The April Witch is a short story written by Ray Bradbury. It revolves around a young witch named Cecy and her unique abilities. Despite her young age, Cecy possesses the power to change her appearance and manipulate the minds of others. Set in the 1950s, the story takes place in a small suburban town. Cecy, the April Witch, lives in a house filled with mirrors that allow her to observe the lives of the people in the town. She has a deep longing to be part of the world, to experience the joys and sorrows of human existence.
Desirée (meaning "desired one") Johansson is the ironically named daughter of Ella Johansson—ironic because Ella abandoned her at birth. In the Swedish welfare state of the 1950s, Desirée's birth defects (cerebral palsy, epilepsy and physical deformation) meant a life in institutions. Now nearing 50, she is increasingly wracked by pain and seizures, and the only person she ever loved, her doctor, Hubertsson, is dying. But she is an April witch—a weak body with a strong mind—and when Hubertsson informs her of her mother's later foster children, she employs her paranormal powers of omniscience to learn about Ella, her "betrayer," and her three foster sisters, the "thieves" of the life that should have been hers. Though unable to walk or speak, Desirée follows their movements, and it is their stories that make up the bulk of this suspenseful, insightful novel. Margareta had been abandoned, while Christina and Birgitta's real mothers were abusive, and appeared irregularly in their childhoods with terrible results. The girls were separated as teens after Ella's stroke, for which difficult Birgitta is blamed: Christina and Margareta believe Ella discovered that Birgitta was the town slut, and that it nearly killed her. While Margareta has become a physicist and Christina a doctor, and Birgitta has evolved through drug addiction to alcoholism, none of them know about their other sister—yet. Journalist Axelsson caused quite a stir with this novel in her native Sweden, ripping into Scandinavian conformity like a latter day Ibsen, while Americans might see some resemblance to the spirit of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest . Readers who made Peter Hoeg a bestseller should certainly find a place in their hearts for Axelsson. (Apr.)
Margareta had been abandoned, while Christina and Birgitta s real mothers were abusive, and appeared irregularly in their childhoods with terrible results. Prior to decimilisation 1968-1971 , UK books were priced in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling.
She has a deep longing to be part of the world, to experience the joys and sorrows of human existence. Cecy is often misunderstood and feared by the townspeople due to her peculiar abilities. She is not evil, but rather a lonely and curious young girl seeking connection and understanding.
Bradbury Daily: “The April Witch”
If I’m not mistaken, this is the first supernatural story since the the “vampire” ones at the start of the collection. You might remember them, way back in February? “Homecoming,” “Uncle Einar,” and “The Traveler.” And I actually didn’t even realize at first, but the story is about Cecy, one of the characters from those earlier stories.
Why it wasn’t put in the collection with those ones, rather than separated by quite a few stories is beyond me, but I’m not in the business of organizing short story collections, I’m in the business of writing about them, so what do I know?
The story is… kind of creepy. Cecy wants to be in love, but can’t marry a mortal because apparently that would make her lose her powers. How that works, I don’t know. It’s supernatural and magic, there doesn’t have to be an explanation. A wizard did it (I know, technically that’s for continuity snarls, but it works here too).
Anyway, if you remember from “Homecoming” and “The Traveler,” Cecy has the ability to possess… well, anything, really, from an amoeba to a frog to a human. Anything living. Possibly some things that aren’t alive, too, I’m not totally sure about that one. Oh, and plants, she’s used plants as hosts too (including falling leaves, before you get on my case because plants are alive). So she decides to go out and go inside the body of a young girl.
What takes place is kind of morally questionable at best. She forces the poor girl to go on a date with a guy she hates, just so she can experience it. Honestly I’m not totally sure if Bradbury wants us to sympathize with Cecy or with Ann, the girl she possesses, but I definitely lean towards Ann.
Though to be fair, Bradbury is a good enough writer that I did feel my sympathies vacillating back and forth between the two at times.
Honestly some of the descriptions go on a little too long for my taste. Like, they dip into purple prose territory at times. Between that and just how creepy the story is, and not in a good way, I can definitely say that this is not one of my favorites. I mean, all of the stories about these characters are a little odd, but the parts involving Cecy are just downright creepy. I guess it’s got to do with the lack of control and such. The idea of someone else being in control of your body and actions is just a really uncomfortable thought.
pb ? Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
She wants to be accepted and loved, but her powers often drive people away. One day, Cecy decides to venture out into the world, disguising herself as a girl named Margaret. She befriends a young man named Robert, who is immediately captivated by her charm and innocence. Together, they embark on adventures and experience the joys of life. However, their happiness is short-lived as Cecy's true nature begins to reveal itself. She becomes overwhelmed by her powers and unintentionally causes chaos and confusion among the people in the town. The townspeople, frightened and angry, turn against her. In the end, Cecy realizes the consequences of her actions and is forced to retreat back to her house of mirrors. She isolates herself, reflecting upon her desire for acceptance and the destructive nature of her powers. She learns that her powers come with a great responsibility and that she must find a balance between her desire for connection and the need to protect others. The April Witch explores themes of loneliness, identity, and the consequences of power. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking acceptance at the expense of others. Cecy's journey highlights the importance of understanding oneself and finding a balance in using one's abilities for the greater good..
Reviews for "The April Witch's Garden: Unveiling the Secrets of Herbal Magic"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The April Witch". The story felt flat and uninteresting, and I struggled to connect with the protagonist. The writing style was also quite dull, lacking any depth or substance. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious read that failed to captivate me.
2. Emily - 2 stars - "The April Witch" didn't live up to my expectations at all. I found the plot to be confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the story. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and were unrelatable. The prose itself was also lackluster and failed to engage me as a reader. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I really didn't enjoy "The April Witch" at all. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story didn't seem to go anywhere. The characters were uninteresting and lacked development, and I didn't feel invested in their journey. The writing style also felt disjointed and clunky, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found this book to be a dull and uninspiring read.
4. Michael - 2 stars - "The April Witch" was a disappointment for me. The premise seemed intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The narrative was confusing and lacked clarity, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to care about their struggles. Overall, I think this book had potential but failed to deliver a satisfying reading experience.
5. Laura - 3 stars - While "The April Witch" had an interesting concept, I found that it didn't reach its full potential. The story felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more depth and exploration. The characters lacked complexity and were difficult to connect with. The writing style, while decent, didn't fully engage me as a reader. Overall, I wouldn't classify this book as a favorite, but it had some redeeming qualities.