Witches!

For this week's selection, I read bits from Terry Pratchett's "Equal Rites," and an added bit of  "The Witches" by Roald Dahl, since it seemed topical. 
Terry Pratchett is an author who has been recommended to me for an incredibly long time. He writes for a genre I'm very fond of, though my only other experience with his work is "Going Postal." His writing is incredibly witty, full of fun wordplay and humor, and sprinkled with wisdom and prose.
I found the concept incredibly interesting and progressive, classic fantasy novels put a lot of weight on being 'the x'th son of an x'th son' so making the protagonist a surprise daughter was a creative twist. Granny Weatherwax especially, felt like an incredibly well-formed character, being clever, sarcastic, non-traditional character. She still had flaws, but they all made sense given the word she existed in, and from what I understand, she goes on for a few more novels, and hopefully progresses.
I did think that the bit in the end about witches needing a head and wizards needing a heart was a bit dated, though given the novel was written in the 80's and otherwise very good, I allowed it some slack.

“Granny sighed. "You have learned something," she said, and thought it safe to insert a touch of sternness into her voice. "They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.” 

Now, "The Witches."
I love Roald Dahl's work, and this story is no exception. It's a fun, quirky read that makes you think. Almost a "Fractured Fairytale," we follow the narrator's journey of discovering witches, what it means to be a witch, the powers they possess. His writing challenges us to consider what a witch looks like, and even the importance of appearances, when you truly care for someone. Though the plot was silly, sometimes non-sensical, mouse-maker filled, the story manages to find incredibly sweet and thoughtful moments. 

“It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.”

It's moments like that that set apart Roald Dahl's work in a category of his own, for we can laugh and enjoy the wit of the narrative, while still end on a warm and thoughtful note. The relationship between the narrator and his Grandmama, especially when he is a mouse, goes straight to the heart. Completely and utterly bittersweet.