Y Gwrachod

By Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

Real witches dress in ordinary clothes and look like ordinary women. But they are not ordinary. They are always plotting and scheming with murderous, bloodthirsty thoughts - and they hate children. The Grand High Witch hates children most of all and plans to make every single one of YOU disappear. A Welsh adaption of Roald Dahl's The Witches by Elin Meek.

• Language: Cymraeg
• Publisher: Rily
• Release date: Nov 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781804160824

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) es un autor justamente famoso por su extraordinario ingenio, su destreza narrativa, su dominio del humor negro y su inagotable capacidad de sorpresa, que llevó a Hitchcock a adaptar para la televisión muchos de sus relatos. En Anagrama se han publicado la novela "Mi tío Oswald" y los libros de cuentos "El gran cambiazo" (Gran Premio del Humor Negro), "Historias extraordinarias", "Relatos de lo inesperado" y "Dos fábulas". En otra faceta, Roald Dahl goza de una extraordinaria popularidad como autor de libros para niños.

Book preview

Ychydig Eiriau am Wrachod

Mewn storïau tylwyth teg, bydd gwrachod bob amser yn gwisgo hetiau du gwirion a chlogynnau du, ac maen nhw’n mynd o gwmpas ar gefn coesau ysgub.

Ond nid stori dylwyth teg yw hon. Stori am WRACHOD GO IAWN yw hon.

Y peth pwysicaf y dylet ti ei wybod am WRACHOD GO IAWN yw hyn. Gwrandawa’n astud iawn. Paid byth ag anghofio’r geiriau sy’n dod nesaf.

Mae GWRACHOD GO IAWN yn gwisgo dillad cyffredin ac maen nhw’n edrych yn debyg iawn i fenywod cyffredin. Maen nhw’n byw mewn tai cyffredin ac maen nhw’n gweithio mewn SWYDDI CYFFREDIN.

Dyna pam mae hi mor anodd eu dal nhw.

Mae GWRACH GO IAWN yn casáu plant â chas eirias chwilboeth sy’n fwy eirias a chwilboeth nag unrhyw gasineb y gelli di ei ddychmygu.

Mae GWRACH GO IAWN yn treulio ei hamser yn cynllwynio i gael gwared ar y plant yn ei thiriogaeth arbennig hi. Mae hi’n awchu am gael gwared arnyn nhw, fesul un. Dyna’r cyfan mae hi’n meddwl amdano drwy’r dydd gwyn. Hyd yn oed os yw hi’n gweithio fel ariannydd mewn archfarchnad neu’n teipio llythyrau i ddyn busnes neu’n gyrru o gwmpas mewn car ffansi (a gallai fod yn gwneud unrhyw un o’r pethau hyn), bydd hi wastad yn cynllwynio a chynllunio a chorddi a llosgi a chwyrlïo a ffrwtian wrth feddwl am lofruddio ac awchu am waed.

‘Pa blentyn,’ medd hi wrthi ei hunan drwy’r dydd gwyn, ‘pa blentyn yn union a ddewisaf i’w gywasgu nesaf?’

Mae GWRACH GO IAWN yn cael yr un pleser o gywasgu plentyn ag yr wyt ti’n ei gael wrth fwyta llond plât o fefus a hufen trwchus.

Mae hi’n ceisio cael gwared ar un plentyn yr wythnos. Unrhyw beth llai na hynny ac mae hi’n dechrau diflasu.

Un plentyn yr wythnos, pum deg dau y flwyddyn.

Fe’u gwasgaf a’u llethu a’u mogi bob bribsyn.

Dyna arwyddair pob gwrach.

Illustration

Mae’r dioddefwr yn cael ei ddewis yn ofalus iawn. Yna mae’r wrach yn dilyn y plentyn druan fel heliwr yn dilyn aderyn bach yn y goedwig. Mae hi’n mynd ar flaenau ei thraed. Mae hi’n symud heb na siw na miw. Mae hi’n mynd yn nes ac yn nes. Yna, yn y diwedd, pan fydd popeth yn barod . . . ffwisst! . . . a dyma hi’n disgyn! Mae gwreichion yn tasgu. Mae fflamau’n llamu. Mae olew yn berwi. Mae llygod mawr yn udo. Mae croen yn sychu’n grimp. Ac mae’r plentyn yn diflannu.

Fydd gwrach, rhaid iti ddeall, ddim yn taro plentyn ar ei ben neu’n rhoi cyllell ynddo neu’n ei saethu â phistol. Mae’r heddlu’n dal pobl sy’n gwneud pethau fel hyn.

Fydd gwrach byth yn cael ei dal. Paid anghofio bod hud a lledrith yn ei bysedd a diawlineb yn dawnsio yn ei gwaed. Mae hi’n gallu gwneud i gerrig neidio o gwmpas fel brogaod ac mae hi’n gallu gwneud i dafodau o dân fflachio dros wyneb y dŵr.

Mae’r galluoedd hudol hyn yn frawychus iawn.

Drwy lwc, does dim llawer iawn o WRACHOD GO IAWN yn y byd heddiw. Ond mae digon ohonynt o hyd i godi ychydig o ofn arnat ti. Yn Lloegr, rhaid bod tua chant ohonynt i gyd. Mae mwy mewn rhai gwledydd, ac ychydig llai mewn gwledydd eraill. Does dim un wlad yn y byd sy’n gyfan gwbl heb WRACHOD.

Menyw yw gwrach bob amser.

Dw i ddim eisiau lladd ar fenywod. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o fenywod yn hyfryd. Ond mae’n ddigon gwir mai menyw yw pob gwrach. Does dim o’r fath beth â gwrach sy’n ddyn.

Ond, ar y llaw arall, dyn yw pob ellyll. A phob edwyd. Mae’r ddau’n beryglus. Ond dyw’r naill na’r llall ddim hanner mor beryglus â GWRACH GO IAWN.

I blant, GWRACH GO IAWN yw’r mwyaf peryglus o bell ffordd o’r holl greaduriaid byw ar y ddaear. Yr hyn sy’n ei gwneud hi ddwywaith mor beryglus yw nad yw hi’n edrych yn beryglus. Hyd yn oed pan wyt ti’n gwybod y cyfrinachau i gyd (fe gei di glywed am y rhain yn y funud), dwyt ti byth yn gallu bod yn hollol siŵr a wyt ti’n edrych ar wrach neu ar fenyw garedig. Petai teigr yn gallu gwneud i’w hunan edrych fel ci mawr â chynffon sy’n siglo, mae’n ddigon tebyg y byddet ti’n mynd ato ac yn rhoi anwes iddo. A dyna ddiwedd arnat ti. Mae’r un peth yn wir am wrachod. Mae pob un yn edrych fel menyw garedig.

Edrych ar y darlun. Pa un yw’r wrach? Dyna gwestiwn anodd, ond mae’n un y mae’n rhaid i bob plentyn geisio ei ateb.

Illustration

Am a wyddost ti, gallai gwrach fod yn byw drws nesaf i ti nawr.

Neu efallai mai hi yw’r fenyw â’r llygaid disglair a oedd yn eistedd gyferbyn â ti ar y bws y bore ’ma.

Efallai mai hi yw’r fenyw â’r wên fawr a gynigiodd losin i ti o fag papur gwyn yn y stryd cyn cinio.

Efallai mai hi yw – a bydd hyn yn gwneud i ti neidio – yr athrawes hyfryd sy’n darllen y geiriau hyn i ti yr eiliad hon. Edrych yn ofalus ar yr athrawes honno. Efallai ei bod hi’n gwenu oherwydd bod yr awgrym hwn mor wirion. Paid â gadael i hynny dy dwyllo di. Efallai bod hynny’n rhan o’i chlyfrwch hi.

Dw i ddim, wrth gwrs, yn dweud wrthot ti am eiliad mai gwrach yw dy athrawes di mewn gwirionedd. Y cyfan dw i’n ei ddweud yw y gallai hi fod yn un. Mae’n hynod annhebygol. Ond – a dyma’r ‘ond’ mawr yn dod – dyw hynny ddim yn amhosibl.

Petai modd o ddweud yn iawn a oedd menyw yn wrach ai peidio, wedyn gallem eu casglu ynghyd a’u rhoi nhw yn y malwr cig. Yn anffodus, does dim modd gwneud hynny. Ond mae nifer o arwyddion bach rwyt ti’n gallu cadw llygad amdanyn nhw, arferion bach rhyfedd sydd gan bob gwrach, ac os gwyddost ti am y rhain, os cofi di nhw bob amser, yna mae’n ddigon posibl y llwyddi di i osgoi cael dy gywasgu cyn i ti dyfu’n fawr.

Fy Mam-gu

Fe ddes i fy hunan ar draws gwrachod ddwywaith cyn i mi gyrraedd wyth mlwydd oed. Y tro cyntaf llwyddais i ddianc heb unrhyw niwed, ond yr ail waith doeddwn i ddim mor ffodus. Digwyddodd pethau i mi a fydd yn siŵr o wneud i ti sgrechian pan glywi di amdanyn nhw. Alla i wneud dim am hynny. Rhaid dweud y gwir. Fy mam-gu hyfryd sy’n gyfrifol am y ffaith fy mod i’n dal yma ac yn gallu siarad â ti (er efallai ’mod i’n edrych yn rhyfedd).

Un o Norwy oedd fy mam-gu. Mae pobl Norwy’n gwybod popeth am wrachod, achos o Norwy, gyda’i choedwigoedd tywyll a’i mynyddoedd rhewllyd, y daeth y gwrachod cyntaf. Roedd fy nhad a’m mam hefyd yn dod o Norwy, ond oherwydd bod gan fy nhad fusnes yn Lloegr, roeddwn wedi cael fy ngeni yno ac roeddwn i wedi byw yno ac wedi dechrau mynd i ysgol Saesneg. Ddwywaith y flwyddyn, adeg y Nadolig ac yn yr haf, fe fydden ni’n mynd ’nôl i Norwy i ymweld â Mam-gu. Yr hen wraig hon, yn ôl yr hyn roeddwn i’n ei ddeall, oedd yr unig berthynas, bron, oedd yn dal yn fyw ar ddwy ochr y teulu. Mam fy mam oedd hi ac roeddwn i’n dwlu arni. Pan fyddai hi a fi gyda’n gilydd bydden ni’n siarad naill ai Norwyeg neu Saesneg. Doedd dim gwahaniaeth pa un. Roedden ni’r un mor rhugl yn y naill iaith a’r llall, a rhaid i mi gyfaddef fy mod i’n teimlo’n agosach ati hi nag at fy mam.

Yn fuan ar ôl fy mhen-blwydd yn saith oed, aeth fy rhieni â mi fel arfer i dreulio’r Nadolig gyda fy mamgu yn Norwy. A draw fan honno, tra oedd fy nhad a’m mam a minnau’n teithio ar dywydd rhewllyd ychydig i’r gogledd o Oslo, y llithrodd ein car ni oddi ar yr heol a chwympo i lawr i geunant creigiog. Cafodd fy rhieni eu lladd. Roeddwn i’n sownd yn y gwregys yn y sedd gefn a dim ond briw ar fy nhalcen ges i.

Af i ddim i ddisgrifio’r pethau erchyll ddigwyddodd y prynhawn ofnadwy hwnnw. Dw i’n dal i deimlo ias wrth feddwl am y peth. Yn y diwedd, wrth gwrs, dyna lle roeddwn i ’nôl yn nhŷ fy mam-gu a’r ddau ohonom yn llefain drwy’r nos.

Illustration

‘Beth wnawn ni nawr?’ gofynnais iddi drwy fy nagrau.

‘Fe gei di aros fan hyn gyda fi,’ meddai, ‘ac fe ofala i amdanat ti.’

‘Dydw i ddim yn mynd ’nôl i Loegr?’

‘Nac wyt,’ meddai hi. ‘Allwn i fyth wneud hynny. Fe all y nefoedd fynd â’m henaid, ond Norwy fydd yn cadw fy esgyrn.’

Yn syth y diwrnod canlynol, er mwyn i ni ein dau geisio anghofio ein tristwch mawr, dechreuodd fy mam-gu adrodd storïau i mi. Roedd hi’n eu hadrodd yn wych ac roeddwn i’n cael fy swyno gan bopeth roedd hi’n ei ddweud wrtha i. Ond dim ond pan ddechreuodd hi sôn am wrachod y dechreuais gyffroi. Roedd hi, mae’n debyg, yn arbenigwr mawr ar y creaduriaid hyn ac fe’i gwnaeth hi’n glir iawn i mi nad storïau dychmygol oedd ei storïau hi am wrachod, yn wahanol i’r rhan fwyaf o’r storïau eraill. Roedden nhw i gyd yn wir. Roedden nhw cyn wired â phader. Hanes oedden nhw. Roedd popeth roedd hi’n ei ddweud wrtha i am wrachod wedi digwydd go iawn ac roedd hi’n well i mi gredu hynny. Yr hyn oedd yn waeth, yn llawer, llawer gwaeth, oedd fod gwrachod yn dal gyda ni. Roedden nhw o’n cwmpas ni i gyd ac roedd hi’n well i mi gredu hynny, hefyd.

‘Wyt ti wir yn dweud y gwir, Mam-gu? Yn wir a hollol gywir?’

‘Cariad bach,’ meddai hi, ‘fyddi di ddim yn para’n hir yn y byd ’ma os nad wyt ti’n gwybod sut i adnabod gwrach pan weli di un.’

‘Ond fe ddywedaist ti wrtha i fod gwrachod yn edrych fel menywod cyffredin, Mam-gu. Felly sut galla i eu hadnabod nhw?’

‘Rhaid i ti wrando arna i,’ meddai fy mam-gu. ‘Rhaid i ti gofio popeth dw i’n ei ddweud wrthot ti. Wedi hynny, y cyfan y galli di ei wneud yw dweud cris-croes, tân poeth a gweddïo ar y nefoedd a gobeithio’r gorau.’

Roeddem ni yn ystafell fyw fawr ei thŷ yn Oslo ac ro’n i’n barod i fynd i’r gwely. Fyddai’r llenni byth yn cael eu tynnu yn y tŷ hwnnw, a thrwy’r ffenestri gallwn weld plu eira enfawr yn cwympo’n araf ar fyd y tu allan oedd yn bygddu. Roedd fy mam-gu’n hynod o hen a chrychlyd, ac roedd ei chorff anferth o lydan yn les llwyd drosto i gyd. Eisteddai yno’n fawreddog yn ei chadair freichiau, gan lenwi pob modfedd ohoni. Allai llygoden hyd yn oed ddim fod wedi gwasgu i mewn i eistedd wrth ei hymyl. Roeddwn i, yn fachgen saith mlwydd oed, yn fy nghwrcwd ar y llawr wrth ei thraed, yn gwisgo pyjamas, gŵn gwisgo a sliperi.

‘Wyt ti’n tyngu nad tynnu fy nghoes rwyt ti?’ meddwn i wrthi dro ar ôl tro. ‘Wyt ti’n tyngu nad esgus rwyt ti?’

‘Gwrandawa,’ meddai, ‘dw i wedi adnabod o leiaf bump o blant sydd wedi diflannu oddi ar wyneb y ddaear hon, a neb wedi’u gweld wedyn. Y gwrachod aeth â nhw.’

‘Dw i’n dal i gredu dy fod ti’n ceisio codi ofn arna i,’ meddwn i.

‘Dw i’n ceisio gwneud yn siŵr nad yw’r un peth yn digwydd i ti,’ meddai. ‘Dw i’n dy garu di a dw i eisiau i ti aros gyda fi.’

‘Dwed wrtha i am y plant a ddiflannodd,’ meddwn i.

Fy mam-gu oedd yr unig fam-gu wnes i ei chyfarfod erioed oedd yn ysmygu sigârs. Dyma hi’n cynnau un nawr, sigâr hir ddu oedd yn drewi fel rwber yn llosgi. ‘Ranghild Hansen oedd enw’r plentyn cyntaf ro’n i’n adnabod i ddiflannu,’ meddai. ‘Tua wyth oed oedd Ranghild ar y pryd, ac roedd hi’n chwarae gyda’i chwaer fach ar y lawnt. Daeth eu mam, oedd yn pobi bara yn y gegin, allan am ychydig o awyr iach. ‘‘Ble mae Ranghild?’’ gofynnodd.

‘Aeth hi i ffwrdd gyda’r fenyw dal, meddai’r chwaer fach.

‘Pa fenyw dal? meddai’r fam.

‘Y fenyw dal â menig gwynion, meddai’r chwaer fach. Fe gydiodd hi yn llaw Ranghild a mynd â hi i ffwrdd. Welodd neb,’ meddai fy mam-gu, ‘Ranghild byth eto.’

‘Chwilion nhw ddim amdani hi?’ gofynnais.

‘Fe chwilion nhw o amgylch am filltiroedd. Fe helpodd pawb yn y dref, ond ddaethon nhw byth o hyd iddi.’

‘Beth ddigwyddodd i’r pedwar plentyn arall?’ gofynnais.

‘Fe ddiflannon nhw’n union fel Ranghild.’

‘Sut, Mam-gu? Sut diflannon nhw?’

‘Ym mhob achos

Reviews for Y Gwrachod

[viviennestrauss · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Picked this up at the library because I saw it on the banned books shelf - can't imagine why anyone would be censoring this but then, none of the books chosen for banning make any sense. I probably would have enjoyed this more if reading as a child than an adult though I truly love Dahl's writing for adults.

[thedivineoomba · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this book when I was a kid - a long time ago and didn't remember a whole lot. So when I found it in a Little Free Library, I thought I'd read it again. I don't remember if I liked it as a kid. But as an adult, I found it to be not very good, especially when compared to Dahl's other children's book. As is normal for Dahl, its dark, chilling and scary. All things children enjoy reading, but this book is more bleak, than what I would expect. Its a book where even with the ending having a good outcome, the main character is still a mouse and will have a shortened life span. As for the story itself, it happens way too fast. The plan by the witches really doesn't make sense. I think the plan was stupid even by my kid standards, and as an adult, it really didn't make sense.I suspect that if I read up on Roald Dahls history, I'll find a lot of references to his childhood, but I don't think this is one of his better books, especially when compared to masterpieces such as Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, the random and inconsistent sound effects killed this for me, throwing me out of what seemed to be a good story.

[carol420 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Some booklists call it a children’s book but I’m not sure that I would buy it for just any child. Some it would scare the kids to death and make them fodder for Dr. Phil. Roald Dahl never seems to doubt that children already know a great deal about witches. Like the grandmother in the story, Dahl says children don't require extreme coddling...nor is he timid about using fear to tell a story. Again I ‘m not sure that it’s a thing that just any child could handle. There are always some truths in fairy tales...most were written to teach a lesson. Dahl obviously believes that monsters can exist in a way that allows children to face their fears... not sure I agree with that either. I found this to be a rather strange book. Maybe something was lost in the translation. I love horror stories and ghost stories...but from a child’s viewpoint...I think I would find this very disturbing.

[deldevries · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story, told with suspense, a real thriller. Fun and creative, a real joy to listen to on audio.

[smokler_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Essentially Danny The Champion of the World with magic instead of realism. Not as sweet as "Danny" but just as lovable. A mid-level solid Roald Dahl book.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm only reading this book because I want to read The Witches: The Graphic Novel by Pénélope Bagieu, and I prefer to have read the original work before reading an adaptation. I never read Roald Dahl's book when I was a child, and I fear I must have missed some window of appreciation, because I just don't get why his stuff is popular at all.I mean this book starts out with some heavy woman hating -- all witches are women, witches are hard to distinguish, therefore it's best to be suspicious of all women -- and ends on the premise later used for the Dexter TV show. I understand how this can be viewed as subversive, but it just mostly seems inappropriate to me.

[bobbybslax · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It gets more charming in the second half, once it doesn't need to explain witches or their traits anymore. The book is a quick, fun read, but not Dahl's best, most eccentric work.

[regularguy5mb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I saw the movie adaptation of The Witches when it came out in theaters, and in fact I was roughly the same age as the narrator at the time the movie came out. Maybe that's why the movie terrified me so very much when I saw it. There's something about this story that just disturbs me, whether it be the horrible faces of the witches or the terrible transformations involved.It's interesting reading this one having not revisited the movie since I first saw it back in 1990. Most of it still sticks with me, but I can't quite remember everything, so it's hard to know for sure what stayed and what was changed from book to movie. Reading the book, of course, makes me all the more interested in rewatching the movie. I just hope I can control the terror I felt during my initial viewing all those years ago.

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A recently orphaned boy and his beloved old Norwegian grandmother take on the witches convention of England and the Grand High Witch of all the World, in a sweet, sad story.

[courtneygiraldo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As the years end creeps closer I find myself frantically searching for books to knock off some of my 2017 reading challenge prompts. The Witches was a perfect fit for "a book set in a hotel". The Witches is a childhood favorite of mine. Having seen the movie at least a dozen times (probably more), I realized I never had read the book so here we are. For those not familiar (weirdos) here is a brief synopsis.After a tragic accident killed both of his parents, a young seven year old boy goes to live with his eccentric Norwegian grandmother. Brought up on her stories of witches all his life, he is able to discern the tiny details that make a witch that others may easily overlook. While on summer holiday with his grandmother off the coast of England, the young boy stumbles across a convention of witches being led by non other than the Grand High Witch herself. After overhearing her horrific plot to rid England of children, the young boy and his grandmother square off in a game of wits against the vile witches of England.With the exception to the ending (which we will get to in a minute), this book is exactly how I remembered the movie. The story progression and characters all perfectly paralleled the movie (which was awesome because I love the movie). My favorite character of the book is most certainly the grandmother not only for her ability to tell a good story, but her spunk and tenacity. She was one cool granny! I was surprised by the ending, I won't spoil it by writing about what happened but I will say it was completely different than the book (which I would think would annoy me, but actually I found it quite fitting). Although intended for children, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Perhaps it was the nostalgia of it being from one of my favorite movies as a kid, or perhaps because Roald Dahls work is timeless. Either way, this book is one to read with your kids, or on your own, either way you are in for a treat!

[madam_razz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is short, only a little over 200 pages long, and absolutely worth the money and the read!! I've enjoyed the movie since I was a child myself and own it on DVD as an adult, and it was fun to see the ways in which the book was similar and quite different from the movie version.In addition to being a quick read, it's also a completely entertaining and fascinating story. One of the things that I love is that one of the heroes is a plucky but tough old lady. You just don't see grandmothers as heroines of stories much and it really is a nice thing to see! I think especially for me, because I was always quite close to my maternal grandparents growing up as we lived in the same house.There are some things in the book that may not be considered appropriate for kids these days, but I doubt they were a big deal back when this was first published. It's amazing what just a few decades can do to the culture and how kids are viewed and reared and the things we think they should be sheltered from change.There are definitely a lot of instances where I think some parents would cringe, while others wouldn't mind at all. I think the best thing to do would be to read the book first if you're the sort of parent that feels it's important to be careful what their kids are allowed to read.Still, I think this book is something any kid will have fun reading and will be absolutely entertained by. I would definitely recommend it! In fact, it could be a rather fun book to read together with your kid each night, if you're willing and able to do bedtime read-togethers or just bedtime story-telling. And if you haven't done that yet, well this might be a good book to start that with.Obviously, kids who come from a family where they practice a pagan religion, or have friends or other family who do, and identify as Witches may need a bit of a disclaimer before reading it. It definitely is not a kind depiction of witches in the story, and there could be some feminist parents who balk at some things as well. I think once you finish the third chapter, you probably know all you need to know in order to decide if your child should be allowed to read the book, personally. But then, I don't have children and when I was a kid my mother didn't restrict what I read, so I may be coming at it from a skewed perspective.

[lamotamant · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I saw the Witches mentioned in a challenge in a GoodReads group about books that had been made into movies. Though there was a vague sense of familiarity with the movie, an I'm-sure-I-saw-that vibe, I couldn't remember reading the book as a kid. I figured it would be a rather short read so I picked it up (thank you, Kindle) the other night.

I don't think it was a favorite Dahl when I was a kid but I do remember some scenes from book and screen fondly enough. It was fun revisiting, anyway.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute, and very Dahl. It's an odd story, even for Dahl - and it ends with the beginning of a bigger story. The language is amusing - the long lists of synonyms for action, in particular. The boy (who never gets a name, as far as I can see) is mildly amusing and rather ordinary, though he does handle his transformation with great aplomb; his grandmother (who also never gets a name) is a much more extraordinary person. Though I don't see why she doesn't want to pass her information on to other "witchophiles" (wrong word, by the way - it means lover of witches, not studier of witches. Witchologist, perhaps, would have been better). It would be a way to deal with witches everywhere much faster than just the two of them going around. But all that is after this story ends, so maybe they will inform others, later.

[lydia1879 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book fucking scared me.

I listened to it when I was tiny wee, as an audiobook, in school, as part of a literacy rotation. And it scared me, and I had to pretend that everything was fine in class. Tiny wee eight-year-old me tryin' to keep my cool in class after reading this terrifying piece of literature. (It still scares me, I won't even lie.)

But I love Roald Dahl. He treats children with respect. He knows they're intelligent, intuitive little things.

The plot in this book is brilliant, it has a really nice build to it, and the narrative voice is lovely.

It's actually not my favourite Dahl because I don't remember so many lines from it as I do from some of his others, but this is a classic book of his, and everyone should read it. c:

[pennylane78 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

All the love!

[carmenmilligan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was entertaining. A good young adult book.

[jljaina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Why did I wait until I was an adult to read this book? Oh, that's right, because I saw the movie when I was too young still and it scared me so badly that when I heard about the book it was based off of i avoided it like the plague. Now I wish I hadn't avoided it for so long. While I enjoyed it as an adult, I am sure I would have appreciated much more maybe in, say, Middle school.

I know a lot of people consider this a children's book and it is, but I feel the content can be a bit much for some kids. The idea of this being read to a group of 1st-2nd graders is scary in itself. While some kids may be fine, others will be freaked out. Dahl's writing is just that good for this.

The images are light and actually help tone it down in my opinion but my husband said it was the opposite back when he read it.

This book is about a young boy is must face of which some witches who want to rid the world of nasty, pesty children. With some help from his grandmamma (who is a hoot and I love), he must stop them. But what can a little boy do against powerful witches? Read and find out!

I loved how Dahl describes witches. there were a few parts that even made me laugh and well as give me inner child a couple shivers. The story is very engaging and I enjoyed it.

This is recommended reading but for kids, I am not sure a forced classroom read is the way to go as the subject can still be sensitive. Reading individually with your child if they are younger or encourage discussion about the book if they are older and are not reacting positively. Middle school aged kids should be fine I think.

[ashlou6225 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Probably my favorite Childrens book

[armycop123 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite Books ever.-Armycop123

[grapeapril75-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book for kids! So imaginative and creative. Easy read that children will find delightful!

Roald Dahl is always brilliant! His stories and rhymes are fun and entertaining! Some of my all time favorites!! Such a great way to entertain children and get them interested in reading!

[rosenstern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dahl was one of my favorite authors as a child. The witches is about a young boy and his grandmother who have to defeat a whole coven of witches, including the Grand High Witch. It's a enjoyable tale and I still remember how to spot a witch- pointy shoes, wiggy hair, sparkling eyes and they spot children by their clean showered smell. Worth it.

[nosajeel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Possibly my least favorite Roald Dahl, it is still worth reading. The formula is the same as most Dahl--a smart child aided by a benevolent adult outwitting and triumphing over villains with a greedy overweight supporting character and his indifferent parents. The best aspect of the book is the invention of "real witches"--always wearing wigs to cover their bald heads, always wearing gloves to cover their claws, always wearing shoes to cover their toeless feet, and with extraordinary noses that process the smell of children as "dogs droppings." But the actual witches themselves have considerably less personality than the bloodthirsty giants in the BFG and the vocabulary is less rich as well. Moreover, the novel feels more cruel than some of his others and also less rich in broader themes and characters. That said, we still all enjoyed it, especially the children.

[madams21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book because of the plot. It was an adventurous tale where a witch turns the main character into a mouse; he avenges himself by turning all the witches into mice. I like to see the good guy win in the end. I also liked how the book had little illustrations drawn onto the pages as if someone was just doodling in the book, but the illustrations made you want to read the text to find out more. The theme of the book was about family taking care of each other and working together.

[brandyhei · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it as a child, love it as an adult. Well done, Mr. Dahl.

[mikalina_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We are all moused when life hits us with its evil witchy side. The important thing is to be brave about it, and no one is better to help a young soul to get a grasp on the situation than a tough old granny. Everyone knows that on one level or other - but no one can tell us this the way Roald Dahl does. Quentin Blake gets the essence of every situation with a few strokes of his pencil.I reread the book for my grandson this Christmas for the first time since my own youngest was about his age (7), and I am as surprised and enjoyed as the first time, of the genius of R. D.

[portm-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I probably would have loved this book as a child, but the story-telling style didn't work well with my adult sensibilities. Still, the tell-tale characteristics of witches were fun, and the witches' convention was a hoot. I read the Grand Witch's dialogue aloud to myself and couldn't help laughing as I did it.

[diovival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I remember falling in love with this book and then watching the movie over and over and over and over and.....

[tealightful · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up a small bundle of childhood books to send off to a six year old -- but not before re-reading all of them ;)

Roald Dahl was one of my favorite authors as a child, I soaked in every book I could get my tiny, grubby sticky fingers on. I savored every hilarious, perfect word in his books and The Witches was no exception. His brilliance is obvious, he speaks to children as you should - not as if they are idiots but as the blooming minds that they are.

Who else could concoct a recipe that includes boiling the end of a telescope and roasting a preset alarm clock; to ensure your delayed-response potion goes off on time?

[amberthehuman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another children's book I did not read as a child. There were definitely some fun parts to this ... but the choices the characters make are ... concerning. Like, really, that's your plan? And then end of the book, well, it's not as depressing as it could be, but it still kind of gets you down, at least at first. Not my favorite Dahl, but a fun one (for, perhaps, older children).