Матильда
The Reader of Books
"ShallIchooseyouanother?"
Overthenextsixmonths,underMrs.Phelps’swatchfulandcompassionateeye,Matildareadthefollowingbooks:
NicholasNicklebybyCharlesDickens
OliverTwistbyCharlesDickens
JaneEyrebyCharlotteBronte
PrideandPrejudicebyJaneAusten
TessoftheD’UrbervillesbyThomasHardyGonetoEarthbyMaryWebb
KimbyRudyardKipling
TheInvisibleManbyH.G.Wells
TheOldManandtheSeabyErnestHemingway
TheSoundandtheFurybyWilliamFaulkner
TheGrapesofWrathbyJohnSteinbeck
TheGoodCompanionsbyJ.B.Priestley
BrightonRockbyGrahamGreene
AnimalFarmbyGeorgeOrwell
ItwasaformidablelistandbynowMrs.Phelpswasfilledwithwonderandexcitement,butitwasprobablyagoodthingthatshedidnotallowherselftobecompletelycarriedawaybyitall. Almostanyoneelsewitnessingtheachievementsofthissmallchildwouldhavebeentemptedtomakeagreatfussandshoutthenewsalloverthevillageandbeyond,butnotsoMrs.Phelps. Shewassomeonewhomindedherownbusinessandhadlongsincediscovereditwasseldomworthwhiletointerferewithotherpeople’schildren.
"MrHemingwaysaysalotofthingsIdon’tunderstand,"Matildasaidtoher. "Especiallyaboutmenandwomen. ButIloveditallthesame.ThewayhetellsitIfeelIamrightthereonthespotwatchingitallhappen."
"Afinewriterwillalwaysmakeyoufeelthat,"Mrs.Phelpssaid. "Anddon’tworryaboutthebitsyoucan’tunderstand. Sitbackandallowthewordstowasharoundyou,likemusic."
"Iwill,Iwill."
