Computer Category Assistant. If anyone requires advice, please leave a message. Above all, DON'T be ...
Computer Category Assistant. If anyone requires advice, please leave a message. Above all, DON'T be afraid to ask dumb questions! I don't bite, honest!
Member since:05.08.2002
Reviews:34
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This is my first book review on Ciao, so any comments on how I can improve will be greatfully accepted!
Background ----------
I have decided to write this book review on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for many reasons, mainly sentimental. When I was young, this used to be my favourite all time book, as it contained such imagination and wonder. However, I hasten to add at this point, that I do not like the film of this book, as I think it mutilates the story in quite a considerable way.
I last read this story again two weeks ago, to my 8 year old cousin, who had only read the poems of Roald Dahl before. I had bought a new copy for sentimental reasons about a year back, which has stood on my bookshelf since. As Jamie had come to stay for a weekend, and hadn’t brought a book with him, I decided to try this book with him out of interest.
It worked a bit too well. He was so enthralled by the story that he begged me to read it to him well past his bedtime! I finished reading it to him over the space of three nights, so the next two nights I made a deal with him. If he went to bed a bit earlier, I would read to him a bit more of the story. He said that the book was now one of his favourite stories, and as it is his birthday coming up in a month, I have
ordered him a copy as my present to him!
Graphology of the book ----------------------
The cover is very colourful and bright, designed to reflect the magical world set out within. It shows the title in fancy script, on a gold-based background, obviously designed to reflect a golden ticket. The cover illustration is by Quentin Blake, and shows Mr. Wonka and Charlie surrounded by sweets.
The text inside is printed in a good sized print, perfect for children who are developing fluency in reading. The book is well laid out in chapters, making it clear to read. What I do also like is how some of the text is set out in a different style to the rest of the book, like the newspaper article in it, to separate it from the main text. I think that the illustrations in this book are superb, drawn to perfection by Quentin Blake. They are drawn in a sort of cartoon style, reflecting the humour of the book very well.
Overview and commentary on story. ---------------------------------
The book starts off on a personal note, where you as a reader, are invited to meet the Bucket family, by looking at the illustrations and matching the characters to the pictures. This gets you involved straightaway into the story, and makes you want to read on.
The story unfolds to tell us how poor Charlie’s family are, as his Dad goes from job to job, only bringing coppers in for the family to live on. Times get harder as winter settles in, and Charlie is denied his favourite food, chocolate. It just so happens that in the town Charlie lives in, in fact very near his house, is where Wonka’s chocolate factory is based. This factory is the biggest in the world, churning out the most delicious sweets and chocolates ever.
However, there is an air of mystery about this place. The owner, Mr Willy Wonka, hasn’t been seen for many years. No one comes out the factory, and no one ever goes into it. The only signs of life in the factory are the smoke from the chimneys, and strange shadows of tiny little men dancing in the long windows of the factory.
Then, an announcement is made! Wonka will be opening the factory to five lucky people! To be one of these people, you had to find a golden ticket in a Wonka Bar. The craze of buying chocolate goes through the world like wildfire, and soon four of the five tickets are found.
Charlie, now thinking that he hasn’t got a hope of finding one, luckily finds fifty pence in the street. He goes to a shop, buys a bar of chocolate and wolfs it down quickly. He decides on the spot to buy another, and in that chocolate bar is the lucky golden ticket!
The next day is the big day, and Charlie, his Grandpa and the other winners cluster outside the factory gates for the big tour. Then at ten o’clock, the big rusty gates swing open, and a most peculiar man in a top hat comes dancing out into the crowd. Yes, it is the famous Willy Wonka himself!
The tour begins, and it soon turns out that the other four children aren’t as innocent as Charlie, each of them having a serious personality trait. As they visit room by room, many wild and adventurous things happen to the party. In each room, one of the children shows their negative side off, and when they do, they get their comeuppance is a big way!
The little people in the factory are actually called Oompa-Loompa’s, and they are Mr Wonka’s workforce. They live in the factory, and they are very loyal, but mischievous creatures. They love practical jokes, and they love making up songs and dances between themselves. This becomes very apparent, because as each child disappears, they make up a song about him/ her, explaining to use why he/ she needed to be disposed of!
T the end of it all, there’s only Charlie left in the tour, which shows that his honest and innocent personality has won through! Mr Wonka was so impressed with him, that he makes Charlie a very generous offer as a reward. “What is the reward?” I hear you ask. Well my answer is simple; read the book and find out!
Overall comments ----------------
I think this story is still one of the best children’s stories around, as it contains a very clever mix of humour, wittiness and imagination. One of the best bits of the way the story is written is Dahl’s dark sense of humour, which is woven into the story, making it enjoyable to both children and adults.
The other thing I like about this story is the underlying moral of good people always win. This is portrayed in a dark way, where all the bad children have nasty experiences, showing that greed and rudeness will not win at the end of the day!
This book is fantastic for children who are gaining confidence with reading, due to the interesting storyline, the good text layout and illustrations, and the humour contained within. A must read for everyone I think!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Very clear and informative review without giving away story. i loved this book. Wonder what the new film will be like?
steph
fnorth 30.05.2004 19:09
I think this book is great, whenever is was reading time at school, we would all race to the book corner to get this book, and I was very sneaking, I just to hide the book before reading time, so I always knew where the book was. Great review. Fiona-x-x-
carly_pussycat 25.03.2004 23:45
I rated you E because I love this book and I think you described it well without giving the story away! I might buy a copy for myself some time! :)
Advantages: ideal kids book if you end up reading to them- its fairly short. and wicked Disadvantages: movie memories may cloud the imagination. minor point though
exceptional by (2%):
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