Apparently I missed the book lovers memo about reading Matilda. People were always shocked that someone who likes books as much as I do had never read Matilda. So I have finally rectified that.

Actually it’s the first Dahl book I have read which is another blasphemy but I already saw the movie versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory so I never bothered. Anyway, Matilda was an enjoyable book and I can understand why book lovers enjoy it so.

Dahl is able to perfectly detail how magical reading is with Matilda, showing how it takes her to new worlds and fills her imagination. As well as the horrid tragedy when someone rips a book out of your hands and ignorantly discards it. Plus just the whole idea that reading gives you superpowers is just fun.

Furthermore, it’s just fun. As Matilda says: “Children are not so serious as grown-ups and love to laugh.” Dahl demonstartes it in full force here with the delightful pranks Matilda pulls on her parents and the over the top actions of the Trunchbull.

Yet despite the outrageousness of the punishments and Trunchbull’s cruelty, Matilda does hit a truthful point that by acting so outlandishly, no parent would believe it to be true.

Furthermore, it’s just very sweet to see the mother-daughter relationship grow between Ms. Honey and Matilda as the two who are very alone in the world but are able to understand and help each other in the end.

So overall cute book. Maybe I would have been enamoured if I read it back then, but I certainly see why people enjoy it so much and I’m glad I finally got around to it.