cozybec's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Matilda Wormwood is a very gifted child, though her parents are convinced she's nothing special. As life beats her down, she gets up time and time again and proves her resilience and intelligence.
Oof. We all collectively owe Danny DeVito a huge thank you for all the changes made from this book to the classic movie adaption. In no short amount, this book heaps on the classism, fatphobia, abuse, and weird guardian/child relationship that the move carefully reimagines or entirely does away with. I feel like I'll never pick up another Roald Dahl book after listening to this one because I know everything I need to about the author after listening to this.
A lot of other reviews went into aspects of these issues, but I just want to say the overarching message I got from this book was that "just keep going forward, it'll work out!" which is definitely not the case for reality. Right now, I'm not sure that's a great message for kids who read this and have their own backgrounds in abusive situations or poverty. I enjoyed aspects of it, and aspects are funny in a lighthearted way, but as an adult reading it, I can't help but have the entire experience clouded by the sheer amount of bias the author threw in. Every villain is fat, ugly, and horrific - one of the bullies at the school has a wart on her nose and is incredibly Jewish-coded - and overall it screams of bias that has unfortunately been present in fairy tales for centuries. It just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I really won't be returning to this, and I kind of wish I hadn't listened to it because it's ruined some of the magic of the movie for me. One star goes to Kate Winslet though, who did an incredible job voice-acting and overall giving this story enough life for me to get through it.
Content warnings: Child abuse (throughout), Emotional abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Suicide, Death of parent (in past), fatphobia, classism
Oof. We all collectively owe Danny DeVito a huge thank you for all the changes made from this book to the classic movie adaption. In no short amount, this book heaps on the classism, fatphobia, abuse, and weird guardian/child relationship that the move carefully reimagines or entirely does away with. I feel like I'll never pick up another Roald Dahl book after listening to this one because I know everything I need to about the author after listening to this.
A lot of other reviews went into aspects of these issues, but I just want to say the overarching message I got from this book was that "just keep going forward, it'll work out!" which is definitely not the case for reality. Right now, I'm not sure that's a great message for kids who read this and have their own backgrounds in abusive situations or poverty. I enjoyed aspects of it, and aspects are funny in a lighthearted way, but as an adult reading it, I can't help but have the entire experience clouded by the sheer amount of bias the author threw in. Every villain is fat, ugly, and horrific - one of the bullies at the school has a wart on her nose and is incredibly Jewish-coded - and overall it screams of bias that has unfortunately been present in fairy tales for centuries. It just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I really won't be returning to this, and I kind of wish I hadn't listened to it because it's ruined some of the magic of the movie for me. One star goes to Kate Winslet though, who did an incredible job voice-acting and overall giving this story enough life for me to get through it.
Content warnings: Child abuse (throughout), Emotional abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Suicide, Death of parent (in past), fatphobia, classism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Gaslighting, and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
lucyrudd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Torture
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide
sassmistress's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, and Death of parent
nehanaomi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
juleskr02's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
4.25
believe it or not this was my first time reading a roald dahl book! i absolutely adored his take on adapting stories of cruelty and bullying into his children’s books; in my opinion he gives more of a realistic take on what it’s like to be a child, he just dramatizes it a little more.
matilda is a great story. the musical and movie have two different takes and having seen them both, the book was adapted well in both. anything one film skipped out on the other brought in. my one thing i wish both did more of was showcasing how disobedient most of the other kids were. hortensia was a menace and nigel was very short with trunchbull that first lesson.
also yeah i cannot believe this all happened within the span of a week, specifically matilda’s first week of school ever. overall very good!
matilda is a great story. the musical and movie have two different takes and having seen them both, the book was adapted well in both. anything one film skipped out on the other brought in. my one thing i wish both did more of was showcasing how disobedient most of the other kids were. hortensia was a menace and nigel was very short with trunchbull that first lesson.
also yeah i cannot believe this all happened within the span of a week, specifically matilda’s first week of school ever. overall very good!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
scarlettoliver's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Minor: Confinement, Murder, and Torture
katharina90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
The message at the heart of Matilda is so hopeful and uplifting. A David vs. Goliath story that encourages kids to fight their bullies and stand up for what's right. But you have to be ok with descriptions of pretty severe abuse and look past countless other issues including fatphobia and body shaming, sexism and misogyny, classism, and ableist language. Re-reading this now, I don't find it particularly funny and have to work hard to connect with the positive message at the story's core.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Abandonment, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, and Classism
Minor: Ableism and Suicide
sophie42's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Bullying
Moderate: Torture and Abandonment
chiaraaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying