Matilda

October 1, 1988
Matilda is an extraordinarily gifted four-year-old whose parentsa crass, dishonest used-car dealer and a self-centered, blowsy bingo addictregard her as ``nothing more than a scab.'' Life with her beastly parents is bearable only because Matilda teaches herself to read, finds the public library, and discovers literature. Also, Matilda loves using her lively intelligence to perpetrate daring acts of revenge on her father. This pastime she further develops when she enrolls in Crunchem Hall Primary School, whose headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is ``a fierce tyrannical monster . . . .'' Adults may cringe at Dahl's excesses in describing the cruel Miss Trunchbull, as well as his reliance on overextended characterization at the expense of plot development. Children, however, with their keenly developed sense of justice, will relish the absolutes of stupidity, greed, evil and might versus intelligence, courage and goodness. They also will sail happily through the contrived, implausible ending. Dahl's phenomenal popularity among children speaks for his breathless storytelling charms; his fans won't be disappointed by Matilda. Blake's droll pen-and-ink sketches extend the exaggerated humor. Ages 9-11.

Who better than Kate Winslet to narrate Dahl's beloved children's classic in its 25th-anniversary year? Winslet draws on her impressive screen experience to bring precocious Matilda and her crusade against insensitive and manipulating adults to new ears. Meet, or re-meet, Matilda's obtuse family and battle-ax headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Rejoice as Matilda, with the guidance of her understanding teacher, Miss Honey, rises above her situation and provides a model of spunk and determination. In the narrator role, Winslet is straightforward, precise, and calm. She saves her panache for her characterizations. While Winslet's Matilda is modestly soft-spoken, she scales her vocal register as the ranting Wormwood parents, booms as Miss Trunchbull, and breathily voices the adored Miss Honey. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine


Another wonderful Roald Dahl creation! Matilda is an innocuously named genius, struggling to survive in a world of comically boorish adults. Ironically she is saved by a combination of their neglect, her own special powers, and the tender love of her teacher, Miss Honey. Ron Keith's British accent not only recreates all of Dahl's wonderfully nasty and delightful characters, it also highlights the varied tonal qualities of each word and each phrase, carrying the listeners through the same range of feelings. Like a true maestro, Keith takes charge at all times to bring Dahl's pickwickian world to life. P.E.F. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine