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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was overly stupid. There were so many elements that just randomly showed up and it was so over the top. At this point Willy Wonka is straight up trying to kill people.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Whether my sixth grade teacher read this aloud to us or we did some variety of popcorn reading, I don't remember, but I do heartily recall being downright bewildered that this thing existed in the first place. The whole time, I couldn't help but ask, "And this is the direct sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? And this was written by the same guy?"
30 years later, I'm asking these questions anew—now with a more understanding tone. I get it. Wonka's a hoot. Dahl just wanted more of this wily crackpot simply existing out in the world (or above it, I suppose). It's just that all the eccentricities work as a kind of gleeful enthusiasm for sweets and their related innovation in the first book. Heck, even the Great Glass Elevator itself is powered by sugar But here, Wonka's just kind of gleefully mad.
What makes Wonka such a treat in the Chocolate Factory is that he's devoted his life to building such a world that's responsible for so much joy, for kids and adults alike. He's in the weeds on confectionaries because that's what he's always cared about and been fascinated by throughout the years. He's loved it so much and for so long that he became a damn recluse to protect his sugary secrets. But it turns out he also has a vast understanding of extraterrestrial life too? Well, excuse me, pardon my French, but what?
Wonka has, by no means, changed since the first book. He's the same guy. It's just that everything made sense in the factory, even at its zaniest, since Wonka's responsible for all of it. It's insane because he's insane and he's created an insanely cool, insanely delicious world that brings a great sense of majesty and wonder to the world outside. You forgive his missteps in empathy because he's just so damn excited about chocolate and such. But here...well, your concerns about being in a glass elevator in outer space—aliens on one side and a very angry American military on the other—are, to say the least, tremendously well-founded.
Yet, having said all that, this was such a strange, screwy delight. This time around, I couldn't help but think, "I don't know why this is happening, but I'm very glad it is." Writing a sequel to your novel the year after its renowned film adaptation is a bold move, but it's definitely smarter to choose an entirely new setting and adventure. It's even funnier because this one involves a delusionally furious and emotionally stunted American president and it was published during Nixon's reelection year.
30 years later, I'm asking these questions anew—now with a more understanding tone. I get it. Wonka's a hoot. Dahl just wanted more of this wily crackpot simply existing out in the world (or above it, I suppose). It's just that all the eccentricities work as a kind of gleeful enthusiasm for sweets and their related innovation in the first book. Heck, even the Great Glass Elevator itself is powered by sugar But here, Wonka's just kind of gleefully mad.
What makes Wonka such a treat in the Chocolate Factory is that he's devoted his life to building such a world that's responsible for so much joy, for kids and adults alike. He's in the weeds on confectionaries because that's what he's always cared about and been fascinated by throughout the years. He's loved it so much and for so long that he became a damn recluse to protect his sugary secrets. But it turns out he also has a vast understanding of extraterrestrial life too? Well, excuse me, pardon my French, but what?
Wonka has, by no means, changed since the first book. He's the same guy. It's just that everything made sense in the factory, even at its zaniest, since Wonka's responsible for all of it. It's insane because he's insane and he's created an insanely cool, insanely delicious world that brings a great sense of majesty and wonder to the world outside. You forgive his missteps in empathy because he's just so damn excited about chocolate and such. But here...well, your concerns about being in a glass elevator in outer space—aliens on one side and a very angry American military on the other—are, to say the least, tremendously well-founded.
Yet, having said all that, this was such a strange, screwy delight. This time around, I couldn't help but think, "I don't know why this is happening, but I'm very glad it is." Writing a sequel to your novel the year after its renowned film adaptation is a bold move, but it's definitely smarter to choose an entirely new setting and adventure. It's even funnier because this one involves a delusionally furious and emotionally stunted American president and it was published during Nixon's reelection year.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
80/100
Wait, I thought, midway through this book. Wonka's chocolate factory is in the United States!? Circumstantial evidence seems to point to that conclusion.
Wait, I thought, midway through this book. Wonka's chocolate factory is in the United States!? Circumstantial evidence seems to point to that conclusion.
Two different stories that didn't need to be told as one. Also neither was very good.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes