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emceehache's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Re-reading this as an adult in 2022 was an interesting experience. I was five or six when the movie came out. I think I read the book before I was a teen.
Here are some things I noticed:
Here are some things I noticed:
- The other children in Matilda’s class are also relatable and funny
- Ms Honey is more human with her struggles than my childhood recollections.
While it’s fantastical that she found a cottage for 10p a week, her poverty is more obvious this time around. It’s also more apparent that she’s traumatised by being raised by the Trunchbull. Ms Honey asks for Matilda’s consent and yet it feels problematic that she shared her experience with a child, no matter how precocious. - Matilda is the magic, and her powers are just the icing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ive always heard of this book but just got the chance to read it, and now that i have, im not surprised it's so famous. it was great seeing a main character--and a young one at that--like matilda who's a book lover, and her surprisingly clever yet simple shenanigans to get back at the shitty adults both at home and school were super satisfying.
this book was also hilarious, morbidly so at some parts. dahl's frequent themes of the importance of and love for children, and the failure of adults and the system are once again explored here. my one critcism, however--and this pertains to dahl's other books as well--would be the fact that it negatively reinforces the correlation between a person's physical appearance and their morality, and the fact that many of dahl's antagonists are women, which is a tad disappointing.
this book was also hilarious, morbidly so at some parts. dahl's frequent themes of the importance of and love for children, and the failure of adults and the system are once again explored here. my one critcism, however--and this pertains to dahl's other books as well--would be the fact that it negatively reinforces the correlation between a person's physical appearance and their morality, and the fact that many of dahl's antagonists are women, which is a tad disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
grace_cr1's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
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