Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl, Random House, 1964, 155 pp
I really do not know why I have eight children's books on my 1964 list. I am not sure why I included Roald Dahl in My Big Fat Reading Project. I have grave doubts about what this author was up to. He is one of those morally ambiguous English dudes and I feel queasy about such men who write for children.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the story of a poor boy, so poor that he only gets one candy bar a year, who obtains one of five golden tickets to a tour of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. According to a few of my reading group friends, Dahl's books for children were read to them by their mothers and they loved them.
I have a complicated relationship with sugar in general, chocolate in particular. It is one of my addictions though I have learned to manage it. I had a birthday this month and allowed myself several pieces of chocolate cake. I was just as happy as Charlie when I was eating it but felt horrid for a few days afterwards.
Four of the five kids who get to tour Willy Wonka's factory are horrid little buggers and they each get what is coming to them. Charlie gets to stay and inherits the factory.
The story contains a good amount of preaching against bad behavior, being spoiled, and especially the dangers of television. Nevertheless, everyone eats sugar and chocolate exclusively for the whole day. I know, I know. That was my dream too as a kid, growing up in a home where sugar was tightly restricted.
There have been two movies: one in 1971 for which Dahl wrote the screenplay and one in 2005 directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. I think I have seen the later one.
So now you know all about the book and a little about me and chocolate.
Have you read this book? Did you read it to your kids? Have you seen either movie? Please, weigh in!
(Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available in paperback on the shelves in the children's section at Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
I was given a hardback copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a child and read this novel a few times over my childhood. I loved the book, when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the Gene Wilder version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but don't think I've seen the Johnny Depp version.
I love chocolate and am partial to the dark chocolate variety. Presently, I have given up eating sweets (except for fruit), but have been pretty snooty about the chocolate I've consumed as an adult as I don't like cheap chocolate.
Thanks for weighing in! I can see how any kid would like this book. And I completely am on board with quality chocolate. The cake I ate was from one of my favorite cafes and made with Godiva chocolate.
DeleteHello. I think I read this as a kid but that was long ago. Of course I know every inch of the story from the 1971 film with the star Grandpa Joe and of course Gene Wilder. Sort of a scary or creepy movie for kids (so thinks my Hub) but I admit to liking it and the majority of the Roald Dahl stories as well. Regardless of what Mr. Dahl was like in real life -- I recall being entertained as a child by the books & characters, such as Danny the Champion of the World and such. I try not to buy chocolate too often or it will be gone ... sort of as quick as with Augustus Gloop.
ReplyDeleteGreat Susan! Thanks for bringing up Augustus Gloop. And I agree with the creep factor.
DeleteI grew up reading Roald Dahl's books and never gave any thought in those days to what authors were like as people - I just enjoyed the books. I loved the Gene Wilder musical version as a child too, but didn't really like the more recent one with Johnny Depp.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback. This is getting quite interesting.
DeleteI never read the book as a child, and started watching the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie when it was released, got bored, and quit it. Not what I usually do even if movies aren't that good, so perhaps that tells you something, though I'm not sure what.
ReplyDeleteThe consensus of comments here, on my Facebook page and on Goodreads, seems to be that kids like this book, and his others. So now I have a good reason for reading them. It will help me with the kid characters in the novel I am writing.
DeleteI never read this book and my only experience of it is watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with my kids years (and years!) ago. My kids loved it. I was a big Gene Wilder fan and enjoyed his performance, although I agree Willy was a creepy guy. In fact, when I think about it now, the entire story line gives me the creeps!
ReplyDeleteYay! Another vote for the creep factor!!
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