xielianisliterallyme's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
erkajank's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wombat_88's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cka1026's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
gingerbread_candel's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alexfrommars's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ohno_judy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kay70's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rodanoar's review against another edition
4.5
I always feel hopeful after reading a children's or middle-grade book; Matilda is no exception. Roald Dahl, with his whimsical and witty writing style, brought the message that you can find joy even among the most rotten type of people. I found myself laughing out loud at the extreme and ridiculous situations, yet also rooting for the characters, all in such a short span of pages!
I also enjoyed how Dahl portrayed children as intelligent beings, without making the reader (and target audience) feel dumb (as some adults tend to treat kids). He criticized those events and people who are part of our society, and he did so brilliantly!
And, of course, as an illustrator, I can't ignore Quentin Blake's fantastic work! His drawings are full of life and character, without losing the essence and freedom of drawing like a child - without fear of failure, even if the characters turn out derpy or full of lines. I found myself gaping at them for quite a while; they are marvelous!
My only complaint would be how short this book was! In the movies, it looked much longer with loads of things happening, but here I found the ending coming too soon for my liking. But it's just nitpicking; it was still splendidly done!
I also enjoyed how Dahl portrayed children as intelligent beings, without making the reader (and target audience) feel dumb (as some adults tend to treat kids). He criticized those events and people who are part of our society, and he did so brilliantly!
And, of course, as an illustrator, I can't ignore Quentin Blake's fantastic work! His drawings are full of life and character, without losing the essence and freedom of drawing like a child - without fear of failure, even if the characters turn out derpy or full of lines. I found myself gaping at them for quite a while; they are marvelous!
My only complaint would be how short this book was! In the movies, it looked much longer with loads of things happening, but here I found the ending coming too soon for my liking. But it's just nitpicking; it was still splendidly done!