I’ve read this book before, many times – of course I have. But not since I’ve had this blog, and so there has been this glaring gap in my reviewing that was the size of a tiny young girl named Matilda. My own kid is old enough now for Dahl’s less dark books, and this is the second we have tackled this year (the first being The Fantastic Mr. Fox). It was a HIT. We finished it, then got the audiobook that has been listened to from start to finish at least three times, and have watched the film. Since reading it my kid has exclaimed at length over how wonderful books are, and (completely independently) has set a goal to read 100 books over the summer (mostly audio and being read to, but that still counts!). My bibliophile’s heart is full to bursting.
For those of you who have yet to experience this wonderful story, it’s that of a young girl called Matilda, who is born into entirely the wrong family. Her father is a used car salesman who cuts every corner and employs every underhanded trick in the book. Her mother is vain, shallow and obsessed only with playing bingo and watching her favourite programmes on the tele. Her brother is on track to take over where his father leaves off. They spend every evening glued to the television, and the only book in the house is a cookbook.
Matilda, on the other hand, is a startlingly intelligent child. She has taught herself to read and take care of herself (just as well really, since her mother will keep leaving her home alone) by the time she’s three. By four she’s found the public library alone, befriended a librarian and read every kids’ book in the place. And moved on to the likes of Melville and Dickens.
Our story picks up when Matilda discovers that she can use this intelligence to prank adults in her life who have behaved badly, which she does with spectacular results. By the time she starts school, she’s thrilled at the prospect of endless opportunities for learning. What she didn’t anticipate was the horrendous principal, Ms. Trunchbull. Turns out her home situation was a bit of a training ground for dealing with this monstrous woman! Luckily she has an amazing teacher, Ms. Honey, who believes in and nurtures her, and a crew of good (and brave) friends.
I won’t say more about the story as it needs to be discovered, but if you’ve read it, you’ll know the magical twists and turns it takes, and the amazingly emotional journey readers embark on alongside one of the best protagonists ever created in a book. She’s been my best friend since I was the age my kid is now, real or not.
Reading this again was even better than I expected, but introducing my kid to Matilda was a beautiful experience. I’ve basically been waiting since birth for this moment to arrive! I didn’t think I could love this book anymore – but now I do. I’m looking forward to many re-reads!
Oh, and to make this even better, Quentin Blake drew three new covers to commemorate the book’s 30th anniversary. Each depicts Matilda in a role he imagines she may have stepped into by the time she was in her 30s.
The first is Matilda as Chief Executive of the British Library. The second is Matilda as an Astrophysicist. The the last is Matilda as a World Traveller. I love these because I spent many hours (and years, if I’m being honest) imagining what Matilda might be doing now! I have the British Library edition, because of course that’s one of the places she could have ended up, introducing new generations to the magic of reading!
Matilda Wormwood
A remarkable child with a magical mind.
Mr and Mrs Wormwood
Matilda’s parents – liars, swindlers and TV addicts.
Miss Trunchbull
Headmistress of Crunchem Hall and the world’s biggest bully.
Bruce Bogtrotter
Chocolate-cake-eating extraordinaire!
These are just some of the unforgettable characters from this classic story by the world’s number one storyteller – now with a brand-new cover design from Quentin Blake to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the publication of Matilda. – Goodreads
Book Title: Matilda
Author: Roald Dahl
Series: No
Edition: Hardback/Audiobook
Published By: Puffin
Released: October 4, 2018 (First published October 1, 1988)
Genre: Fiction, Intelligence, Learning, Found Family
Pages: 240
Date Read: June 13-22, 2022
Rating: 10/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.33/5 (801,892 ratings)
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