Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

Let’s just agree right now that having watched the movie is not the same thing as having read the book. As delightful as the cinematic experience often is – unless, of course, the moviegoer sitting behind you spends the entire film dribbling popcorn down your neck – there will always be some elements of the book that a movie adaption just can’t capture. In the instance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the uncaptured element is summed up in one title: Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight. How can a two-ish hour film hope to encapsulate the tremendous experience of unbelievable goodies described in Roald Dahl’s classic novel?

          Charlie Bucket’s little house, stuffed to the rafters with relatives, is within shouting distance of the most glorious candy factory in the world. For years the factory has churned out marvelous creations such as ice cream that never melts, chewing gum that never loses its flavor, and of course, delicious chocolate bars like the Nutty Crunch Surprise and the Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, while refusing entrance to any of the public. Now, however, the mysterious owner Willy Wonka, has hidden five golden tickets inside five bars of chocolate and declared that whoever finds them will be permitted a very special tour of his factory. Charlie’s family is so poor that he knows he has no way of buying any candy in search of the ticket, but a miraculous occurrence lands him a spot in the tour with four other children. What will happen to him inside the factory? What marvels will he see, and how will meeting Mr. Wonka change his life forever?

          Ranging from breathtaking inventiveness to sheer silliness, Dahl fully imagines a fascinating world in which candy reigns supreme. The charismatic and endearingly goofy Mr. Wonka serves as a tour guide for both his fictional companions and all readers, who will be engrossed in the descriptions of the chocolate factory’s workings. The text scampers along with italics and exclamation points galore, which aid the humor of the plot line and characters’ speech. Those who enjoy Charlie’s story should also check out the book’s lesser-known sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.