Book Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

THIS WAS GREAT! I missed out on reading any Roald Dahl as a child, but this year, I decided to pick up a few of his books. I loved ‘Matilda’ and was super excited to read more of Dahl. My son has watched ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ so many times but somehow I never watched the movie too even though Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. So I picked up this classic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes books don’t live up to the hype, but this one exceeded my expectations.

 “Mr Willy Wonka is the most amazing, the most fantastic, the most extraordinary chocolate maker the world has ever seen!”

And now Willy Wonka is about to open the gates of his mysterious factory to five lucky kids! Five winners of Golden Tickets, accompanied by their parents or guardians, will have once-in-a-lifetime chance to take a guided tour of the wonderful Wonka Factory. The five Golden Tickets are hidden underneath a chocolate bar wrapped in ordinary paper and could be anywhere around the world where Wonka’s confectioneries are sold. Little Charlie Bucket lives in the same town with his parents and both sets of grandparents. His father is the only earning member of the family and he earns so less that they hardly get proper meals. Charlie’s family is so poor but still everyone is very nice and considerate. I found myself almost in tears when reading about all the hardships Charlie’s family is going through. They are starving when (just in time) Charlie find a golden ticket. Charlie’s counterparts are four spoilt brats.

What a delight the book is! Roald Dahl really is a master storyteller! He makes you dive deep into the story and experience everything as if you are actually there. Reading about Charlie’s hardships, I felt grateful for all that I am blessed with. The story is about luck (which comes only to the deserving), justice, compassion and lots of mischief and fun. Using dark humour, playful prose, sinister undertones and eccentric children, Dahl weaves a fantasy tale that is highly amusing and timeless.

I loved Charlie and his Grandpa Joe who were humble, sweet, and smart. I loved Willy Wonka: he was brilliant, super creative, and sarcastic as hell. Though many consider Wonka as an evil character but I feel that he was good at heart; just a little bit eccentric. I liked that the bad kids all got in trouble and through them; the author teaches us valuable lessons. I loved the oompa loompas and their songs full of awesome morals. And I loved the chocolate factory with all the tempting chocolates and candies that you can dream of!

A lusciously sweet and delightfully disturbing tale which is an absolute joy ride! You don’t have to be a child to enjoy it. If you haven’t read this heartwarming, hilarious book then pick it up and get in touch with your inner child once again!

Title: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Originally published: 17 January 1964

Author: Roald Dahl

Publishers: Alfred A. Knopf (original), Puffin Books (1995–2006), Scholastic Corporation (current)

Genres: Children’s literature, Fantasy Fiction

Page Count: 176

©2019 Shaloo Walia All rights reserved

 

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