Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Written by Roald Dahl
Childrens, Classic
Originally published 1964
208 Pages
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When Charlie Bucket finds himself the proud winner of a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, he knows he has the greatest treat in the world in store for him. Join Charlie on his fantastic world famous adventures in Willy Wonka's miraculous chocolate factory, where he sees strawberry juice water pistols, luminous lollipops, a chocolate river, and rainbow drops... And has the time of his life.
Each day, Charlie Bucket walks past the Wonka Chocolate Factory. His family live in a small ramshackle house, he and his parents sleeping on the floor while his four grandparents share one bed. Too needy to afford chocolate, the family survives on cabbage stew, apart from the one chocolate bar Charlie receives each year on his birthday. So when the once abandoned Wonka Factory is planning to open it's doors for five lucky children who find a golden ticket packaged in five random Wonka bars. As the tickets are found by the overweight Augustus, spoilt brat Veruca, professional gum chewer Violet, the gun toting and television obsessed Mike... With Charlie being the lucky finder of the final golden ticket.

The factory is imposing and like nothing the world has ever seen. Oompla Loompas keep the production lines running, little men who break into song.. Greed, gluttony, sloth and envy are responsible for each child's demise, taking more than their share, their lack of respect and failure to listen, and the parents are a prime example. 

But for Charlie Bucket, life has never tasted so sweet. The poor boy who walked past the factory each day, is about to discover that dreams really do come true.

My Thoughts


Charlie and The Chocolate Factory has been one of my favourites as a child, and now rereading as an adult, it still holds the same wonder and magic. First published in the sixties, it follows the story of Charlie Bucket who lives below the poverty line, and with only two meager wages and four bedridden grandparents to support, finding the final golden ticket is a dream come true. The other four ticket recipients are portrayed as horrible children who are undeserving, the wealthy, the greedy and the lazy. But Charlie is the quiet hero, never taking more then he's allowed and watches as each child's tour of the factory is abruptly cut short.

Compared to the original film and popular remake starring Johnny Depp, the later is most true to the originally released book. Willy Wonka himself is sarcastic and provides moments of laughter even as the children are slowly disappearing. This is once instance where the remake is actually better than the original film. It's a must read for any child, or child at heart.


19 comments

  1. I'd have to agree that I like the remake more than the original film. I haven't read the book, but the fact that it is closer to the remake, makes me want to read it, too!

    ~ Dre @ Sporadic Reads

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    1. The book is even funnier than the film remake. Willy Wonka is incredibly sarcastic and snarky. Even the Oompa Loompa song lyrics are different, having a crack at greedy kids. I really loved it. If you loved the remake, give this one a read, just too funny.

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  2. You know what you need to read Kelly? Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. It's the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it's not AS awesome as CatCF but it's still so much FUNNNN.

    I am so glad that when you re-read this one as an adult, it still held the same charm :D Maybe I'll re-read it in a couple years too ;)

    Great review, hon!!

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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    1. Thanks Rashika. Sequel? I had no idea there WAS a sequel. I'm definitely grabbing a copy. I loved the snark from Willy Wonka, I think as an adult I can appreciate his sarcastic humour even more.

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  3. Oh but I love how CREEPY the original film is! I have Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in a copy with The Great Glass Elevator...although I haven't actually read that one yet. I definitely have good memories of reading this as a kid, and desperately wanting to find my own Golden Ticket :D

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    1. Me too. Although mine was probably more so that I was a greedy child that wanted to eat everything in sight, like a miniature Homer Simpson. The original movie, Willy Wonker is a lot creepier isn't he, but the remake is more quirky and eccentric and closer to the book. I'll have to check The Great Glass Elevator out soon.

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  4. When I was younger, I had an obsession with this book and with the movie. I'm not even kidding - I'd probably watch the movie or read the book at least once every other day. I think it's got such a great moral and such great characters, and I'm glad you loved it too Kelly! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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    1. I was obsessed with the movie too. Even now when it's on TV, I still curl up on the couch and watch it. It's just something so remarkably magical, it's hard to imagine that so many kids these days would bother because it's not animated. I might watch it this weekend actually.

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  5. Isn't it great when you pick up an old favourite and it still brings you the same wonder and joy as it did when you were a child? Great review Kelly!

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    1. I think I may have enjoyed it even more. Have you seen the new Penguin Edition cover though? It's supposed to look vintage, but it's super creepy. The girl looks like a doll.

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  6. Roald Dahl is amazing and I'm so happy that this book is still as wonderful reading it as an adult as it was when you were a child. I don't think I've ever read this book although the BFG, The Witches and Matilda were dear childhood favourites. Kelly - you've convinced me to "borrow" my niece's copy and read this for myself. I love Sarcastic Willy Wonka and am looking forward to this! :D Great review

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    1. I've decided to read or reread as many classics as I can, so decided to start with children's classics. Pry it from her little hands if you shall, but you must read it!

      Wow, that was super dramatic of me.

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  7. I remember reading this such a long time ago, in elementary school, but I didn't really have a preference between the two films. BUT ROALD DAHL MAN. I read all of his books! I remember loving all of them!

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    1. I actually haven't read any of his other books, but I'm definitely going to see if there's some sort of box set available for all his classic children's titles. They're something that can be kept for your own children to treasure even. My issue is deciding which title of his to read next.

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  8. I love this book. ^-^ When I was about 14 I borrowed all the Roald Dahl books from the library and just binge read them. I KNOW. I always read my "childhood" books at the wrong time. Heck, I'm in my 20s and reading Harry Potter for the first time. I'm so behind. But I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory so much (Johnny Depp is perfect) and I also love Danny, Champion of the World and Matilda. Like a lot.

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    1. I'm in my thirties... Somewhere, and still haven't read the full length Harry Potter series. I'm even more slack. In all fairness though, I only started reading again a little more than two years ago so I'm slowly catching up.

      I'll try Matilda next I think, I've heard it's brilliant.

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