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40th out of 2,625 books
—
4,846 voters
The Witches
This Roald Dahl classic tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches! "In fairy tales witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy tale. This is about REAL WITCHES. REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women....more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
1997
by Scholastic Inc.
(first published 1983)
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Nov 05, 2010
Mariel
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
dancers
Recommended to Mariel by:
greedy kid me
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 rac...more
The witches of England have a plan to do away with ALL English children. This little Norwegian orphan boy and his grandmamma come up with a plan to do away with all English witches instead. When they've accomplished that task, the little boy is noticeably altered in size and appearance. He doesn't mind, though. He sets off cheerfully with his grandmamma on a grand tour to rid the entire WORLD of those evil witchy creatures.
I've always known there were real witches in the world, because Mrs. Nai...more
I've always known there were real witches in the world, because Mrs. Nai...more
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 Witche...more
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 Witche...more
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 goi...more
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 goi...more
The trouble with this movie, is that we are supposed to cheer for the wrong side. The premise, for those who haven’t read or seen it, is that the witches have a practically foolproof plan to turn all the children of the UK into mice.
I mean, what’s not to like?
You may say I shouldn’t have been watching this movie with a cat. It’s true, the cat and I have never been more on the same wave length. As I sat there biting my nails and screaming at those witches ‘not the soup, please don’t eat the cre...more
So if you are used to reading fairy tales with witches that wear black cloaks, black hats, and ride a broom, check out Roald Dahl's witches for a different experience. His witches have square feet with no toes, bald head wearing a wig, wear gloves to hide their awful fingers, pupil that can change colors, blue spit like ink and hates...really hates children. They wear normal clothes like normal people. Yeah, creepy, right? In fact, I'm more than certain this book would've frighten me to death if...more
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 t...more
It seems to me that 90% of t...more
The way my life is recently, I'd be lucky to be able to finish reading the headline of the Post before having to attend to something else.
So in the absense of any meaningful free time in my life, I will be reviewing books from years past, the glory days when I could actually curl up on the couch and fall into a story. Or in the case of Roald Dahl, through the scary trap-door into bizarro world of teacher-witches, crazy chocolate factory owners, and insects live and chat with youngsters inside o...more
So in the absense of any meaningful free time in my life, I will be reviewing books from years past, the glory days when I could actually curl up on the couch and fall into a story. Or in the case of Roald Dahl, through the scary trap-door into bizarro world of teacher-witches, crazy chocolate factory owners, and insects live and chat with youngsters inside o...more
I love Roald Dahl's books for children. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and BFG are my all time favourites. I still read them when I want to relax.
By the way I l-o-v-e his cook book too.
So, it was with great expectation that I picked up The Witches. I was not disappointed at all. Who would have known that the witches look like any other women (he apologises as all witches are women, as all goblins are men!) and you or I may have just been talking to one of them. There is a lot of de...more
By the way I l-o-v-e his cook book too.
So, it was with great expectation that I picked up The Witches. I was not disappointed at all. Who would have known that the witches look like any other women (he apologises as all witches are women, as all goblins are men!) and you or I may have just been talking to one of them. There is a lot of de...more
The Witches is one of Roald Dahl’s longer more plot oriented stories. After losing his parents in a car accident, a little boy goes to live with his grandmother in Norway. His grandmother is a retired witch-hunter and she tells her grandson all about the child-snatching witches around the world. As careful as the little boy is, he eventually comes into a run-in with not just one or two, but almost a hundred witches! Although he is slightly changed, the boy feels it is his duty to safe the rest o...more
‘The Witches’, one of Road Dahl’s most popular tales, is about a young boy who gets turned into a mouse by the Grand High Witch of the entire world. Undeterred by this unfortunate turn of events, he goes on to steal the mouse-maker potion and turns all the witches of England into mice instead- saving the day.
I enjoyed reading this book as much now as I did as a child. All the exciting twists made for a very gripping read. For children, I think that one of the main attractions will be that the b...more
I enjoyed reading this book as much now as I did as a child. All the exciting twists made for a very gripping read. For children, I think that one of the main attractions will be that the b...more
Feb 03, 2009
Angga
added it
This a book, that deliberately add my sense for loving my granny so much. Since i was raised by her, i always love her. So derived from it, come this book. Its seem that my life come to a story, which there's no witch scheme in my life. But its quite interesting for a love that far much more greater than a form of life come out.
When I picked this book up I didn't realize it was the book version of a movie I had seen a few times and enjoyed. I had no idea the movie was based on a book, let alone this one. It was a pleasant surprise. The book and movie are quite alike.
In the book, witches live all over the place and are disguised as regular women. They hold an annual meeting where the grand high witch gives all the witches of a country their orders for the next year. Witches are really another species, naturally bald, wi...more
In the book, witches live all over the place and are disguised as regular women. They hold an annual meeting where the grand high witch gives all the witches of a country their orders for the next year. Witches are really another species, naturally bald, wi...more
Mar 30, 2008
Karen A.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Children 6 and up
Shelves:
junior-fiction
My kids and I listened to this one in the car. I initially thought that it was too scary. Some of the author's descriptions of witches are very scary. Add to that that they are snatching children out of plain daylight I figured my kids (8yrs and 5 yrs) would be having nightmares. However when I asked if they liked it I received a resounding 'YES'!!! And my daughter finally just told me to bring the tapes into the house so she could finish listening to the story. By then I was hooked as well. The...more
I was obsessed with this as a child and still have it--I first listened to it on audiobook--this old lady gave it to my mom and said i would enjoy it- because as a child i was into all the magical elements of everything. I remember being in love with the audiotape and wanting the book to read along with it- I also have the video :P
Still love it to this day and i cant wait til i have children to read it to them.
Roald Dahl was the main childrens author in my childhood as well as Daisy Meadows and...more
Still love it to this day and i cant wait til i have children to read it to them.
Roald Dahl was the main childrens author in my childhood as well as Daisy Meadows and...more
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Rating: 9/10. This one really amused me. Basically, it is a book about how this little boy gets turned into a mouse when he accidently ends up at the England Witches convention. He finds out where the most high witch is staying and he and his grandmother (who knows everything there is to know about witches) concoct a plan to rid the world of witches! The most amusing thing about this book is the way it describes witches, especially the part about how any woman, even your...more
Rating: 9/10. This one really amused me. Basically, it is a book about how this little boy gets turned into a mouse when he accidently ends up at the England Witches convention. He finds out where the most high witch is staying and he and his grandmother (who knows everything there is to know about witches) concoct a plan to rid the world of witches! The most amusing thing about this book is the way it describes witches, especially the part about how any woman, even your...more
When it comes to children� s classics, nobody does it better than the incomparable Roald Dahl. � The Witches� is a story about real witches, none of that broomstick-riding rubbish. Nor are there any black cloaks and pointy hats in the picture.[return][return]In fact, witches look like perfectly nice, ordinary ladies& except that they are out to get rid of children.[return][return]The book tells us within the first few pages: � A real witch gets the same pleasure from squelching a child as yo...more
As you can see Roald Dahl writes very good stories that i enjoy reading. This book is called The Witches. This is a very interesting book. The story is about a young boy. He lives with his grandmother in Norway. His grandmother tells him stories about witches. She tells him witches in this story don't wear the black hats and look the way we would think they look. They just look like regular women, work at regular jobs, and do the normal stuff. One day his grandmother got sick and they had to st...more
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Was at a friend's last night, saw this on his bookshelf and couldn't resist borrowing it. Subsequently spent an enjoyable sit revisiting an old favorite. Because this is an old favorite--my favorite Roald Dahl book, to be exact, which means growing it was one of my VERY favorite books. Technically, it's probably a four star book--it takes a bit too long to get going and far too long to wrap up--but the nostalgia factor kicks it up to five star level. The central mock-RSPCC meeting, with its incr...more
As some people try to find their 'soulmates' who also dislike/hate this book, me on the contrary, love it. If I hadn't read it, I doubt that I'd grow up to be a person who like to imagining things. Roald Dahl's opus had the greatest impact and inspiration in my growing up process. I came to love writing and reading more and more books just by reading Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and Jack and The Giant Peach.
His writing is truly enchanting, and I never had a single regret for pick...more
His writing is truly enchanting, and I never had a single regret for pick...more
May 04, 2013
Ana Moi
is currently reading it
I decided to read the book "The Witches" by Roald Dahl because it had a nice cover that looks new. I always like books that have new covers because I feel like royalty receiving every new things and I know there's a saying " Don't judge a book by its cover" but I just keep it in my head.
On the bingo board this book covers the category of "a book recommended by a family member". This book was recommended to me by my sister.
The character that interested me the most was the boy and the grandmother....more
On the bingo board this book covers the category of "a book recommended by a family member". This book was recommended to me by my sister.
The character that interested me the most was the boy and the grandmother....more
The witches book was about a little boy and he revealed the witches Secret. Hes grandmother had gotten him two little hamsters they were white.One day they ran away from him and so when he went to get them he saw the witches they looked creepy.the witches were bold and they had really long nails.Look was the little boys name one time the witches saw look and they started to run after. the book was really worth reading.The book was interesting and it took my attention in reading it.It took me two...more
Coming back to this as an adult, I must say I enjoyed it almost as much as I did when I was a kid. You're less concerned now with how the story will end, but have an even greater admiration for the way in which it is told.
First of all, Dahl doesn't waste time. Already in the first chapter, the idea of witches is introduced and discussend with wild fantasy. With their long claws, bald heads and lack of toe nails, you can't wait for them to make their appearance. But they walk around in disguise,...more
First of all, Dahl doesn't waste time. Already in the first chapter, the idea of witches is introduced and discussend with wild fantasy. With their long claws, bald heads and lack of toe nails, you can't wait for them to make their appearance. But they walk around in disguise,...more
Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
First Published: 1983
Chosen by my daughter from the tbr pile, "The Witches" is a silly-scary story of a boy and his Grandmamma overcoming the odds to save all the children ofInkland England.
First up, my daughter gets scared easily. We made the mistake of starting "The Witches" just before bedtime and that frisson of terror was probably a mistake. While she proudly told me she didn't get any nightmares, Dad said he had to settle her far more than usual...more
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
First Published: 1983
Chosen by my daughter from the tbr pile, "The Witches" is a silly-scary story of a boy and his Grandmamma overcoming the odds to save all the children of
First up, my daughter gets scared easily. We made the mistake of starting "The Witches" just before bedtime and that frisson of terror was probably a mistake. While she proudly told me she didn't get any nightmares, Dad said he had to settle her far more than usual...more
As a child, my parents read all of Roald Dahl's classics to me and my siblings. There was never a question that once I had children of m own, I would do the same. The books have brought so much joy to our family.
While we like all of Dahl's books, The Witches is one of our favorites. The best part about the book is the relationship between the orphaned boy and his grandmother. Together, they present a united front that prepares them to do battle with the witches of England.
Dahl's imagination is o...more
While we like all of Dahl's books, The Witches is one of our favorites. The best part about the book is the relationship between the orphaned boy and his grandmother. Together, they present a united front that prepares them to do battle with the witches of England.
Dahl's imagination is o...more
The Witches is probably one of my favorite Roald Dahl books. It has somewhat of a morbid streak, but it is highly entertaining. The Witches, as you might have guessed, is about REAL WITCHES. The scene where the witches of England have their grand conference and plot the death of all children is particularly morbid. But let me back up. Our narrator is an unnamed little boy whose Norwegian grandmother tells him all about witches, who are determined to rid the world of children. She tells him how t...more
Tapi ini bukan dongeng. Buku ini tentang PARA PENYIHIR SUNGGUHAN. Mereka adalah makhluk-makhluk jahat, licik, dan kejam yang jago menyamar sebagai wanita baik-baik. Jadi bagaimana kau tahu bahwa wanita yang ada di hadapanmu--entah itu gurumu, tetanggamu atau bahkan ibumu!--penyihir atau bukan? Yah, kalau belum tahu, sebaiknya kau segera membaca , buku ini, karena penyihir sangat membenci anak-anak dan menggunakan segala cara untuk menyingkirkan mereka- Begitu kata Grandpa Dahl di bab pertama.
Tu...more
Tu...more
Dahl has got a lot of nerve to be going about dissing witches. Think about it--would you be brave enough insult the witches of this world? ^^
Revealing the secrets of these scabby, bald-headed, clawed, toeless child haters, Dahl risks his life to enlighten his young readers, and to prepare them for the inevitable onslaught of The Witches.
Witches, in Dahl's story, are vicious, dangerous and bloodthirsty creatures who hate children with unmatched fury and whose dearest desire is to wipe them all o...more
Revealing the secrets of these scabby, bald-headed, clawed, toeless child haters, Dahl risks his life to enlighten his young readers, and to prepare them for the inevitable onslaught of The Witches.
Witches, in Dahl's story, are vicious, dangerous and bloodthirsty creatures who hate children with unmatched fury and whose dearest desire is to wipe them all o...more
Ahh, The Witches. I watched the movie before I read the book. I think I was about 5. It scared the bejesus out of me. But for some reason, I just kept on watching. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Couldn't sleep for a week lol!
Then, years later, my aunt decided to read this to me.
Maybe because I was a bit older, or maybe it was just the way it was written, but it never once freaked me out. Sure the descriptions were quite gruesome, but I ultimately found it to be a quite heartwarming, cauti...more
Then, years later, my aunt decided to read this to me.
Maybe because I was a bit older, or maybe it was just the way it was written, but it never once freaked me out. Sure the descriptions were quite gruesome, but I ultimately found it to be a quite heartwarming, cauti...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What do you think about the boy`s grandma? | 15 | 147 | Mar 21, 2013 05:49am | |
| The witches | 3 | 25 | Feb 25, 2013 09:53pm | |
| Boy to rat | 12 | 43 | Jan 27, 2013 08:44am | |
| Boy to rat | 1 | 13 | Dec 31, 2012 12:52pm | |
| Banned Books: The Witches General Discussion | 5 | 82 | Dec 09, 2012 01:18am | |
| The GHW | 7 | 56 | Oct 21, 2012 12:52pm |
Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.
Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as "A Piece of...more
More about Roald Dahl...
Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as "A Piece of...more
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“It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.”
—
966 people liked it
“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.”
—
151 people liked it
More quotes…
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.”
Dec 06, 2010 05:32pm
De Vito is okay. I liked Living Out Loud.
Dec 06, 2010 05:48pm