What a brilliant, assembly of “business women." There’s something about the idea of women prospering that brings up anxiety in our culture, which is why the witch conference is probably my favorite part of this book. It’s 2016, and the idea that women deserve equal pay is still, sadly, a hot button issue. LuLa Roe, Mary Kaye & Formula 86 Delayed Action Mousemaker The boy cannot escape and he is, in fact, an enemy because he witnessed this secret ritual. A nefarious strip tease, the opposite of strip poker where the more naked these women become, the more repugnant they are. We are with the boy, hiding, peering at all the women as they gather and peel off their accessories. But the female gaze can kill all of us.ĭahl is so exquisite in bringing us into the scene. There’s a big difference between not wanting to produce children and setting out to exterminate children. In a culture that judges women so harshly for either dedicating themselves wholly to motherhood or choosing to balance children and work, it’s exciting to see a book with female villains who are actually, you know, evil. Not wanting children is not the same as wanting to destroy children.Īnd you thought you were bad for trying to get out of attending a baby shower. And then you wonder, which came first: the desire to mutilate all children or the societal pressure to have dainty phalanges and shiny hair? 4. Looking feminine is portrayed as something that is physically exhausting. It’s a science-fiction version of an Allure spread on contour and illusion. They’re “demons dressed like women." So in other words, these demons came to earth and decided they would have more power to destroy children if they dressed up as women instead of men. But no ghoul is “half as dangerous as a REAL WITCH." So in other words, witches rule.īut then a few pages later, Grandmamma reminds us that witches are demons. According to the boy - who learned from Grandmamma, “A witch is always a woman" - you can’t be a witch unless you’re a woman. The existential whoa moment about gender and power. Well, in Dahl’s story, the woman who simultaneously nurtures and educates prevails while the power hungry witch loses. Perhaps if she’d taken the time to focus on mentoring one individual instead of ruling many. But she prioritizes her power over all else. She does have a few stereotypically female tricks up her long sleeve she shares her recipe with her followers. She uses Machiavellian tactics to keep her minions in line. The Grand High Witch, on the other hand, is a brilliant scientist and marketing whiz. She is reasonable at every turn - the opposite of hysterical. She overcomes illness and is able to take her boy on vacation. She is the guardian of her orphaned grandson. Time and again, Dahl reminds us of her overall strength. He’s the one doing the legwork, but Grandmamma is the wise one, the leader. Sure, the boy (who is unnamed) owns the narrative. She isn’t afraid to carry a couple of mice in her purse. She is the centerpiece of this book, the teacher. She is bright, enchanting, a master storyteller. Grandmamma carries a giant purse (all the better to transport mouse-boys) whereas The Grand High Witch hides her precious belongings in a mattress (forgetting that mouse-boys can access said belongings).īut Grandmamma is the true star of the book. Both women travel extensively (relatively) to fulfill their duties. It brings me back to those Compare/Contrast essays of high school, so let’s do it.īoth women are indeed “grand." Grandmamma is the sole matriarch, the decision maker. Here are seven feminist lessons I learned from The Witches: 1. There’s a whole other book in there - a hilarious, feminist commentary on women, work and family. And of course The Witches capitalized on that most primal fear: Your parents die and your world is turned upside down. You read that book and realize that all mice might, in fact, be children, children just like you. Grim, yes.)Īnd then my beloved The Witches, a book that taught me to beware of women wearing gloves. They’re the agoraphobic cocaine addicts harboring a pedophile. (Most recently I found the twits in Gone Baby Gone. I used to go around the neighborhood with my brother, wondering if any of our neighbors were twits, if they had pet monkeys. I loved The Twits for its suggestion that ugly thoughts will make you into a physically ugly person. This month's pick is "The Witches" by Roald Dahl, a discussion with "You" and "Hidden Bodies" author Caroline Kepnes.Īs a child, I would have told you that my favorite Roald Dahl books were The Twitsand The Witches. The Bustle Book Club with Alloy Entertainment discusses nostalgic books that are meaningful to us.
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