Review: Matilda

Matilda by Roald Dahl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as wonderful as when I first read it as a child. As an adult, though, I now realise how subversive and dark Matilda is in places. I was quite besumed that Dahl has a five-year-old reading Brighton Rock - a book I gave up on for being too bleak! Plus, that he has Miss Honey outline the difficulties of leaving an abusive relationship (albeit with an Aunt rather than with a partner) is quite impressive for a kid's book.

But, the magic of Matilda is that it shows kids of all ages that they should celebrate their talents. And that people who belittle others are just nasty bullies.

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Review: Mort

Mort by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don't think this was one of Pratchett's best offerings, but, in fairess, it is one of his early ones (apparently, iit is the first one he was pleased with because it was the first one to have a proper plot). Mort is endearing enough but not a patch on Granny Weatherwax, which is probably why this is the first in the Death series not the first in the Mort series.

Ultimately, though this is a Pratchett book. His mediocre is often better than another writer's best. I suspect I probably will continue the Death series. Discworld is a bit a addictive I've found...

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