The Witches

by Roald Dahl

Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

"A true genius . . . Roald Dahl is my hero" David Walliams
Witches really are a detestable breed. They disguise themselves as lovely ladies, when secretly they want to squish and squelch all the wretched children they despise. Luckily one boy and his grandmother know how to recognize these vile creatures, but can they get rid of them for good?

• ISBN10: 0141346418
• ISBN13: 9780141346410
• Publish Date: 7 February 2013 (first published 1 January 1920)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 21 June 2016
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[mrs_mander_reads]

I wanted to read this in prep to watch the movie and because it's one of the Dahl novels I haven't read yet. So good, and didn't disappoint. The story is cute with just a little bit of scare factor thrown in, plus all the dialogue and accents that make Dahl's other works great.

[readingwithwrin]

Sadly this was my least favorite book of Dahl's so far.

Read it because it's my brother's favorite Roald Dahl book. I now see why. Twisted and brilliant.
Full review to come.

[adastra]

I read this entirely by accident and then just couldn't put it down, which is ridiculous because I have seen the film and knew exactly what was gonna happen. Still, I quite enjoyed the read, it's got a beautiful language and a much more consistent plot than e.g. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

A few things still bothered me though:
- What happened to William and Mary the mice? It appears they've been completely abandoned
- I liked the "happier" ending of the film. It shows that not everything is as borderline-good-and-evil as the witches in this book.
- Two somewhat religious mentions would make me worried that children will put too much truth into them. I doubt the book has the power to indoctrinate children, but I would still prefer it if children's books such as this were free from such things.

[clairelm]

I have to admit, I'm not sure whether I actually finished this book. I know I never finished the film and I think the book probably got the same treatment.
I'm reviewing this as a children's book which is where it is usually classified. I know Roald Dahl books can be wacky, eccentric and weird but I have yet to come across another one that scared me as much as this one. I've given one star because, from my memories, it was too scary for children, maybe it would be better classed as an adult book, and it's a book I'm unlikely to ever return to.

[celinenyx]

Always thought the end to be a little weird when I was little. It felt like it needed a part two. Still, very funny, and a typical Roald Dahl.

[KitsuneBae]

You can also read my full review at: Thoughts and Pens


This is another feel good story by Roald Dahl, ridiculously crafted to provide a good laugh to young children and adults too.
The Witches started off by providing a narration that one of the most pressing security problems in this world was the existence of Witches. And they were notorious for plotting of purging the world of children. There’s only one reason for this: Children produces foul stench.
While the witches all over the world are busy plotting their evil plans, a young boy who is living with his grandmother was being taught on how to recognize witches. This is in the hope that whenever or wherever he goes, he will have an easy time to distinguish witches from normal women.
Then one day, when the boy and the grandma went for vacation in a well-known hotel, the young boy accidentally witnessed the yearly witches’ convention being held there. It is in that convention that the boy learned of the greatest evil plan being cooked by Grand High Witch and that is: brewing a formula that will turn all children into mice. And then she went on discussing the strategies that need to be done for the success of their plans.
It was unfortunate, however, that while the strategy was being discussed; the witches discovered the young boy and forced him to drink the formula, thus, turning him into a mouse. In his desperation to save the children from turning into mice, the young boy escaped to return to his grandmother. He then told her of the plot. Together, they draw a plan to beat the witches.
This plan turned out to be turning witches into mice by stealing the formula and pouring it to the witches’ dinner. All the witches turned into mice. There was an outbreak of vermin inside the hotel which the staff immediately solved by killing all the mice. That was one problem down the drain.
Not satisfied with just killing the attendees of the Witch Convention, the boy and his grandma concocted another plan to fully top the witches. And that is to travel to the Grand High Witch’s Castle where they will turn all her minions into mice. To manage the infestation, they will then release cats into the castle.
Just like any of the Roald Dahl books, this one left a smile on my face after reading it. It was simple yet crazy and outrageously written. A perfect read for those who would like to relieve stress in an instant. My only disappointment with this book is that the child didn’t transform back into a human. And he was ready to accept it when he could have done a lot of things against the witches when he’s human and all. And well, the grandma wasn’t a ray of sunshine either. I wish there was more in the ending than an old lady telling his grandson that he only have 9 years to live.