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BOOK REVIEW: Matilda by Roald Dahl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday in my on way, I choose this book. I often regret on not coming across his books in my childhood as each of them are fascinating and Matilda is no exception.

The book’s a pure work of fiction, a classic I’d say. The story revolves around a five year old girl, Matilda who starts knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and 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. Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer.

For revenge and with patience, she warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her helpless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull.

Even though the story might sound plain, it is not as the essential point about the plot is that it is unpredictable. This lenghty book captures Dahl’s words and imagination and in an efficient manner. The emotional truth which Dahl makes a reader to understand and feel is the most essential part I found to deal along with the story of Matilda. The book is wholesomely funny and the character of Matilda will be engraved in a reader’s mind, for the rest of his life. Her love for books at such an early age is another essential part I feel is what we need to our younger generation to realise. It is only by reading books that Matilda found the power of being patient and not getting sad and too frustated even when her self-centered parents abused her habit of reading and the rest of her childhood. Other characters such as her parents and Trunchbull are the plain description of the immoral morons whom one have to face again and again through out their life. The key is, as I said before, to be patient and use your knowledge in such a manner to be compeltely avenged. However, the character of Miss Honey is dream character that every one dreams of being or having one when they were children. And if one recalls his childhood, one might find traits of Miss Honey in some or the person.

Roald Dahl has got a brilliant, and a unique voice. It’s a touching and a funny story with a worthful ending and I would recommend this book to any person belonging to any age.

View Comments

Kate's Reviews says: November 24, 2014 at 2:29 PM This was my favorite book as a child and I the first novel I read :)
moosha23 says: November 24, 2014 at 10:51 PM Matilda is awesome! Thanks for the review...it's made me want to reread Matilda once again :D The movie is awesome too by the way!
thewickedchicken says: November 25, 2014 at 1:02 AM Love this book!
TheSkepticalReader says: November 25, 2014 at 1:06 AM Read this just last week and loved it! An immediate favorite! :)
andersoncasandra says: November 25, 2014 at 4:25 AM Great review, I have never read this story, but I have seen the movie. That's another one to put on my list.
AliceIsMental says: November 26, 2014 at 4:42 AM He is undoubtedly my favourite childhood author, and this book is probably my favourite <3
Iyshwarya Guruprasad says: January 10, 2015 at 12:42 PM I read Matilda too, just a few weeks back! And I sincerely regret not reading more of Roald Dahl in my childhood. Matilda is a fantastic story, and now one of my most favourite books! :)
lilylance says: October 10, 2015 at 7:29 PM I could not agree more. I love Roald Dahl! Great review
napoleonsplit says: April 27, 2016 at 11:43 PM My favorite Roald Dahl book, easily! Have you read Witches? That is another one of my favorites. Great review :)
Sarim saad says: November 8, 2017 at 8:30 PM The book is awesome

This was my favorite book as a child and I the first novel I read :)

Matilda is awesome! Thanks for the review...it's made me want to reread Matilda once again :D
The movie is awesome too by the way!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: November 24, 2014 at 10:52 PM I'll check it out :)

I'll check it out :)

Love this book!

Read this just last week and loved it! An immediate favorite! :)

Great review, I have never read this story, but I have seen the movie. That's another one to put on my list.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: November 25, 2014 at 9:13 AM You should read it :) Thanks for appreciation!

You should read it :) Thanks for appreciation!

He is undoubtedly my favourite childhood author, and this book is probably my favourite <3

I read Matilda too, just a few weeks back! And I sincerely regret not reading more of Roald Dahl in my childhood. Matilda is a fantastic story, and now one of my most favourite books! :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 10, 2015 at 8:06 PM I haven't read Dahl much either. But i am not going to say no next time whenever I'll coke across his books. :)

I haven't read Dahl much either. But i am not going to say no next time whenever I'll coke across his books. :)

I could not agree more. I love Roald Dahl! Great review

Aman(@amanhimself) says: October 10, 2015 at 8:53 PM Thanks!

Thanks!

My favorite Roald Dahl book, easily! Have you read Witches? That is another one of my favorites. Great review :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 27, 2016 at 11:47 PM Thanks, I am still yet to explore his other writings like BFG and The Witches, will review once done with them.

Thanks, I am still yet to explore his other writings like BFG and The Witches, will review once done with them.

napoleonsplit says: April 27, 2016 at 11:48 PM You MUST read The Witches! It is absolutely marvelous, and was definitely one of my favorites as a child. The characters and imagination are wonderful in this one as well.

You MUST read The Witches! It is absolutely marvelous, and was definitely one of my favorites as a child. The characters and imagination are wonderful in this one as well.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 27, 2016 at 11:52 PM I never got to read Roald Dahl in those Childhood days, did not exist in these parts of the world, or at least mine, until I came across Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and one of the librarian told me he writes novels for adults. But I do admire his imagination.

I never got to read Roald Dahl in those Childhood days, did not exist in these parts of the world, or at least mine, until I came across Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and one of the librarian told me he writes novels for adults. But I do admire his imagination.

napoleonsplit says: April 27, 2016 at 11:55 PM A lot of the time even his children's books have more mature insight than you'd expect. Coupled with the imagination, Dahl is unbeatable. Have you seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? I enjoyed that movie.
Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 28, 2016 at 12:06 AM Yeah, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, that is a complete example of how one's imagination can be vast. Have read it someday too. Have you read it?
napoleonsplit says: April 28, 2016 at 12:07 AM Yes! And the sequels as well. I was a Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Carolyn Keene fanatic as a child :)
Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 28, 2016 at 12:10 AM Carolyn Keene have read few hers, or I should say theirs! I liked passing time with Enid Blyton's Secret Seven.
napoleonsplit says: April 28, 2016 at 12:13 AM I was (am) absolutely obsessed with Nancy Drew. I will try to check out Blyton soon; I've never read her.
Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 28, 2016 at 12:16 AM Do so, her Famous Five series is quite famous but I like Secret Seven. It's less repetitive and felt exciting at that time.
napoleonsplit says: April 28, 2016 at 12:35 AM Great I'm putting it on my (new) ASAPRI list!

A lot of the time even his children's books have more mature insight than you'd expect. Coupled with the imagination, Dahl is unbeatable. Have you seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? I enjoyed that movie.

Yeah, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, that is a complete example of how one's imagination can be vast. Have read it someday too. Have you read it?

Yes! And the sequels as well. I was a Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Carolyn Keene fanatic as a child :)

Carolyn Keene have read few hers, or I should say theirs! I liked passing time with Enid Blyton's Secret Seven.

I was (am) absolutely obsessed with Nancy Drew. I will try to check out Blyton soon; I've never read her.

Do so, her Famous Five series is quite famous but I like Secret Seven. It's less repetitive and felt exciting at that time.

Great I'm putting it on my (new) ASAPRI list!

The book is awesome

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