The Book Depository Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming
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Price: £7.65
Brand: The Book Depository
Description: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car : Paperback : Candlewick Press,U.S. : 9780763666668 : 0763666661 : 12 Mar 2013 : Published just after his death in 1964, the only children's book written by James Bond creator Fleming is beloved by generations of children, and has spawned a classic film and Broadway musical. Now Fleming's original text is paired with new illustrations by noted artist Berger. The Book Depository Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: The Book Depository
Product ID: 9780763666668
MPN: 0763666661
GTIN: 9780763666668
Author: M. Dowden
Rating: 5
Review: Although famous for his character James Bond most people seem to overlook this book, the only children’s novel that Ian Fleming wrote. Based on the stories that he used to tell his son, Caspar, the original inspiration was as the note in the front of the book says the cars built by Count Louis Zborowski, who was an engineer and racing driver. If you have only ever seen the well known film that was made of this then you should be warned that there are significant differences between the two. Unfortunately for the author he died before this came into print, and I don’t know what he would have made of the mixed reviews that were received in the Press. Fleming was not a serious children’s book writer, but his style does work well here giving this a very light heated and fun feel, and with his knowledge of cliff-hangers from his adult work he quite capably incorporated such here. In this book we meet the Pott family, father Caractacus, mother Mimsie, and the children Jemima and Jeremy. When the dad sells his new sweet formula so the family for the first time have enough money to buy a car, but after looking in the showrooms instead buy a rundown automobile that is going to be scrapped. And thus this car is brought lovingly back to life, and whether before or just feeling generous to its new owners so the vehicle seems to add its own specifications which can be quite surprising. Finding out what the car can do so the family get into some problems, especially when they run into a gang of thieves. With the children kidnapped and a daring robbery being brought into play can the car, with the parents save the day? This is still very much a fun read and I can still vaguely remember being read this at primary school whilst fudge was being handed around. Good enough to read to little ones as a bedtime tale this is great when they can read for themselves, even more so because of the lovely illustrations throughout. In all this is still a wonderful tale, and even as an adult and when stuck in a traffic jam I always wish the car I was in could just take off and fly over it all.
Author: C. Craig
Rating: 4
Review: This brought back some amazing memories. A lot different from the film, it tells the story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the magical flying, sailing car who comes alive and, in this adventure saves her owner's two children from smugglers. There are other adventures, written by a different author than Ian Fleming (he of James Bond fame) but this is the original. A short but beautiful read that will keep adults and children entertained for a short while.
