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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Matilda is a very small yet very intelligent girl who’s own mind is capable of not just incredible knowledge but she also has supernatural abilities which give her the upper hand in many situations. This story was written at a time when television was growing in popularity and many children were spending endless hours “in front of the box”. Roald Dahl was clearly trying to put the message out there that reading captivates your mind and that televisions will only distract you. This story is perfect for those themes, a timeless tale that I don’t think I will ever outgrow and if I ever feel like reading books is dated then this book will always be here to remind me how wrong I really am.
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Absolutely loveable book
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, Death of parent
Matilda is about a super smart five year old with horribly neglectful parents, an awful and abusive headmistress, and a lovely and supportive teacher. The book presents the abuse and neglect in a mostly comic way, such that it doesn't feel inappropriate for actual children to read, and focuses on the inventive ways Matilda has of improving her situation, such as teaching herself to read and playing pranks on the grown ups. Throughout the book, I kept thinking that Matilda is too young to have to deal with all that she's faced with and wanting the adults to do better (even the nurturing teacher unloads her past trauma on the five year old Matilda), but the fact is that children do have to face awful situations and Matilda is an amusing and intelligent heroine with a lot of agency. Also, the audiobook version, read by Kate Winslet, is a true delight with wonderfully distinct and entertaining voices for all the characters. I highly recommend listening to it. I'd give the book four stars, but the audiobook gets five.
What a fantastic read! I adored this story and I enjoyed the little things that the book held but the film exaggerates.
So many different things happen and more is explained, and better explained at that.
Second time reading as an adult. Still fantastic! Differences are odd and I think things were added into the movie for the better. But still adore the book!
So many different things happen and more is explained, and better explained at that.
Second time reading as an adult. Still fantastic! Differences are odd and I think things were added into the movie for the better. But still adore the book!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All the reading she had done had given her a view of life that they had never seen.
Like covering yourself with blankets on a chilly, rainy day and sipping a mug of warm tea. This book is wonderfully comforting, even upon the first read. The movie is one of my all-time favorites and I couldn't be happier that the book lives up to the expectations of the film. Full of humor and memorable characters, with charming illustrations and witty dialogue, with an air of absurd surrealism that is especially hilarious.
Growing up, I loved Matilda because I could relate to her. My life was decidedly better than hers but I was shy and quiet, often lonely because it was hard for me to make friends. Most of all, I loved nothing more than reading. I could read simple, children's books by the time I was 5 and I enjoyed writing short stories based on what I'd read. I'd spend long hours with my books, traveling around the world.
And this is the heart of my love for this book, and I think for anyone who is and has ever been Matilda. She alone has made this a truly timeless classic.
adventurous
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Roald Dahl's Matilda spreekt al jaren tot de verbeelding bij jonge en oude boekenwurmen – er is niet voor niets een prachtige 100e druk uitgegeven door Uitgeverij De Fontein.
Wat kan ik nog meer zeggen over deze klassieker? Grote kans is dat je er wel ooit over hebt gehoord. Het boek gaat over de kleine Matilda. Matilda kan geweldig goed leren. Toen ze anderhalf was kon ze al praten als een volwassene, met 3 jaar kon ze lezen, en al vóór ze 5 was, las ze boeken van wereldberoemde schrijvers als Dickens, Hemingway, Kipling en Steinbeck. Hiervoor loopt Matilda elke dag naar de bibliotheek. Overigens las ik vroeger Matilda ook als geleend boek uit de bibliotheek – ik heb nu voor het eerst mijn echte éigen exemplaar.
Maar haar ouders vinden Matilda maar vervelend. Dit zorgt voor bijzondere situaties – zeker als je denkt aan het huidige fenomeen van ‘helikopterouders’.
Wat kan ik nog meer zeggen over deze klassieker? Grote kans is dat je er wel ooit over hebt gehoord. Het boek gaat over de kleine Matilda. Matilda kan geweldig goed leren. Toen ze anderhalf was kon ze al praten als een volwassene, met 3 jaar kon ze lezen, en al vóór ze 5 was, las ze boeken van wereldberoemde schrijvers als Dickens, Hemingway, Kipling en Steinbeck. Hiervoor loopt Matilda elke dag naar de bibliotheek. Overigens las ik vroeger Matilda ook als geleend boek uit de bibliotheek – ik heb nu voor het eerst mijn echte éigen exemplaar.
Maar haar ouders vinden Matilda maar vervelend. Dit zorgt voor bijzondere situaties – zeker als je denkt aan het huidige fenomeen van ‘helikopterouders’.
I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anybody.There are bits in the book that aren't in the movie.I was in stitches in some parts of the book.