I decided to start with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it was just as good as I remembered. Having grown up in Birmingham which has it's own chocolate factory, this was always a book that meant a lot to me.
Roald Dahl tells the story of the five children who win the Golden Tickets which will admit them to Mr Willy Wonka's fabulous chocolate factory. One of these children is Charlie Bucket and as Dahl explains, he is the hero of this fantastic tale.
As the children explore the factory and meet Mr Wonka's helpers, the Oompa-Loompas, four of them have quite nasty (and well deserved) accidents. You don't feel very sorry for them as Roald Dahl has gone to great lengths to explain how thoroughly unpleasant each one is. That is apart from Charlie who is the only child left at the end of the day. I love it when Mr Wonka explains that he is giving him and his family the factory as you know more than anything that merely visiting for the day was beyond Charlie's wildest dreams so owning it is beyond belief.What struck me, reading this book as an adult is Roald Dahl's extraordinary use of language. He created some brilliant words which conjure up all kinds of things in the reader's imagination; I really do think he was a genius of children's literature.
I know that I am really going to enjoy re-reading these books. Do you have a favourite Roald Dahl book or character?
10 comments:
Wow, your husband rocks, that's all I can say!
Such a lovely review of this book!
I love Dahl. I grew up with Dahl's stories and I think that every female book worm has a bit of Matilda in herself.:) I like The Witches best, but Charlie is my favourite character, followed closely by Matilda. You're right, he did wonders with the language and I enjoy his dark humour. I also LOVE his poems. His retellings of fairy-tales are wonderful.
Wow - lucky you - not just one but 15 books! I didn't read Roald Dahl much as a child but I think this was my favourite of his books
My favourite Dahl is MATILDA although THE BFG is not far behind.
Irena- He does indeed rock! He will love that you said that! I too love the poems, I can remember reading Revolting Rhymes over and over again when I was younger!
Verity- It's such a lovely story and there is chocolate involved too!
Catherine- Me too, I went to see the stage version of the BFG though and it was ever so good!
I loved Roald Dahl as a child, but haven't tried re-reading it as an adult. It is great to know that he still lives up to expectations. I'm looking forward to reading his books to my sons in a few years time - especially my favourite The BFG!
Charlie and the choc Factory is my fav Dahl book.
It is at the top of my Birth Year reading challenge list which I plan to start in the New Year.
Great review, I am hoping to get more out of this book as an adult reading it with more of an understanding of language than I had as a child.
I read that Dahl based this book on Cadbury's in Birmingham.
carol
My boys were big fans of Roald Dahl stories when they were growing up and so too was I as the reader of the books!
What a lovely gift from Mr S, that is so thoughtful.
My favourtie character is unquestionably The BFG - I still love him now!
Have fun with your re-read, Dot.
farmlanebooks- The BFG is clearly very popular, think I shall have to re-read that one one next!
DizzyC- I felt as though I appreciated the language more, hope you enjoy re-reading it too!
Kim and Mona- Another BFG fan, I can't wait to read them to my children one day!
How wonderful - what a lovely man!
I loved Matilda - it was a fab book. Oh I so want to go back and read them all again.
Josbookjourney- You should, it's really interesting to read them as an adult and just as enjoyable!
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