Reviews

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming

quietjenn's review against another edition

4.0

I remember being pretty into this movie as a kid, so when I came across the book whilst doing some library reading, decided to give it a go. As for many, the whole "Ian Fleming" + kid's book equation left me curious and curiosity tinged with a hint of nostalgia is a pretty good motivator. And I found the book delightful. No surprise that it bears very little resemblance to the movie (which I don't entirely remember, but the Internet backs me up on this), although I'm now sufficiently interested in watching it again.

gudny's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

crtney's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

gadrial's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

sunny76's review against another edition

5.0

Adorable children's chapter book about everyone's favorite car. There are many similarities between the book and the movie, but the land where children aren't legal to be seen is not in the Ian Fleming book.

bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition

4.0

Completely charming. I know I saw the movie at some point, but had never read this book. It is easy to tell that the author wrote many spy novels, but it all works so well as a children's adventure book.

abogguslife's review against another edition

4.0

I've always been obsessed with the movie and the play. However, this is completely different.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the story, though it had a took a long while for any conflict to appear. My only true complaint is that the characters seem quite flat. There's not any character development. But it also seems like a story that's just told because it's fun. I think children of all ages would adore it.

nerfherder86's review against another edition

5.0

I can't remember if I've ever read this book before, but I know I'd never listened to an audio version of it before now. This one, narrated by David Tennant, is top notch. Not only does he use his plummy Doctor Who British accent as narrator, but he switches to several fun East End or lower class-type accents for the gangsters; I was cracking up! And there is a nice bit of music in between chapters to set the mood, like a little mini-movie soundtrack; AND, a couple of minutes at the very end of conversation between Tennant and a producer, where you can hear his native Scots accent. Bonus! It's a cute bit of children's story and you can totally imagine that this author would go on to write James Bond novels, because there are so many little touches here that show up in Bond (secret cave, transforming car, gadgets). I read this because I am going to watch the movie this weekend in an online Netflix Party with friends in other states, where we can text-chat with each other as we watch it together and compare it with the book. I haven't seen the movie since I was a kid, I think, so that will be a fun experience.

funsizelibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

I had forgotten how much I loved this book.

bookwyrm_lark's review against another edition

4.0

A charming, whimsical children's adventure! If you've seen the movie, the book is very different; the only real constants are the children and their father (though their mother is still with them in the book), and of course Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the eponymous magical flying car. I don't want to give anything away, but don't expect a Bavarian kingdom; that part of the movie is the creation of the screenwriters, not Ian Fleming. The adventures the family does have in the book are slightly more grounded in reality—but only slightly!

The audiobook is narrated by David Tennant, who reads with obvious enjoyment and an excellent command of voices and accents. Between the text and the narration, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a perfect audiobook for young children, and a treat for the whole family. It's short, only 2 hours and 22 minutes in length, making it an excellent choice for a day trip.


Read for #TakeControlTBR 2018 and The Backlist Reader Challenge 2018.