A book review of Roald Dahl’s novel: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl was a British author who wrote a children’s book called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 1964. The book is regarded as a classic and it has managed to maintain its popularity among children and sometimes even adults. The protagonist of the book is a little boy named Charlie Bucket, who lives with his poor family close to Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. Nobody has visited the chocolate factory for years but then Willy Wonka allows five lucky children with their mother and father to visit the magical place. Charlie is lucky enough to be one of those children and he visits the factory with his grandfather.

Dahl’s novel contains lots of poems and playing with words. These poems tell funny and entertaining stories which have got a clear message. Sometimes they are also trying to be instructive. For example there is a poem about chewing gum all day long and its bad consequences. Some of the poems are quite naïve and childish but I probably feel so because I don’t belong to the main target group. I still enjoy these poems and find them pretty hilarious because the language and the rhythm of the poems sound so lovely. In his writing Dahl also uses words which he has invented himself. Most of these words have something to do with sweets. They are logical but it may take a little extra time to realize the meaning of the word if English isn’t the reader’s mother tongue.

Usually in children’s books and fairy tales there are good and evil characters fighting against each other. Charlie is innocent and honest so he’s the hero of the story. The other children are spoiled and nasty. I think it is a happy surprise that the evil characters of the novel are children instead of monsters or grown-ups, which is way too common. On the other hand a really young reader can find this a bit frightening if he or she is used to the traditional plot. The most interesting character in the book is Willy Wonka, the quirky owner of the chocolate factory, because he’s personality isn’t as black and white as everyone else’s, including Charlie. Willy Wonka keeps things going and brings a touch of madness in the book. It wouldn’t be the same without him. Maybe Wonka with his conspicuous top hat is one of the main reasons why Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a lovely reading experience after all these years, even for a little bit older reader.