Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
I grew up not reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl but rather watching the Gene Wilder movie. I loved it! I watched it over and over. When they announced the new movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Johny Depp you can’t imagine the kind of excitement (and nervousness – will they do it right?) that was created in our house. To say that my husband is both a Burton and a Depp fan is putting it mildly. They are both highly influential artists for my husband. And we are happy to say that we were not disappointed.
So I decided that it was high time that I actually read the book. And I must admit that there was no way that I could read the book without the movies influencing me. I was constantly comparing them to each other and taking note of how both movies adapted the book to screen. So I feel like I have now come full circle and finally discovered the words that inspired both movies.
Do I even need to summarize? The infamous Willy Wonka hasn’t shown his face in years and is opening his factory to five lucky children for a tour and a promise of something grand and wonderful to one of them. Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee and Charlie Bucket (how could you forget those names?) all get more than they bargained for in Wonka’s wild and crazy factory.
I found Charlie and the Chocolate Factory delightful. Dahl is a master storyteller and the book was fun to read. I did find that although the book was short, I found myself unable to read it straight through. Not sure why I needed little breaks from the narration. It’s a perfect book to read-a-loud as a family or one-on-one with younger kids. It’s fast paced and funny. A story for everybody of all ages to enjoy.
As soon as I finished, I had to put in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Johnny Depp version) movie and and have it playing now. This review is taking me forever because I keep watching the movie instead. I’m not going to go into a movie critique at all. Suffice it to say that there are noticeable differences in both movies from the book which I think make both stories better. It’s fun to see which dialogue they’ve changed and what they’ve kept especially has I have the book fresh in my mind.
And to prove just how influential this story is in our household, check out these family photos from about three years ago:
Can I just mention that I sewed that vest? Because I don’t sew. So I was impressed with myself. And for those who will ask (because they always do) – yes, that is my husband’s real hair.
I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl as part of Banned Books Week. In 1988, a Colorado librarian placed the book in a locked vault because she thought that it espoused a poor philosophy of life. I would highly recommend reading this essay entitled Charlie and the Political Correctness Factory which I found very enlightening about how Dahl changed some of his text after it was printed and the changes made in the movie.
Links of interest: Roald Dahl website. Other Maw Books reviews: James and the Giant Peach (which I reviewed last year for Banned Books Week), The Witches and yesterday’s post about the Mike Teavee song lyrics (where I ask which movie you liked better).
Genre: Juvenile Fiction. Approx ages 9-12.
Publisher: Puffin. June 1998. Originally published 1964.
Paperback, 176 pages. ISBN 0141301155
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Middle Readers
Tags: A-D Author, A-D Title, banned, book to movie, photos of my family, published 1970's
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Oh, I loved that Gene Wilder version! I bet I watched it no less than 30 or 40 times in my childhood, then as an adult got the DVD. Then of course we rushed out to see the new one, and loved it too (although if I had to, I’d come down on the side of the older sentimental favorite). I can’t believe your husband’s costume! Wow! I bet he freaked out more than a few people with that uncanny likeness!
on September 29th, 2009 at 3:35 amI was scared by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a child – though it never occurred to me that I or anybody else should not be reading it – but the Roald Dahl that really freaked me out was The Magic Finger! I have always had a love-hate relationship with Roald Dahl’s books – and my kids think I’m a real wuss!
on September 29th, 2009 at 5:13 amPS Great photo
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on September 29th, 2009 at 5:16 amI’m glad you enjoyed the book as much as the movies. I loved the book as a child and I’ve seen the Burton/Depp adaption but I’ll always envision the Gene Wilder version when I think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
on September 29th, 2009 at 7:57 amI loved the book, I read it and the Glass Elevator as a child. LOVE the picture! I totally thought it was a scene from the movie until I read you post!
on September 29th, 2009 at 8:50 amI love this book! I recently reread this book and I had as much fun as I did when I first read it. It is a gem.
on September 29th, 2009 at 9:20 amThe Wilder movie scared me as a child. Pretty sure I read the book first, though, and I remember liking it better than the Wilder movie. I didn’t like the Burton/Depp movie on first viewing, but I quite like it now. And yes, great photo!
on September 29th, 2009 at 9:21 amMy mom read this book to us when we were kids…always loved it. I prefer the Johnny Depp movie, but maybe because I prefer Johnny Depp. And AWESOME photo!
on September 29th, 2009 at 9:59 amCan I just say – that photo is AWESOME! Amazing.
I loved the Charlie books (Great Glass Elevator was also a winner) as a kid. The Gene Wilder version scared me though. But, I loved the songs. Johnny Depp was absolutely perfect in that role, though. Creepy.
on September 29th, 2009 at 10:13 amI can’t believe you got to experience the greatness of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the first time! It’s a fabulous book. I LOVE the picture of your husband!
on September 29th, 2009 at 10:55 amI prefer the Johnny Depp movie. Somehow he’s less creepy than Gene Wilder was. (Which, yes, seems like a very very odd thing to say.)
I have honestly never read the book… sad, huh? I was wondering what the heck it was doing on the banned list though!
on September 29th, 2009 at 11:26 amI love this book but I spent a long time calling the author ‘Ronald’ before I learned that his name is Roald. My son pointed it out. How sad is that?
on September 29th, 2009 at 11:27 amI haven’t seen the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton film because I remain devoted to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” which is the movie version I grew up on.
I loved the book too – and so did my son, who became a huge Roald Dahl fan during his middle-grade years – but I have a slight preference for the movie because of the songs.
on September 29th, 2009 at 1:26 pmEven if the Oompa-Loompas DID kind of freak me out…
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on September 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pmI loved the gene wilder version, haven’t seen Johnny Depp (he scares me). In fact, that picture of your husband scares me too.
I loved this book as a kid. Thanks for reminding me that I need to introduce this to my son.
on September 30th, 2009 at 12:34 pmI loved this book growing up–and the sequel. What’s it called? Something about the glass elevator. Dahl is such dark writer, especially for kids, but boy is he entertaining!
And I don’t blame your husband–both Depp and Burton are geniouses. I can’t wait for Alice in Wonderland (another dark children’s tale).
on September 30th, 2009 at 6:49 pmI love this book and its sequel soooooooo much. We’ve read them aloud to our kids probably 3 times each.
Love Gene Wilder over Johnny Depp version. No need to mess with perfection.
on September 30th, 2009 at 7:09 pmThe BFG was my first Dahl book but I believe this was my second one. I’ve been meaning to re-read it so I can blog about it
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on October 2nd, 2009 at 2:41 amOh my god, I love that photo of your husband! Very cool.
I also grew up with the Gene Wilder movie. Love that. Will watch it everytime it’s on TV even though I own the DVD. Didn’t LOVE the Johnny Depp as much, but still really liked it.
I want to read all of Roald Dahl’s children’s books soon.
on October 2nd, 2009 at 3:43 amteehee:) i like books too, and my name isnt tammy, lol, im not giving my name, y would u ask for sumthing like that stalker
on October 13th, 2009 at 4:38 pm