Matilda

By: Roald Dahl

Narrated by: Kate Winslet

Now a musical!

Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a menacing, kid-hating headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

Here is Roald Dahl's original novel of a little girl with extraordinary powers. This much-loved story has recently been made into a wonderful new musical, adapted by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

©1988 Roald Dahl (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Delightful

This is a great match of story and performance. I've loved Matilda since I was old enough to read, my copy of Matilda has been replaced several times over.

From now on I want Kate Winslet to read all books, every book. She throws herself into the story with abandon. The grotesqueness of the Wormwoods, the brutality of Miss Trunchbull, the sick mess that is Hortensia (blech!) and of course, the loveliness of Matilda and Miss Honey. I would love to have been a fly on the wall as she recorded this.

My only compliant is that Kate does get really loud. It fits the performance, but it can be overwhelming.

Problems with volume

This is a great story. Both of my children (6 and 8) enjoyed this book. The story kept their interest and Kate Winslet is a great narrator. The only issue is the sound and voices raise and fall sharply causing you to have to turn down the volume only to have to turn it up again.

Wow

Would you listen to Matilda again? Why?

Kate Winslet was incredible. I couldn't believe the voices she was able to do—she was an utter surprise and delight.

What other book might you compare Matilda to and why?

Of course, the book was wonderful. Roald Dahl is a magician with words.

Which character – as performed by Kate Winslet – was your favorite?

I loved her take on Mrs. Wormwood.

Amazing listen!

Loved every moment of this and so did my kids. Kate Winslet's reading is superb, and of course, the story is one of my favorites!

This is an excellent choice for the entire family!

Book Worm

I think I read this when I was little and haven't since. I recently found a collection of Dahl's books books for sale and decided to re read and read the one's I haven't read.

The story is still amazing and it has that something that the inner kid inside me likes. Matilda is the one book I can relate to because when I was very young I had just as an amazing time discovering books in the library. I even remember after watching movie that I hoped I had special powers too.

Reading this as an adult makes me view things differently, especially with the adults in the book. I can now understand all the characters better. I like how Dahl never hides anything from us, he creates a very real world with real problems. Matilda's family is the perfect example of horrible parents that do exist and the principle is a modern monster, I can connect her to authority figures who abuse their power and know they can get away with it.

What I'm decisive about is the ending, many times I like Dahl's ending compare to the movie because Dahl's endings seem more real. But with this book I couldn't help but compare and maybe prefer the ending and story line of the movie better. The book has more details but the way the movie shot the story line with Miss Trunchbull getting scared in her house and then Matilda's family giving her to Miss Honey felt like it had a better flow. But I haven't seen movie in years so I will also have to revisit that.

So far I have been enjoying my trip thru Dahl's books and I would recommend them.to anyone of any age.

Kate Winslet is a marvel as a reader of one of RD’s most satisfying books-

Kate Winslet is incredible and incredibly funny at doing the multitude of characters - honestly, my estimation of her as an actor which was already very high, has grown even more. If you want to captivate listeners, young and old, for few hours, sit them on comfortable chairs and start the story. A brilliant young girl takes on a frightfully bullying adult and saves her teacher through wit and a little bit if magic- what more could one want?

Amazing Performance!!!

Amazing performance by Kate Winslet!! I'll be searching for more read by her. So glad I listened even though I knew the story.

Matilda is wonderful!

Miss Honey and Matilda are wonderful characters and are wonderful kindred spirits.
My favorite part is where the chalk is used to write the message to Trunchable.

so worth it!

Great story,
Great reading and speed
Fantastic accents!
Will listen again!
Timeless story, I could visualize the scene as the story unfolded.
thank you

My 10 year old loved this book.....and so did I !!

If you could sum up Matilda in three words, what would they be?

Funny, Clever, Sweet.

What other book might you compare Matilda to and why?

Not sure what would compare, now that we have heard Roald Dahl, she is interested in all his books.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end when the teacher gets to keep Matilda as her own.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

One of the best books I've listened to in a long time, had my daughters attention throughout. She was so excited we bought the hardcover so she can take it to school and have her teacher read it.