When I was a kid there were a few movies that we watched at home every year on television, The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. For some reason they were the ones that I would even get a reprieve from my usual bedtime to stay up for. Yet sadly, I've never read The Wizard of Oz or Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I know, I should bow my head in shame. How did I miss these growing up? I did finally read Mary Poppins, does that redeem me? Any who...I can now add Charlie and the Chocolate Factory thanks to America's Battle of the Books ( a reading incentive program for students in 3rd through 12th grade.) There is something nostalgic about reading this after so long. I so love the movie with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. I loved the scenes when they come into the room with the chocolate stream and eating the marshmallow cream. So going into the book, I enjoyed reading the scenes in the authors own words. Although, I must admit I noticed the changes between the two. I am curious why those were made, some were minor ("bad nut" versus "bad egg") but others really changed things around ("Slugworh" wanting a sample of the Everlasting Gobstoppers is in the movie but not in the book). I guess I try to approach books and their movie as two different entities. I also realize that not all authors get to write their screen play and well some things just get left on the cutting floor further illustrating why reading the book first gives you an idea of what the author intended. Overall, the wonder and fascination that I felt when I saw the movie was still captured in the book. Not the cover I would have selected, but only one available at the library. But there is a very nice forward by Lev Grossman.
Ooo I should check this out.
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