I still remember the time when I had just finished reading Fantastic Mr. Fox and went on a Roald Dahl purchasing spree. I bought three more books on my kindle the very same day! But somehow I seemed to have forgotten about my purchases and went on with my life. I recently discovered that I had a copy of Matilda which I wanted to read before I watched the movie.
Matilda is a character that will forever stay with me. I wish I was born in Roald Dahl stories so I could visit such wonderful characters!
Cover page
O, how beautiful it is! On the cover page is a girl sitting on a cabinet with stacks of books all around. The cover page features this caricature by Quentin Blake who is Dahl’s favourite illustrator. I absolutely loved the cover! The colour pallet is all the more attractive! I wish I had a paperback and not the kindle copy. These are the places I feel kindle loses a point!
Characters
The book is about this little girl called Matilda who is a miracle in herself. Matilda can read very early on in her life. By the time she is five she has read all the authors that need to be read in your lifetime. Dickens is her favourite! The kid is smart too. She soon learns ways to make herself a meal, walk to the library and borrow books and punish those who are mean to her. it is just beautiful listening about Matilda, the wonder kid.
Content
The book begins with an interesting anecdote.
It’s a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful. But Matilda’s parents always thought otherwise.
Matilda’s genius could have been visible to anyone but her parents. Her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn that her ability should have been obvious even to the most half-witted of parents. But Matilda’s parents seemed to have missed all of her various talents!
But it did not bother Matilda much. She just wanted to read and learn faster. One day she gathers her guts and asks for a book. But the response she gets is not how a parents should speak to a child who is willing to learn.
‘What’s wrong with the telly, for heaven’s sake? We’ve got a lovely telly with a twelve-inch screen and now you come asking for a book!
The days go by and Matilda and Matilda’s parents continue behaving badly with her. But, soon she realises that those who do not behave well need to be punished, even if they are grown-ups. The further chapters describe the funny ways in which Matilda punishes her parents, gluing her father’s hair to a hat and scaring her family to wits!
Matilda’s adventurous life continues when she meets my second favorite character in the book called Ms Trunchbull. Although all teachers love students that’s why they comes to teach in the school in the first place, Principal Trunchbull thinks the ideal school is the one in which there are no children!
My idea of a perfect school, Miss Honey, is one that has no children in it at all. One of these days I shall start up a school like that. I think it will be very successful.
Then begins a new journey in both their lives. Ms Trunchbull is a champion at throwing children out of the window and giving them strange punishments. She is terror to all the kids in the school and especially to Miss Honey, Matilda’s favourite teacher. There begins a hilarious journey of Matilda saving her friends and her favorite teacher from Ms Trunchbull and teaching the principal a lesson.
Language
The language is beautiful. There are some really beautiful sentences in the book that are worth quoting. The story has a stunning flow. The narration will keep you hooked on to the story. I absolutely loved the story telling!
Good points
The cover page is beautiful. The characters are very interesting to read about. The story itself is very interesting. The language will keep you gripped to the book.
Bad points
I did not like the ending very much. I was expecting an extraordinary ending but it was nothing like it. This book goes into the list of ‘I wish it had ended better’.
Overall
This book is a delight to read. Not to be missed!
Whom do I recommend this to
This is for those who like children’s literature. Those who like great story telling are also going to enjoy this one.
Quotable Quotes
I cannot for the life of me see why children have to take so long to grow up. I think they do it on purpose.
Go ahead, grab yourself a copy of Matilda and tell us what you think about the book! If you are a Kindle person, ensure to select the Kindle edition of the book.
Looking to buy a Kindle?
The frontlit, high-resolution Kindle Paperwhite seems to be the officially preferred Kindle at Meraki Post; Veena, Gazala and Ram have one each. And while Pooja may claim she is more of the “Love the new book smell” kind of person, she may be secretly deciding between the premium Kindle Oasis and the simple and efficient Good Ol’ Kindle.
Kindle Kindle Paperwhite Kindle Oasis
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