Tag: Willy Wonka

Roald Dahl – Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator | Review

Title: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Author: Roald Dahl

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 181

Rating: 6/10

 

Roald Dahl - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl – Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

 

Although its predecessor was wonderful, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is an unconvincing sequel to one of the greatest children’s novels ever written. It’s worth reading, but only if you really loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Still, at least it contains some of the same characters that we know and love from before, including Charlie Bucket and his grandpa and the erratic Willy Wonka. Here, they blast off in to space in the great glass elevator in the Wonka factory, and the book covers their adventures as they make their way back to earth.

What is cool, though, is that Dahl originally planned to write a sequel – called Charlie and the White House, it was supposed to tell the story of young Charlie’s escapades in the home of the American president. Only one chapter was ever written, and judging from this story, that’s probably a good thing – it’s tragic when Dahl disappoints.

 

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl

 

Click here to buy Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.


Roald Dahl – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Review

Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Author: Roald Dahl

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 190

Rating: 9/10

 

Roald Dahl - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of the world’s best-known and best-loved children’s novels, and it’s for good reason – it’s beautifully written, inspired by Dahl’s youth at boarding school when Cadbury used to send the schoolchildren bars of chocolate to try and review.

There’s no greater feeling as a child than to believe that Wonka’s chocolate factory really exists, and that you too could one day find a golden ticket in a chocolate bar and get to tour the facilities. Sure, some of the children are repulsive, but don’t let that stop you from reading it – they all get their comeuppance, in the end.

This is one of those rare novels that everyone should read – if you’re an adult and you still haven’t read it, it’s never too late to catch up. Buy a copy now, and find a child to read it to – they’ll thank you when they’re older, and you’ll thank me for suggesting it. A truly classic work of children’s literature.

 

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl

 

Click here to buy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.