Matilda

"The opening caught me right away. Snarky and funny. I stumbled upon Kate Winslet's narration on my libby app and had to download it. She has a great host of impressions and made the read more enjoyable. While listening I looked up the author and more of his stories. I grew up watching Matilda and James and the Giant Peach had never known they were from the same mind. Matilda's story was beautiful, fun, and full of magic but underneath was a lining of neglect and a child trying to find acceptance. Still, after everything she had been through Matilda was courageous and inspiring. What hit home the most was how Matilda was belittled for reading. It's strange to think that this still happens today. Even readers put down other book lovers for their taste. I read all genres yet as soon as I pick up a romance I'm pegged. Not to mention that reading broadens the mind and gives one ideas to think for oneself. A trait that Matilda excels at. Our brains are so complex and this was a fun spin-off about suppressed human thoughts gaining freedom for the first time. I thought it magical and terribly clever. The only complaint I have was the ending was abrupt. Quotes: "You seemed so far away," Miss Honey whispered awestruck. "Oh, I was, I was flying past the stars on silver wings," Matilda said. "It was wonderful.""

"Watched this movie when I was little. Decided to give the audiobook a try. Thoroughly enjoyed it. So funny. It made me want to listen to all of Roald Dahl’s books. "

"Dahl's writing style is a lot of fun, but the book is more than half exposition with a rather rushed ending."

"Fun and whimsical "

"Matilda is another one of Roald Dahl's fantastic fantasies. Matilda is a young girl who has a love of reading and parents who would rather watch TV than ever pick up a book. Matilda finds happiness and joy in her books when life gets hard. Matilda is a wonderful book for elementary and middle school readers alike."

" No prob!"

"There's only a couple of books from when the movie was better, and this is one of them. It's not a <i> bad </i> book by any means, but if you were to ask me if you should read it, I'd tell you to go watch the film. <br/><br/>I've recently been on a binge of remembering old books that I read in elementary school, and this was on my list. It was a required class read for my third grade class along with Little House in the Big Woods (which I will be starting as soon as I finish this review, as that is a <i> big </i> source of nostalgia for me) and Shiloh, which I don't want to read because I started bawling when we watched the movie after reading the book and the teachers had to take me out of the classroom for me to compose myself.<br/><br/>One of the only things I remember from my third grade self reading this for the first time was thinking 'Oh, hey, that's a book? I love the movie!' And then being semi-disappointed, but not downright hating it. <br/><br/>I pretty much agree with my third grade self. The book, in my opinion, doesn't really have any notable climax like the movie does. The 'dramatic' scenes give no tension and are too short to create a sense of nervousness. And, yes, I do understand it's a children's book, but children aren't dumb. Even my third grade self was like 'that was it?' when the ending came about. It just made the experience a little less enjoyable. <br/><br/>It would have been a four star if not for that, and I thought it would be until I realized that chase scene in the Trunchbull's house isn't in the book. Other than that, quick, fun read. But as I've said before, I prefer the movie.<br/><br/>Second Reread:<br/><br/>I think it’s more a 3.5. The audiobook was really entertaining. Still think the ending is lackluster tho"

"This was excellent. Her voice is hypnotic and mesmerizing. For more Kate Winslet reading check out Save with Stories on Instagram. Where she reads children’s picture books for a good cause. "

"This had been my favorite book since my 3rd grade teacher read it to me and it will probably always be my favorite book because it reminds me of a younger more innocent time."

"I was not introduced to this book growing up and I'm sad I wasn't. Its such a classic and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it in book club with a few students. :)"