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Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.
She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable--the big surprise comes when Matilda discovers a new, mysterious facet of her mental dexterity. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings. (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Matilda is an extraordinarily gifted four-year-old whose parentsa crass, dishonest used-car dealer and a self-centered, blowsy bingo addictregard her as "nothing more than a scab." Life with her beastly parents is bearable only because Matilda teaches herself to read, finds the public library, and discovers literature. Also, Matilda loves using her lively intelligence to perpetrate daring acts of revenge on her father. This pastime she further develops when she enrolls in Crunchem Hall Primary School, whose headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is "a fierce tyrannical monster . . . ." Adults may cringe at Dahl's excesses in describing the cruel Miss Trunchbull, as well as his reliance on overextended characterization at the expense of plot development. Children, however, with their keenly developed sense of justice, will relish the absolutes of stupidity, greed, evil and might versus intelligence, courage and goodness. They also will sail happily through the contrived, implausible ending. Dahl's phenomenal popularity among children speaks for his breathless storytelling charms; his fans won't be disappointed by Matilda. Blake's droll pen-and-ink sketches extend the exaggerated humor. Ages 9-11.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Review of the novel Matilda of Roald Dahl,
By Eva Berning & Anna Maria Frins (Dülmen, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Matilda (Paperback)
The novel Matilda by Roald Dahl is about a little girl, called Matilda, who is a complete genius. She taught herself reading and calculating. Her parents, who think a lot of themselves and who are criminal, neglect her. Miss Honey, Matilda's first teacher, is very nice and smart; also, she had a cruel childhood. Her aunt, Miss Trunchbull treated her all the time. Her aunt Miss Trunchbull is the brutal headmistress of Matilda's school. Miss Trunchbull hates all children and uses them to stay in shape as a hammer thrower. Since Matilda met Miss Trunchbull for the first time, they fight against each other. In the end, Matilda helps Miss Honey to get her property, which Miss Trunchbull stole, back and Matilda's family allows her to stay by Miss Honey.We think this book contains a good humour and it is written with a lot of fantasy. Because it is also easy to read, younger people, who are not able to understand much English, are able to understand Matilda's adventure, either. It might be a problem that Matilda does not spend much respect on her parents, what is shown very often, when Matilda punishes her parents for their behaviour. It could be a problem that younger children think that they are also allowed to play such tricks when they do not agree with their parent's decisions.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review of the novel Matilda of Roald Dahl,
By Eva Berning & Anna Maria Frins (Dülmen, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Matilda (Paperback)
The novel Matilda by Roald Dahl is about a little girl, called Matilda, who is a complete genius. She taught herself reading and calculating. Her parents, who think a lot of themselves and who are criminal, neglect her. Miss Honey, Matilda's first teacher, is very nice and smart; also, she had a cruel childhood. Her aunt, Miss Trunchbull treated her all the time. Her aunt Miss Trunchbull is the brutal headmistress of Matilda's school. Miss Trunchbull hates all children and uses them to stay in shape as a hammer thrower. Since Matilda met Miss Trunchbull for the first time, they fight against each other. In the end, Matilda helps Miss Honey to get her property, which Miss Trunchbull stole, back and Matilda's family allows her to stay by Miss Honey.We think this book contains a good humour and it is written with a lot of fantasy. Because it is also easy to read, younger people, who are not able to understand much English, are able to understand Matilda's adventure, either. It might be a problem that Matilda does not spend much respect on her parents, what is shown very often, when Matilda punishes her parents for their behaviour. It could be a problem that younger children think that they are also allowed to play such tricks when they do not agree with their parent's decisions.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book and audiobook for everybody (Children, schools, adults, fans of the movie),
By
This review is from: Matilda (Paperback)
Matilda was, according to Roald Dahl, one the most difficult books that he ever wrote, but it is also one of his most popular, standing alongside Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, BFG and The Witches. It is a story that revolves around an exceptional little girl, whose intelligence is unrecognized by her parents. Because of this, she learns right from the start that she has to do everything by herself to get exactly what she wants. Very episodic in its first half (incidents with Matilda's parents), the story's plot shifts in a straight path in its last half as Matilda enters school and has to face an extremely vicious Headmistress, both to the students and to the teachers.Those that have read Roald Dahl's books will know that children in his stories face difficult and cruel situations from imposing figures of authority. This will not please certain parents or adults who may consider those things too scary and upsetting for children; even accusing those books of promoting rebellious ideologies. But to me those opinions are just rubbish and untrue. Instead, I think this book is an excellent way to warn children and adults that there are adults who have no respect for them and that it is essential to stand up to them. In fact, every time I have read Roald Dahl's books, I have always felt that he is one of those writers who treats children, and readers, with respect because he is showing to them the brutal truth about the world, the adults and the bullies - including those that are respectable authority figures - who think that they can get and do whatever they want because they have the higher power. As for the audiobook version, I was amazed by Joely Richardson's reading. She has the perfect voice tone for each character and she makes the reading such a pleasure that I didn't need to have the book to follow the storyline, and I never got lost by what she said. Why there were times, by looking at Quentin Blake's illustrations and the actress's photo at the back of the audiobook, when I felt Joely Richardson looked just like Ms. Honey. In the end, I think this book, and its audiobook, are some of the most important story everybody should read at least once in its life. For its story, its joy of reading and its respect towards its readers (children or adults).
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