The Witches - Roald Dahl

Title: The Witches
Author: Roald Dahl
Genre: Childrens
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 200
Date read: September 2010

When the narrator's parents die in a car crash on page two, 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 centerpiece 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.

I remembered this book as being an amusing read, and was surprised to find that it's actually part horror! Well, horror for kids anyway, and phrased in such a way that it never struck me as particularly horrific as a child. The main character is turned into a mouse? Well, he doesn't mind, so why should I?

Roald Dahl definitely understands how to address children, and his books are probably the type that work best either when read as a kid or read to a kid.

I saw the movie version of this when it first came out, but remember absolutely nothing of it, so couldn't say how true to the book it is.

How to Respond When You Feel Mistreated - John Bevere

Title: How to Respond When You Feel Mistreated
Author: John Bevere
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 76
Date read: September 2010

"Repay no one evil for evil" (Romans 12:17 NKJV). Easier said than done, right? But that's exactly what John Bevere recommends. We are all subject to some authority, and those in leadership often misuse their power and hurt others. But we as Christians are called to honor and submit to authority, even if it means accepting unfair treatment.

"'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19 NKJV). God's justice often takes longer than we want to wait, but it does come. And our obedience in accepting suffering increases His work in the lives of others. Ultimately, our model for responding to unfair treatment is Jesus. And by enduring suffering as He did, we are made more like Him.

MUCH easier said than done, and I also felt the book lacked some concrete examples. When are we taking vengeance out of God's hands and when are we just refusing to be door-mats? Where does the line go? In some cases it's obvious, but in others not so much.

A thought-provoking book, but though short, it still didn't escape from being rather repetative at times. The first two chapters were definitely the best, and more or less everything in the rest of the book were expansions and elaborations of the topics raised there. I did appricate his chapter on authority though - even when we sorely dislike, or even disapprove of our head of state, God is still in charge. Who are we to say He didn't put that person in that position for a reason? He also made an excellent argument for why a wife submitting to her husband doesn't necessarily mean that she has to obey him, but merely that she has to respect him. Interesting thoughts.