lucyjackson267's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
talljustin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
scoobygirl93's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to read more of the Potts' adventures. This not being that I was rather miffed when I started reading this, not helped by not being able to get an audiobook-on-cd copy from the library. I soon got just as into this story as the original though, and did really love it.
alexthepink's review against another edition
5.0
We listened to the audiobook, brilliantly narrated by David Tennant. Both my 5yo and 7yo really enjoyed this. Adventurous and funny with real heart. They want to read the next book in the series straight away!
shayneh's review against another edition
4.0
Great voice throughout, and a heap of fun in the plot. Glad to have this book exist, and that's saying something for a sequel to a beloved book by another author.
thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
This sequel, written 47 years after the first book and by a different author, is a very satisfying adventure. Both books are great for younger readers, and were greatly enjoyed by my middle school daughter.
Without spoiling too much of the plot, this book seems to be completely separate from the second book, but grows towards it as certain parts are revealed. I thought the father and son working together on the van was well done, and the nod to Ian Fleming's other, slightly more famous creation was excellent. The book ends in a cliff-hanger of sorts, but there are two more books in the series.
We weren't as impressed with the illustrations in the original story. These illustrations are much improved, though I agree with my daughter's assessment that they sometimes spoil the next few paragraphs or pages.
Without spoiling too much of the plot, this book seems to be completely separate from the second book, but grows towards it as certain parts are revealed. I thought the father and son working together on the van was well done, and the nod to Ian Fleming's other, slightly more famous creation was excellent. The book ends in a cliff-hanger of sorts, but there are two more books in the series.
We weren't as impressed with the illustrations in the original story. These illustrations are much improved, though I agree with my daughter's assessment that they sometimes spoil the next few paragraphs or pages.
gudny's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
visibletouch's review against another edition
4.0
The audible book for this is adorable as David Tennent makes the characters come alive, he's especially good at reading the father's character as he feels like some of his prior rolls smashed together.
pussreboots's review against another edition
4.0
Before starting in on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce , read the introduction. Boyce explains why he wrote this sequel and why he wrote it the way he did. Boyce, like I think many people of our generation, saw the movie before reading the book, and was shocked by how little the movie resembled Ian Fleming's book. The only thing the book and the movie agreed on was the make of the car and the fact that it could fly of its own accord.
Boyce goes one further — deciding that it could be any model of flying car. Well, not exactly, but the Tooting's vehicle of choice is one of those old air cooled VW bus — something vintage with the movie. I have to admit that a flying VW bus gave me pause but Boyce trundles on with the comedic confidence you'll find from the likes of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams. And he pulls it off.
In all fairness to the cover art — the Tootings don't start off with a flying car (or a VW bus). Both come over the course of the first third of the novel. The bus is part midlife crisis and part family hobby, a means to a family vacation on an extreme budget after dear old dad is made redundant.
The remainder of the book is the adventure itself — some of which involves flying. There are baddies who are a stylistic compromise between the straight up gangster types of Fleming's book and the more magical (surreal) baddies of the film.
And, just as the film broke for Boyce, right as things were getting really interesting, the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. As this is a book about a flying car, the cliffhanger is rather literal.
The relaunch continues (thankfully!) with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time (March 2013).
Boyce goes one further — deciding that it could be any model of flying car. Well, not exactly, but the Tooting's vehicle of choice is one of those old air cooled VW bus — something vintage with the movie. I have to admit that a flying VW bus gave me pause but Boyce trundles on with the comedic confidence you'll find from the likes of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams. And he pulls it off.
In all fairness to the cover art — the Tootings don't start off with a flying car (or a VW bus). Both come over the course of the first third of the novel. The bus is part midlife crisis and part family hobby, a means to a family vacation on an extreme budget after dear old dad is made redundant.
The remainder of the book is the adventure itself — some of which involves flying. There are baddies who are a stylistic compromise between the straight up gangster types of Fleming's book and the more magical (surreal) baddies of the film.
And, just as the film broke for Boyce, right as things were getting really interesting, the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. As this is a book about a flying car, the cliffhanger is rather literal.
The relaunch continues (thankfully!) with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time (March 2013).
mudder17's review against another edition
4.0
A second installment in the adventures of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, many years after the original. It took me the longest time to figure out where Chitty was in all fo this, but I found it to be a fun adventure, especially with David Tennant at the helm. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next installment! Unlike the first book, this one leaves you hanging!