Once again had to replace a book in the readathon, unlike the dropped Snow Crash however, I will leave the Invisible Library for later. I need a calmer mindset to get through it.

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I’ve always loved the movie Matilda and I also always wanted to delve more into classics, not sure if this story can be counted as such, but I really think it is. So when the readathon prompt came and I spent a lot of time on a book, that took a while for me to get to a quarter of; I knew it was time for a change. Matilda fits the same criteria so it was more than good enough as a replacement. And guess what? Turns put it’s an insanely fun book to read!

I didn’t actually expect that the book would be that accurate or close to the film, but I’m so glad it was. Of course, there were some variations here and there, but the overall theme and atmosphere was more or the less the same. It’s also interesting that the book was narrated by the author, made me kind of want to read a series of unfortunate events to see if it was the same, best part? His narration made the book really really fun.

I also didn’t expect that the book would have some illustrations, but given that it’s a children’s book, I should have expected it. I did find it also amusing that some of the characters matched the images I had from the movie, although there were some variations in those too. The biggest thing I didn’t expect to get though is how terrible Trunchbull is, really reminded me of Umbridge and felt way worse at times too. Strange, I know.

I think the way Matilda was talking was probably the only part of the book I didn’t really enjoy, but other than that it was very fun.

Final rating: 4/5

nannah

Written on Apr 23, 2018

Oooh, yikes. I think I watched the movie version of Matilda a couple months ago and still enjoyed it thoroughly, but reading the book opened my eyes to a lot of troublesome things, and I have to say I didn't enjoy it at all.

Book content warnings:
lesbophobia (specifically anti-butch)
sexism & misogyny
fatphobic
child abuse mention
suicide mention

Ugh. I'm so disappointed. It's one of those things you loved when you were little, only to discover it's incredibly problematic and lackluster when you grew up.

For one, the tone is so fatphobic it's sometimes hard for me to read the book without contempt. Many of the book's characters the audience are supposed to like are continuously described as "small", "thin", "tiny", etc., while the villains are fat and large and bulging. Fat people are described with such disgust that I'm just revolted by the author. I know this wasn't written recently, but it's just hard to read.

Not only that, but this author seems to project his own anti-feminist, anti-butch lesbian views onto this children's book. Miss Trunchbull is literally the personification of the radical feminist of his time: ugly, manly, large and bulky. She acts like a man, too, participates in what could be seen as stereotypical men's sports, has no need for marriage - in fact, she looks down on it when one of the children sings back Miss Honey's rhyme "Mrs. D Mrs. I Mrs. F F I, etc." and Miss. Trunchbull exclaims "Why are all these women married?".

Miss Trunchbull also hates anything feminine (aka the little girl /growing out/ her pigtails), and hates children. She also literally killed the patriarch of her family so she could be in charge. Reading this as a butch lesbian myself just made me roll my eyes every other page.

The plot started slowly, and then rushed faster and faster until the end just ... happened, and I was left feeling like the book ended without actually finishing, if that makes sense. There was no feeling of an actual conclusion.

And the relationship between Miss Honey and Matilda made me incredibly uncomfortable. The prose even mentions Matilda as a grown-up child rather than an actual child. And that Matilda and Miss Honey were equals. Which could make their relationship ... really weird. It's basically how Miss Honey "opens up" about her past. But she really just blurts out "my father killed himself" to a six-year-old girl. This all reads so awkwardly and worryingly. It doesn't matter if this kid is the most intelligent girl in the world, of all time! She's still a child.

Anyway, yeah ... I didn't enjoy this.

mrs_mander_reads

Written on Apr 16, 2018

I can't state this "loudly" enough: LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK. Kate Winslet is a genius. I knew I was going to love the story, but her narration was absolutely perfection.

Chelsea

Written on Jul 25, 2016

If you're gonna read Matilda I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook version!

celinenyx

Written on Mar 13, 2010

My favorite book when I was younger. I wished I had Matilda's super powers.

KitsuneBae

Written on Jan 1, 2010

For the full review, please visit Thoughts and Pens

I don’t know about you but my Y/A years have been in a way shaped by Roald Dahl and his stories. Roald Dahl may have come late into my life—with me preferring to spend my childhood playing under the sun rather than read book indoors—but they never failed to remind me of the importance of goodness and that unpleasant deeds would always reap retribution either directly or indirectly. And this perhaps is best conveyed by Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
The story of Matilda brings us to the lives of the Wormwood family members who—except for Matilda—were not only crooked but cruel as well. Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood were so immersed in their world of crookedness that they failed to see that they have been blessed with a gifted child, Matilda. Instead of praising Matilda’s feat of brilliance, they thought that she was an ignorant little twit. And as if the gods are conspiring against her, Matilda’s headmistress—the Trunchbull—at school was ten times more horrible and whose favorite plaything were kids. Matilda must rise up to the challenge and get rid of the Trunchbull for good.

While full of engaging and humorous scenes, Matilda is an honest story about the two faces of human nature, the good and the bad. The early chapters gave us a clear picture that cruelty starts at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood’s refusal or more likely ignorance of Matilda’s gift and chastising her for being an annoying chatterbox is already tantamount to child abuse. And this became even clearer when they decided to leave Matilda behind without a qualm. Then there’s the ugly side of leadership represented by the menacing Trunchbull who was not only a usurper but a big time bully as well who will definitely ruin a kid’s childhood.

On the other hand, despite growing up in a dysfunctional household, Matilda remained pure and rose from the baser nature of human ugliness. Her principle as young girl is no mean as she refused to be corrupted by her parents’ shady ways. Instead, she assertively took actions to ensure that the bullies got their own dose of medicine. Matilda’s ingenuity, courage and compassion are the things that really draw me to it. The laughter and the fluffiness were just an added bonus.
Matilda will surely captivate the hearts of the readers.

ibeforem

Written on Apr 7, 2009

I missed this book the first time around because I was 10 when it was published and I was a bit precocious and never one to read at my grade level. I wish I hadn’t missed it! I’m a big Lemony Snicket fan, and it’s easy to see that he’s been influenced by Dahl. This is a little dark and violent, but quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, I enjoyed it more *before* Matilda develops her magical powers, when she was just a really smart child - though Miss Honey’s explanation at the end mitigates some of that. I’m looking forward to reading some more of Dahl’s works.