Classically Challenged: MATILDA!

Matilda - Roald Dahl

Marirosa Mia: Once again please welcome the lovely Sylvie Larsen in another edition of Classically Challenged!

Sylvie: MATILDA, by Roald Dahl is a book for bookish children.  An ode to the bookworm.  It’s a treat for those of us who love to read and see that as something that sets us apart from the rest of the herd.  The story is about a small girl who love, love, loves to read.  Her family, unfortunately, loves to do droll things like watch TV, swindle people and play bingo.  They hate reading; they don’t particularly like Matilda either.  And as dumb as her family is, so Matilda is prodigiously smart.  She is tackling Dickens, Faulkner, and Wells and she’s not even 5 years old.  Already, there is a hint of magic in that.  In addition to her terrible family, Matilda has to compete with her school’s demonic headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, who is, frankly, psychotic.  It’s not a surprise that Matilda lashes out at authority; whenever they do something rotten to her, she does something even more rotten to them. Her punishments are all fun and games until Matilda discovers she’s kinda telekinetic.  

Matilda is not the contrary, outcast character you would expect from this kind of story.  Sure, she’s brilliant and cunning, but she’s also just a little girl.  As soon as she gets to school, she makes friends with the other students.  They are her allies in the battle between headmistress and students.  Their teacher, Miss Honey, also sees the injustice of the headmistress and acts as the caring mother-figure Matilda has always wanted.  

I loved this book.  The story is whimsical and pretty darn heartwarming.  Reading it as an adult has been a treat; I wish I had read it as a bookish child.  The illustrations by Quentin Blake are adorable.  I really like his cute little Matilda line drawings; she makes a great companion throughout the story. I hope that she inspires young readers to keep challenging their minds.  

Since its 25 years out in the world, MATILDA has inspired a movie, a radio play, and now a musical on Broadway! With all these new ways to experience MATILDA I hope the message of challenging oneself will reach a wider audience.