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dullshimmer's review against another edition
3.0
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was a book that had a point and while it veered off into the fantastical and imaginary it stayed rooted to the idea of kids touring the fantastic chocolate factory of Mr. Willy Wonka. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is a direct sequel to this book, but doesn't really have much of a point. It picks up right after the ending of the first book, but then just kind of goes in such a jumble of directions that it's hard to know what it is trying to accomplish.
Without a plot the fantastical elements that were in the first feel like they go out of control and it feels like crazy things are happening just for the sake of throwing another fantastic idea out there. Maybe this would have been okay if the characters were decent in this book, but besides Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and Grandpa Joe the other characters are not really very likable. The other grandparents are all miserable grumpy wretches, the American's are annoying and rather stupid, and Charlie's parents don't really do much of anything. This kind of setup worked in the first book as you saw spoiled kids getting their just desserts, but with this book being more focused on Charlie's family it didn't really work the same way.
Overall, it's a silly, fantastical book that doesn't have much of a plot. It's kind of fun, but also kind of frustrating at the same time. The first book wasn't even among my favorites of Roald Dahl, but this book I enjoyed even less. After reading it I realized why I never knew there was a sequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory because it isn't as good as the first book.
Without a plot the fantastical elements that were in the first feel like they go out of control and it feels like crazy things are happening just for the sake of throwing another fantastic idea out there. Maybe this would have been okay if the characters were decent in this book, but besides Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and Grandpa Joe the other characters are not really very likable. The other grandparents are all miserable grumpy wretches, the American's are annoying and rather stupid, and Charlie's parents don't really do much of anything. This kind of setup worked in the first book as you saw spoiled kids getting their just desserts, but with this book being more focused on Charlie's family it didn't really work the same way.
Overall, it's a silly, fantastical book that doesn't have much of a plot. It's kind of fun, but also kind of frustrating at the same time. The first book wasn't even among my favorites of Roald Dahl, but this book I enjoyed even less. After reading it I realized why I never knew there was a sequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory because it isn't as good as the first book.
zuzubaloox's review against another edition
1.0
Charlie, his family and Willy Wonka are in the glass elevator heading back to the factory where they unfortunately press the button to return too late, overshoot and end up in space. Whilst in space they witness the new hotel and the shuttlecraft taking the staff to the hotel. Whilst in space they are viewed as aliens by the shuttlecraft and are attacked by vicious alien creatures. Will Charlie and Co. manage to get back to the factory? What will happen to the shuttlecraft crew?
This book was not only boring but all kinds of weird. Considering this book is supposed to be the sequel to a book about a chocolate factory, why were they in space? It felt like two separate books. We had the random space part and the strange chocolate factory part. And in between a conversation between astronauts and the President of the USA.
The end left me even more confused as to what the plot was actually about because
I thought the first book was bad, but this one was horrific. I'm not sure where this one was going but it was so far from the original that it could have been a stand-alone.
This book was not only boring but all kinds of weird. Considering this book is supposed to be the sequel to a book about a chocolate factory, why were they in space? It felt like two separate books. We had the random space part and the strange chocolate factory part. And in between a conversation between astronauts and the President of the USA.
Spoiler
If the space part wasn't weird when they eventually get back to the factory the rest of the boom revolves around getting the grandparents out of bed, and finding Grandma Georgina who ends up vanishing. The grandparents though had age inconsistencies. In [b:Charlie and the Chocolate Factory|29093190|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)|Roald Dahl|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1455960156l/29093190._SY75_.jpg|2765786] all of the grandparents are said to be over 90, with Grandpa Joe being the eldest at 96 and a half. In this book Grandpa George is mysteriously 81, Grandma Josephine is 80 and 3 months and Grandma Georgina is 78.The end left me even more confused as to what the plot was actually about because
Spoiler
after Willy Wonka talks about his pills that make you younger and a rather weird song from the Oompa-Loompas about a girl who overdosed on laxatives and ended up having to spend hours on the toilet forever.I thought the first book was bad, but this one was horrific. I'm not sure where this one was going but it was so far from the original that it could have been a stand-alone.
aotora's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Whilst I loved the first book this one felt like a weird trip - the book continues where the first one stops. We are in the elevator along with Charlie, Wonka and Charlie's family - they first go to space where they are attacked by the aliens - and president and white house mistake them for aliens - they manage to escape and go back to the factory where they are finally supposed to stay and take over the factory- yay! But nope, first Wonka offers the grandparents magical pills that will make them younger - but oh no, they take too many and age back too far - so they have to rescue them and use other pills to age them back to their original age again - that felt so .... pointless - especially with the song about a girl who took pills from her grandma - or actually stole them. She used too many and they are laxatives- the doctors managed to help her but she has life long consequences because she is constantly stuck on the toilet - I am just confused why this book was even written - it adds nothing to the story and the whole book felt pointless.. why was it even made again? It just exists and I am happier with the story they pulled in the newer movie - it's also about glass elevator but it makes so much more sense than this one does.
wanderingstories's review against another edition
4.0
Previously I've read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and really enjoyed it... So, surely I wanted to continue this funny chocolately story!
This one was just as fun as the first one.. I personally think this one was even a teeny-tiny bit funnier.
I enjoyed all of the characters, each and everyone had something funny to say or do (especially Charlie's grandparents) and the story out of space just had me laughing the whole time.
One more thing: Roald Dahl's writing is hilarious! I really enjoy most of his works.
This one was just as fun as the first one.. I personally think this one was even a teeny-tiny bit funnier.
I enjoyed all of the characters, each and everyone had something funny to say or do (especially Charlie's grandparents) and the story out of space just had me laughing the whole time.
One more thing: Roald Dahl's writing is hilarious! I really enjoy most of his works.
uselesspirateraven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Vomit