The Witches

201 pages

English language

Published June 29, 1983 by Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

ISBN:
978-0-374-38458-6
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
9784603

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (4 reviews)

A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice.

32 editions

Review of 'The Witches' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Ugh. It took us a long time to finish this book. My son and I have read through quite a few Roald Dahl books this year, mostly impelled by my fond childhood memories. He doesn't hold up. Although The Witches has some of Dahl's best writing, it really slows down near the end - oh, and it is PROBLEMATIC. Here is Dahl at his most vicious, railing against, well, women actually. What a book to read to one's son in 2020. I'm willing to bet ol' Roaldy wouldn't have fared well during the #MeToo years.

So yeah, terrible and confusing themes going on in this novel. More confusing than I care to go into given my distaste for the author. I honestly hope this is the last one my son wants to read for awhile.

avatar for Ramirenko

rated it

5 stars
avatar for njwfish

rated it

4 stars
avatar for samtastic

rated it

2 stars

Subjects

  • Witches -- Fiction
  • Grandmothers -- Fiction