Sunday, April 26, 2009

Matilda (RDRM #3)

Matilda is the third book I have completed for the Roald Dahl Reading Marathon (RDRM) and it is my favourite! I started reading it at 11 PM (Saturday) and finished at 1.18 AM (Sunday). Snuggled up in my reading chair, I did feel a little sleepy and feared that I might not be able to finish the book but the moment I got started, I knew completing the book would be a breeze. It is quite impossible to resist a book that begins with the chapter "The Reader of Books". . .

Matilda
By Roald Dahl (Author's Website)
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 2007
ISBN-13: 9780141322667
256 pages





Page 35: 'I don't want to know what it's about,' Mr Wormwood barked. 'I'm fed up with your reading anyway. Go and find yourself something useful to do.' With frightening suddenness he now began ripping the pages out of the book in handfuls and throwing them in the waste-paper basket.

Like Matilda, I froze with horror upon reading that. Matilda's father is ripping out pages from a book that belongs to the library. Quoting the back cover of the book, "Matilda Wormwood's father is a mean crooked crook. And her mother's just plain stupid. They think Matilda's a nuisance who should watch more TV and read fewer books!" I simply cannot imagine having parents such as them and I would probably go berserk if I were in Matilda's shoes. The thing is, Matilda is a calm girl and instead of reacting like how a normal girl would (i.e. sulking and crying), she begins plotting suitable punishments particularly toward her father.

Matilda Wormwood is a genius but remains humble. At the age of three, she teaches herself to read and by four, she is reading fast and well. Since her parents discourage reading (horror of horrors!), she resorts to library books. She goes to the library without their knowledge when her mother goes for her bingo sessions on weekdays. She becomes acquainted with the librarian, Mrs Phelps. Mrs Phelps is fascinated by Matilda and her reading prowess seeing that she is just slightly over four years old.

I am definitely with Matilda on this:
The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives. She went on olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling. She travelled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.
The story gets even more interesting with the introduction of her lovely teacher, Miss Honey. Her teacher tries her best to talk sense into the horrible headmistress (Miss Trunchbull) and Matilda's parents about Matilda's extraordinary capabilities in class to match her development, but it all falls onto deaf ears. Miss Honey has a secret and Matilda plays an important role in helping her. There is a common link in all the three stories I have read so far and they all have bullies in them: James's aunts in James and the Giant Peach, the terrible giants in The BFG, and Miss Trunchbull right here in Matilda.

Inspired by Matilda's recommendation, I am going to dig out my copy of The Secret Garden from the TBR pile and get started as soon as I am done with this reading marathon. There is a whole list of authors that she has read such as Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, and many more! Matilda was made into a film in 1996 so I will be looking out for it; I would not want to miss out on watching it!

I'll press on with the last two books tomorrow. Next in queue: The Witches.

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15 commented:

  1. She's 4 and she reads Joseph Conrad and Ernest Hemingway? *faints* I read Conrad and have no idea what he's talking about. If Matilda's real...the whole world would go almost crazy. she might result in a reading cult! I'm sure some of us would be in the group. haha. But.. WOW :D

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  2. This is one of my kids favourite films. I have never read it though. Wouldn't you like to be as well read as Matilda at such a young age. Mrs Trunchball is a very scary lady. Keep going - 3 down - two to go. I think you can do it.

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  3. I just loved the movie as a kid but I never read the book. I do own it though, I just haven't ever gotten around to reading it. I believe I read somewhere (maybe an interview with the author? Can't remember), that all of his books have at least one adult bully in them. I've been thinking of re-reading The Secret Garden lately too... Enjoy The Witches! I recently read it for the first time and loved it :)

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  4. So glad you liked Matilda.

    The Witches sounds really interesting. I'll wait for your review and then go buy both these books :)

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  5. OKay, she somewhat reminds me of me.. except that my parents get irritated with my reading habits and passion cause I bring books even to the dining table... when I was young. And they dont understand why i spend so much on books.

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  6. Hi hi Flo Flo! Isn't Matilda wonderful? She's my hero...

    Hi Viv! It would be a dream come true if I were able to read like Matilda when I was her age. I'm so happy I finished reading all the five books! *GRIN*

    Hey Jen! I've started on The Secret Garden and am totally enjoying it. I'm glad you've enjoyed The Witches. The book sure gives witches a whole new definition. LOL.

    Hi Violet! I loved Matilda! I hope you'll enjoy them all when you get them. :D

    Hi Cmate! We're in the same boat. I dare not even look at my book receipts. I spent a total of 5-figure on books last year -- a 30% increase from the year 2007. That's why I'm on a book ban this year. It's getting out of control...

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  7. what fun! very cool that you are going to read The Secret Garden, I should grab it too, its on my book shelf.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  8. Hi Naida, I absolutely adore The Secret Garden. I don't know why it took me so long to pick it up from my TBR (it's been lying there for ages!). Can't wait to finish it!

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  9. I never knew this was a book by Dahl! Wasn't it made into a movie?

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  10. Glad you enjoyed this. Mariel got me a Matilda mug which I love. I haven't read The Secret Garden so will put it higher up my TBR list.

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  11. I believe so, Wendy. I must rectify the fact that I haven't watch any of the movies here, safe for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

    A Matilda mug?! That's so nice, Rhinoa! TSG is a book not to be missed. :D

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  13. A marathon is a great idea! I've been wanting to re-read Dahl for quite sometime now, maybe I should be doing the same thing. Matilda and James & the Giant Peach are my favourites, although I have a soft spot for Henry Sugar.

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  15. Hi Marineko! I hope you'll get the chance to re-read. Dahl's books are real fun. :D

    Ana, I love Matilda too! *GRIN*

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