What do you think?
Rate this book
Which Witch?
When Arriman the Awful, the handsome wizard of the North, announces a contest to choose his bride, every witch in town is a flutter. The meanest, most powerful witch will wed the wizard. But little Belladonna is dismayed, because as hard as she tries, her spells conjure up begonias and baby birds, and not a single viper or bloodshot eyeball. She just has to do something seriously sinister in time for the contest....
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
116 people are currently reading
5628 people want to read
About the author
Eva Ibbotson
79 books2,357 followersEva Ibbotson (Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner) was a novelist specializing in romance and children's fantasy.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler appeared, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, graduating with a diploma in education in 1965. Eva had intended to be a physiologist but was put off by animal testing. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. They have three sons and a daughter.
Eva began writing with the television drama “Linda Came Today” in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, “The Great Ghost Rescue”. Eva has written numerous books including “The Secret Of Platform 13”, “Journey To The River Sea”, “Which Witch?”, “Island Of The Aunts”, and “Dial-A-Ghost”. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for “Journey To The River Sea” and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite that she disliked thinking about them. She created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly “Journey To The River Sea”, reflect Eva's love of nature. Eva wrote this book in honour of her husband (who had died before), a naturalist. The book had been in her head for years.
Eva said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of “Platform 9 3/4” in J.K. Rowling's books to Eva's “The Secret Of Platform 13”, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as “The Star Of Kazan” and “A Song For Summer”. These books, set in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for all things natural.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler appeared, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, graduating with a diploma in education in 1965. Eva had intended to be a physiologist but was put off by animal testing. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. They have three sons and a daughter.
Eva began writing with the television drama “Linda Came Today” in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, “The Great Ghost Rescue”. Eva has written numerous books including “The Secret Of Platform 13”, “Journey To The River Sea”, “Which Witch?”, “Island Of The Aunts”, and “Dial-A-Ghost”. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for “Journey To The River Sea” and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite that she disliked thinking about them. She created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly “Journey To The River Sea”, reflect Eva's love of nature. Eva wrote this book in honour of her husband (who had died before), a naturalist. The book had been in her head for years.
Eva said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of “Platform 9 3/4” in J.K. Rowling's books to Eva's “The Secret Of Platform 13”, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as “The Star Of Kazan” and “A Song For Summer”. These books, set in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for all things natural.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 785 reviews
April 30, 2022
this book rules. it's like the bachelor but with witches and also for children. nothing could ever hit harder
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago, and i'm REALLY good at it
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago, and i'm REALLY good at it
August 19, 2012
This was just a ton of fun. Ibbotson is like a tamer Roald Dahl, with a twist of Monty Python. The part about the rats, though? That was pure Stephen King. *shudder*
January 29, 2015
Re reading is not among my inclinations or priorities. However, I had to make an exception for Which Witch?. I read it first about 20 years ago, and I liked it so much that I didn't forget the small details for a long time. But recently I have had the urge to revisit past favorites. That's why I broke my habits and read this book again.
The author's style is ebullient and twisty. Her imagination was spot on. She knew, by instinct, what was appealing and whimsical. The book is not of the fantasy genre. The world is real. And though there are magical people in it, there are no portals to other dominions. The magical creatures and wizards and what have yous keep to themselves, mostly. They don't look for a fight, or a battlefield to settle grievances. There is little world building, which is what attracted me towards this delightful and slim and lean book. There is no bloating, no extra filler. It's rare to find a quick and memorable read. Which witch? is definitely a work that manages to combine these two ascriptions.
I managed to find one plot hole here, about the oldest witch being eligible for the contest. And I thought Arriman's volte face towards Sir Simon unlikely. He, who never showed signs of guile, manages to come up with a plan out of the blue. These are minor nitpicks. This is an under appreciated book, both by children and adults. Among all quick reads, this book has more substance than most. It has fallen into semi anonymity. But I have the feeling it will never go out of print, as there always will be people to pass on the fact that the book is a keeper.
The author's style is ebullient and twisty. Her imagination was spot on. She knew, by instinct, what was appealing and whimsical. The book is not of the fantasy genre. The world is real. And though there are magical people in it, there are no portals to other dominions. The magical creatures and wizards and what have yous keep to themselves, mostly. They don't look for a fight, or a battlefield to settle grievances. There is little world building, which is what attracted me towards this delightful and slim and lean book. There is no bloating, no extra filler. It's rare to find a quick and memorable read. Which witch? is definitely a work that manages to combine these two ascriptions.
I managed to find one plot hole here, about the oldest witch being eligible for the contest. And I thought Arriman's volte face towards Sir Simon unlikely. He, who never showed signs of guile, manages to come up with a plan out of the blue. These are minor nitpicks. This is an under appreciated book, both by children and adults. Among all quick reads, this book has more substance than most. It has fallen into semi anonymity. But I have the feeling it will never go out of print, as there always will be people to pass on the fact that the book is a keeper.
September 16, 2008
I was pleasantly surprised by this quick read. My daughter told me I HAD to read it, after she had read and enjoyed it herself. So I took it along on a long train trip, and read it in one sitting. While Ibbotson will never win any awards for character development, she does have a way with both words and plot; her turns of phrase continually gave me pleasure, and her silly plot made me laugh out loud several times, drawing bemused looks from my fellow train passengers. A good book for younger middle grade readers who like their fantasy with a strong dose of humor.
April 2, 2016
This is... this is the jewel of my childhood!
My mum was just telling me the other day how, when I was younger (about 5 or 6, I think), there was a book I used to love. I would always read and reread and reread it again... constantly, apparently.
Though I haven't read this book in years and YEARS, I recently found it in a box in the attic and thought "OMG this is the book mum keeps telling I used to love!" and decided to read it again.
Unsurprisingly enough, I still love it! It brought back many great memories and made me tear up a little (aha). But yes, if the previous didn't explain how great this book is, I'll say it again.
This book it great! I love it! Read it!
My mum was just telling me the other day how, when I was younger (about 5 or 6, I think), there was a book I used to love. I would always read and reread and reread it again... constantly, apparently.
Though I haven't read this book in years and YEARS, I recently found it in a box in the attic and thought "OMG this is the book mum keeps telling I used to love!" and decided to read it again.
Unsurprisingly enough, I still love it! It brought back many great memories and made me tear up a little (aha). But yes, if the previous didn't explain how great this book is, I'll say it again.
This book it great! I love it! Read it!
Read
November 1, 2016Paperjasto veselo štivo podesno da se čita kao razbibriga ako, recimo, treba da idete kod zubara ili već nešto na tom nivou prijatnosti. Super bi funkcionisalo kao crtani ili, još bolje, kao češki dečji film - kolekcija veštica je dušu dala za to :) Jedino bih zamerila to što je glavni đuvegija težak šmokljan, ali dobro, ta karakterizacija i jeste deo poente.
May 21, 2019
It's hilarious, I was laughing so hard while reading it! It's like a parody of all the today's YA paranormal romances. (yeah I know it isn't the intention of the author - just look at the year when it was written, but still..) If I'm to be fair, this book doesn't really deserve four stars, but I'm feeling generous. So what? Does it matter if it's predictable? I mean it didn't stop me from laughing out loud, so who cares?
November 15, 2015
Da morir dal ridere!
Romanzo intelligente, divertente, ma anche assolutamente creepy (la scena dei topi.. No commenti!!)
La mia infanzia è stata bella anche grazie a Eva Ibbotson!
Romanzo intelligente, divertente, ma anche assolutamente creepy (la scena dei topi.. No commenti!!)
La mia infanzia è stata bella anche grazie a Eva Ibbotson!
October 15, 2019
Hilariously dark and clever, with surprisingly well thought out and realized characters. The concept of a dark wizard holding a "The Bachelor" style contest to choose his bride to be from the assorted local witches sounded interesting enough, but the execution and comedic timing were wonderful. Light hearted with several dark twists throughout, definitely a fun read!
October 31, 2024
Eternal Rating: 5++++++++++++++++ / 5
Still my favourite witchy, Halloween book of all time! <3
Rating: 5+ / 5
I suppose what I like best are the dark undertones of this book. At heart, perhaps it's a lighter story for children and has moments of comedy like a baby kraken going around yelling "Daddy!", but it is about witchcraft at its darkest and in competitive form!
Arriman the Awful, Wizard of the North is seeking a bride, much against his own will. "Darkness is All", so the competition is set to test different forms of dark magic, and the winner becomes the new Wizardess of the North. You've got a sea witch, country witch, twin sister witches, an old witch, a white witch, and an evil enchantress all competing for the same prize, and varied spells follow.
Smiting and blighting is one thing, but Ibbotson does it with flair, creating a vivid world with unique characters for her readers to enjoy. As a child, when I first read this I thought it was a dark read and I was really impressed with myself for picking it up. On the cover we have Madame Olympia, the enchantress, beautiful yet evil, who looks quite scary to a child reading the book. It made me feel a bit more grown up, even though the story was an easy read for me even then.
From start to finish, I love both the story and the timeless imagery of the macabre, from fountains of blood to large and gruesome rats. It's an occasional read for me as an adult now, but definitely a Halloween favourite. More re-reads to come in the future, but I definitely recommend this to everyone for an enjoyable spooky read for that time of year.
Still my favourite witchy, Halloween book of all time! <3
Rating: 5+ / 5
I suppose what I like best are the dark undertones of this book. At heart, perhaps it's a lighter story for children and has moments of comedy like a baby kraken going around yelling "Daddy!", but it is about witchcraft at its darkest and in competitive form!
Arriman the Awful, Wizard of the North is seeking a bride, much against his own will. "Darkness is All", so the competition is set to test different forms of dark magic, and the winner becomes the new Wizardess of the North. You've got a sea witch, country witch, twin sister witches, an old witch, a white witch, and an evil enchantress all competing for the same prize, and varied spells follow.
Smiting and blighting is one thing, but Ibbotson does it with flair, creating a vivid world with unique characters for her readers to enjoy. As a child, when I first read this I thought it was a dark read and I was really impressed with myself for picking it up. On the cover we have Madame Olympia, the enchantress, beautiful yet evil, who looks quite scary to a child reading the book. It made me feel a bit more grown up, even though the story was an easy read for me even then.
From start to finish, I love both the story and the timeless imagery of the macabre, from fountains of blood to large and gruesome rats. It's an occasional read for me as an adult now, but definitely a Halloween favourite. More re-reads to come in the future, but I definitely recommend this to everyone for an enjoyable spooky read for that time of year.
March 31, 2024
Oh such fun. Like a cross between Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman, with a sprinkling of Terry Pratchett and Howls Moving Castle
August 30, 2025
This book definitely shows its age with the black/white magic language and some of the race-based characterizations, but it's still a very dry, very dark children's book that honors the humor and abilities of the age group. Eva Ibbotson really was one of the best to ever do it.
March 7, 2022
I have had a thing for Eva Ibbotson since I „discovered“ her as a young bookseller in the early 90ies. She made me happy, and I never went wrong when recommending her books to our customers. Her children‘s books are especially charming, without ever being too sugary and sweet. Her colorful characters and magical stories do have their dark sides, but good always wins in the end. And it is Ibbotson‘s own special version of good ;-) I have been disappointed with some of the audiobooks of her titles before, but this one was excellent.
January 28, 2024
Poželela sam uživanje u slatkoći, ali sada radujem kako se ta neugodnost polako gubi iz sećanja. Mnogi trenuci su bili odvratni (censored), a scena masovnog kanibalizma pacova me duboko potresla pred kraj - nisam mogla verovati da će autorka opisati toliko morbidnih detalja u knjizi namenjenoj mlađim tinejdžerima. - 1:0 -
Izdvajam još jedno negativno zapažanje - autorka, kroz većinu muških likova, često iskazuje glasnu zgađenost nad aspektima starijeg ženskog tela. Jednom, dvaput - ajde, veštice su arheotipno ružne, ali postoji neka ženomrzačka nota, fiksacija koja se uporno bavi posramljivanjem prirodnih promena tela tokom godina i nakon rađanja dece. - 2:0 -
Da nije bilo ovih neprijatnosti, čitalačke runde bi bile prosečne - proste, opuštajuće i prosečne. Ali rezultat je dalje protiv domaćeg tima.
Izdvajam još jedno negativno zapažanje - autorka, kroz većinu muških likova, često iskazuje glasnu zgađenost nad aspektima starijeg ženskog tela. Jednom, dvaput - ajde, veštice su arheotipno ružne, ali postoji neka ženomrzačka nota, fiksacija koja se uporno bavi posramljivanjem prirodnih promena tela tokom godina i nakon rađanja dece. - 2:0 -
Da nije bilo ovih neprijatnosti, čitalačke runde bi bile prosečne - proste, opuštajuće i prosečne. Ali rezultat je dalje protiv domaćeg tima.
October 24, 2020
This is one of my all time favourite books, both as a young reader, a teenager and as an adult, I think I must have read it at least 50 times over the years. It was a regular check out for me while at school from the library but, bizarrely, I never owned my own copy.
The book focusses on the white witch Belladonna, who is secretly in love with the dark and broodingly handsome Arriman the Awful, the most feared and fierce wizard of the North. He had decided he must marry as he needs an heir to pass on his wizardly crown as he's getting fed up of all the smiting and blighting.
He decides to hold a competition at which the wickedest blackest witches will perform their greatest spell and the one which is the most evil will win. Poor Belladonna wants nothing more than to be bad, but she's such a good witch that even when she tries to be bad the opposite happens.
Without going into details, the plot also involves an orphan named Terrance and his pet worm, a three headed sea lion who Arriman has had looking for his successor for years without any joy (hence the decision to marry and hold a competition to find himself a wife), an elderly witch who randomly turns into a coffee table, the seductive Madame Olympia, and a whole host of other amusing and horrible characters.
With a few nice twists added to the plot, the reader is drawn headlong into an amusing tale which draws to a satisfactory conclusion without ever stinting on the story to get there.
The book focusses on the white witch Belladonna, who is secretly in love with the dark and broodingly handsome Arriman the Awful, the most feared and fierce wizard of the North. He had decided he must marry as he needs an heir to pass on his wizardly crown as he's getting fed up of all the smiting and blighting.
He decides to hold a competition at which the wickedest blackest witches will perform their greatest spell and the one which is the most evil will win. Poor Belladonna wants nothing more than to be bad, but she's such a good witch that even when she tries to be bad the opposite happens.
Without going into details, the plot also involves an orphan named Terrance and his pet worm, a three headed sea lion who Arriman has had looking for his successor for years without any joy (hence the decision to marry and hold a competition to find himself a wife), an elderly witch who randomly turns into a coffee table, the seductive Madame Olympia, and a whole host of other amusing and horrible characters.
With a few nice twists added to the plot, the reader is drawn headlong into an amusing tale which draws to a satisfactory conclusion without ever stinting on the story to get there.
April 7, 2012
I was inspired in re-visiting this book by my cute little sisters playing witches in our backyard. There they were strutting around the grass sneering disdain and blurting out curses on "unwanted visitors" commenting on how annoyingly good so-and-so was. And I just sat there and smiled, smart little creatures' I thought who at their young age already understood the beauty of a good-old bad guy.Then I remembered this book. I remember reading this when I was about 9 not really understanding half of the vocabulary (which struck me as quite complex for a children's book this time around) yet loving the way that the characters all accepted and acted on the common belief of the superiority of being Black. It was and still is a nice change from the onslaught of golden values, morality and conscience that is more predominantly found in children's books.This is one book I'll be sure to pass on to my kids in the future It'll become a classic for sure.
June 8, 2023
If you haven't yet discovered Eva Ibbotson, this is a great place to start. This is one of the most charming, intriguing, hilarious, and outright pleasurable books I have ever read!
It's about Arriman the Aweful, a wizard famous for both his power and his good looks who has decided to marry a witch. From a long list of candidates, the winner must be: the fairest of them all the most evil of them all. Belladonna is determined to win the competition, but the problem is she is a distressingly good witch.
This book does have occasional dark turns and some crazy disturbing characters like, the wife-murdering ghost of Darkington Hall, Sir Simon and Madame Olympia, The Enchantress whose husbands mysteriously disappear and the human teeth in her necklace grows longer. They may sound dark when I say it but in the novel, they are absolutely hilarious!
Recommended to anyone!
It's about Arriman the Aweful, a wizard famous for both his power and his good looks who has decided to marry a witch. From a long list of candidates, the winner must be:
This book does have occasional dark turns and some crazy disturbing characters like, the wife-murdering ghost of Darkington Hall, Sir Simon and Madame Olympia, The Enchantress whose husbands mysteriously disappear and the human teeth in her necklace grows longer. They may sound dark when I say it but in the novel, they are absolutely hilarious!
Recommended to anyone!
October 25, 2021
Eva Ibbotson had written a book I absolutely adored as I kid but I just couldn't find it now as an adult. My guess was that I've read multiple witchy/spooky book and they all got mixed in to one big fond memory. The plot sounded interesting but not quite what I remembered but I loved it nonetheless. Such a cozy and fun witchy book. I normally don't like to read about witches but after this I think I simply don't like to read books for adults about witches but love when it's meant for kids. I will most definitely listen to more spooky books by Eva Ibbotson whether it's october or npt
December 3, 2021
This was a fun story about a dark wizard who wants to retire. But in order to do that he has to get married and have a child. So he decides he'll gather all the witches and have them perform their magic for him. Whoever has the darkest magic will be his bride. 13 witches compete, one of them is Belladonna, a witch whose magic always produces flowers and baby animals. But she's loved the wizard since she can remember, so in order to win she'll have to concoct a sinister plan!
I enjoyed this story. It's mostly all fun, though there are definitely some darker aspects. I liked Belladonna's story arc and how she rescued a child from an orphanage so he and his worm friend could help her win the contest. Overall, this was a happy story and kept me entertained.
I enjoyed this story. It's mostly all fun, though there are definitely some darker aspects. I liked Belladonna's story arc and how she rescued a child from an orphanage so he and his worm friend could help her win the contest. Overall, this was a happy story and kept me entertained.
April 8, 2016
I really couldn't decide whether to give this book a 3 or 4 star rating so consider this a 3.5 that would probably have been a 4 if I was still a child. The book was just straight up great fun! It has been a while since I read a new children's book, that isn't a re-read from my own childhood, and I now realise I have been missing out. The process of reading this book was such good fun; Eva Ibbotson has constructed a really fantastical world with amusing characters and lots of plot twists. I was actually surprised in moments by how dark the story could get (e.g. the witches spells) whilst retaining its lighthearted tone and then I realised how truly long it has been since I've read a children's book if I'm surprised by them being dark - I mean think of Roald Dahl! Ibbotson's The Secret of Platform 13 was one of my favourite children's books but this is only the 2nd of her works I have read - not for long! Definitely going to pick up more by this author; they are great for adults and children a like!
February 1, 2019
I wouldn't let small children read this.
I did not like the messages it may deliver to the intended age-group. There are examples of every-so-slightly-made racial comments and gender roles.
The 'beautiful' is girl pure and good and she wins at the end? Though all she ever wants to do is to marry the 'Big Man' and 'take care of him'? She even thinks about 'brushing his moustache and massaging his ankles when they're swollen'.
Even though, the 'Big Man' has absolutely no idea about who this beautiful blonde girl is, he immediately falls in love with her and wants to marry her. She says she isn't a Black Witch-something he wants in a wife-, but a White one. Does he care? No. No, because she's pretty.
The only good thing about this book, in my opinion, is Terrence and his story. The setting of foster home was interesting and Terence had a lot of potential as a lead character-even though it didn't happen.
I did not like the messages it may deliver to the intended age-group. There are examples of every-so-slightly-made racial comments and gender roles.
The 'beautiful' is girl pure and good and she wins at the end? Though all she ever wants to do is to marry the 'Big Man' and 'take care of him'? She even thinks about 'brushing his moustache and massaging his ankles when they're swollen'.
Even though, the 'Big Man' has absolutely no idea about who this beautiful blonde girl is, he immediately falls in love with her and wants to marry her. She says she isn't a Black Witch-something he wants in a wife-, but a White one. Does he care? No. No, because she's pretty.
The only good thing about this book, in my opinion, is Terrence and his story. The setting of foster home was interesting and Terence had a lot of potential as a lead character-even though it didn't happen.
October 4, 2019
Delightful fun! Never before have I been charmed by a bat making up stories about his family when chatting to a young witch or felt maternal towards an orphaned kraken who just wants someone to care for him. Nor have I seen a German princess complaining because a witch turned her into a penguin, not a swan or maiden-aunt mermaids haranguing their part-human niece. Ibbotson has created this world that makes magic into such an everyday part of life. It's a bit like Spindle's End, if it were set in Britain of forty years ago. There are a few things that date Which Witch? - mainly the use of the words "faggot" and "red Indian" - but by and large it is still as charming and funny today as it was when first published.
March 4, 2009
A fun read - silly and sweet, and yes, charming.
I should just start writing "CHARMING" ten times in a row for all of my Ibbotson reviews. I can't seem to come up with another word for her. She's charming and delightful. Go read her.
My work here is done.
I should just start writing "CHARMING" ten times in a row for all of my Ibbotson reviews. I can't seem to come up with another word for her. She's charming and delightful. Go read her.
My work here is done.
February 18, 2020
Eva Ibbotson schreibt einfach schöne Kinderbücher. Was ich zu schätzen weiß ist, dass, obwohl ihre Bücher für eine junge Leserschaft gedacht sind, sie nie kindisch sind. Sie sind charmant, abenteuerlich und geben Denkanstöße, ohne zu belehren.
May 3, 2018
'Jumpa pertama' dengan Ms. Ibbotson itu ketika nemu The Haunting of Hiram di diskonan, dan tiba-tiba jatuh hati ❤ -- kondisi yang mirip-mirip ketika hatiku menggelinding karena karya-karya Enid Blyton, Astrid Lindgren, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Erich Kästner, Roald Dahl, dll~
Langsung sangat bernapsu memburu karya-karyanya yang lain ^///^ terutama judul ini, yang kalau 'ndak salah diterbitkan duluan di sini.
Akhirnya berhasil dapat setelah 'ratusan abad' berlalu, berkat kebaikan Gusgus o(≧▽≦)o❤ Thanks!!
Ciri khas buku Eva Ibbotson itu adalah monster / hantu / makhluk apapun, serta pesan 'moral': "Kita berbeda: aku oke, dan kamu pun oke!"
Bagaimana tidak.., di sini, di buku ini, di mana komunitas penyihir hitam menggelegakkan asap kualinya dan mantra-mantra jahatnya, ada sosok Belladonna yang putihnya kebangetan.
Melihatnya di-bully serta ambisinya menjadi penyihir hitam, pembaca tentu sangat berharap agar Belladonna 'menang' dan nggak kalah hitam dari penyihir-penyihir lainnya.
Kembali sebentar ke dunia nyata: kita pasti sadar kalau kita kadang ga bisa mengubah apa yang ada pada diri kita, karena memang tak terubahkan walau dengan usaha apapun.
Dan itu bukan masalah.
Dunia memang ga adil dan tidak akan pernah adil. Jadi lebih cepat kita sadar akan hal itu, lebih baik.
Kembali ke ulasan buku ^^;
Jadi, ketika sampai bagian akhir...
Jadi begitulah~ (^皿^) aku merasa Ms. Ibbotson benar-benar jenius, buku ini cocok dibaca secara ringan, tapi juga menyimpan pesan yang akan tertanam dalam diri anak-anak. Entah aku menyesali atau tidak, kenapa aku 'ndak baca buku ini pas masih kecil, tapi yang jelas sekarang aku bersyukur pernah membacanya ❤
Oh! Satu lagi... humor yang kental dan sesuai seleraku, baik saat adegan
Langsung sangat bernapsu memburu karya-karyanya yang lain ^///^ terutama judul ini, yang kalau 'ndak salah diterbitkan duluan di sini.
Akhirnya berhasil dapat setelah 'ratusan abad' berlalu, berkat kebaikan Gusgus o(≧▽≦)o❤ Thanks!!
Ciri khas buku Eva Ibbotson itu adalah monster / hantu / makhluk apapun, serta pesan 'moral': "Kita berbeda: aku oke, dan kamu pun oke!"
Bagaimana tidak.., di sini, di buku ini, di mana komunitas penyihir hitam menggelegakkan asap kualinya dan mantra-mantra jahatnya, ada sosok Belladonna yang putihnya kebangetan.
Melihatnya di-bully serta ambisinya menjadi penyihir hitam, pembaca tentu sangat berharap agar Belladonna 'menang' dan nggak kalah hitam dari penyihir-penyihir lainnya.
Kembali sebentar ke dunia nyata: kita pasti sadar kalau kita kadang ga bisa mengubah apa yang ada pada diri kita, karena memang tak terubahkan walau dengan usaha apapun.
Dan itu bukan masalah.
Dunia memang ga adil dan tidak akan pernah adil. Jadi lebih cepat kita sadar akan hal itu, lebih baik.
Kembali ke ulasan buku ^^;
Jadi, ketika sampai bagian akhir...
Jadi begitulah~ (^皿^) aku merasa Ms. Ibbotson benar-benar jenius, buku ini cocok dibaca secara ringan, tapi juga menyimpan pesan yang akan tertanam dalam diri anak-anak. Entah aku menyesali atau tidak, kenapa aku 'ndak baca buku ini pas masih kecil, tapi yang jelas sekarang aku bersyukur pernah membacanya ❤
Oh! Satu lagi... humor yang kental dan sesuai seleraku, baik saat adegan
May 12, 2018
--- Which Witch? ---
Plot: Ok.
Gaya bercerita: O...k.
Dibeli karena.... *uhuk uhuk uhuk* kepincut dengan isi keranjang kawan saya, Guguk (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵).
Novel karya Eva Ibbotson pertama yang saya baca! Dan apa lagi yang bisa membuat saya langsung membacanya, jika bukan karena judulnya? Iya! Iya! Judulnya! Si penyihir mencari istri! XD //gusbangetya.
Baca sinopsis langsung ya^^.
Plotwise... semua sangat mudah ditebak di buku ini. Karena cerita untuk anak, jadi saya tidak akan mengeluh banyak mengenai hal ini. Dari awal, sangat ketahuan siapa yang akan menjadi pasangan dari si Penyihir Arriman, maupun (sebelum ketahuan di akhir-akhir, ketahuan juga) siapa yang memiliki kekuatan sihir yang lebih dhuar-dhuar dari si Arriman, dsb dsb. Ala cerita fantasi untuk anak-anak, ada secercah pesan yang bisa mereka gapai sendiri saat membaca buku ini.
Karakternya... saya menikmatinya^^ Terutama setelah ada si Terence dan ulatnya! Juga para pelayannya Arriman! Juga si Penunggu Penyihir! Huahahaha! ^^
Tapi kontras dengan pendapat kawan saya (yang sebenarnya juga saya cukup setujui--), saya tidak mendapatkan hal yang benar-benar spesial di karya ini. Saya juga tidak mengerti kenapa penyihir hitam memiliki keharusan untuk dhuar-dhuar dan membuat orang lain kerepotan karena mereka (tanpa terkecuali tokoh Arriman). Mungkin itu "Pekerjaan" mereka dan penulis ingin mengajar agar manusia hidup dengan hakikatnya masing-masing ya... hmmm entahlah. Saya jujur saja netral mengenai hal ini.
Juga mengenai matron itu. Sejahat-jahatnya, tidak pantas juga penyelesaiannya berakhir seperti itu. Karena diri saya mungkin sejahat Matron, saya agak iba melihat penyelesaiannya. Tidak sampai di sana saja. Saya juga kurang suka bagaimana plotnya dengan mudah menggiring opini ke: Orang yang awalnya merendahkanmu bisa jadi temanmu asal kau sudah berada di status sosial tinggi.
.....Jahat juga ya inti yang saya sendiri dapatkan dari buku ini.
Tapi baiklah, tanpa melupakan hal baik di buku ini, bintang tiga mengalir untuk Which Witch! ^^
Kuharap Platform 13 itu bisa lebih saya nikmati dari ini... fufu!
[7.5/10]
Plot: Ok.
Gaya bercerita: O...k.
Dibeli karena.... *uhuk uhuk uhuk* kepincut dengan isi keranjang kawan saya, Guguk (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵).
Novel karya Eva Ibbotson pertama yang saya baca! Dan apa lagi yang bisa membuat saya langsung membacanya, jika bukan karena judulnya? Iya! Iya! Judulnya! Si penyihir mencari istri! XD //gusbangetya.
Baca sinopsis langsung ya^^.
Plotwise... semua sangat mudah ditebak di buku ini. Karena cerita untuk anak, jadi saya tidak akan mengeluh banyak mengenai hal ini. Dari awal, sangat ketahuan siapa yang akan menjadi pasangan dari si Penyihir Arriman, maupun (sebelum ketahuan di akhir-akhir, ketahuan juga) siapa yang memiliki kekuatan sihir yang lebih dhuar-dhuar dari si Arriman, dsb dsb. Ala cerita fantasi untuk anak-anak, ada secercah pesan yang bisa mereka gapai sendiri saat membaca buku ini.
Karakternya... saya menikmatinya^^ Terutama setelah ada si Terence dan ulatnya! Juga para pelayannya Arriman! Juga si Penunggu Penyihir! Huahahaha! ^^
Tapi kontras dengan pendapat kawan saya (yang sebenarnya juga saya cukup setujui--), saya tidak mendapatkan hal yang benar-benar spesial di karya ini. Saya juga tidak mengerti kenapa penyihir hitam memiliki keharusan untuk dhuar-dhuar dan membuat orang lain kerepotan karena mereka (tanpa terkecuali tokoh Arriman). Mungkin itu "Pekerjaan" mereka dan penulis ingin mengajar agar manusia hidup dengan hakikatnya masing-masing ya... hmmm entahlah. Saya jujur saja netral mengenai hal ini.
Juga mengenai matron itu. Sejahat-jahatnya, tidak pantas juga penyelesaiannya berakhir seperti itu. Karena diri saya mungkin sejahat Matron, saya agak iba melihat penyelesaiannya. Tidak sampai di sana saja. Saya juga kurang suka bagaimana plotnya dengan mudah menggiring opini ke: Orang yang awalnya merendahkanmu bisa jadi temanmu asal kau sudah berada di status sosial tinggi.
.....Jahat juga ya inti yang saya sendiri dapatkan dari buku ini.
Tapi baiklah, tanpa melupakan hal baik di buku ini, bintang tiga mengalir untuk Which Witch! ^^
Kuharap Platform 13 itu bisa lebih saya nikmati dari ini... fufu!
[7.5/10]
July 22, 2008
Arriman the awful, Grand Poobah of all things nasty and mighty dark wizard of the North has had many happy years of blighting, smiting and wrecking a great deal of havoc. But there comes a time when even the darkest of wizards gets tired of the "monotony" and wants to pass on the mantle to a more sinister and deserving wizard.
The great hunt begins and Arriman creates a kindly, three-headed monster called the "Wizard Watcher" for the task. But with not even the faintest squeak of a dark wizard from any direction, Arriman decides that marriage would be the only way to create a suitable heir to carry on his illustrious heritage. Here's the tiny blip in plans......a wizard can only marry a witch and the local witches are a disastrous motley of the weird and the frightfully whacky! Covered with warts in unmentionable places, swarming with maggots, cackling evilly....they fulfil every "witchy" stereotype!
A contest will be held and the winner will be Arriman's blushing new (*shudder*) bride. The contestants are to be judged on their skill, finesse, imagination and grandiosity in executing their black magic. But among the brood of harridans is a single, lovely witch; Belladonna. Blue-eyed and golden-haired, Belladonna has always been a white witch. She could put a dozen Disney Princesses to shame with the goodness of her heart and generosity of spirit. She longs to be dark and dreary like the rest of her coven and be a powerful, black witch.....something that would make her an ideal wife for Arriman. And to help her achieve this goal are a líl orphan boy: Terrence Mugg, his pet earthworm: Rover and Arriman's long-suffering but obliging staff.
A hilarious book which embraces all things dark and sinister and revels in the ghoulish and the gory, "Which Witch" is a fine treat for all Potter fans. After tut-tutting over Voldemort's antics, it's nice to have an endearing, dark wizard like Arrimann. Despite his magnificent powers, he is basically a normal man quailing in his boots at the prospect of waking up every morning to a wart-covered, slime-wrapped, shrieking witch of a wife!!
Laugh-out-loud and a definite treat for children (and adults) who never lose their fascination for magic and mayhem.
The great hunt begins and Arriman creates a kindly, three-headed monster called the "Wizard Watcher" for the task. But with not even the faintest squeak of a dark wizard from any direction, Arriman decides that marriage would be the only way to create a suitable heir to carry on his illustrious heritage. Here's the tiny blip in plans......a wizard can only marry a witch and the local witches are a disastrous motley of the weird and the frightfully whacky! Covered with warts in unmentionable places, swarming with maggots, cackling evilly....they fulfil every "witchy" stereotype!
A contest will be held and the winner will be Arriman's blushing new (*shudder*) bride. The contestants are to be judged on their skill, finesse, imagination and grandiosity in executing their black magic. But among the brood of harridans is a single, lovely witch; Belladonna. Blue-eyed and golden-haired, Belladonna has always been a white witch. She could put a dozen Disney Princesses to shame with the goodness of her heart and generosity of spirit. She longs to be dark and dreary like the rest of her coven and be a powerful, black witch.....something that would make her an ideal wife for Arriman. And to help her achieve this goal are a líl orphan boy: Terrence Mugg, his pet earthworm: Rover and Arriman's long-suffering but obliging staff.
A hilarious book which embraces all things dark and sinister and revels in the ghoulish and the gory, "Which Witch" is a fine treat for all Potter fans. After tut-tutting over Voldemort's antics, it's nice to have an endearing, dark wizard like Arrimann. Despite his magnificent powers, he is basically a normal man quailing in his boots at the prospect of waking up every morning to a wart-covered, slime-wrapped, shrieking witch of a wife!!
Laugh-out-loud and a definite treat for children (and adults) who never lose their fascination for magic and mayhem.
January 2, 2016
"...there really was no way of telling which witch was which." I picked up this book because of the reference in the Castle Hangnail, where Ursula Vernon mentioned Which Witch? as an inspiration. And since I really liked Castle Hangnail, I couldn't miss this one.
I guess the author was a pioneer in the genre. Though he book is a bit out-of-date now, it's still not like the lot of children's books. It's really very amusing.
Only four stars is for being just amusing, nothing more. It was a good read, but I will not read it again.
I guess the author was a pioneer in the genre. Though he book is a bit out-of-date now, it's still not like the lot of children's books. It's really very amusing.
Only four stars is for being just amusing, nothing more. It was a good read, but I will not read it again.
September 5, 2017
Arriman, der mächtige Zauberer, möchte sich zur Ruhe setzten. Nachdem er vergeblich auf einen Nachfolger gewartet hat, beschließt er zu heiraten und seinem Sohn den Platz als schwarzer böser Zauberer zu hinterlassen...
Die Wahl einer geeigneten Ehefrau verläuft turbulent.
Mit viel Humor erzählt Eva Ibbitson von Verliebten heiratswütigen Hexen, sympathischen dreiköpfigen Drachen und skurrilen Zauber Wettkämpfen...
Warnung: Vielleicht sollten Eltern Kapitel 13 zuerst lesen , es könnte sensiblere Kinder doch etwas verstören...
Die Wahl einer geeigneten Ehefrau verläuft turbulent.
Mit viel Humor erzählt Eva Ibbitson von Verliebten heiratswütigen Hexen, sympathischen dreiköpfigen Drachen und skurrilen Zauber Wettkämpfen...
Warnung: Vielleicht sollten Eltern Kapitel 13 zuerst lesen , es könnte sensiblere Kinder doch etwas verstören...
May 6, 2017
This was a delightful romp--honestly one of the funniest children's books I've read in years. Every time Mother Bloodwort turned herself in a coffee table I about peed myself. The plot is very simple, but tightly woven, and the characters are so very dear, even in their evilness. And the humor is spot-on. This would be a fantastic read-aloud book for any child who is not easily perturbed by slightly scary silliness.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 785 reviews