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sams84's review against another edition
5.0
Another funny yet scary yet entertaining book from Roald Dahl. This plays on every child's fear of the old lady next door/down the street/round the corner that they're plotting and planning a way to get rid of you. A fabulous tale of heroism and daring and of battling the unknown power of none other than the Grand High Witch.
katieliterary's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
scijessreads's review against another edition
5.0
I grew up on Roald Dahl. But The Witches is special in its dark, sinister undertones. It revels in evil, and part of my memories of this book are tied closely to the Angelica Houston movie version. But in both cases, seeing children rise up against the witches is satisfying every time.
maries_bookverse's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Re-Read October 2024
5 stars đ
Kicking off the spooky October season, I decided to revisit âThe Witchesâ by Roald Dahlâa book I first discovered during an elementary school reading project called Leselyst. We spent an entire month immersed in books, and Dahlâs stories quickly became my favorites. As a fantasy lover with a fascination for witches, âThe Witchesâ stood out from the rest. I read it hundreds of times as a child, and it never lost its magic. I remember devouring the story with equal parts fear and curiosity, and now, revisiting it as an adult, I completely understand why it left such a lasting impression!
The story follows a young boy and his grandmother who uncover a terrifying secret: witches are real, and they despise children. These witches, however, arenât your typical broomstick-riding, pointy-hat-wearing types. They hide in plain sight, blending into society as ordinary women. But underneath their human disguise, theyâre child-hungry monsters with a master plan to rid the world of children by turning them into mice! The boy and his grandmother soon find themselves up against the Grand High Witch herself, and together they must find a way to stop her wicked scheme before itâs too late.
Dahl doesnât hold back. This is a children's book, yet it's almost barbaricâadults eating children? Thatâs intense! I definitely didnât remember it being quite so terrifying, but reading it now, Iâm in awe of how Dahl manages to create a book thatâs both horrifying and whimsical. It strikes the perfect balance between childlike wonder and genuine horror. Whatâs remarkable is how Dahl masterfully writes âhorrorâ for kids in a way thatâs palatable for both young readers and adults.
This brings me to why âThe Witchesâ is a timeless classic. Dahlâs writing appeals not just to children but also to adults, and itâs not just because we have nostalgia for his books. Itâs his ability to weave deeper themes into seemingly simple, even absurd stories. In âThe Witchesâ, the way he depicts adultsâparticularly the witchesâis chilling. They look like regular women, but underneath, theyâre child-eating monsters, and thatâs where the real horror lies. Dahl often presents adults as terrifying figures.
Itâs not just the concept that keeps me hooked, though. Dahlâs language is playful, his storytelling fast-paced, and his ability to take something as cozy as a grandmother telling stories and turn it into a hair-raising tale about witches hiding in plain sight is genius. I love how Dahl doesnât shy away from letting kids feel scared and curious. Thatâs what makes it all the more engaging, both when I read it as a child and now as an adult. And honestly, Iâm grateful that âThe Witchesâ was part of my childhood reading because it sparked my love for books and the sheer joy of reading.
Itâs the perfect kick-off to October, and Iâll always be thankful to Dahl for making reading funâfor both children and adults. âThe Witchesâ remains a favorite for its ability to entertain and terrify.
This was a delightful re-read, and Iâm sure Iâll pick it up again! Some books just have that timeless charm, and The Witches is definitely one of them.
5 stars đ
Kicking off the spooky October season, I decided to revisit âThe Witchesâ by Roald Dahlâa book I first discovered during an elementary school reading project called Leselyst. We spent an entire month immersed in books, and Dahlâs stories quickly became my favorites. As a fantasy lover with a fascination for witches, âThe Witchesâ stood out from the rest. I read it hundreds of times as a child, and it never lost its magic. I remember devouring the story with equal parts fear and curiosity, and now, revisiting it as an adult, I completely understand why it left such a lasting impression!
The story follows a young boy and his grandmother who uncover a terrifying secret: witches are real, and they despise children. These witches, however, arenât your typical broomstick-riding, pointy-hat-wearing types. They hide in plain sight, blending into society as ordinary women. But underneath their human disguise, theyâre child-hungry monsters with a master plan to rid the world of children by turning them into mice! The boy and his grandmother soon find themselves up against the Grand High Witch herself, and together they must find a way to stop her wicked scheme before itâs too late.
Dahl doesnât hold back. This is a children's book, yet it's almost barbaricâadults eating children? Thatâs intense! I definitely didnât remember it being quite so terrifying, but reading it now, Iâm in awe of how Dahl manages to create a book thatâs both horrifying and whimsical. It strikes the perfect balance between childlike wonder and genuine horror. Whatâs remarkable is how Dahl masterfully writes âhorrorâ for kids in a way thatâs palatable for both young readers and adults.
This brings me to why âThe Witchesâ is a timeless classic. Dahlâs writing appeals not just to children but also to adults, and itâs not just because we have nostalgia for his books. Itâs his ability to weave deeper themes into seemingly simple, even absurd stories. In âThe Witchesâ, the way he depicts adultsâparticularly the witchesâis chilling. They look like regular women, but underneath, theyâre child-eating monsters, and thatâs where the real horror lies. Dahl often presents adults as terrifying figures.
Itâs not just the concept that keeps me hooked, though. Dahlâs language is playful, his storytelling fast-paced, and his ability to take something as cozy as a grandmother telling stories and turn it into a hair-raising tale about witches hiding in plain sight is genius. I love how Dahl doesnât shy away from letting kids feel scared and curious. Thatâs what makes it all the more engaging, both when I read it as a child and now as an adult. And honestly, Iâm grateful that âThe Witchesâ was part of my childhood reading because it sparked my love for books and the sheer joy of reading.
Itâs the perfect kick-off to October, and Iâll always be thankful to Dahl for making reading funâfor both children and adults. âThe Witchesâ remains a favorite for its ability to entertain and terrify.
This was a delightful re-read, and Iâm sure Iâll pick it up again! Some books just have that timeless charm, and The Witches is definitely one of them.
hhamlet's review against another edition
4.0
I was literally suspicious of the grandmother the entire time. I have trust issues.
mjs1981's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
annadiprimavera's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
casadilla12's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75