Matilda by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Published: August 16th 2007 (first published 1988)

Publisher: Puffin Books

Genre: Children’s Fiction / Classic 

Pages: 240

Stars: 5/5

“The Trunchbull” is no match for Matilda!
Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she’s just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It’ll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

What do I say about this book that no one knows? Being late reader has its disadvantage, right? I was looking for a book that was published in my birth year and look what a wonderful book I’ve found. Anyway back to book…

Who said you need strength to fight someone! The brain is enough. And little Matilda has proved it in this book.

Matilda is story of sweet little 5-year-old girl who was exceptionally brilliant and smart kid. The story is about struggle of this girl at her home and school. It’s about bullying, ill-treatment, and fighting for your rights.

Matilda was a prodigy, such a down to earth, innocent, mischievous, and brilliant kid. She was so adorable little fierce heroines. I was so awed when I read she taught herself to read at age 4, was going to library on her own, and had read so many books. Even I haven’t read all the books from Matilda’s book list except 1, Pride and Prejudice.

Matilda’s parents were so full of themselves. They never cared for her, were such a stereotype and not even hesitated in leaving Matilda behind. I can’t believe parents can be this bad. They didn’t deserve to be parents.

Miss Trunchbull was tyrannical headmaster of school and biggest bully one can ever imagine. More surprising was even parents of other kids never acted against Miss Trunchbull. Can’t they believe their kids for once!! Those horror stories of kids experiencing her cruel punishment was unbelievable. Like Miss Honey I also wonder how Miss Trunchbull got her headmaster position! That will be one big mystery that I wanted to know after reading this book.

I loved Miss Honey and Mrs Phelp, both were so friendly, kind, and helpful to Matilda. I even liked some of Metilda’s classmates specially Nigel and Lavender.

I so enjoyed reading Matilda’s revenge on her father and Miss Trunchbull. All her pranks were so creative and I loved how smartly she avoided being caught. Oh and that cake eating event was so mind-blowing, I so laughed with other kids when Bogtrotter ate that whole cake. Matilda and Lavender’s betting on if he will win or not was so amusing.

Story was told in third person narrative in such mesmerizing voice and amusing style. I so loved the beginning of the book. By reading first line only I knew I’m gone love this book. Character descriptions, their characteristics and thoughts were all described remarkably. Oh and those illustrations were so awesome. I specifically liked Miss Trunchbull’s picture it was so damn perfect.

I honestly haven’t expected such big twist and turns. Miss Honey’s story, truth about Miss Trunchbull, Matilda’s power and her miracle acts, her parents’ decision at the end of the book was so surprising and amazingly written.

I so loved the climax and it awed me how Matilda used her power to help Miss Honey and there wasn’t even a drop of pride on this this kid. The theory of her power was also justified nicely in the end, on a second thought I also felt like she got those power just to help Miss Honey.

I so loved the end. It saddened me to see her parents’ reaction and decision but I also felt good in way for Matilda because she deserved better by such end she could have better future and life than with those useless parents.

I heard before this book is amazing, it’s a must read book but it turned out more amazing than I expected. Oh I loved first page of the book. This-

If all Roald Dahl’s books has this awesome first page then I’m going to buy them all. All book should have such first page. I so loved signing there.

Overall, I simply loved this book and I highly recommend it.