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Matilda

by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 · rating details · 195,637 ratings · 4,753 reviews

Chinese edition of Matilda, the Roald Dahl classic. With unusual power, Matilda was able to rid of her school with the vicious headmistress and help her teacher Ms. Honey. Matilda is an unusual book. The last book by Dahl, it is almost like his last words to his readers.

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published March 9th 1992 by Heinemann (first published 1988)

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Mar 22, 2012 Tanu rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-lit, classic, why-did-i-fall-for-this

Matilda is basically a child prodigy; she is 4 years old and a voracious reader. That is amazing, I know! But, Matilda is not the only character. There are the tyrannical parents who do not encourage reading, do not have a shred of love or sympathy for Matilda and basically hate Matilda for some unknown reason. They even abandon her without even thinking twice. Who does that???? Especially with out any sane cause.

Then there is her school life and enters Mrs. Trunchbull. She is evil. Not simply...more

31 likes · like · see review

Sep 14, 2011 K.D. Oliveros rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: Dante

Shelves: childrens, humour, book-club

This is my third book by Roald Dahi (1916-1990). I did not plan to read this because I’ve already read his more famous (earlier) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and his boyhood memoir, Boy: Tales of Childhood (1984) which are both included in the 501 Must Read Books that I am trying to read completely. However, the Filipinos group here in Goodreads selected this book as its bestseller read for this month, September 2011 so I had to buy and read this one too.

This book's main protagonist,...more This is my third book by Roald Dahi (1916-1990). I did not plan to read this because I’ve already read his more famous (earlier) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and his boyhood memoir, Boy: Tales of Childhood (1984) which are both included in the 501 Must Read Books that I am trying to read completely. However, the Filipinos group here in Goodreads selected this book as its bestseller read for this month, September 2011 so I had to buy and read this one too.

This book's main protagonist, Matilda is a precocious, smart and telekinetic 4-y/o book lover who puts super glue on the inside lining of his father’s hat so her mother has to cut the hat and the hair of the poor father so he can sleep properly. I am sure some women, for whatever strange reason, find this funny. However, for a father like me, it is definitely not. No one, fathers included, is perfect. Even if Matilda’s father is mean, obnoxious, shouts at Matilda or does not agree to buy her books and asks her to watch the television instead, he is the one putting food on the dining table. Matilda has to respect his parents. This also includes his mother who, even if she is insensitive, who leaves Matilda all by herself at home every afternoon to play bingo, at least, does not physically hurt or starve her to death. Hence, Matilda has no right to disrespect her parents including scaring them by hiding a parrot up in the chimney, even if the parrot is as lovable as the one in the book. I know that this book is intended for children and most of my GR friends say that they read and liked when they were young (this came out in 1988) so my griping or nitpicking is totally misplaced as I am now an old dog. But hey, I will not tell my teen daughter or my very young nieces to read this as I don't see Matilda as a good girl role model for them. Try Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz or even maybe Pippi Longstocking but definitely not Matilda.

The other reason why I find this book inferior Dahl's other works like Charlie and Boy is the one-dimensional character of the antagonist, headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Why did she become nasty? I understand that the headmistress is not the highest official of a British school, so what do the other school authorities are saying about Miss Trunchbull’s behavior towards the students? Granting that Miss Honey is afraid of her, considering that the other children are not afraid to talk, are they not saying anything to their parents who in turn can get in touch with the other school authorities or even the police?

However, I cannot fully dislike this novel. Any booklover main character is hard for me not to love. Dahl’s children’s books are mostly based on actual people and experiences that he met or had when he was a young boy as his memoir Boy: Tales of Childhood stated. As examples, Miss Trunchbull’s character is said to be based on an actual nasty teacher he had in British school or the conteest entries to the chocolate factory in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were based on real life chocolate recipe contests used to sponsored by Cadbury during his childhood years in England. Also, the relationship of Matilda and Miss Honey should have been inspired by the homesickness that Dahl experienced at British school while he was away from his mom. Aww, sweet boy.

This book is not really bad. I only thought that Charlie and Boy better written, more truthful and more inspiring.
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17 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, childrens, fantasy, january-2012-reading-list, read-to-my-son-8-2012-challenge, ya

This was a fun read, even though the movie Matilda is heavily engraved in my mind and there was no real surprises when reading it. It was fun even though the young lad I was reading it with kept falling asleep two pages in, and I felt to finish in one night.
This story could be used as a manual to parents on how to NOT raise your kids and to all the Trunchbottoms, on how to Not teach children.
All the Trunchbottoms watch out their next pupil might just be like Matilda or up the ante maybe the gi...more

15 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2010 Mariel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: cool people

Recommended to Mariel by: public school

"You chose books and I chose looks." Matilda's mom kills me. I chose looks. I like to look smart too, though. In high school my bro's friends would pick on me for owning so many books. I pretended to be dumb like Matilda and said I hadn't read any of the books and they were trophies to make me look smart. That answer was apparently the right thing to say (probably about the only time I've ever said the right thing either. If it is right to say either like eye-ther I said it like eee-thur, and so...more "You chose books and I chose looks." Matilda's mom kills me. I chose looks. I like to look smart too, though. In high school my bro's friends would pick on me for owning so many books. I pretended to be dumb like Matilda and said I hadn't read any of the books and they were trophies to make me look smart. That answer was apparently the right thing to say (probably about the only time I've ever said the right thing either. If it is right to say either like eye-ther I said it like eee-thur, and so forth). (Scary glimpse into my mind, I conciously pronounce it both ways so I'll have a percentage chance of getting it right.)

One of my favorite childhood books. I can't remember anything good about grade school that wasn't reading Roald Dahl (and a few other not-Roald-Dahl-peoples, to be fair *mutters*). My other memories are stuff like getting puked on and having to wear (all day!) nasty clothes from the '70s from the lost and found. I remember this boy my twin and I absolutely loathed 'cause he ate tuna fish sandwiches with his mouth open (yuck!). We'd go home at the end of the day and pool stories of the day about nasty stuff like that. One of the classes we were allowed to share (public school systems apparently believe in seperating twins. Bastards. It's not like we were gonna form a group and hate people together...oh, wait) was English class. I loved it when Lauren got her turn to read aloud. She did the best ever Matilda's mom. My favorite characters were the nasty ones like Matilda's parents. The funny nasty ones. Trunchbull was disgusting. She actually kept kids in an iron maiden type thing. Vicious! I love Roald Dahl. He'd have hated tuna fish sandwiches and that disgusting '80s fad of "a train going through a tunnel", fo' sho.

I can't believe the big deal made about margarine versus butter. My mom was permanently on a diet and I cannot drink real milk to this day (yes, I know that skim milk is basically white water). Same deal for margarine. I might not have ever had real butter. So what if Miss Honey had real butter? She had food! That also appealed to me greatly as a kid, 'cause we were not allowed to have anything that might tempt my mother away from her diets (she broke them in secret and hid the evidence. Meanie). I remember reading Matilda and getting hungry over all the food stuff. The Twits didn't make me hungry (my bird is shooting me nervous glances right about now, in case I get any pie making ideas). Roald Dahl wouldn't have starved his kids 'cause he wanted to look hot for book jacket photo shoots.

p.s. The Twits is my favorite Roald Dahl book.
p.s.s. James and the Giant Peach is also really great. The only time I didn't hate my classmates (we had feuds over The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) was when we related to loving Roald Dahl. Except they sucked at reading aloud so I really did still hate their guts.
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19 likes · like · see review

Jan 05, 2011 Sandy Tjan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jess-shelf, 2010, bbc-big-reads, ebook

5 stars from my little girl, Jess (age 7).

SPOILERS!

Comments while reading:

"Matilda's parents are sooo stupid!"

"What is a 'used car salesman'?"

"How does putting sawdust and oil in a car's gearbox make it run smoother?"

"The funniest parts are when Miss Trunchbull hurled the kids out of the classroom, and when the newt fell on her."

"How come Miss Trunchbull made Nigel stand with one leg up while facing the wall? That's a weird punishment."

"What?! Miss Honey's wicked aunt is Miss Trunchbull?"

"What i...more

40 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 sj rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My senior year in high school, I became friends with this girl that kind of way outclassed me.

I wore men's cords and snap up western shirts under tee shirts, and was often barefoot when I could get away with it (I kept my duct taped corduroy converse in my backpack and would just slip them on when I went into class)I dyed my hair every week and went to a lot of local punk and third wave shows (srsly, a lot - like at least two a week and I rarely paid my way in).

Contrast with E. who wore heels an...more

8 likes · like · see review

Aug 29, 2009 Sherien rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children

This is a funny yet heartfelt moving story about a small girl who comes from a hellish family but shows a tender heart and an optimistic personality. Very inspiring! While reading this, I can’t stop thinking I wish I had a brain like her especially the ability to read all those great novels in a very early age. Unlike Matilda, my mom was the one doing the reading job when I was 5 years old...LOL!

Every one should read this no matter what age…

8 likes · like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Dante rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, imaginative-lit, prose, best-seller, children-s-fiction

I like this story. But I'm not sure how to classify it. Can it be called a novella?

The plot, basically

Matilda is a very, very intelligent kid. She is just 4 or 5 years old, but she already has a very advanced mind. She loves reading books and seems to be a math genius. Unfortunately, she has a very mean and problematic family. Her parents hate her, and they neglect her all the time.

She goes to school and meets the terrifying Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull runs the whole school, and she is fear...more I like this story. But I'm not sure how to classify it. Can it be called a novella?

The plot, basically

Matilda is a very, very intelligent kid. She is just 4 or 5 years old, but she already has a very advanced mind. She loves reading books and seems to be a math genius. Unfortunately, she has a very mean and problematic family. Her parents hate her, and they neglect her all the time.

She goes to school and meets the terrifying Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull runs the whole school, and she is feared by everybody, even by Matilda's teacher Miss Honey.

Matilda hates Miss Trunchbull, and so does Miss Honey. Matilda discovers that she has the power to move objects with her mind. She uses this power to scare Miss Trunch bull away.

It turns out that Miss Trunchbull is actually Miss Honey's aunt. She took care of Miss Honey when she was still little, after her mommy died. Miss Trunchbull is very abusive towards her, and she became even more atrocious when Miss Honey's father died.

Matilda uses her amazing power against Miss Trunchbull. She fools her into thinking that Miss Honey's late father has come to haunt her for what she has done.

Personal thoughts

I love the story because it's very simple. Well, it *is* a children's story, after all. But it's still intelligent and delightful. It critiques our society's tendency to watch too much TV. I love how Matilda is very bright and how she loves books. It's amazing how, at the age of four, she can already read Dickens, Austen, and the others.

Of course, I like Miss Honey, and of course, I don't like Matilda's parents. But I wondered, at the end of the book, as Matilda's family was packing up to catch their flight, how it is possible for them to hate her so much, or be totally indifferent about her. Maybe she was not really their child? They treat Matilda's brother very diffirently.

It's obvious that the author is a fan of C. S. Lewis. Matilda's last name is Wormwood. It's the name of the apprentice demon in Lewis's Screwtape Letters. Is it true, though, that there are no funny bits in Lewis's fiction?(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 05, 2011 Jeanette rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-fiction, five-star-fiction, giggles, young-adult-books, for-the-munchkins

I have to wonder about Roald Dahl's childhood. His evil adult characters had to have come from his own nightmares. The kids always win against the grownups, though. Maybe that's why Dahl's books are so popular. Isn't it every kid's dream to get back at the big people who get to control your life just because they're big and you're little?
Some of Dahl's grownups are so absurdly cruel, it emphasizes the fact that there are a lot of adults who should not be allowed near children. (I'm thinking of...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jun 11, 2008 Denize Teo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Mr Tony and M5 students

Recommended to Denize by: Dad, and mom

This book is about a girl who is just 4 and is already a genius. Her parents dislike her and call her names. Her teacher, Miss Honey, thinks that Matilda is a very bright girl and can advance to the next grade. But the headmistress, a fierce and angry bull, named Miss Agatha Trunchbull, stopped Miss Honey. Miss Honey told Matilda's parents about her. But did not care. Matilda always thought that Miss Honey was a great teacher, and visited her too. She then realised, that Miss Trunchbull, is her...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2008 Hanbi Ko rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Kids

Matilda is an extrodinary 5 year old girl with amazing mental powers with her eyes and brain. She lives to do anything to get rid of the school's principal and finds a new family with a teacher in her grade while her family is moving. She is willing to always try her best and shares her thoughts to everyone. She gives hope to others and she finds happiness.

7 likes · like · see review

Jan 18, 2013 Mrs. Rogers rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love the hopefulness of Matilda and Ms. Honey. No matter how poorly they are treated, they still are nice people that continue to see the positive side of everything. Plus, Matilda has special powers that you do not want to miss out on.

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Eyehavenofilter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh the colorful places you will go when you read this wonderous book of this childhood you'll wish you had. Actually the childhood friend I wished I had. It is such a sweet story of redemption and loveliness you can't help but wish that every un loved child had an adult that stepped inand whisked them away from this fate worse than anything imaginable.i could read this again and again, and tears would well up in my eyes each and every time. Tears of joy mind you, tears of joy.
Ireland this over...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 04, 2008 Madeline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Her parents were very mean. Miss Trunchbowl, the headmistress was mean, too. Every day when Matilda's mother went to Bingo, Matilda went to the library. Miss Phelps was the librarian. I liked Miss Phelps. She was nice to Matilda. She picked books out for her. First she picked books out of the children's section, and Matilda read them all. And then she went to the grownup books. When she arrived at kindergarten she could do all the tables up to 12, and she could add numbers like a flash of lightn...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2008 Nico rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childhood-confessional

This book was almost *too* stimulating, too gloriously gratifying, when first I read it at a tender age: it's repulsively trite of me to say this, but I felt that it had been written expressly for me.

Just a few of its attractions:
- a fiendishly, freakishly precocious protagonist, whose precocity is depicted as a source of both value and supernatural powers. We're supposed to love Matilda *because* she's smart (a welcome relief from the nerd-bashing and suffocating averageness of other kids'-lit...more

11 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2012 annik rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brit-lit, read-in-russian

«С тех пор каждый день, как только мать уезжала из дома, Матильда приходила в библиотеку. Дорога занимала всего десять минут, и девочка целых два часа могла наслаждаться чтением, тихонько сидя в уголке и проглатывая одну книгу за другой.»

Ох уж эти гипертрофированные директрисы, раскручивающие учеников за косы и оттягивающие уши. Родители, тупые и быдловатые, которые гнобят свою дочь за любовь к книгам, а в конце спокойно отказываются от нее. Учительницы, красивые-умные-добрые, страдающие от несп...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 25, 2007 Heron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh Roald Dahl, you make my life complete. Matilda is one of those books for me. One of the books in my bookshelf, tattered and worn, pages falling out, that I will always go back to, no matter what the occasion. Dear, darling Miss Honey, Matilda's first grade teacher, is ever child's dream, and now that I'm older, every adult's dream as well. Miss Honey lives in a two room cottage with no running water, a camp stove, and wooden boxes for seats. She eats margarine instead of butter! Would that w...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jan 12, 2009 Ashton Hosford rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: roald-dahl

I LOVED the excellent word choice and the detail in this book. I felt like I could have pushed a print button and the vivid image in my mind could have been made into a tangeable picture.

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Aisling Mc Morrow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

'Matilda' by Roald Dahl is an excellent read. It engages the reader from the very beginning. Matilda is an intelligent and very gifted child, however, her gifts are unappreciated by her parents. They are very unloving towards her and it seems as though Matilda is a nuisance to them in life. Although Matilda is quite neglected, the story is not told in a serious manner, it is a humorous novel. When her parents refuse to buy her a book, she begins to visit the local library. After two years, she h...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Joshua.b rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

12/14/12
Matilda is a great story about a little girl whose dream is to go to school. At the age of 6 her horrible parents decide to let her go. The one thing she didn't know is that this school was no ordinary school. It was horrible!

While most of the the tachers were kind, the Principal was horrendous. She was a Olympic Champion at Javelin and Hammer Throwing, and she would use these skills against the children (I cannot how awful it was). Matilda discovers that she is able to fight back by a...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 15, 2009 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Matilda is a child genius. at five and a half she is reading charles dickens and can multiply in her head higher than most adults. when she goes to school Miss honey, the kindergarten teacher, goes to the headmistress to get Matilda catapulted right into a higher form. this would be a brilliant plan, except for one problem: the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is a full-blown, mean-as-can-be MONSTER of a woman. she has been known to throw little girls out of windows. She is the only thing blocking...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2008 Helen Pate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: kids-fiction

This is my favorite Roald Dahl book. Matilda has a pretty yucky home life and school isn't much better for her. She discovers a talent she didn't know she had that turns everything around. Pretty funny and a dose of sweet revenge.

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2008 Audrey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Matilda was a great story. I read it a loud with my class and we all thought it was pretty funny. I love to read those Roald Dahl books. They're great!

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2008 Lindsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another whimsical, twisted tale from the brilliant mind of Roald Dahl. The movie doesn't do it justice. The man is genius!

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 26, 2008 Kendall rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Mattie and Callahan

she is super smart and she plays good tricks on her parents. REALLY GOOD!!!!

1 like · like · see review

Sep 10, 2008 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Roald Dahl is one of my favorite children's authors. What a wonderful book!

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 02, 2008 Jasmine W7 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

gorgeous! mathilda is the most intelligent girl i have ever met.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2008 Eugene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

very good and well written. 2nd fav roald dahl book

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2008 Aria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this book is funny and good for anyone big or small.

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 24, 2008 Giuila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

well-written short read. a true Roald Dahl!

3 likes · like · see review

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About Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.

Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as "A Piece of...more

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)

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Quotes from Matilda

“I'm right and you're wrong, I'm big and you're small, and there's nothing you can do about it.” — 415 people liked it

“Matilda said, "Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable...” — 396 people liked it

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