As we last saw the mighty, marvelous wizard Willy Wonka and his sidekick Charlie floating high in the sky, (blue in color if you are curious, what else?), in the stupendous Great Glass Elevator of the previous book, we wonder where in the world they are going.

Not exactly there, someplace better for certain. But first, on board the magical contraption are of course Willy, Charlie, the boy's parents Mr. and Mrs. Bucket (not important enough to be given their proper names), and the four aged grandparents of the kid. The duo and the machine had picked up Grandpa Joe, who is still in the beloved ancient bed. Pardon me, old Grandpa Joe is walking, sauntering in truth and has left his friends.

Getting back to the adventure, Wonka says he needs to travel to outer space and gain tremendous speed in the descent to punch a large hole in his chocolate factory's roof in order to reenter the building. This seems very extreme and a little dangerous to the old, grumpy folks. They like the calm, peaceful atmosphere, none of which is here, and it's quite expensive to repair, however it's his edifice.

Yet Mr. Willy Wonka makes Edison look like an amateur inventor next to him. This man, or is he? Has everything needed for survival. Let us continue this gentleman's escapades. He knows it all, Charlie believes, and never gets nervous in a tight situation, unflappable always as they, the others, scream in terror at the sight of thousands of evil Vermicious Knids trying to crush them, hundreds of miles above in Earth orbit.

What you don't know what these creatures are? Shame on you, I take that back, few people do. Picture a large egg with two menacing looking eyes, who later transform themselves into even bigger, uglier snakes. This silly misunderstanding occurred because the people from the glass elevator wanted to be the first guests in the brand new glorious Space Hotel. These aliens from a planet millions of light-years away got there before, unwelcome though since not one is paying a dime for accommodations. To be fair, the same applies equally to the beings from the chocolate factory. However, Mr. Wonka has plenty of money, he is definitely not a gatecrasher he says, and will pay all expenses incurred.

The real guests are being brought up by American astronauts and the hotel staff also, over 140 total. Imagine the shock seeing Willy and Co. and these things floating around in unhealthy space, battling each other. Now the snakes, trying to kill both groups, the new visitors, are not amused or believers for a while, yet will be soon. Houston thinks they, the astronauts, have gone completely nuts describing the action, as the undaunted Willy Wonka fights back. Additionally, the old, petrified people inside the glass elevator help if possible.

I trust the heroes will get on solid ground in a short time, but this is debatable. A good sequel to the classic book, well worth the trouble to read for the young at heart. And those a tiny bit older, all are welcomed without a doubt too.

I just discovered that Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator was written in the year I was born. Interestingly, a significant number of my favorite childhood kids' books were also penned that year. 1972 appears to have been a remarkable year for the creation of fanciful, magical, and/or pastoral, nature-oriented kids' books. Titles such as Watership Down, All Creatures Great and Small, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Frog and Toad #2, Earthsea Cycle #3 were all released during this time.

This discovery might offer some insights into my literary preferences, but it likely reveals even more about the mindset of the American reading public at that particular moment. With the United States deeply embroiled in the Vietnam War and growing weary of it, there was a palpable need for escapism. Roald Dahl's books, including this one, provided the perfect antidote.

This book is a sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, picking up the story right where its predecessor left off. However, it doesn't quite maintain the same level of fantastical fun and frivolity. I remember feeling a bit underwhelmed, not as completely carried away as I was with the first book. This might be because the initial shine has dulled a little, the surprises have already been revealed, and now that the reader is familiar with the world of Wonka, it all seems a touch less magical. Nevertheless, it's still an incredibly fun book!

And this adventure together with Charlie and Mr. Wonka also comes to its end. What can I say?

I am amazed

I am extremely sad to pen down this review. I had adored the first book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, this one has been a huge letdown. To be honest, I was really bored throughout most of the book, and it was a struggle to keep reading. This book has completely lost all the humor that was present in its predecessor. The jokes are absurd and incomprehensible. I simply don't understand what the author was thinking when writing such nonsensical things. It's hard to believe that it's the same person who wrote Matilda.

At the start, the glass elevator ascends too high, and the passengers get stuck in space. We leave the Chocolate Factory and find ourselves in a rather uninteresting universe. It could have been okay for one chapter, providing an adventure for the characters before returning to the Chocolate Factory. But having it go on for 12 chapters was complete nonsense! It was truly ridiculous and such a pity. I had to endure 12 chapters before the characters finally made their way back to the Chocolate Factory, and only then did the story start to get better. I would have much preferred a book with only around 10 chapters and all the space scenes omitted rather than feeling that this book was filled with filler to make up for the brevity of the story. A short, well-written novel is far superior to a long, poorly written, and boring one. Moreover, let's not forget that this book is targeted at kids, and they typically prefer shorter books.

What I couldn't fathom at all was the parallel story about the President of the United States. Why is it even included? Why does the author want to make fun of the President and his cabinet? Additionally, the novel is set in a Cold War context. When the President sees the elevator, he thinks it's a Russian spaceship, and his Chief Army wants to blow it up. This occurs during the space race between the Americans and the Russians. Tensions with Russia and French spies are also mentioned. I wonder how a primary school-aged child reading this book is supposed to understand all of this! Honestly, I just don't see the author's intention.

This sequel and I just didn't click. One book would have sufficed. It's true that the last third of the novel is rather nice, but it's not enough to salvage a poorly written book with a failed plot. My one piece of advice is that you should only read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which, by the way, is an amazing book!

Review to come...

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This just wasn't for me.

I really struggled to get through it as I lost interest very early on.

It was only because of the audiobook that I managed to make it through.

I don't know... it just doesn't possess the same magic as the first book.

It was supposed to be a direct sequel and indeed picked up where the first book left off.

However, it just seemed so chaotic and disorganized, which isn't really that surprising considering the glass elevator ended up in space orbit!!!

No wonder they never made a film sequel!!

The first story concluded beautifully and perfectly.

The world might have been a much better place if this sequel had simply never been created.

There truly was no need for a sequel at all!

Some things are better left untouched and unexpanded.

It's a shame that this attempt at a sequel didn't live up to the expectations set by the first book.

Perhaps it's a lesson that not everything needs to be continued or expanded upon.

Sometimes, the original is just perfect as it is.

Ni prineti Čarliju i fabrici čokolade.

Em se raspada u dva ne baš povezana dela (iako se sve dešava u toku nekoliko sati).

Em se Vonka ponaša još gore nego u prvoj knjizi.

Em ima ubačenu verovatno najodvratniju poučnu poemu koju sam čitala još od vremena Štruvelpetera - o devojčici koja je odjednom pojela sve bakine zalihe laksativa jer je mislila da su bombone.

Prosto... nesmešno.

To be honest, this story about bringing Charlie and the chocolate factory is rather disappointing. The plot seems to fall apart into two not really connected parts, even though everything happens within a few hours. And Vonka's behavior is even worse than in the first book. What's more, the inclusion of that probably most horrible educational poem that I've read since the time of Struwwelpeter - about the girl who ate all her mother's laxative supplies thinking they were candies - is just... ridiculous. It really makes the whole thing less enjoyable and somewhat absurd.

I am currently engaged in the endeavor of reading through all of Roald Dahl's books. The reason behind this is that during my childhood, I had a great affinity for the ones that I had the opportunity to read. I first delved into the enchanting world of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" when I was in middle school. Now, I felt that it was high time to finally pick up and read the second book in the series.

"Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" turned out to be a rather interesting book, yet it deviated significantly from my initial expectations, especially during the first half of the narrative. This led to a sense of disappointment within me. I had the distinct impression that this book was essentially a combination of two short stories. More than half of the book is set in space and within an elevator, having no direct connection whatsoever to the Chocolate Factory. It seemed as if Roald Dahl had simply recycled the characters of Charlie, his family, and Willie Wanka for this "short story" perhaps because he didn't want to invest the effort in creating detailed background information for new characters.

Then, in the second half of the book, they make their way back to the Factory. Here, the Umpa Lumpas sing multiple songs. However, other than that, very little of what occurs truly has anything to do with the factory. The grandparents' experiences with some of the candy could have happened in any setting.

In comparison to the first book, this one was a considerable letdown. The sole reason it managed to receive 3 stars from me is due to the fact that Roald Dahl is an incredibly talented writer. His skills are such that he can make even the most lackluster books highly readable and moderately entertaining.

When I was a kid, reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was an absolute delight, earning it a solid 5 Stars from me. However, as an adult, when I recently reread it with my kids a few months ago, my perception had changed somewhat, and it only managed to score 2 Stars.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is indeed a classic, and I did enjoy sharing it with my children. Naturally, the next step was to reread the sequel to them, a book that also held fond memories from my childhood.

Unfortunately, this sequel has not aged well at all. Generally, I have a great appreciation for Dahl's work, but this particular book might be one that is best skipped. As a child, the incoherent goofiness of it might have been charming, but during the reread, it was quite a painful experience. My wife repeatedly tried to avoid listening to it with me and the kids because it was so bad. But the kids were insistent that she be in the room before I could continue!

The first half of the book is a strange space adventure with dialogue that makes you cringe. The second half, on the other hand, is a thinly veiled commentary on drug overdosing. It even includes an Oompa Loompa song about a girl overdosing on laxatives and suffering permanent damage, where she has to sit on the toilet for hours every day. After the wonderful first book, it makes me wonder where all this came from.

Moreover, there are many cultural representations in this book that would not be acceptable today. Just like how Disney+ has left old movies intact but added warnings for movies like Dumbo and Peter Pan due to their dated cultural references, this book definitely needs a similar disclaimer. With racial tensions being so high in the news lately, it's clear that this book would not hold up in the debate. This is especially concerning since it's targeted at children, so I ended up skimming a few parts. Maybe back when it was written, these things weren't a big deal, but there are several aspects here that I would not want my kids repeating in public.

In conclusion, approach this book with caution. If you're determined to complete Charlie and Willy Wonka's journey, then give it a try, but you've been warned about what you're getting into!

This book is truly hilarious!

It has the power to make you laugh out loud from the very first page. The characters are so vivid and the situations they find themselves in are completely absurd, yet somehow relatable.

You will be entertained from start to finish as you follow their misadventures. The author's writing style is engaging and witty, making it a pleasure to read.

Whether you're looking for a lighthearted read to pass the time or a book to lift your spirits, this one is definitely worth picking up. So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy and get ready to have a great time!

Unlike its predecessor, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this book is perhaps a touch too far-fetched to capture the same level of attention. It's an odd little volume. It has its shining moments and is written in a similar vein to the first book and many of his others. However, it undeniably has its flaws.

One of the most significant drawbacks was likely the of-the-time racism. Critiquing something that was considered "acceptable" at the time of publication is a challenge. But I can't help but think that this, along with the rather overly whimsical storyline, has contributed to this book being nearly forgotten. There is still some great imagination at play, but there just seems to be something completely lacking. Perhaps it's the very flimsy and thin plot, as well as the rather annoying characters of Charlie's bed-ridden grandparents.

Thankfully, it was mercifully short and made for a nice, quick read that provided a brief escape from the heavy and serious Classics. This is always a great thing. I'm certain that children will enjoy it immensely. However, I might be a bit vigilant when it comes to the jokes about the Chinese.

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While I can freely admit that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was indeed the superior book, this in no way lessens the great enjoyment I derived from its sequel.

This story was uproariously silly from start to finish, with the adults being the butt of the jokes. The president of the United States was the funniest among them. There was outer space, strange monsters, the ever-entertaining Oompa Loompas, and all the crazy hijinks that took place within the chocolate factory.

The story even hinted at a possible part 3, which unfortunately never materialized. It's a pity because I was really looking forward to seeing what other wild adventures and comical situations the characters would find themselves in.

Despite the lack of a third installment, the sequel still provided me with a great deal of entertainment and laughter. It was a fun and lighthearted read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Roald Dahl's unique brand of storytelling.