A review by mariahistryingtoread
Matilda by Roald Dahl

3.0

I really like Matilda. I’ve read it a couple times before along with a couple other Roald Dahl books. It’s beloved for a reason. For me it’s also a comfort read. I know what’s going to happen and I know that even through her mistreatment there will eventually be a release to the pressure she’s facing.

The found family trope is a top 3 trope for me. Matilda eschewing the awful people around her to create the family she wants is nothing short of inspirational. I wish at her age I just intrinsically knew that I deserved better. It would have made the years since a lot easier.

Matilda is a fairly big piece of popular culture now so I think most people probably have a good idea of what happens. Especially since there’s a movie as that increases its accessibility as a story. It’s a good book. It’s got an old school charm to it very reminiscent of early twentieth century classics though not as dry as those can be. I’m American so some of the stuff that’s normal for England remains novel to me.

It’s a fast read so even if you don’t dig it, it’ll go by fast. It’s special to me, but even outside of that it’s at least an enjoyable average read.