Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Goodreads Says:    Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

My Thoughts:

-    I haven't read this for a while, and it was fun to revisit a childhood book with my daughter. This book is just as fun when you are an adult!

-    While reading this, I kept thinking about the Tim Burton film. He did a great job adapting this book into film. It is pretty accurate.

-    Gnome didn't love this as much as other Dahl books. She enjoyed the story, but this one had less pictures, and she didn't like that. 

-    The story is so whimsical and outrageous, and I love it. Dahl's imagination has no limits. He really knew how to create timeless stories.

-    I love the Britishisms in the books. I'm glad they weren't changed to fit our American English.

-    I wish there really was a chocolate factory like Willy Wonka's.

Gnome's Thoughts: (spoilers)

-    I liked when Grandpa Joe jumped up and did a dance. That was funny.

-    I liked what happened to all the kids. 

-    I liked how they burst into the house at the end.

-    The book is funny.

The Book of Three

Goodreads Synopsis:    Taran dreams of adventure, but nothing exciting ever happens to an Assistant Pig-Keeper--until his pig runs away. A chase through the woods leads Taran far from home and into great danger, for evil prowls the land of Prydain. With a collection of strange and wonderful friends whom he meets on his journey, Taran finds himself fighting so that good may triumph over evil--and so that his beloved home will not fall to a diabolical fiend.









My Thoughts:

-    This series is one of my childhood favorites! Reading this again was like greeting old friends. 

-    Reading an old favorite is just what I needed to get me out of my reading slump!

-    Taran has a lot of growing up to do, and while he grew throughout this journey, I'm glad there are more books for him to grow more. 

-    Gurgi is one of my all time favorite characters! He is right up there with Bilbo! I love the way he speaks, and I love his loyalty and courage.

-    I love the other characters as well. Gwydion was one of my first literature crushes! Eilonwy can be annoying at times, but sometimes Taran needed a good scolding. Fflewddur is a good companion and brings some great comic relief. SO many great characters!! I love them all!

-    Medwyn is full of wisdom and love for all living things. I admire him so much. I wish I had his job. It would be so peaceful and lovely.

-    The book is short, but the adventure is EPIC! This tale is a timeless classic that people will love forever! I can't wait to share Alexander's books with my little gnome!

-    Although we don't see much of him, The Horned King is one of the scariest and baddest dudes in all of fantasy! 

-    Nothing but love and praise from me for this book! This series holds a lot of nostalgia for me. I grew up reading about Prydain and The Shire, and I always wanted my own adventure. This is one of the books that started my love for reading!