Matilda by Roald Dahl - Book Review

Another adorably bookish book that I've come across this month is Matilda by master storyteller Roald Dahl. (See my previous review to know more about The Storied Life of A.J. Ficky, another bookish wonder). I actually listened to the audiobook of Matilda, which was so fun it didn't even feel like it was actually over 4 hours long. Read on to discover or rediscover this classic of children literature.

The Plot

At barely 4 years old, Matilda is a genius who not only teaches herself to read, but who also takes an early interest in books. Her passion leads her to the public library where she soon discovers the magic of books. Later on, as she starts school, her teacher, Miss Honey, is quick to notice the remarkable intellect of her new student and decides to help the little girl shine to her true potential. Between playing tricks on her painfully negligent parents and avoiding the wrath of mean headmistress Miss Trunchbull, Matilda continues her eager exploration of the universe of books and learns more about the people and the world around her.

My Review

The Characters
Matilda is a formidable character who is likely to inspire children to grow a love for books as they discover her story. She is a sweet, level-headed and very smart little girl. Though she is young, she is smart enough to know no one is allowed to bully her and doesn't hesitate to do what she must to defend herself against those who are mean or downright cruel to her. She is a character who stands up to her bullies without stooping to their level, making her one of the best role models in youth literature. The 'villains' are also nicely portrayed, ranging from the shamelessly indifferent parents to the mean headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey is a great supportive adult character who not only lends her support to the little girl but who also goes out of her way to allow Matilda to rise to her true potential. 

The Story
The book covers Matilda's many adventures, presenting the narrative as a series of distinctive but related stories. The story is captivating enough to encourage even an adult to read on. Though it is a story meant for children, the story has deep moments that are likely to make young and adult readers alike pause and think. 

The Prose
Though the author is writing for a younger audience, he neither takes a patronizing nor a cheesy voice, keeping the language whimsical but beautiful. An adult reader is also likely to capture subtleties spun in the text that might escape a younger child. Older kids might pick up those subtle messages and make a deeper meaning of their reading. The language employed thus makes this book highly accessible to readers of all ages.

The Ending 
Matilda being a children's book, it naturally has a beautifully written happy ending. The last few pages brings Matilda's story to a satisfying conclusion that points at a happy continuation for the young heroine. 

The Rating
I gave this book a very well deserved 4-star rating on Goodreads.

If you have kids or young siblings and relatives, I highly recommend you give them this book. I wish I had discovered Matilda as a kid! Though I really don't see how much more of a book nerd I might have turned out as :p

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Movies for when you're feeling kind of meh

A few days ago, I posted my book recommendations for days when you're feeling a little low. You can check that out here: 
Books for when you're feeling kind of meh

Sometimes, when we're a bit gloomy, we just don't feel like reading. Yes, that's actually something that happens even to us, book lovers. Instead, we might prefer to put on a nice movie and not think of anything for at least a couple of hours. Here are a few recommendations for you of movies which are sure to make you feel a little better. So grab a big bowl of junk food, get comfortable on your couch and press play. The movie is about to start. 

Which one would you have picked?

1. Love Actually - Directed by Richard Curtis 

This is for me the ultimate cheer-up movie. It's about love and it's not even cheesy. Set during the Christmas season, the movie visits the different aspects of love through ten different storylines. As the countdown for Christmas begins, these stories began to intertwine. With a very good plot and an ensemble cast of formidable actors, this is one of the best romance/holiday movies ever made. You can check out the trailer below:

Cast: Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln and Colin Firth among others.

2. Up - Directed by Pete Docter

When Carl Fredricksen and his lifelong love, Ellie, were still children, they made a promise to one day visit Paradise Falls together. Later, after they got married, Carl began to save money for their trip. Years later, 78-year-old Carl finally has enough money for their trip. Ellie however falls ill and dies, leaving her wish to see Paradise Falls unfulfilled. Refusing to break his promise to her though, Carl ties thousands of balloons to his home and sets out to see the wilds of South America. At the last minute, Carl discovers there is a stowaway on board his makeshift airship. On a quest of his own to earn his final merit badge, Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer, has decided to follow Carl on his adventure. This endearing movie with leave you with all the feels. With its occasional funny bits, great characters and awesome animation and music, Up is bound to bring a smile or two to your lips. Watch the trailer here:

Cast: With the voices of Edward Asner and Jordan Nagai respectively as Carl and Russell

3. It's kind of a funny story

After contemplating suicide, 16-year-old Craig checks himself into a mental health clinic. The youth wing being closed, he's sent to the regular adult floor. There he soon meets fellow patient Bobby, whom he quickly befriends. Later, he meets Noelle, another teen patient, and thinks getting closer to her might be the best way to get over the unrequited high school crush that he's been trying to forget. The movie deals with issues such as depression and mental health while keeping the tone light and fun. This interesting take on an otherwise serious topic makes this movie an unexpectedly fun one to watch. Here's the trailer:

Cast: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts and Viola Davis

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4. Silver Linings Playbook

Patrick "Pat" Solatano, Jr., a man with bipolar disorder, goes back to living with his parents after being released from a psychiatric hospital. Now that he is out of the hospital, Pat is determined to win back his estranged wife. Soon he meets Tiffany, a recently widowed young woman. Tiffany offers to help him win back his wife but only if he accepts to enter a dance competition with her. Pat accepts and they begin to train. Soon, not only are they growing closer, but Pat also starts to cope with his problems and explore his relationships with the people around him. With its humor, awesome plot, great acting and a good measure of dancing, this movie will make you laugh and forget your troubles. Plus it has Jennifer Lawrence in it! Take a look at the trailer:

Cast: Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence as main characters Pat and Tiffany

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Adapted from the book by the same name, which I mentioned in my book recommendations for this topic, this is one of my favorite movies ever. I've watched this like 5 times already. I'm not even kidding. The story is about Charlie, a shy and socially awkward boy who slowly begins to learn about life, love, sex and relationships as he meets new people and tries new things. Charlie stands out as a character for being a very sensitive and intelligent guy. The movie is beautifully done and the acting is superb. Not only does Emma Watson star in it, but Logan Lerman (Charlie) and Ezra Miller (Patrick) are also awesome in their respective roles. You can check out my previous post to know more about the story. Here's the trailer:

Cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller

#Special mention: Anything from Disney

Whether it's a classic like The Little Mermaid, Cinderella or even Sleeping Beauty, or a recent one like Frozen, Disney movies always have the power to cheer you up. Romance, magic, singing and the occasional sassy princess (looking at you Meg)... what else do you need, really?

Do you have any particular movie you like to watch when you have the blues? Comment down below and let me know! 

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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin - Book Review

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it is a bookish book. The main character is a bookseller so yeah, books are very much part of this story. Not only is this beautiful story largely set in a bookstore, but throughout the book we also get little references and quotes pertaining to other books and authors. As you can guess, this is pretty much an ink and paper dream come true for all book lovers. Read on to know more about the story.

The Story

Since the death of his wife, A.J. Fikry has become quite the bitter man. His business is bordering failure, his health is a doctor's nightmare due to poor eating habits and a drink too much per night, and he has taken to shutting out the people who have been reaching out to him. And then one day, as he enters his bookstore, fulling expecting another slow business day, he's shocked to find a very unique package left to his attention right in the middle of the place. Recovering from his initial bemusement, A.J.  realizes that someone just dropped off a baby in his bookstore. Thus ensues a series of decisions and events that will forever change not just the grumpy bookseller's life but also the entire community of Alice Island.  

My Review

Break Time by Maelle Rajoelisolo

The Characters
This book is quite character-driven. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that A.J is an Indo-American character, since diversity in books is something I really appreciate. Despite being presented to us as a bitter man, A.J. eventually grows on the reader. Not only is he brilliantly sarcastic, but you can also actually relate to him. Over the course of the story, through the choices he makes and due to the way he starts to interact with the other characters, he eventually grows on you, making you eager to find out more about him. 

Maya, the baby who is dropped off at his bookstore was also a really good character. Not only is she very likeable, but she is also a smart girl. The book also follows her story as she grows up and over the course of the pages, she slowly becomes a very intelligent young woman with enough book nerdiness to make us, book lovers, smile a few times adoringly. 

This book also had an interesting cast of supporting characters. Despite the fewer appearances they made, they remained crucial to the main story, adding even more depth and loveliness to the story. This might in fact be one of the books I've read to have the best supporting characters. 

The Story
The story unfolds at a leisurely and very agreeable pace. The author does not rush to feed us information. Instead, little pieces of information are offered through each flip of the pages. That does not only makes it easier for us to follow what's going on but it also allows us to focus even better on the story. This book also has a really good plot with just enough subplots to keep things entertaining and intriguing. 

The Prose

The language in this book is beautiful without going over the top with it. A more poetic prose would have lessened the impact of the narrative's more down to earth style. Instead, we are narrated the story in a beautiful but down to earth voice which makes the characters' stories accessible to the reader in a more relatable way. The language is also subtly humorous, spinning sarcasm and comical elements smoothly into the main narrative. 

The Ending 
I'm not going to spoil anything here but all I'll say is that towards the end of the book, something happens to A.J. which I believe will generate mixed reactions from readers. I was so invested into his story that I responded rather strongly to those scenes with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Regardless of how I have and how you might react to that particular bit though, the ending was beautifully done. That I'm adamant about. The final lines so perfectly concluded the book, making it quite a satisfying ending indeed. 

The Rating
I gave this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is due to that particular series of events leading up to the ending, as mentioned above. This is subjective though as I do believe many people would disagree with me there. Overall this was a superb book. A must for people who not only love to read but who also appreciate all bookish things in general. 

If you've read or plan to read this book, let me know down in the comments below. I'm curious to see what other people have thought of the ending. Of course, keep the comments spoiler-free :)

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