Book Club: Matilda
- By: Adele Malfoy

So this theme was rather difficult to get an idea about. I decided to ask around the SOUP office and between the three of us (big thanks to Nox and Kitten!), the chosen book this month is... Matilda!

Matilda is a story by Roald Dahl that tells the story of a girl who is so extraordinary that she's a little miracle. She's born to Harry and Zinnia Wormwood and whilst they adore their son, Michael, Matilda is a completely different matter.

She doesn't fit in with her family at all. She loves books rather than sitting and watching TV like the rest of her family. I love reading books too, and so does Hermione Granger. Which, I don't think that would change whatever House she was in. Anyway, Matilda learns to take care of herself at the age of two and it makes me feel sad that parents don't care about their children. If her parents had noticed this and actually cared about their daughter, then Matilda's life could have been so different.

Her mother goes to play Bingo and her father works, so Matilda was often left alone. She'd read everything in the house by aged five and ended up finding the public library. I wish my 5-year-old brother could find the local library. It's just another case of how young Matilda has to fight for her place in the world. I'm so glad that she found a friend in books because nobody deserves to be treated the way she has been by her parents.

Matilda, along with her friend, play pranks on her parents as a form of revenge for the way Matilda is treated and I remember laughing so hard when I read the bit about her father's hair being dyed platinum blonde. Reading that never gets old. (I should point out that this book is a favourite of mine.) Some of the pranks are humorous and some pranks show Matilda's advanced mind at such a young age.

Through the library, Matilda gets to read the likes of Charles Dickens and Herman Mellville. Quite a feet for a 5-year-old child, really, when you think about it. I remember struggling to read them at Muggle school and, for a 4 to 5-year-old to manage it... well I think Matilda's parents should have been happier and proud of their daughter!

I was so happy when Matilda finally got to start school as she longed to do for so long. She was introduced to Jennifer Honey, who reminds me of a teacher that I got on well with at my school. They both truly cared for the rest of the students and went out of their way to help them. Miss Honey realizes Matilda's intelligence and tries to get her moved into a higher class, but Miss Trunchbull (the Principal) refuses to listen to her niece. That's right! Miss Honey even gets her own story.

Miss Honey then tries to talk to Matilda's parents, but is unable to get them to see just how much of a gift their daughter has. It's just another sign that Matilda is different to her family. However, this time, someone can see that and tries to make a difference in the little girl's life. This is probably to try and make up for her parents failing her.

Time moves on and Matilda struggles, but not in the sense that you would think. She struggles because the work is too easy for her and her mind is desperate for a challenge. We've all been in that situation and can feel Matilda's anguish at her situation... so what does her mind do? Gives her the power of telekinesis! Which she uses to help Miss Honey in return for all the help that the teacher had given her. I won't spoil Miss Honey's story for those who want to read it, but she and Matilda do get their happy ending in the end.

Matilda is a little girl who doesn't fit in, and she finds her escape in books before she finally finds a way to fit in. I guess this book taught me that there is always a place for us, no matter how much we feel like we don't fit in. I was a Gryffindor when I first started HEX, and I didn't feel like I really fitted in with the Lions. Then I moved to Slytherin, and now I found my family and truly fit right in amongst the Snakes! The thing about life is that you don't always fit in with people or groups. Don't go changing who you are just to fit in, though! Find the group who accept you for who you are because there is only one of you and, whilst you want to fit in, changing to fit in is not the way to do things. Be true to yourself because you'll always find a place to fit in in the end, just like Matilda did. Now, I'm off to read the book again.

Until next time,
Adele xx