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Charlie Bucket #2
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket's back for another adventure. When the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting the world’' first space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride.
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,151 books25.2k followersRoald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940's with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.
Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as A Piece of Cake. The story, about his wartime adventures, was bought by the Saturday Evening Post for $900, and propelled him into a career as a writer. Its title was inspired by a highly inaccurate and sensationalized article about the crash that blinded him, which claimed he had been shot down instead of simply having to land because of low fuel.
His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore. The book was commissioned by Walt Disney for a film that was never made, and published in 1943. Dahl went on to create some of the best-loved children's stories of the 20th century, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach.
He also had a successful parallel career as the writer of macabre adult short stories, usually with a dark sense of humour and a surprise ending. Many were originally written for American magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, Harper's, Playboy and The New Yorker, then subsequently collected by Dahl into anthologies, gaining world-wide acclaim. Dahl wrote more than 60 short stories and they have appeared in numerous collections, some only being published in book form after his death. His stories also brought him three Edgar Awards: in 1954, for the collection Someone Like You; in 1959, for the story "The Landlady"; and in 1980, for the episode of Tales of the Unexpected based on "Skin".
Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as A Piece of Cake. The story, about his wartime adventures, was bought by the Saturday Evening Post for $900, and propelled him into a career as a writer. Its title was inspired by a highly inaccurate and sensationalized article about the crash that blinded him, which claimed he had been shot down instead of simply having to land because of low fuel.
His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore. The book was commissioned by Walt Disney for a film that was never made, and published in 1943. Dahl went on to create some of the best-loved children's stories of the 20th century, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach.
He also had a successful parallel career as the writer of macabre adult short stories, usually with a dark sense of humour and a surprise ending. Many were originally written for American magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, Harper's, Playboy and The New Yorker, then subsequently collected by Dahl into anthologies, gaining world-wide acclaim. Dahl wrote more than 60 short stories and they have appeared in numerous collections, some only being published in book form after his death. His stories also brought him three Edgar Awards: in 1954, for the collection Someone Like You; in 1959, for the story "The Landlady"; and in 1980, for the episode of Tales of the Unexpected based on "Skin".
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November 13, 2021
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator: The Further Adventures of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, Chocolate-Maker Extraordinaire (Charlie Bucket, #2), Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is a children's book by British author Roald Dahl.
It is the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, continuing the story of young Charlie Bucket and chocolatier Willy Wonka as they travel in the Great Glass Elevator.
The story picks up immediately where the previous book left off, with Charlie and his whole family aboard the flying Great Glass Elevator.
The Elevator goes into orbit by accident, where Mr Wonka docks them at the U.S. Space Hotel.
Shortly after their arrival, the hotel's elevators open, revealing man-eating monsters, known as Vermicious Knids, which form a letter of the word 'SCRAM'. Recognising the danger, Mr Wonka orders everybody off the Space Hotel.
Upon the Elevator's departure, the monsters consumed some people aboard.
Charlie suggests towing the shuttle back to Earth. Whereupon Willy Wonka returns the Elevator with the shuttle to Earth, the monsters are incinerated in the atmosphere.
Mr Wonka releases the shuttle, and the Elevator then crashes down through the roof of the chocolate factory.
Back in the chocolate factory, three of Charlie's grandparents refuse to leave their bed. Mr Wonka gives them a rejuvenation formula.
They take much more than they need, and they each lose eighty years. 78-year-old Grandma Georgina vanishes, having become "-2".
Charlie and Mr Wonka journey to 'Minusland', then Mr. Wonka restores her with a sprayable compound that makes people older.
Grandma Georgina has become 358 years old. Using a cautious dose, the three are restored to their original age.
Finally, the President of the U.S. invites the family and Mr Wonka to the White House, as a thank you for their space rescue.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال2001میلادی
عنوان: چارلی و آسانسور بزرگ شیشه ای کتاب دوم از سری چارلی باکت؛ نویسنده: رولد دال؛ مترجم شهلا طهماسبی؛ تهران، نشر مرکز، کتابهای مریم، سال1377؛ در160ص؛ شابک9643053784؛ چاپ دوم سال1380؛ چاپ سوم سال1381؛ چاپ هفتم سال1388؛ شابک9789643053789؛ موضوع داستانهای کودکان از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 20م
مترجم: محبوبه نجف حانی؛ تهران، افق، سال1386؛ در234ص؛ چاپ سوم سال1388؛ شابک9789643693985؛چاپ دیگر تهران، افق، چاپ پنجم سال1392؛ در238ص؛ شابک9789643698430؛
مترجم: نوشین ملکی؛ تهران، گاج، سال1395؛ در165ص؛ شابک9786003593305؛
مترجم: مهناز ایلدرمی؛ تهران، گل آذین، سال1396؛ در180ص؛ شابک9789647703222؛
ادامه ی داستانِ «چارلی و کارخانه شکلات سازی» اثر «رولد دال» است؛ «چارلی» و پدر و مادر و مامان بزرگها و بابابزرگهایش، سوار آسانسور اسرارآمیز فضایی آقای «وانکا» میشوند؛ مامان بزرگها، و بابابزرگها، الم شنگه ای راه میاندازند، که آنسرش ناپیداست؛ آقای «وانکا» نیز، با آسانسورش پز میدهد، و مشغول هنرنمایی است؛ «چارلی» و «بابابزرگ جو»، دست به هر کاری میزنند، تا در رکاب آقای «وانکا»، سر و سامانی به آشفته بازار، و شله قلمکاری که پخته شده، بدهند؛ ناگهان، سر و کله ی یک سفینه ی فضایی بزرگ، سبز میشود؛ که میخواهد مسافرانش را، به نخستین هتل فضایی تاریخ برساند؛ گل بود، به سبزه نیز آراسته شد...؛ سر و کله ی کرمهای غولی هم، پیدا میشود؛ آقای «وانکا» و دوستانش، در کهکشان شیری، توی دل خطر میروند؛ عسلهای گلم، خوانشگران نوجوان، لباسهای فضاییتان را بپوشید؛ شما هم به آسانسور فضایی آقای «وانکا»، دعوت هستید!؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 22/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ 21/08/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is a children's book by British author Roald Dahl.
It is the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, continuing the story of young Charlie Bucket and chocolatier Willy Wonka as they travel in the Great Glass Elevator.
The story picks up immediately where the previous book left off, with Charlie and his whole family aboard the flying Great Glass Elevator.
The Elevator goes into orbit by accident, where Mr Wonka docks them at the U.S. Space Hotel.
Shortly after their arrival, the hotel's elevators open, revealing man-eating monsters, known as Vermicious Knids, which form a letter of the word 'SCRAM'. Recognising the danger, Mr Wonka orders everybody off the Space Hotel.
Upon the Elevator's departure, the monsters consumed some people aboard.
Charlie suggests towing the shuttle back to Earth. Whereupon Willy Wonka returns the Elevator with the shuttle to Earth, the monsters are incinerated in the atmosphere.
Mr Wonka releases the shuttle, and the Elevator then crashes down through the roof of the chocolate factory.
Back in the chocolate factory, three of Charlie's grandparents refuse to leave their bed. Mr Wonka gives them a rejuvenation formula.
They take much more than they need, and they each lose eighty years. 78-year-old Grandma Georgina vanishes, having become "-2".
Charlie and Mr Wonka journey to 'Minusland', then Mr. Wonka restores her with a sprayable compound that makes people older.
Grandma Georgina has become 358 years old. Using a cautious dose, the three are restored to their original age.
Finally, the President of the U.S. invites the family and Mr Wonka to the White House, as a thank you for their space rescue.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال2001میلادی
عنوان: چارلی و آسانسور بزرگ شیشه ای کتاب دوم از سری چارلی باکت؛ نویسنده: رولد دال؛ مترجم شهلا طهماسبی؛ تهران، نشر مرکز، کتابهای مریم، سال1377؛ در160ص؛ شابک9643053784؛ چاپ دوم سال1380؛ چاپ سوم سال1381؛ چاپ هفتم سال1388؛ شابک9789643053789؛ موضوع داستانهای کودکان از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 20م
مترجم: محبوبه نجف حانی؛ تهران، افق، سال1386؛ در234ص؛ چاپ سوم سال1388؛ شابک9789643693985؛چاپ دیگر تهران، افق، چاپ پنجم سال1392؛ در238ص؛ شابک9789643698430؛
مترجم: نوشین ملکی؛ تهران، گاج، سال1395؛ در165ص؛ شابک9786003593305؛
مترجم: مهناز ایلدرمی؛ تهران، گل آذین، سال1396؛ در180ص؛ شابک9789647703222؛
ادامه ی داستانِ «چارلی و کارخانه شکلات سازی» اثر «رولد دال» است؛ «چارلی» و پدر و مادر و مامان بزرگها و بابابزرگهایش، سوار آسانسور اسرارآمیز فضایی آقای «وانکا» میشوند؛ مامان بزرگها، و بابابزرگها، الم شنگه ای راه میاندازند، که آنسرش ناپیداست؛ آقای «وانکا» نیز، با آسانسورش پز میدهد، و مشغول هنرنمایی است؛ «چارلی» و «بابابزرگ جو»، دست به هر کاری میزنند، تا در رکاب آقای «وانکا»، سر و سامانی به آشفته بازار، و شله قلمکاری که پخته شده، بدهند؛ ناگهان، سر و کله ی یک سفینه ی فضایی بزرگ، سبز میشود؛ که میخواهد مسافرانش را، به نخستین هتل فضایی تاریخ برساند؛ گل بود، به سبزه نیز آراسته شد...؛ سر و کله ی کرمهای غولی هم، پیدا میشود؛ آقای «وانکا» و دوستانش، در کهکشان شیری، توی دل خطر میروند؛ عسلهای گلم، خوانشگران نوجوان، لباسهای فضاییتان را بپوشید؛ شما هم به آسانسور فضایی آقای «وانکا»، دعوت هستید!؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 22/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ 21/08/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
January 27, 2020
English (Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator) / Italiano
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's sequel starts exactly frome where we were at the end of the previous adventure, that is in the glass elevator that should bring Charlie Bucket and all his family (and Mr. Wonka of course), to the chocolate factory. But something goes wrong...
A series of amazing adventures and catastrophic events will keep all the children with bated breath. Who has loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will probably be disappointed by this sequel (not me!), however some brilliant idea still grab the attention of younger readers.
Vote: 7
Il seguito de La fabbrica di cioccolato, inizia esattamente dove eravamo arrivati al termine della precedente avventura, ossia nell’ascensore di cristallo che dovrebbe portare Charlie Bucket e tutta la sua famiglia (e ovviamente il signor Wonka), alla fabbrica di cioccolato. Ma qualcosa va storto…
Una serie di mirabolanti avventure e di eventi catastrofici terrà i più piccini con il fiato sospeso. Chi ha amato La fabbrica di cioccolato probabilmente rimarrà deluso da questo seguito (non io!), tuttavia alcune trovate divertenti coinvolgeranno comunque i lettori più giovani.
Voto: 7
December 10, 2020
I really think Wonka needs to stick with his Chocolate Factory...
Maybe it's just me...but this one just didn't have the same spark as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Physics aside, the Bucket Family and Willy Wonka putter around rather amusingly until they spot a space station hotel.
That being said, I was really disappointed that this one was so paled so much in comparison with the first novel. There was no naughty kids getting their just deserts, there weren't any creepily cheerful Oompa-Loompa songs and (most importantly) hardly any chocolate factory.
I don't think I'll be going for a reread any time soon.
Audiobook Comments
Really enjoyed all of the inflections and tones. Certainly made this one fun to listen to! Douglas Hodge certainly knew what he was doing when he read this one!
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Maybe it's just me...but this one just didn't have the same spark as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“Hooray!" said the Chief of the Army. "Let's blow everyone up! Bang-bang! Bang-bang!”We last left Charlie and his family soaring up into the sky in the great glass elevator. They're about to start their next big adventure, with their feet firmly planted in the sky.
Physics aside, the Bucket Family and Willy Wonka putter around rather amusingly until they spot a space station hotel.
My Great Glass Elevator is ready for anything! In we go! Into the breach, dear friends, into the breach!The moment they set foot into the station, all heck breaks loose. I didn't know where to look. Between Charlie, Mr. Wonka, his parents and all four of his grandparents, there was surely enough misadventures to keep even the most restless of children entertained.
A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men,” Mr. Wonka said.Overall, this was an interesting one. I certainly couldn't have predicted where this was going but was pleasantly surprised by the ending.
That being said, I was really disappointed that this one was so paled so much in comparison with the first novel. There was no naughty kids getting their just deserts, there weren't any creepily cheerful Oompa-Loompa songs and (most importantly) hardly any chocolate factory.
I don't think I'll be going for a reread any time soon.
Audiobook Comments
Really enjoyed all of the inflections and tones. Certainly made this one fun to listen to! Douglas Hodge certainly knew what he was doing when he read this one!
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
April 28, 2024
As we last seen the mighty, marvelous, wizard , Willy Wonka and his sidekick Charlie floating high in the sky, ( blue in color if you are curious, what else? ) in the stupendous... the Great Glass Elevator of the previous book, we wonder where in the world are they going? Not exactly there, someplace better for certain, but first, on board the magical contraption are of course...Willy...Charlie... the boy's parents Mr. and Mrs. Bucket ( not important enough to be given their proper names) and the four aged grandparents of the kid, the duo and the machine, had picked up...Still in the beloved ancient bed, pardon me, old Grandpa Joe is walking, sauntering in truth and has left his friends. Getting back to the adventure Wonka says he needs to travel to outer space and gain tremendous speed in the descent, to punch a large hole in his chocolate factory's roof in order to reenter the building, seems very extreme and a little dangerous the old, grumpy folks feel, they like the calm, peaceful atmosphere ... none here...and quite expensive I think to repair, however it's his edifice. Yet Mr. Willy Wonka makes Edison look like an amateur inventor next to him, this man or is he? Has everything needed for survival, let us continue this gentleman's escapades, he knows it all, Charlie believes...never gets nervous in a tight situation, unflappable always as they, the others scream in terror at the sight of thousands of evil Vermicious Knids trying to crush them, hundreds of miles above in Earth orbit. What you don't know what these creatures are? Shame on you, I take that back, few people do...picture a large egg with two menacing looking eyes , who later transform themselves into even bigger, uglier snakes. This ... silly... misunderstanding occurred because the people from the glass elevator wanted to be the first guests in the brand new glorious Space Hotel, these aliens from a planet millions of light- years away got there before, unwelcome though since not one is paying a dime, for accommodations, to be fair, the same applies equally, to the beings from the chocolate factory, however Mr. Wonka has plenty of money, he is definitely not a gatecrasher he says ...and will pay all expenses incurred. The real guests are being brought up by American astronauts and the hotel staff also, over 140 total, imagine the shock seeing Willy and Co. and these things floating around in unhealthy space... battling each other, now the snakes, trying to kill both groups, the new visitors, are not amused or believers for a while.. .yet will be soon...Houston thinks they the astronauts , have gone completely nuts describing the action, as the undaunted Willy Wonka fights back, additionally the old, petrified people inside the glass elevator, help if possible. I trust the heroes will get on solid ground in a short time, but this is debatable...A good sequel to the classic book , well worth the trouble to read... for the young at heart. And those a tiny bit older ...all are welcomed without a doubt too.
September 9, 2021
who the hell told roald dahl the thing we liked from charlie and the chocolate factory was...the elevator?
like, here is a definitive ranking for me, personally, of everything i liked in order:
- the sweets (obviously)
- orange guys singing mean songs about children
- someone turning into a blueberry, as a concept
- the idea that a chocolate bar could be life-changing (this was a great life lesson)
- wallpaper you can lick (now this gives me the heebie-jeebies, but then it seemed rad)
- swimming in chocolate (ditto the above statement)
- permission to spend my old age living in a bed with my husband and my kid's spouse's parents (the dream, i guess, at least the lazy part)
notice that nowhere in that list is "whimsical ways to get from one floor of a building to another."
whatever. everything about this book is a disappointment, so at least the title makes that clear upfront.
part of my review books from forever ago and get mad for no reason series
like, here is a definitive ranking for me, personally, of everything i liked in order:
- the sweets (obviously)
- orange guys singing mean songs about children
- someone turning into a blueberry, as a concept
- the idea that a chocolate bar could be life-changing (this was a great life lesson)
- wallpaper you can lick (now this gives me the heebie-jeebies, but then it seemed rad)
- swimming in chocolate (ditto the above statement)
- permission to spend my old age living in a bed with my husband and my kid's spouse's parents (the dream, i guess, at least the lazy part)
notice that nowhere in that list is "whimsical ways to get from one floor of a building to another."
whatever. everything about this book is a disappointment, so at least the title makes that clear upfront.
part of my review books from forever ago and get mad for no reason series
November 25, 2018
Neo's class has been reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which led us to watching both versions of the film. When he learned of this sequel, he wanted us to give it a try. Not one he highly recommends, but here is a slightly updated version of my original review:
After the hair-raising adventure that Charlie Bucket underwent in the opening novel, Dahl is ready to entertain young readers again. When last we spoke of Charlie, he was loading his entire family into the glass elevator from his newly-acquired chocolate factory. With Willy Wonka and Grandpa Joe helping at the controls, Charlie welcomes Mr. and Mrs. Bucket, Grandpa George, and Grandmas Josephine and Georgina into the machine before it blasted off. Heading up, up, up into the sky, Wonka explains the wonders of his machine, which can go in any direction and into any room whatsoever. Wonka is eager to show off the elevator's prowess, blasting it into space, where the group is spotted by a US rocket ship full of astronauts. Reporting back to the White House, these astronauts speak about the peculiar nature of the unidentified ship in front of them. The President of the United States is sure they are astronaut spies that cannot be trusted, even from afar. As Wonka and Charlie dock the elevator onto the International Space Hotel USA, more drama ensues when an extra-terrestrial being is seen wandering around. Knowing much about space and its inhabitants, Wonka helps protect the aforementioned US ship and the containment pod carrying workers for the hotel, before blasting back towards earth. Upon arrival back at the factory, Wonka seeks to enliven Charlie's grandparents, in hopes that they will get out of bed and help run the factory. Stubborn and old, George, Georgina, and Josephine refuse, but are subject to a product that Willy Wonka has been using inside the factory walls; a pill that can reverse the aging process. When the three greedy grandparents take matters into their own hands, Wonka must use another product, with the opposite effect, to calibrate their ages again. Just as Charlie thinks the drama might be done, there comes a special letter from Washington, with another round of adventures for everyone to enjoy. Dahl's creative juices were surely flowing and shall never be bottled as he creates more fun for the young and those who feel it in the bones.
While not as crafty as the first Charlie Bucket story, Dahl brings readers into the fold with another outlandish tale that pushes the limits of the imagination. That said, it does clip along nicely and utilises some of the minor characters from the opening tale (grandparents) in a more hands-on role, which is sure to pique the interest of the reader. Dahl chooses to focus more on the action-adventure in this book than the slowly evolving adventure that touches the heart, which I did not care for as much, but still remain happy to see how things developed. The novel poses fewer themes and lessons than pure, silly entertainment for the reader. I can see what this was never picked up for a movie (to the best of my knowledge), but can only hope that if it is, Johnny Depp is kept away from the project, as he left a new generation with a sour taste in their mouths that no Oompa Loompa could fix. While the ending does leave room for more adventures and the characters could make for an interesting mix within the factory walls, the passing of Roald Dahl in 1990 has made that a natural impossibility. But, with a score of other novels for children to explore, there is hope that the new generation will look back to what entertained their parents and grandparents, finding richness in stores that did not require vampires, wizards, or even Middle School.
Kudos, Mr. Dahl for touching so many lives across the generations with simple ideas that flourish into magic.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After the hair-raising adventure that Charlie Bucket underwent in the opening novel, Dahl is ready to entertain young readers again. When last we spoke of Charlie, he was loading his entire family into the glass elevator from his newly-acquired chocolate factory. With Willy Wonka and Grandpa Joe helping at the controls, Charlie welcomes Mr. and Mrs. Bucket, Grandpa George, and Grandmas Josephine and Georgina into the machine before it blasted off. Heading up, up, up into the sky, Wonka explains the wonders of his machine, which can go in any direction and into any room whatsoever. Wonka is eager to show off the elevator's prowess, blasting it into space, where the group is spotted by a US rocket ship full of astronauts. Reporting back to the White House, these astronauts speak about the peculiar nature of the unidentified ship in front of them. The President of the United States is sure they are astronaut spies that cannot be trusted, even from afar. As Wonka and Charlie dock the elevator onto the International Space Hotel USA, more drama ensues when an extra-terrestrial being is seen wandering around. Knowing much about space and its inhabitants, Wonka helps protect the aforementioned US ship and the containment pod carrying workers for the hotel, before blasting back towards earth. Upon arrival back at the factory, Wonka seeks to enliven Charlie's grandparents, in hopes that they will get out of bed and help run the factory. Stubborn and old, George, Georgina, and Josephine refuse, but are subject to a product that Willy Wonka has been using inside the factory walls; a pill that can reverse the aging process. When the three greedy grandparents take matters into their own hands, Wonka must use another product, with the opposite effect, to calibrate their ages again. Just as Charlie thinks the drama might be done, there comes a special letter from Washington, with another round of adventures for everyone to enjoy. Dahl's creative juices were surely flowing and shall never be bottled as he creates more fun for the young and those who feel it in the bones.
While not as crafty as the first Charlie Bucket story, Dahl brings readers into the fold with another outlandish tale that pushes the limits of the imagination. That said, it does clip along nicely and utilises some of the minor characters from the opening tale (grandparents) in a more hands-on role, which is sure to pique the interest of the reader. Dahl chooses to focus more on the action-adventure in this book than the slowly evolving adventure that touches the heart, which I did not care for as much, but still remain happy to see how things developed. The novel poses fewer themes and lessons than pure, silly entertainment for the reader. I can see what this was never picked up for a movie (to the best of my knowledge), but can only hope that if it is, Johnny Depp is kept away from the project, as he left a new generation with a sour taste in their mouths that no Oompa Loompa could fix. While the ending does leave room for more adventures and the characters could make for an interesting mix within the factory walls, the passing of Roald Dahl in 1990 has made that a natural impossibility. But, with a score of other novels for children to explore, there is hope that the new generation will look back to what entertained their parents and grandparents, finding richness in stores that did not require vampires, wizards, or even Middle School.
Kudos, Mr. Dahl for touching so many lives across the generations with simple ideas that flourish into magic.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 12, 2020
When I read this as a kid: 5 Stars
Reread as an adult: 2 Stars
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic. I enjoyed it as a kid and I enjoyed it as an adult when I reread it with my kids a few months ago. Next logical step was to reread the sequel to my kids which was another book that I had fond memories of from my childhood.
However, this book has not aged well . . .
Generally, I really enjoy Dahl’s work, but I may have found one that might be best left skipped. I guess the incoherent goofiness of this was endearing to me as a child, but it was quite painful during the reread. My wife kept trying to get out of listening to it with me and the kids because it was so bad, but the kids would not let me proceed unless she was in the room! The first half of the book is a bizarre space adventure with cringe-worthy dialogue. The second half is a thinly veiled commentary on drug overdosing – including an . It’s just makes me wonder a lot about where this all came from after the wonderful first book.
Also, there are many cultural representations in this book that would not fly today. Some of you have seen on Disney+ where they have left the old movies in tact but put a warning on movies like Dumbo and Peter Pan that they contain dated cultural references – this book needs that disclaimer! As racial tensions have been very high in the news lately, know that this book would not hold up in the debate. This is especially troublesome as it is geared towards children – so I kind of skimmed a few parts. Maybe back when it was written it was not a big deal, but there are several things here I would not want my kids repeating in public!
So, approach this one with caution. If you want to complete Charlie and Willy Wonka’s journey, then give it a go and maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. But, you have been warned about what you are getting into!
Reread as an adult: 2 Stars
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic. I enjoyed it as a kid and I enjoyed it as an adult when I reread it with my kids a few months ago. Next logical step was to reread the sequel to my kids which was another book that I had fond memories of from my childhood.
However, this book has not aged well . . .
Generally, I really enjoy Dahl’s work, but I may have found one that might be best left skipped. I guess the incoherent goofiness of this was endearing to me as a child, but it was quite painful during the reread. My wife kept trying to get out of listening to it with me and the kids because it was so bad, but the kids would not let me proceed unless she was in the room! The first half of the book is a bizarre space adventure with cringe-worthy dialogue. The second half is a thinly veiled commentary on drug overdosing – including an . It’s just makes me wonder a lot about where this all came from after the wonderful first book.
Also, there are many cultural representations in this book that would not fly today. Some of you have seen on Disney+ where they have left the old movies in tact but put a warning on movies like Dumbo and Peter Pan that they contain dated cultural references – this book needs that disclaimer! As racial tensions have been very high in the news lately, know that this book would not hold up in the debate. This is especially troublesome as it is geared towards children – so I kind of skimmed a few parts. Maybe back when it was written it was not a big deal, but there are several things here I would not want my kids repeating in public!
So, approach this one with caution. If you want to complete Charlie and Willy Wonka’s journey, then give it a go and maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. But, you have been warned about what you are getting into!
March 29, 2012
“Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator” picks up where “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” left of, but if “’Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ is Dahl at his best…” then “Charlie and the great Glass Elevator is Dahl at his worst. However, children will still love the silliness of it all.
The best way to describe “…the Great Glass Elevator” is clumsy and inane. The Big differences between “Chocolate Factory” and “…Glass Elevator” is that former is silly with a point and congruent within itself, and the latter is pointlessly silly and seems full of discrepancies. In “…Chocolate Factory” there was a clearly developed plot and moral in amongst all that silliness, but in “…Glass Elevator” I have no idea why it went the way it did. And even though this is supposed to be a sequel, I could be wrong but there seems to be a discrepancy in the age of the grandparents. In addition the story often doesn’t seem to jive with itself. Of course there is always the giant possibility that I was so utterly bored with this book that I didn’t catch everything.
Needless to say, young children, for whom this book was intended, will probably enjoy the silly imagination of this story, but adults like me probably won’t like it so much. I think I probably wanted more chocolate factory and less outer space nonsense.
The best way to describe “…the Great Glass Elevator” is clumsy and inane. The Big differences between “Chocolate Factory” and “…Glass Elevator” is that former is silly with a point and congruent within itself, and the latter is pointlessly silly and seems full of discrepancies. In “…Chocolate Factory” there was a clearly developed plot and moral in amongst all that silliness, but in “…Glass Elevator” I have no idea why it went the way it did. And even though this is supposed to be a sequel, I could be wrong but there seems to be a discrepancy in the age of the grandparents. In addition the story often doesn’t seem to jive with itself. Of course there is always the giant possibility that I was so utterly bored with this book that I didn’t catch everything.
Needless to say, young children, for whom this book was intended, will probably enjoy the silly imagination of this story, but adults like me probably won’t like it so much. I think I probably wanted more chocolate factory and less outer space nonsense.
August 17, 2021
آقای رولد دال، من خیلی بهتون ارادت دارم. ولی اگه چیز خنده داری هست به مام بگید بخندیم.
این چی بود نوشتی آخه مرد مومن؟ خیلی بی نمک و گیج و شلوغ بود.
ببخشید ولی دوسش نداشتم.
این چی بود نوشتی آخه مرد مومن؟ خیلی بی نمک و گیج و شلوغ بود.
ببخشید ولی دوسش نداشتم.
March 23, 2015
I just discovered Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator was written the year I was born. Apparently a lot of my favorite childhood kids' books were written that year. 1972 seemed to be the year of the fanciful, magical and/or pastoral, nature-oriented kids' book: Watership Down, All Creatures Great and Small, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Frog and Toad #2, Earthsea Cycle #3.
This might explain a few things about me...but then again it more likely has a whole lot more to say about where the American reading public's mind was at the time: fully ensconced in Vietnam and sick of it. It was time for a bit of escapism and Roald Dahl's books provided just that.
This is a sequel of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which picks up right were its predecessor left off, at least story-wise. It does not however pick up and carry on the same level of fantastical fun and frivolity. Remember feeling underwhelmed, not quite as carried away with this one as I did the first (Ironic, considering it takes place in a flying elevator). Perhaps it's because the shine has worn off a bit, the surprises have been sprung and now that the reader knows what to expect in Wonka it all doesn't seem quite as magical. Oh well. Just the same, it's still a fun-as-heck book!
This might explain a few things about me...but then again it more likely has a whole lot more to say about where the American reading public's mind was at the time: fully ensconced in Vietnam and sick of it. It was time for a bit of escapism and Roald Dahl's books provided just that.
This is a sequel of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which picks up right were its predecessor left off, at least story-wise. It does not however pick up and carry on the same level of fantastical fun and frivolity. Remember feeling underwhelmed, not quite as carried away with this one as I did the first (Ironic, considering it takes place in a flying elevator). Perhaps it's because the shine has worn off a bit, the surprises have been sprung and now that the reader knows what to expect in Wonka it all doesn't seem quite as magical. Oh well. Just the same, it's still a fun-as-heck book!
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July 6, 2018
Unlike it's predecessor, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this book is probably a bit too far-fetched for it to grab the same amount of attention. It's an odd little book-it has some good moments and is written much in the same way as the first book-and his many others-but it definitely has it's faults.
Of-the-time-racism was probably the biggest one. It's difficult to critique something that was "okay" at the time of the book being published, but I can't help but think that perhaps that, along with the quite-too-much-whimsy storyline has contributed to this one being almost forgotten. There is still some great imagination, but there just seemed to be something completely lacking: possibly the very flimsy and thin plot and the rather annoying characters of Charlie's bed-ridden grandparents.
It was, however, mercifully short and a nice quick read that took me away from the heavy and serious Classics for a while, which is always great. I'm sure children will enjoy it immensely, though I'd perhaps be a bit vigilante when it comes to the jokes about the Chinese.
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Of-the-time-racism was probably the biggest one. It's difficult to critique something that was "okay" at the time of the book being published, but I can't help but think that perhaps that, along with the quite-too-much-whimsy storyline has contributed to this one being almost forgotten. There is still some great imagination, but there just seemed to be something completely lacking: possibly the very flimsy and thin plot and the rather annoying characters of Charlie's bed-ridden grandparents.
It was, however, mercifully short and a nice quick read that took me away from the heavy and serious Classics for a while, which is always great. I'm sure children will enjoy it immensely, though I'd perhaps be a bit vigilante when it comes to the jokes about the Chinese.
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June 3, 2022
While I can admit that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was definitely the better book, that doesn't diminish the enjoyment I got from the sequel. This story was hysterically silly from beginning to end at the expense of the adults. The United States president was the funniest of the bunch. There was outer space, monsters, oompa loompas, and chocolate factory hijinks. The story pointed to a possible part 3, but sadly that never came to fruition.
February 28, 2024
**3.5-stars**
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is cute and so silly. A great, fun, wacky, witty and energetic read for children.
While I don't feel the same pull, love, or nostalgia to this as I do to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I can still appreciate Dahl's imagination and ability to bring fiction to life.
I read this when I was a kid and I'm not sure I truly understood a lot of what was going on, as it does jump around quickly, and there's a bit of a Cold War humor undertone to it that I'm sure escaped me.
However, I'm not sure I tracked much more this time around in my 40s, though not necessarily for the same reasons.
I did love the incorporation of Charlie's family more, particularly when their ages were getting messed with towards the end by some of Wonka's inventions.
I did definitely miss the magic and wonder of the Chocolate Factory. There's something about the idea of those endless and impossible sweets that is sure to capture your heart. Also, I sort of missed the annoying other children.
Since Charlie is the best of the best though, it was nice to get to see him escape his previously tough life and go on a true adventure with his loved ones.
I love Charlie and Wonka. Classic characters for all time!
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is cute and so silly. A great, fun, wacky, witty and energetic read for children.
While I don't feel the same pull, love, or nostalgia to this as I do to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I can still appreciate Dahl's imagination and ability to bring fiction to life.
I read this when I was a kid and I'm not sure I truly understood a lot of what was going on, as it does jump around quickly, and there's a bit of a Cold War humor undertone to it that I'm sure escaped me.
However, I'm not sure I tracked much more this time around in my 40s, though not necessarily for the same reasons.
I did love the incorporation of Charlie's family more, particularly when their ages were getting messed with towards the end by some of Wonka's inventions.
I did definitely miss the magic and wonder of the Chocolate Factory. There's something about the idea of those endless and impossible sweets that is sure to capture your heart. Also, I sort of missed the annoying other children.
Since Charlie is the best of the best though, it was nice to get to see him escape his previously tough life and go on a true adventure with his loved ones.
I love Charlie and Wonka. Classic characters for all time!
March 9, 2017
I am currently trying to read through all of Roald Dahl's books because growing up I loved the ones that I read. I originally read Charlie and the Chocolate factory when I was in middle school. I thought it was about time to finally read the second book.
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator was a very interesting book. It was not what I expected (for the first half of the book) and I was very disappointed by that. I felt like this book was two short stories combined. More than half of the book takes place in space and in an elevator. It has nothing to do with the Chocolate Factory at all. It felt like Roald Dahl used Charlie, his family and Willie Wanka as the characters in that "short story" because he didn't want to have to create background information on new people.
Then for the second half of the book they go back to the Factory and the Umpa Lumpas sang multiple songs. Nothing else that happened really had anything to do with the factory. The grandparents were affected by some of the candy, but that could have taken place anywhere.
This book was a much let down compared to the first book. The only reason it received 3 stars from me is because Roald Dahl is an amazing writer and can even make the worst books extremely readable and somewhat entertaining.
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator was a very interesting book. It was not what I expected (for the first half of the book) and I was very disappointed by that. I felt like this book was two short stories combined. More than half of the book takes place in space and in an elevator. It has nothing to do with the Chocolate Factory at all. It felt like Roald Dahl used Charlie, his family and Willie Wanka as the characters in that "short story" because he didn't want to have to create background information on new people.
Then for the second half of the book they go back to the Factory and the Umpa Lumpas sang multiple songs. Nothing else that happened really had anything to do with the factory. The grandparents were affected by some of the candy, but that could have taken place anywhere.
This book was a much let down compared to the first book. The only reason it received 3 stars from me is because Roald Dahl is an amazing writer and can even make the worst books extremely readable and somewhat entertaining.
January 7, 2021
At the end of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we left Charlie and his family and Willy Wonka sky high in the Great Glass Elevator. Charlie had only just been informed that he had won the right to take over the factory, as his own, once Mr. Wonka retired in a few years.
So I was hoping for more adventures in the magical chocolate factory as Charlie was beginning to learn the ropes but that is not how this book pans out. This book takes a bizarre turn as the Glass Elevator is propelled too high and out into space. It takes half of the book for the family to return to earth and the Chocolate Factory.
Once inside there is revealed a little more of Wonka's magic but you will be disappointed if you, like me, want to continue the magical journey around the factory. Wonka himself declares that only a minute part of the factory was covered off in the original tour with the five golden ticket winners. The Oompa-Loompas again play a small part but it seems that not all of Wonka's discoveries are treat based and this story deals more with the others.
It feels almost like sacrilege to declare one of Roald Dahl's books has missed the mark but I would have to say I was a little disappointed in the direction this one took. It, in a little, way takes a bit of the gloss off the first book too. Still very much a good book for the young ones as they grow into their reading but doesn't have the excitement of the first. I would put most of Dahl's children's and adult's work ahead of this one.
So I was hoping for more adventures in the magical chocolate factory as Charlie was beginning to learn the ropes but that is not how this book pans out. This book takes a bizarre turn as the Glass Elevator is propelled too high and out into space. It takes half of the book for the family to return to earth and the Chocolate Factory.
Once inside there is revealed a little more of Wonka's magic but you will be disappointed if you, like me, want to continue the magical journey around the factory. Wonka himself declares that only a minute part of the factory was covered off in the original tour with the five golden ticket winners. The Oompa-Loompas again play a small part but it seems that not all of Wonka's discoveries are treat based and this story deals more with the others.
It feels almost like sacrilege to declare one of Roald Dahl's books has missed the mark but I would have to say I was a little disappointed in the direction this one took. It, in a little, way takes a bit of the gloss off the first book too. Still very much a good book for the young ones as they grow into their reading but doesn't have the excitement of the first. I would put most of Dahl's children's and adult's work ahead of this one.
November 24, 2020
Having always been a fan of Wonka, it occurred to me that I was a very, very bad man for never having read the sequel.
Was I slightly afraid? Maybe. I mean, the story was all kinds of perfect all by itself. Leaving in that great glass elevator was rather a perfect ending.
And when this book begins, exactly where the other left off, I WAS slightly disappointed. The whole SF aspect was... ahem. Fortunately, it got back to speed once we returned to the factory. I enjoyed the rest just fine. :)
Ah, greed. It never really changes. :)
Was I slightly afraid? Maybe. I mean, the story was all kinds of perfect all by itself. Leaving in that great glass elevator was rather a perfect ending.
And when this book begins, exactly where the other left off, I WAS slightly disappointed. The whole SF aspect was... ahem. Fortunately, it got back to speed once we returned to the factory. I enjoyed the rest just fine. :)
Ah, greed. It never really changes. :)
December 21, 2010
I remember as a kid being quite disappointed by this book, having so thoroughly loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Now I can see why I wasn't that thrilled with this second one. I wasn't into anything smacking of sci-fi or space travel as a kid. There were probably a few exceptions, but I mostly steered clear of those books.
This book is weird. It's almost two books merged into one. The first 92 pages or so is somewhat of a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for kids. It's that weird and off the wall, with the same kind of matter-of-fact absurdity. Willy Wonka could stand in for Zaphod Beeblebrox, Charlie would be Arthur Dent, and Grandmas Josephine and Georgina could co-star as Marvin the pessimistic robot. I don't know who would be Ford Prefect, though. Maybe Grandpa Joe?
The rest of the book after they crash back into the Chocolate Factory is a completely different story about pills Willy Wonka has invented that can add to or subtract from your age. It's all very clever, but it lacks the charm and magic of the first book. At the end when Dahl brings the two story lines back together, it seems like an afterthought, like an "oops, better tie everything together and end this thing."
There are some very funny moments in the book, most having to do with word play, but they seem to be written for grown-ups rather than for children. The humor and subtext is just too subtle for kids.
This book is weird. It's almost two books merged into one. The first 92 pages or so is somewhat of a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for kids. It's that weird and off the wall, with the same kind of matter-of-fact absurdity. Willy Wonka could stand in for Zaphod Beeblebrox, Charlie would be Arthur Dent, and Grandmas Josephine and Georgina could co-star as Marvin the pessimistic robot. I don't know who would be Ford Prefect, though. Maybe Grandpa Joe?
The rest of the book after they crash back into the Chocolate Factory is a completely different story about pills Willy Wonka has invented that can add to or subtract from your age. It's all very clever, but it lacks the charm and magic of the first book. At the end when Dahl brings the two story lines back together, it seems like an afterthought, like an "oops, better tie everything together and end this thing."
There are some very funny moments in the book, most having to do with word play, but they seem to be written for grown-ups rather than for children. The humor and subtext is just too subtle for kids.
August 2, 2019
Not as enjoyable as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It contains a lot of politically incorrect dialogue. Because of this, I chose not to read it aloud to my students.
August 5, 2021
This was bad. I remember reading it as a kid and thinking it was surprising. But no. It's a random and bad sequel.
March 11, 2013
This is the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My heavens, this was not good. This is the only Dahl book I have read to date that did not interest me in the least. It was contrived . . . and contrived badly.
The first half of the book placed our hero and Mr. Wonka in space. Yes, it was a bad Miss Frizzle episode. Horrid, I say. The premise of that part was that the elevator had gone into orbit accidentally and they had no control over returning. After bouncing around with knids and other things that go bump in the night sky, all of a sudden the elevator was capable of re-entering the atmosphere and was able to tow a spaceship with it. Remarkable!
The second half of the book was marginally better. The crew returned to the chocolate factory. Unlike the original text, this was completely boring. Too old, too young, too old, just right. Bah!
This is a daffy, half-assed attempt at continuing a fabulous story. Did you ever see Grease II? It was even worse than that!
I've read that Dahl began a third installment where the cast headed off to the White House but only completed a single chapter. I think his readers were lucky with that. Really, what is the motivation of a young English boy who now owns a marvelous chocolate factory to go to America and take in a dotty president as depicted here?
A waste of my time reading this. And to think, I am a Dahl fan! Ha!
The first half of the book placed our hero and Mr. Wonka in space. Yes, it was a bad Miss Frizzle episode. Horrid, I say. The premise of that part was that the elevator had gone into orbit accidentally and they had no control over returning. After bouncing around with knids and other things that go bump in the night sky, all of a sudden the elevator was capable of re-entering the atmosphere and was able to tow a spaceship with it. Remarkable!
The second half of the book was marginally better. The crew returned to the chocolate factory. Unlike the original text, this was completely boring. Too old, too young, too old, just right. Bah!
This is a daffy, half-assed attempt at continuing a fabulous story. Did you ever see Grease II? It was even worse than that!
I've read that Dahl began a third installment where the cast headed off to the White House but only completed a single chapter. I think his readers were lucky with that. Really, what is the motivation of a young English boy who now owns a marvelous chocolate factory to go to America and take in a dotty president as depicted here?
A waste of my time reading this. And to think, I am a Dahl fan! Ha!
January 19, 2020
I didn't like this book very much, in fact it is probably one of my least favourite Roal Dahl's books. I am in the process of re-reading all his books, but this one was a first for me. Like everybody else, I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but aside from the joy or reading about my beloved characters again, I didn't get any additional quality content from this one. The story was incoherent and episodic, the jokes trite, and it felt more like a sequel made just because than an actual, well-thought book. Definitely won't read again.
January 17, 2017
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."
Ok, the recipe for Wonka-vite is darling and clever
All-in-all i did not enjoy this novelette as much as his others. I felt the pieces were slightly disjointed. Although Wonka's sarcastic comments are much appreciated, Grandma Georgina was not an enjoyable character. And not enough Charlie! The president was just ridiculous.
I'm interested in reading all of Dahl's pieces, so at least I got this one out of the way.
2017 Reading Challenge: has illustrations
Ok, the recipe for Wonka-vite is darling and clever
All-in-all i did not enjoy this novelette as much as his others. I felt the pieces were slightly disjointed. Although Wonka's sarcastic comments are much appreciated, Grandma Georgina was not an enjoyable character. And not enough Charlie! The president was just ridiculous.
I'm interested in reading all of Dahl's pieces, so at least I got this one out of the way.
2017 Reading Challenge: has illustrations
December 23, 2011
This book should not have been written. I thought it was a pointless book, where it could be an add on to the end of the first book.
November 25, 2019
This book was the weirdest sequel I've ever read, if I'm being honest.
I truly expected some more crazy chocolate factory action, but involving a glass elevator. Welp, I hope you wanted Charlie, Willy and Grandpa Joe heading to space and a dumb American government, because that's whatcha got.
I will say that Roald Dahl is a marvelous writer and a lot of this book is amusing! He's got a unique style that made me laugh as an adult but also see how a child could love this book just as much. At the same time, this book wasn't as interesting to me. The big adventure was really cool and seemed totally "out of this world" (pun intended) but it didn't feel as fun as the first book. There's no way I would have been able to guess the ending to this book.
In that regards, that's probably why it makes such a fun kids book. Kids love adventure, fun and comedy so they'll really dig this book. As an adult, I'd rather read it my kids or reading buddies instead of enjoying it myself. I want to finish off this series and read more by Roald Dahl because of his pure genius.
Alas, it's still a classic and beautifully written. I'd highly recommend it as a children's novel or if you love a good classic book.
Two out of five stars.
I truly expected some more crazy chocolate factory action, but involving a glass elevator. Welp, I hope you wanted Charlie, Willy and Grandpa Joe heading to space and a dumb American government, because that's whatcha got.
I will say that Roald Dahl is a marvelous writer and a lot of this book is amusing! He's got a unique style that made me laugh as an adult but also see how a child could love this book just as much. At the same time, this book wasn't as interesting to me. The big adventure was really cool and seemed totally "out of this world" (pun intended) but it didn't feel as fun as the first book. There's no way I would have been able to guess the ending to this book.
In that regards, that's probably why it makes such a fun kids book. Kids love adventure, fun and comedy so they'll really dig this book. As an adult, I'd rather read it my kids or reading buddies instead of enjoying it myself. I want to finish off this series and read more by Roald Dahl because of his pure genius.
Alas, it's still a classic and beautifully written. I'd highly recommend it as a children's novel or if you love a good classic book.
Two out of five stars.
October 8, 2021
A direct sequel to Chocolate Factory, part space adventure part goofy antics this follow up is enjoyable enough for those who enjoy Wonka’s character.
I practically enjoyed the Vermicious Knids and the rejuvenation pills in the second half of the book.
I couldn’t imagine this story working with any other characters.
I practically enjoyed the Vermicious Knids and the rejuvenation pills in the second half of the book.
I couldn’t imagine this story working with any other characters.
June 1, 2021
Reading this after Project Hail Mary seems fair lmao.
I’d like to know what goes on in Roald Dahl’s brain and how he came up with these ideas. They’re so ridiculous yet funny. There were some insightful parts too (Nurse’s song).
Man, I wish I read this when I was younger.
Total time spent: 1h 53min.
I’d like to know what goes on in Roald Dahl’s brain and how he came up with these ideas. They’re so ridiculous yet funny. There were some insightful parts too (Nurse’s song).
Man, I wish I read this when I was younger.
Total time spent: 1h 53min.
May 18, 2019
Se me ha quedado un poquito más flojo que la primera parte. Y menos divertido. Aún así me he reído mucho con algunas de las escenas de los abuelos.
January 23, 2023
Another reviewer has remarked that “if Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is Dahl at his best, then Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is Dahl at his worst.” Objectively, I would have to quite agree. This strange sequel about Charlie, Willy Wonka, Mr. Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, and the four grandparents accidentally going too far in the elevator, ending up in outer space, being mistaken for terrorists by the US Government, and avoiding man-eating aliens had me thoroughly scratching my head. It is a sequel that lacks all the magical charm of its predecessor. The narrative furthers the characters’ stories or arcs in absolutely no regard whatsoever. The work feels distinctly uninspired—as if Dahl had written it in mocking response to his publisher's pressure to write a sequel for his most popular book. And, to be honest, I would not be surprised if this had been exactly what had occurred. But you know what?
I greatly enjoyed Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator for the ludicrous, acid trip of a story that it was. Sometimes it is fun just to scratch your head and wonder what the heck an otherwise brilliant author might have been thinking when writing an acid trip of a book. Objectively, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is awful. Subjectively, I kinda sorta really like it . . . Or at least I think I do.
I greatly enjoyed Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator for the ludicrous, acid trip of a story that it was. Sometimes it is fun just to scratch your head and wonder what the heck an otherwise brilliant author might have been thinking when writing an acid trip of a book. Objectively, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is awful. Subjectively, I kinda sorta really like it . . . Or at least I think I do.
November 9, 2022
I much preferred Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to this book, but Sonny loved it and laughed all the way through as we were reading it together, so it gets his 5-star-rating instead of my less enthusiastic 3-stars. :)
September 9, 2019
Part of my personal reading challenge (reading through the New York Public Library's "Top 100 Kids' Books). Like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Great Glass Elevator was whacky and zany. But I personally had more fun with the first one. While the chocolate factory was magical, this book spent a lot time zooming through space with Charlie's insufferable grandparents that are too lazy to get out of bed. But the last third of the book is spent on getting his insufferably greedy grandparents back to their proper age when they take too much youth medicine to change their age.
Still classic Dahl. Still fun. But not as fun as exploring the magical world of the factory.
I'd rate this book a G.
Still classic Dahl. Still fun. But not as fun as exploring the magical world of the factory.
I'd rate this book a G.
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