I watched a 1942 charming black-and-white comedy: “I Married a Witch”, noticed it was based on a novel, and decided to read the original material.
I get that adaptations, especially old Hollywood ones, take many artistic liberties, but keeping only the characters’ names is a bit much. So, well, I guess I wasn’t off to a good start with the book.
But when I finally got over my expectations, I was ready to appreciate the sarcastic humour of the story. Which is definitely not for everyone, as contemporary audiences may and probably will get offended by the stereotypes of the “joys” of marital life.
But taking the satire only at the surface level will deprive those audiences not only of shallow, slightly sitcom comedy, but more importantly, of deeper reflection on how we see ourselves and others through the lens of our preconceived notions and inaccurate worldviews.
There’s not much actual action, but as the protagonist faces more and more of the real world, his hilarious troubles provide the reader with both simple amusement and plenty of points for deeper reflection.
So, though the title, in my opinion, finds no purchase in the story, “The Passionate Witch” is a worthwhile read, provided you’re not looking for a romantic comedy but a sharp social satire.