Book Summary
"Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" is a sequel to the beloved book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," written by the renowned English author Roald Dahl. This story continues with Charlie's adventures as he embarks on a new journey. This time, the main character, Charlie, along with Willy Wonka and a few others, unexpectedly finds himself in a mysterious place after riding in the Great Glass Elevator, which leads them to a strange hotel called the Space Hotel of America. Here, they encounter interesting events.
Charlie, wearing the coat he recently received as a gift from Mr. Wonka, discovers that the location is under the control of space invaders. The invaders cleverly disguise themselves as humans, making things difficult for Charlie, Wonka, and their friends. However, since Earthlings are not easily defeated, they seek effective ways to combat these invaders and free themselves from the predicament.
The extraordinary imagination and excitement are present from the very beginning, and although some characters fall prey to man-eating monsters early on, the efforts of Wonka, Charlie, and others restore hope to the reader, motivating them to follow Dahl's narrative with greater enthusiasm. Given that this book has won two prestigious awards, the "Hans Christian Andersen" Award and the "Nene" Award, one would expect nothing less.
Additionally, like Dahl's other fantasy works, Quentin Blake's delightful illustrations enhance the novel's appeal. What unfolds in the middle and at the end of the book is undoubtedly so beautiful that "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" can be recommended as a must-read.
About the Author
Roald Dahl was a famous English author born in 1916 to Norwegian parents in Cardiff, Wales. He attended boarding school during his childhood and adolescence and lived with his mother for some time after his father's death before eventually living apart from her. Dahl faced many hardships and later joined the U.S. Air Force during World War II, where he was also injured. After returning from the war, he began writing and is considered one of the most read and influential authors according to numerous magazines and prominent figures. Dahl passed away at 74 in England and authored remarkable works such as "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Twits," "Two fables," "Switch bitch," and "Dirty Beasts."
Who Should Read the Book?
Fans of imaginative, fantasy, and thrilling stories will undoubtedly enjoy reading this book. Additionally, teenagers and adults who appreciate Roald Dahl's works can also experience this delightful feeling.
Book Quotes
Mr. and Mrs. Bucket smiled for the first time in all these years, and the three old people on the bed laughed at each other with their pink, toothless gums. Grandma Josephine wheezed, “What keeps this elevator up in the air?” Mr. Wonka replied, “Air hooks.” Grandma Josephine said, “One is surprised by your words.” Mr. Wonka said, “Dear lady, you’ve just entered the scene. After you’ve been with us a little longer, you won’t be surprised by anything.” Grandma Josephine said, “I think these air hooks are connected to this strange device. Am I right?” Mr. Wonka replied, “That’s right.” Grandma Josephine asked, “So where is the other end connected?” Mr. Wonka said, “My ears are getting heavier every day. When we reach the factory, please remind me to call my ear doctor.” Grandma Josephine said, “Charlie, I don’t trust this man very much.” Grandma Georgina said, “Neither do I. His words don’t make sense.” Charlie leaned over the bed and quietly told the two old women, “Please don’t ruin everything. Mr. Wonka is an incredible man. He’s, my friend. I love him.” Grandpa Joe joined the group and said, “Charlie is right, Josie, shut your mouth and don’t cause trouble.” Mr. Wonka said, “We need to hurry. We have plenty of time and little work! No! Wait! Hold my words! Now turn it around! Thank you! Now we’re going back to the factory.”
Mr. Wonka said, “My dear boy. You can’t swim in the air. You know, this isn’t water. This is air, and its very thin air at that. There’s nothing to push it aside. So you have to use thrust power as a reaction force. Look at me. First, take a deep breath, then make a small circle with your mouth and blow with all your strength. If you blow downwards, you’ll go up quickly. If you blow to the left, you’ll shoot to the right like lightning, and in this way, you move like a spaceship, using your mouth as a booster instead of a motor.
Suddenly everyone began practicing moving this way and that, and the entire elevator was filled with the sounds of passengers puffing and panting. Grandma Georgina, in her red nightgown with her skinny bare legs, was roaring and spitting as she dashed from one end of the elevator to the other, shouting, “Get out of my way! Get out of my way!” when suddenly she bumped hard into poor Mr. and Mrs. Bucket. Grandpa George and Grandma Josephine were doing the same thing. And well, you might be thinking about what millions of people on Earth watching these ridiculous scenes on their television screens were thinking. Of course, you should also consider that they weren’t seeing these things clearly. On the television screen, the large glass elevator looked almost as big as a grapefruit, and the people inside it, seen through the blurry glass, looked as small as grapefruit seeds. Nevertheless, the spectators down below saw them moving wildly back and forth like insects in a glass box.
