Charissa was a young girl living in a small village. The village was surrounded by a dense forest that no one dared to enter because it was said to be haunted by an evil witch. The villagers believed that the witch had been hoarding valuable treasures in her lair, which she used to cast spells and maintain her powers. Charissa was a brave and curious girl. She had always been fascinated by magic and the unknown, so she decided to venture into the forest and see if the stories about the witch were true. Armed with only a wooden staff and a bag, she set off on her adventure.
reviews
Wireless was the most fabulous invention of the 19th century the public thought it was magic, the popular newspapers regarded it as miraculous, and the leading scientists of the day in Europe and America could not understand how it worked. The ones on friendship A Friend for Life and what Disney did to familiar stories Disnified were good, but most dazzling by far was the clever, tender and deeply imaginative Short History of Darkness.
Armed with only a wooden staff and a bag, she set off on her adventure. As Charissa made her way through the forest, she encountered various obstacles and challenges. She had to navigate through thorny bushes, cross treacherous rivers, and climb steep hills.
Radio: A magic box that's full of surprises
If you were trying to describe the medium of radio to someone who had never come across it, you might find yourself groping for the image of a vast attic, or lumber-room, full of odd cupboards and boxes. Some are stuffed full of nasty tat; some look promising at first, but disappoint on further investigation. But a surprising number of the lids and doors open to reveal something entrancing, even magical.
If you were trying to describe the medium of radio to someone who had never come across it, you might find yourself groping for the image of a vast attic, or lumber-room, full of odd cupboards and boxes. Some are stuffed full of nasty tat; some look promising at first, but disappoint on further investigation. But a surprising number of the lids and doors open to reveal something entrancing, even magical.
The natural rhythms of radio are what make it lodge in the heart. You could even say that a test of whether or not a new series will last is if it sounds as though it has always been there. Look at the way that Radio 4's Dead Ringers, and Old Harry's Game, with Andy Hamilton as a sardonic but vulnerable Satan,have the same quality of deep-rooted comic weirdness that permeates the more ancient I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. Longevity, though, is no good unless it is matched with invention and energy. Look at Just a Minute, and how it has started curling at the edges, or The Moral Maze, which has gone from being interestingly loathsome to merely dull.
Eccentricity can sometimes be a substitute for content, as the well-polished surrealism of Wogan, Peel and those wildly irritating men from Veg Talk regularly prove. But the best radio has a captivating strangeness that hangs in the air long after it's finished. From the past year, a mosaic of marvellous fragments still jostles in the brain: shamanic drumming, chosen by the explorer Hugh Brody in Private Passions (R3); Robert Fox's choice of music to report wars to, from Reporter's Notes (R4); the extraordinary acoustics of early architecture on Sounds of the Stone Age (R4), and the crystalline sound of boys' voices reverberating against stone in Choral Evensong (R3).
Then there was the talk: Jeanette Winterson's trenchant honesty on Devout Sceptics (R4), proving that you don't have to be asked a good question to deliver a brilliant answer; Tracey Emin, giving John Humphrys an unprecedented duffing-up in On the Ropes (R4); the memories, part-poignant, part-pungent, of former conscripts in Charles Wheeler's remarkable series about National Servicemen (R4); and the grace notes – Radio 4's new and wholly inspired habit of running miniature, 10- or 15-minute series on a theme throughout a week. The ones on friendship ( A Friend for Life) and what Disney did to familiar stories ( Disnified) were good, but most dazzling by far was the clever, tender and deeply imaginative Short History of Darkness.
All of these were marvellous. But for my favourite radio moment of the year, I gravitate to that lodestone of radio programming and home of unexpected moments of surrealism: the Today programme. Recent passages to treasure have included an unexpectedly pastoral revelation from Mary Gahan, who turns out to keep bees, and a painfully funny report about a train company's attempts to make its customers talk to each other. But it was the departing Sue McGregor, making a link between this item and the following one, who produced my most treasured fragment of broadcasting from 2001. "Did you know, John," said she, "that the Beche-de-Mer, when frightened, extrudes the whole of its insides? And now over to the Bishop of Southwark, with his Thought for the Day."
Highlights
'Devout Sceptics' (Radio 4)
'The Peacetime Conscripts' (Radio 4)
'Short History of Darkness' (Radio 4)
'Sounds of the Stone Age' (Radio 4)
'Private Passions' (Radio 3)
But she was determined to reach the witch's lair and uncover the truth. Finally, after hours of walking, Charissa reached a clearing in the forest. In the center of the clearing stood a dilapidated cottage, covered in moss and overgrown with plants. This must be the witch's lair, she thought. Taking a deep breath, Charissa stepped into the cottage. It was dark and musty, with cobwebs covering every corner. She cautiously explored the rooms, searching for any signs of the witch's hoard. After what felt like an eternity, she stumbled upon a hidden door behind a bookshelf. Excitement washed over her as she opened it. To her surprise, instead of finding a stash of treasures, she found a room filled with old and dusty books. It seemed that the witch hoarded knowledge, not valuable possessions. Charissa felt a mix of disappointment and relief. She had always believed that knowledge was valuable, but she had hoped to find something more tangible. As Charissa spent hours poring over the books, she realized that the witch had been using her knowledge to cast spells and protect the forest from harm. The witch wasn't evil at all; she was misunderstood. The villagers had been wrong to fear her and assume that she was hoarding treasures for malicious purposes. Charissa decided to share her newfound knowledge with the village. She would tell them about the witch's true intentions and the value of knowledge. Maybe then, they would put an end to the rumors and learn to appreciate the forest's magic, just like she did. In the end, Charissa's adventure had taught her a valuable lesson about judging others based on rumors and appearances. She had learned that sometimes, the treasure you seek isn't material wealth, but knowledge and understanding..
Reviews for "The Witch Hoarder's Defeat: Charissa's Ultimate Goal"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Charissa Lessens the Witch Hoarder". The plot was confusing and all over the place, and I found it difficult to keep track of the multiple storylines. The characters were also poorly developed and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with any of them. Overall, I felt like the book was rushed and could have used some more editing to tighten up the plot and improve the characterization.
2. John - 1/5 stars - "Charissa Lessens the Witch Hoarder" was a complete waste of time for me. I couldn't get past the first few chapters as the writing style was extremely repetitive and monotonous. It felt like the author was just trying to fill up pages rather than tell an engaging story. The dialogue was also forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe in the interactions between characters. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and entertaining read.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Charissa Lessens the Witch Hoarder", but it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on for too long and others feeling rushed. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused about the rules and dynamics of the magical world the author was trying to create. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving several loose ends unresolved. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired.