Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Ratings557
Average rating4.1
I m sure most of us have seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by now. While I won t expound much on the book, I still recommend it over the movie. Why? The movie is wonderful for eye candy and candy in general, but the wonderful wit of the characters, especially Willy Wonka, is too easily missed in the glare of colours. [return][return]In a nutshell, boy (Charlie Bucket) from very poor family finds one of the five golden tickets that entitle the holder entry and a tour of Willy Wonka s Chocolate Factory. Wonka had a secret agenda for this sudden generosity. Charlie and four other children unwittingly went through trials and temptation. Only good-hearted Charlie passes his test and becomes Wonka s heir.[return][return]Wonka s personal history is never revealed in the book, and their next adventure begins immediately after they collect the Bucket family from their little wooden house at the end of Chocolate Factory.[return][return]Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator takes place after the Elevator leaves the Bucket residence and rockets back into the sky. As Wonka s eccentricities go, the Elevator must achieve a certain height so that it will punch a new entry hole in the roof of the Factory when they descend. Everyone else in the Elevator couldn t see the logic in that either.[return][return]Things go wrong and they end up in space. [return][return]At around the same time, Space Hotel “USA” is floating in space ready to take on its first batch of hotel crew. The Transport Capsule carrying them spots the Glass Elevator, also heading for the hotel. Mistakening them for terrorists, they notify Ground Control. Chaos ensues. The US President, a hapless chap by the name of Lanceleot R Gilligrass, gets involved. [return][return]Unknown to both Transport Capsule and Glass Elevator, the Hotel has already been taken over by a host of aliens called Knids. I won't tell you everything that happened but the Elevator crew does make it back to the Factory intact, and immediately falls into another adventure... all because of the Wonka-Vite.[return][return]The full adventures of Charlie and Willy Wonka continues in another book... which I do not have at this time.[return]return
Years ago, in grade school, I must have read this book at least twenty times. In fact, I believe that my school's librarian banned me from checking out this book because I had done so too many times and other children wanted to read it. So it was time for me to read it again as an adult and I found
that I still enjoy reading it.
The willingness to write children's books with a little edge drew me to all things Roald Dahl as a child. This book does that so well.
Bonita historia sobre los pecados capitales, al leerla se me venía a la cabeza toda la película de Tim Burton, genial.
It was a fun book. Having seen the movie already, I could easily visualise most of the scenes. It is a completely non-sensical story but in a nice way. Love how the Oompa Laampas weave in worldly wisdom into their songs. Love how simple manners and trust help Charlie and Grandpa Joe win the day.
Superbly Sweet
In addition to my personal goal of reading eighty books this year, I've embarked on a delightful journey of shared reading with my eight-year-old niece. One of our initial picks was Roald Dahl's classic, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” While I've cherished the Gene Wilder film adaptation for years, experiencing the book alongside my niece marked my own first foray into Dahl's enchanting tale.
As a third-grade read, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” proved to be a perfect fit for our daily reading routine. With homework mandating twenty minutes of reading per day, we effortlessly devoured 2-3 chapters each session, thanks to the book's concise chapters and charming illustrations scattered throughout. While some vocabulary posed mild challenges, my niece managed to read aloud independently, requiring minimal assistance save for the occasional name pronunciation.
The recent Wonka movie release provided an exciting segue into the book's content, sparking curiosity about the original Willy Wonka film starring Gene Wilder, which we eagerly anticipate watching together. As we look ahead to our next literary adventure with “Matilda,” I'm thrilled to witness my niece's enthusiasm for exploring new stories and characters.
Our reading journey wasn't without its memorable moments, including my impromptu renditions of the beloved Oompa-Loompa songs, much to my niece's delight. Overall, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” facilitated a cherished bonding experience, affirming the timeless appeal of Dahl's storytelling prowess.
Super dark for a kid book, but despite that it was phenomenal. My kids were begging me to read more daily. This was a hit
I recently read this with my son and it was just such a delight to revisit after all this time. I know I read it as a kid, but it had long been supplanted by the film editions. I highly recommend reading old favorites with a child. My son's excitement at major moments – the classic golden ticket in particular – was just so contagious, and so joyous. Nothing quite like it.
Very good. Would caution other parents reading aloud to youngsters that the Oompa Loompa songs are much more violent in the books than in the movies. I forgot about this from when I read as a youngster.
Another book I read this year to my daughter, a chapter each night.
Roald Dahl writes terrible characters - by which I mean he writes terrible characters well. Four awful children with equally awful parents; and of course, Willy Wonka. Charlie Bucket, is the exception, and a bit of a wet blanket. Even Grandpa Joe is marginal. Lazing about in his bed unable to contribute anything to the family until Charlie finds his golden ticket, suddenly Grandpa Joe is jumping around the room and well enough to accompany him on his factory tour - seems fishy to me.
And the factory - fantastical chocolate inventions, as absurd as they sound, Oompa-Loompa - slave labour (who you need only feed caterpillars), a multi-dimensional lift which no engineer is likely to replicate.
What a great load of fun for kids who are pushing the limits of their imagination (and motivated by chocolate). I don't recall ever reading the book in my childhood, but for me I guess, Gene Wilder will always be the Willy Wonka I conjure up when thinking about this book. Him and those orange Donald Trump-esque Oompa-Loompas.
4.5 stars rounded down.
One of the few Roald Dahl books I hadn't read. Totally loved it. Up there with Matilda and The BFG. All highly recommended children's classics.
I missed out on reading this as a child, but still enjoyed it as an adult.
What a lovely, educational, crazy and funny story!
I enjoyed every single chapter with all the characters, and boy I want a Oompa-Loompa as friend singing all day long please!
Willy Wonka for president, please!
Charlie and his family live in poverty and whilst they may not have a lot to go round, it didn't stop him becoming a polite, caring and well mannered young man.
Rereading “The Chocolate Factory” as an adult (and in perhaps to a child at the same time) reminds us not to be greedy, not to spoil our children, to teach them patience, as well as finding other ways to entertain themselves instead of the television (replace that nowadays with a mobile phone or tablet computer) or they may end up suffering ‘interesting' consequences.
What child would not love their own chocolate factory for being polite, caring and well mannered? “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has stood the test of time and I'm sure will do for generations to come.
On the other hand with “The Great Glass Elevator”, I found myself constantly tapping on my Kindle screen to find out how much time was left until the chapter's end. I get that Dahl's imagination can sometimes take a flight of fancy, but it seemed a bit too much. Unlike “The Chocolate Factory”, I'd like to have forgotten that I read it.
The first read of the new decade caught me by surprise. I was cleaning the bookshelf at my parent's house and kinda started reading it without realizing what I had done.
That is such a fun and easy story. And it is so fast-paced and engaging. You can tell, that I really liked it. It is good to know, that that six-year-old child inside me is still alive :)