and turned it into something positive. Something we can all try to do these days!
Highly recommend reading this one. I really enjoyed it!
I didn't get a chance to read The Witches as a kid so I went into this book not knowing the plot or characters.
The Witches is about a boy and his Grandmamma taking on and stopping a whole coven of witches from doing evil deeds.
The witches in this story are more of the "cooking and eating Hansel" type and not the "helping and protecting munchkins" type.
I loved how Roald Dahl describes the witches along with how evil and cunning they are. He was very imaginative with the characters and all the mischief that goes down in the book.
One of the best parts of this book is the relationship with the little boy and his Grandmamma. It was a loving, accepting and fun relationship. It brought back memories of my own relationship with my grandma.
I also liked how the little boy took a bad situation and turned it into something positive. Something we can all try to do these days!
Highly recommend reading this one. I really enjoyed it!
October 28, 2019
This has always been one of my favourite Roald Dahl books.
This story tells the tale of a Grandma and her grandson who travel to England to continue the boys education after the passing of his parents.
During this time the Grandma tells him stories of witches worldwide, with the story continuing with the discovery of English witches and an adventure ensues. As always I loved it!
This story tells the tale of a Grandma and her grandson who travel to England to continue the boys education after the passing of his parents.
During this time the Grandma tells him stories of witches worldwide, with the story continuing with the discovery of English witches and an adventure ensues. As always I loved it!
July 30, 2011
For people who don't already know: the hotel used in the movie actually exists. It's The Headlands Hotel, Newquay, England, and I've eaten there several times.
The staff are friendly and well aware of the relevant history. If you ask, they'll show you the room where the witches had their big meeting and the spot where the baby carriage nearly gets pushed off the cliff. The food is good, and you get a fantastic view over the bay, where people surf in summer. Recommended!
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