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anieeereads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lgulisane's review against another edition
5.0
There's nothing better than having a great book recommended to you by a good friend! One of the ladies I work with (who sadly just finished working at our library) came in, handed me the audiobook of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and said, "This is narrated by David Tennant."
Yeah... you might be noticing a trend with me. I just adore David Tennant, and listening to him narrate a children's book is a real treat. And even better, there's a brief interview with Tennant at the end of the audiobook that was fun to listen to.
If you're like me and grew up with the book, know that this is very different from the movie. It's a really timeless tale. There are some dated bits in here, but it has a flying car. It can't be that dated! I enjoyed how different this book is from the movie because it meant that I got to be surprised while I listened to it!
This story is very lighthearted and very English. I loved every minute of the two-and-a-half hours that made up this audiobook! I can't wait to find and read the sequels.
Yeah... you might be noticing a trend with me. I just adore David Tennant, and listening to him narrate a children's book is a real treat. And even better, there's a brief interview with Tennant at the end of the audiobook that was fun to listen to.
If you're like me and grew up with the book, know that this is very different from the movie. It's a really timeless tale. There are some dated bits in here, but it has a flying car. It can't be that dated! I enjoyed how different this book is from the movie because it meant that I got to be surprised while I listened to it!
This story is very lighthearted and very English. I loved every minute of the two-and-a-half hours that made up this audiobook! I can't wait to find and read the sequels.
thomcat's review against another edition
3.0
A quick little read, this book is aimed at younger children than I expected. Many chapters end on a cliffhanger, the villain is broad caricature, and above all the book is too short. Wanted to read it before reading one of Frank Boyce's commissioned sequels.
evanbondauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I watched this movie as a kid so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the book. It is dramatically different from the movie, however. It's a fun, quick read that I would recommend to anyone who loved the movie.
applepie10's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
daisymama's review against another edition
I mostly picked this up because I was curious how much of the movie came from the book. The answer: not much. I love the movie; the book is ok I guess, but it didn’t really grab me. It certainly didn’t deliver any sort of better understanding of the movie characters (though this is really not the book’s fault). I maybe would have enjoyed it more if I were in the target audience… I’m not sure my own kiddos would even understand parts of it, since they aren’t British.
(2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with onomatopoeia in the title.)
(2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with onomatopoeia in the title.)
slferg's review against another edition
5.0
A fun and amusing story. I have seen the movie many years ago and was pretty sure the book would not be the same. Correct.
But the book was fun - I was intrigued because it was written by Ian Fleming - you know, James Bond? A children's book.
A GOOD children's book.
But the book was fun - I was intrigued because it was written by Ian Fleming - you know, James Bond? A children's book.
A GOOD children's book.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
4.0
In 2004, I chose this book as my reward for participating in the Barnes and Noble summer reading program. I saved it to read during my family's Michigan trip, finished it while lying on my grandparents' living room floor, and was completely thrilled and blown away. Even though the name Ian Fleming didn't mean anything to me at the time, I could tell that this was a fabulous author, and I was very sad that there wasn't a sequel. (According to the note in the back of the book, Fleming died shortly before this was published. I'm VERY GLAD he finished it.) In the store, I judged this book by its delightful cover, but it still surpassed my expectations.
I reread this book various times throughout my childhood, and it always retained its magic. Now that I have read it again as an adult, I still love it, and I adore the unforgettable omniscient narrative voice, which talks to the reader directly to provide commentary, explain unfamiliar words, and build suspense. This is tremendously well done, and it's such a unique family caper story. I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys any of the following: children's novels, suspense, British charm, car stories, family adventures, gangster mysteries, and magical realism.
I reread this book various times throughout my childhood, and it always retained its magic. Now that I have read it again as an adult, I still love it, and I adore the unforgettable omniscient narrative voice, which talks to the reader directly to provide commentary, explain unfamiliar words, and build suspense. This is tremendously well done, and it's such a unique family caper story. I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys any of the following: children's novels, suspense, British charm, car stories, family adventures, gangster mysteries, and magical realism.
trike's review against another edition
5.0
I tend not to like fiction audiobooks because my mind wanders as the reader drones on, but this was exceptional. The narrator, Andrew Sachs, was brilliant. If every audiobook were read like this, with such charm, enthusiasm and obvious delight, I’d listen to more of them. Absolutely entertaining, start to finish.
As for the story itself, it is much less terrifying than the film and far lower stakes. Despite the ominous intonations that the Pott family was frequently in “morrrtall dangerrr”, one never feels they are, really. Since this is a children’s book, that strikes just the right balance. It’s thrilling without being overly scary.
The film did carry over many of the key elements, but the addition of the child snatcher was a bridge too far, in my opinion. In this book the kids, Jeremy and Jemima, are far more active and clever. Again, as a children’s book should. As with all Fleming stories, the woman gets short shrift, as Truly Scrumptious has very little to do other than to exclaim in fear or delight. The 60s were a tad more sexist, after all. That said, a couple times throughout the story Fleming does underscore the fact that mothers are generally correct when they lecture children about the dangers of the world. So it’s not a total loss.
All in all, though, I really enjoyed this. I see that someone has put this up on YouTube, so if you have kids, you might consider playing it for them.
As for the story itself, it is much less terrifying than the film and far lower stakes. Despite the ominous intonations that the Pott family was frequently in “morrrtall dangerrr”, one never feels they are, really. Since this is a children’s book, that strikes just the right balance. It’s thrilling without being overly scary.
The film did carry over many of the key elements, but the addition of the child snatcher was a bridge too far, in my opinion. In this book the kids, Jeremy and Jemima, are far more active and clever. Again, as a children’s book should. As with all Fleming stories, the woman gets short shrift, as Truly Scrumptious has very little to do other than to exclaim in fear or delight. The 60s were a tad more sexist, after all. That said, a couple times throughout the story Fleming does underscore the fact that mothers are generally correct when they lecture children about the dangers of the world. So it’s not a total loss.
All in all, though, I really enjoyed this. I see that someone has put this up on YouTube, so if you have kids, you might consider playing it for them.
tarana's review against another edition
5.0
I read this as a kid and thought it was excellent, and it still is an excellent kids book. I recommend. I just didn't know at the time that the author was the same guy who wrote James Bond.