The Witches |
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Roald Dahl
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Pages: 208 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0141311398
Pub: Puffin Books
Pub date: 2001-04-05
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7709
Editorial Review:
"This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches." So begins one of Roald Dahl's best books ever, and, ironically, it is such a great story because the premise is perfectly plausible from the outset. When the narrator's parents die in a car crash on page two (contrast this terribly real demise with that of James's parents who are devoured by an escaped rhinoceros in James and the Giant Peach), he is taken in by his cigar-smoking Norwegian grandmother, who has learned a storyteller's respect for witches and is wise to their ways.
The bond between the boy and his grandmother becomes the centrepiece of the tale--a partnership of love and understanding that survives even the boy's unfortunate transformation into a mouse. And once the two have teamed up to outwitch the witches, the boy's declaration that he's glad he's a mouse because he will now live only as long as his grandmother is far more poignant than eerie.
Of course, there's adventure here along with Dahl's trademark cleverness and sense of the grotesque. Dahl also communicates some essential truths to children: if they smoke cigars, they'll never catch cold, and, most importantly, they should never bathe, because a clean child is far, far easier for a witch to smell than a dirty one. (Ages 7 to 10, or read aloud to younger children) --Susan Harrison
Reader Reviews:
*Aneesa-ahmed* (0/0 people found this helpful)
This Roald Dahl book is absolutely fantastic.It is my all time favourite story by Roald Dahl.I thought it was so interesting I couldn't stop reading it.If you have not read The Witches I am sure whenever you do get to reading it you will love it.Even if you are not really into reading books I know you'll like it.My favourite part of the story would be when Luke was caught by the witches.
Is she a witch? (0/3 people found this helpful)
Where are you right now? Who is sitting beside you?
This book will explain how to find out if the woman sitting beside you is a witch, or if she's just a regular woman; what to do when a witch is just beside you; and how to run away from her.
Highly Recommended (1/1 people found this helpful)
I am currently reading this book to my children at bedtime, and it must be the most gripping book they have had so far! Unusually for them, they sit silently, listening and hanging on every word. I read just a few chapters a night and every night so far they have cried, "NOOOO! Not yet!! one more chapter...PLEASE just ONE more chapter!!".
The style in which the book is written is the key to it's success I believe. The book has been written as though it is a true story.
We have previously finished reading James & the giant peach, and although they enjoyed it, The Witches is most definitely more popular.
A truly great read. Well done Mr Dahl!
Delicious Dahl (2/2 people found this helpful)
Are you at home right now? I hope so. Oh, you're not. You're in one of those internet cafes. Oh dear. Then - and I don't want to scare you - you're not safe. Not at all safe. Put down that sticky slab of chocolate cake and sneak a look at the person sitting beside you. Is it a lady? Oh it is.
Is she a witch?
Well you wouldnt know would you. I didn't before I read this book. And you MUST read this book: not just so that you're able to tell the difference between a witch and a regular kind old lady but because this is deliciously good fiction.
The Witches is a classic Dahl recipe in every sense: a simple and plausible premise, mixed with oodles of imagination, some super-scary baddies, a sprinkling of poignancy and morality, and a big dollop of dark-edged humor. This is Roald Dahl writing at his very best, at his haughtiest and naughtiest; and the effect is spellbinding.
School Review of the Witches (4/7 people found this helpful)
We have just read The Witches in class J1 (year 3) of Gayhurst School in Hackney, London. The class has given this book three stars because some of us really loved the book, but some were disappointed. Before the Witches we had read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, also by Roald Dahl. We all loved that book and some of us thought the Witches was less exciting. The Witches was less adventurous and the pace of Charlie was much quicker. We also felt that the characters in The Witches were limited and not very descriptive. The setting of the Hotel was not very interesting in The Witches either - but a chocolate factory was enchanting though. However, I am the class teacher writing this now, with the help of the class and I think that The Witches is an excellent book for all children.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Classics
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Fiction
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Ages 5-8 -> Authors -> Dahl, Roald
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Ages 9-11 -> Authors -> Dahl, Roald
Books -> Special Features -> Search Inside!
Toys & Games -> Age Ranges -> 5-8 Years -> Books -> Authors -> Dahl, Roald
Toys & Games -> Age Ranges -> 9-11 Years -> Books -> Authors -> Dahl, Roald
Toys & Games -> Children’s Books -> Ages 5-8 -> Authors -> Dahl, Roald
Toys & Games -> Children’s Books -> Ages 9-11 -> Authors -> Dahl, Roald
Toys & Games -> Children’s Books -> Classics
Toys & Games -> Children’s Books -> Fiction