Review of “My Name Is Not Matilda”

As she handed me this book, Miranda asked me to be brutally honest. She believes that a review should be honest, as do I. So it is truthfully I say that this is a brilliant book, that exceeded all my expectations.

In my experience, biography-based books can tend to be rather dreary and drag on. However, in ‘My Name Is Not Matilda’, Miranda keeps the reader engaged with beautifully descriptive scenes and humorous anecdotes. Her writing style is colloquial but conversational, and the entire book feels like a chat with an old friend. From tales of childhood in a boarding school, to life as a model, and adventures in a home-made boat, Miranda’s memoirs are gripping and entertaining.

One of my favourite excerpts is when Miranda tells of standing on her doorstep in the rain, where she ended up waiting for her boyfriend, John, from midnight until dawn. Despite being angry at his lateness, when he appears at the end of the street “singing his heart out, twirling his umbrella, dancing obliviously down the street.” Miranda writes this: “Being in love is grief in reverse. That love is itching to just let itself be, it has everywhere to go, it wants to give everything, take everything, share everything, be everything. It is everything. It lights you up, it shines through you. It shows who you should truly be.”

It is such a beautiful sentiment, a common vein throughout the rest of the book. Miranda has and continues to spend her life doing what makes her happy, never limiting herself to what other people say is sensible or possible.

I think we would all do well to take a leaf out of her book, and I recommend you read it whilst you’re at it.