Roald Dahl
Paperback | Pages: 176 pages Rating: 4.13 | 617026 Users | 11142 Reviews
Details Regarding Books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1)
| Title | : | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1) |
| Author | : | Roald Dahl |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Movie Tie-In Edition (USA/CAN) |
| Pages | : | Pages: 176 pages |
| Published | : | June 2nd 2005 by Puffin Books (first published 1964) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Magical Realism |
Narration To Books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1)
Tonight I just finished reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory with my son. This is the first chapter book I've read all the way through with him. And it was a ton of fun. First off, I'll admit that I love the movie. I grew up with it. (I'm talking about the Gene Wilder version, of course.)I'll even admit to liking the movie better than the book. Which is something that doesn't happen very often with me. That said, the book is really, really good. It held my four-year old's attention. It's silly, and it's fun. And it's DARK. For those of you who haven't read the book, let me underline this fact for you. Dahl takes pains to really detail the fact that Charlie and his family aren't just hungry and poor. They're destitute. Charlie sleeps on a mattress on the floor. In the winter they are cold, and they're starving to death. And if you think I'm exaggerating on that last point, I'm not. One of the chapters is titled: The Family Begins to Starve. But you know what? I like this book better because of that. It's not sanitized pablum written by committee to be inoffensive. It's the story of a little boy who is in a fucking awful situation, but he is still good and kind and polite and then something really nice happens to him. That's a trope I can get behind. Its it a good book to read with your kids? Absolutely. That said, allow me to tangent off and share my thoughts as a total bastard: If Willie Wonka actually hired workers and paid them a living wage, maybe Charlie Bucket wouldn't be starving to death in the first place. Follow me here. Wonka is effectively running a company where everyone is paid in scrip. The Oompa Loompas are paid, quite literally, in beans. Beans that I'm guessing he has the Oompa Loompas themselves growing in some huge underground cavern. Let's not even get into the ethical tarpit of the fact that Wonka uproots an entire indigenous culture and enslaves them. Let's just look at this from a raw numbers point of view. Pure economics. The Oompa Loompas work in the factory. They are not paid. They never leave the factory. That means they don't pay rent. They don't buy groceries. They don't go to the movies, or take taxis ,or buy clothes. But *everyone* buys Wonka's chocolate. That means that money goes into the factory, but it doesn't come back out into the town. As a result, the local economy is crap. And it's because of this that Charlie's dad can't get a decent job. What's more, it's because of this that his dad *loses* his shitty job, and his family is starving to death. Willie Wonka isn't a childlike magic maker. He's a billionaire corporate fuckwit. He's the candy equivalent of Monsanto. There's no government oversight there. Osha would never have approved that bullshit boiled sweet boat and chocolate river. No. Dude is untouchable. And don't tell me he isn't. That shit that goes on with the other kids? Nobody even *thinks* of suing him. None of the parents even *hint* at it. He probably owns half the judges in the state, and a handful of senators, too. He's a fucking supervillian. And I would paid serious money to see a story where Batman kicks his ass. *End Rant* In closing, let me share something that Oot said while I was reading him this book: "Dad, Willie Wonka is just a regular human, but he *is* a little bit of a wizard like you."Itemize Books Conducive To Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1)
| Original Title: | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
| ISBN: | 0142403881 (ISBN13: 9780142403884) |
| Edition Language: | English URL https://www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl/stories/a-e/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory |
| Series: | Charlie Bucket #1 |
| Characters: | Charlie Bucket, Willy Wonka, Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, Grandpa Joe |
| Literary Awards: | Books I Loved Best Yearly (BILBY) Awards for Read Aloud (1992), North Dakota Children's Choice Award (1985) |
Rating Regarding Books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1)
Ratings: 4.13 From 617026 Users | 11142 ReviewsJudgment Regarding Books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1)
"Isn't it wonderful?" asked Willy Wonka. "Haven't the Oompa-Loompas done a fine job? I particularly liked their poems. Quite perfect, don't you agree?"Charlie turned red. "I, uh..." he began."Yes?" said Willy Wonka. "I know, it's not long enough. It should have been twice as long. Three times as long. But you mustn't discourage them. I'm sure they did the very best they could."Grandpa Joe had meanwhile put on his glasses and peered at the book. "It's not that," he said. "Mr. Wonka, I think"And now," said Willy Wonka, "we're going to see something extra special... my Metaphorical Candy Room!" He flung open the doors, and the five children peeked inside. Augustus Gloop beamed with delight."That's the BIGGEST BOWL OF SKITTLES I'VE EVER SEEN!" he yelled."Indeed it is, indeed it is," said Willy Wonka proudly. "Three point three million of them! One for every Muslim in the United States! But, before you eat any, I must warn you... some of them are POISONED!""How many?" asked Violet
Everything in this room is edible. Even I'm edible. But, that would be called canibalism. It is looked down upon in most societies. Everyone knows this story. Little Charlie Bucket lives with his parents and both sets of grandparents. They all depend on his father for money and he just lost his job. They're running out of food, fuel and money when (just in time) Charlie find a golden ticket. This golden ticket allows him and two guardians into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory for a tour.
THIS WAS GREAT! I've never read any Roald Dahl before, but of course I've heard of the legend and so when I was assigned to read this for my Children's Lit class I was super pumped. And best of all, I enjoyed it! There's always the fear that books won't live up to the hype, but I think this did.I loved Charlie and his Grandpa as the main protagonists: they were humble, and sweet, and smart. I loved Willy Wonka: he was energetic and excited and brilliant and sarcastic as all hell. And I loved how
I was ten years old and already the magic was gone from the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, leprechauns, Santa Claus and his buddy the Krampus. All was stripped of its power to enthrall. Heck, even sex had been demystified years prior. Then along came Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It gloried in candy, my number one passion of the day. But not only that, eating candy was the means to getting even MORE candy! Ah, the golden ticket. How, oh, how I longed for it to be a real thing! I would've
A book that never gets old. I remember carrying this around with me as a child until it fell apart.
Tonight I just finished reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory with my son. This is the first chapter book I've read all the way through with him. And it was a ton of fun. First off, I'll admit that I love the movie. I grew up with it. (I'm talking about the Gene Wilder version, of course.)I'll even admit to liking the movie better than the book. Which is something that doesn't happen very often with me. That said, the book is really, really good. It held my four-year old's attention. It's
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