I picked up Matilda from my local library after reading my friend, Kacy’s review, also known as The Fettered Matriarch. I love the Matilda movie and it somehow escaped my knowledge that this was first a novel! In fact, I was unaware Roald Dahl has written many of the childhood classics that have been adapted to the screen such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG. Clearly, I’ve been living under a rock.

Matilda seemed like the perfect end-of-school read for my daughter and me. One of my favorite things about homeschooling is, of course, reading! I have been able to share my love of books with my daughter by reading her a variety of novels including the entire Narnia series, the first two Harry Potter books, Anne of Green Gables and more! Matilda is a short read and possibly our favorite standalone to date. My daughter was completely enraptured and was able to sit still and focus on this story more than any other book I’ve to read her. As we would finish a chapter, she would proceed to beg for me to continue reading. It was an absolute delight to experience this time with her. I’m adding it to my list of favorite memories.

“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.”

My daughter, like Matilda, is strong-willed and a quite defiant when she wants to be. These traits can be difficult for me as a mother when her defiance is aimed at me, but for the most part, I’m thankful she has this strength about her. It will serve her well in life. I may have ignited a fire in her though, by allowing her to experience the revenge-seeking Matilda. At times, Matilda plays cruel tricks on her even crueler parents, which had us sniggering in delight. Then I realized, I might be giving my cunning child a few ideas to add to her repertoire (facepalm). I hope she won’t decide one day to abuse my toothbrush.

Nonetheless, I loved every moment of reading this story and wish I would have had it during my own childhood. It would have been an instant favorite and a place for me to draw strength from during my own difficult times and feelings of loneliness as a kid. My inner-child felt a connection to Matilda, while my adult-self was drawn to Miss Honey, showing how relatable this book can be for children and adults alike. As C.S. Lewis said,

“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”

It was a pleasure to have this mother-daughter memory! If you have children, I encourage you to make time to read to them. In fact, nearly two years ago I wrote a blog post mentioning the reasons I think it’s such a vital part of parenting. Check out my “Reading to Children” post and snag a copy of Matilda below while you’re at it.

Purchase on Amazon!

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