Wordcandy Weekly Book Snippet

Excerpt from:
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, by Roald Dahl

Why you should buy a copy of your very own:
It's just as nasty as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but even weirder!

In this scene...
Our young hero is traveling upwards in the great glass elevator at a tremendous rate of speed, accompanied by four grandparents, two parents, and Mr. Wonka. Three of the grandparents (Grandma Josephine, Grandma Georgina, and Grandpa George) aren't sold on this newfangled mode of travel.


"'What in the world keeps this thing up in the air?' croaked Grandma Josephine.

'Skyhooks', said Mr. Wonka.

'You amaze me', said Grandma Josephine.

'Dear lady', said Mr. Wonka, 'you are new to the scene. When you have been with us a little longer, nothing will amaze you.'

'These skyhooks', said Grandma Josephine. 'I assume one end is hooked into this contraption we're riding in. Right?'

'Right', said Mr. Wonka.

'What's the other end hooked into?' said Grandma Josephine.

'Every day', said Mr. Wonka, 'I get deafer and deafer. Remind me, please, to call up my ear doctor the moment we get back.'

'Charlie', said Grandma Josephine. 'I don't think I trust this gentleman very much.'

'Nor do I', said Grandma Georgina. 'He footles around.'"

© Roald Dahl, 1972