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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite Dahl, always and forever. And now I've listened to it with my son. What more can a parent want?!
A lovely adaptation by Kate Winslet, with some northern/Lancashire accents I wasn't anticipating, but that I ended up enjoying and feeling fit the characters. Nice to listen to, clear and not too fast for a child to follow.
How did Dahl make it so my favourite childhood book concerned the life of a 5 year old girl? It's almost unheard of, usually a reader will identify with a protagonist their own age. Matilda, of course, is unique in children's books - precocious yet innocent, smart but unknowing. It's the revolting adults around her and her revenges and acts upon them that stir the reader into identifying with and never being able to forget this book.
My son is 5 and just adored it, he wouldn't let us out of the car until we'd heard whether Bruce Bogtrotter finished the chocolate cake. He grinned from ear to ear when Matilda dyes her father's hair. And the look of satisfaction on his face at the conclusion was a joy to behold.
That's the unforgettable joy of a good book. Despite her unloving and hideous parents, Matilda teaches herself to read, to view her family critically, but to rise above it. My husband and I shuddered as her mum leaves her alone each day to play bingo, as she walks to the library alone!!!! Her small triumphs over her father only whet the appetite for what it to come.
More delights await the reader - the fantastic Miss Trunchbull (we had to look at a paper copy so my son didn't miss out of Quentin Blake's superb rendering of her onto the page) and all she represents - greed, masochistic pleasure in pain and suffering. Seeing the small girl's talents recognised by the teacher who at first appears to be a minor character only there to highlight the difference between a good teacher and a bad one, but who in fact drives the rest of the story.
As a 21st century adult, Crunchem Hall seems rather twee and strange (learning the two times tables in your first week?!), but it doesn't make this feel out of date, somehow. The children have intervals rather than breaks, corporal punishment is present, they learn arithmetic.
My son guessed the twist (the aunt) unexpectedly, and - well - when Matilda's powers become apparent, he just ADORED the direction the story was taking.
This story has it all - clever child, revolting adults destined to be thwarted, families good and bad magic powers, school and friends, a chocolate cake. From 5 to 95, you'll not regret a re-read, or letting a child discover it for the first time.
A lovely adaptation by Kate Winslet, with some northern/Lancashire accents I wasn't anticipating, but that I ended up enjoying and feeling fit the characters. Nice to listen to, clear and not too fast for a child to follow.
How did Dahl make it so my favourite childhood book concerned the life of a 5 year old girl? It's almost unheard of, usually a reader will identify with a protagonist their own age. Matilda, of course, is unique in children's books - precocious yet innocent, smart but unknowing. It's the revolting adults around her and her revenges and acts upon them that stir the reader into identifying with and never being able to forget this book.
My son is 5 and just adored it, he wouldn't let us out of the car until we'd heard whether Bruce Bogtrotter finished the chocolate cake. He grinned from ear to ear when Matilda dyes her father's hair. And the look of satisfaction on his face at the conclusion was a joy to behold.
That's the unforgettable joy of a good book. Despite her unloving and hideous parents, Matilda teaches herself to read, to view her family critically, but to rise above it. My husband and I shuddered as her mum leaves her alone each day to play bingo, as she walks to the library alone!!!! Her small triumphs over her father only whet the appetite for what it to come.
More delights await the reader - the fantastic Miss Trunchbull (we had to look at a paper copy so my son didn't miss out of Quentin Blake's superb rendering of her onto the page) and all she represents - greed, masochistic pleasure in pain and suffering. Seeing the small girl's talents recognised by the teacher who at first appears to be a minor character only there to highlight the difference between a good teacher and a bad one, but who in fact drives the rest of the story.
As a 21st century adult, Crunchem Hall seems rather twee and strange (learning the two times tables in your first week?!), but it doesn't make this feel out of date, somehow. The children have intervals rather than breaks, corporal punishment is present, they learn arithmetic.
My son guessed the twist (the aunt) unexpectedly, and - well - when Matilda's powers become apparent, he just ADORED the direction the story was taking.
This story has it all - clever child, revolting adults destined to be thwarted, families good and bad magic powers, school and friends, a chocolate cake. From 5 to 95, you'll not regret a re-read, or letting a child discover it for the first time.
awebberly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
jenny_hedberg's review
4.0
En bra bok som jag kände igen mig i när jag läste det några år sedan. Roliga namn. Ibland lite överdrivet moralisk men ändå okej.
anaselma's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
giorsinwonderland's review
4.0
Uno dei miei film preferiti da bambina era Matilda e mi sembrava solo giusto leggere il libro
kruthika_prakash's review
5.0
My second 5 ⭐️ of 2024 Anyone who reads Matilda will instantaneously fall in love with her. Her brilliant mind will leave us intrigued. I am certain that the list of books Matilda manages to read in the first six months when she visits the public library will inspire every reader to read and re-read Charles Dickens, Jane Eyre, Ernest Hemingway and many other classics. Matilda is a five year old who almost self-teaches herself everything: reading, cooking and taking care of herself. She is honest, intelligent and deserves all the love in the world; unfortunately, she has parents who are selfish and cunning. A sense of despondence lingers in Matilda's heart each time she thinks of her parents who look at her like she is stupid; on the contrary, she is a little bundle of brilliance.
More in my blog: https://booksfoodmylife.blogspot.com/2024/01/matilda-magical-and-inspiring.html
More in my blog: https://booksfoodmylife.blogspot.com/2024/01/matilda-magical-and-inspiring.html
sofia_santana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mairywo's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alittle1116's review
5.0
This was an absolute delight to listen to on Libro.fm as read by Kate Winslet. It may have been her best performance for me.
madiganinwonderland's review against another edition
4.0
Wtf? I don't remember already reading this... Oh well. This was great of course.