Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is an absolute must read for, well pretty much anyone. Written by Roald Dahl it explores a range of themes from honesty, entitlement, humility and social class all with the customary wit and satirical writing style Dahl uses throughout his novels. The novel has been brought to the silver screen twice with mixed results, if you're looking for the classic go for the older Gene Wilder version, what it lacks in technological advancements it gains in the portrayal of a Willy Wonka by Wilder.

The original Willy Wonka- Gene Wilder

Johnny Depp as Wonka, meh. 

Although the novel follows the story of Charlie Bucket, the use of a third person narrator means that the reader is not hamstrung by a single character perspective. Instead we as the reader feel as though we are an unseen participant in the story, undertaking this weird slightly off putting factory tour through well essentially Wonka's mind. What's always engaging in a Dahl novel is the quirkiness of the characters, no one is perfect and no one is a stereotype; they all have something slightly off kilter about them and it is through these characters that Dahl reveals the narrative. Although often dealing with serious issues, the way in which the author approaches these issues primarily through a use of humour allows the reader access the themes and issues in a non-threatening process.

Roald Dahl gets additional kudos for making the most unlikely kids the heroes of his stories which makes the narratives and the absurd adventures charmingly relatable.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.