#67 Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
In Lewis Carroll's classic children's novel, Alice Little falls down a rabbit hole and emerges in a strange world. Here, she will find 
herself chasing a white rabbit, rapidly shrinking and growing, listening to the advice of a hooka smoking caterpillar, attending a mad tea party, and finally participating in a croquet match hosted by the murderous Queen of Hearts.
Alice in Wonderland is a classic children's book that I did not read while I was still in the intended audience. Instead, my main memories of the story will always be associated with the beautifully animated Disney movie of the same name. I was inspired to pick up the audiobook after listening to a podcast hosted by The History Chicks. While listening to the audiobook (which was quite shorter than expected, only about four hours long), I couldn't help but wonder how I would have reacted to the novel had I read it as a child. I suspect I would have become impatient with the rambling, aimless nature of the story, something which occasionally tried my patience as an adult. At the same time, I m sure I would have been more accepting of the nonsensical tone of the novel. As someone used for trying to find patterns and meaning in text, I at first found myself wondering what certain aspects of the novel were really about. It wasn't until about halfway through that I let myself just embrace the pure craziness of Alice's story, and accept it for what it was, a bizarre adventure starring a confused girl.
One thing that I did find interesting about this book was the ending (which I don't really consider a spoiler given how old this book is. If you are more sensitive then I am, best to skip this paragraph). Here, Alice wakes up and realizes that her adventures were a dream. As someone who has often been frustrated at the far too logical and linear appearance of dreams in books and other forms of popular media, I couldn't help but be impressed at it's presentation here. Alice in Wonderland is probably (to me at least) one of the more accurate depiction of dreams I've encountered: rambling and illogical with a habit of jumping from one topic to the next.
Alice and Wonderland is one of the most influential children's novel in the western world, and it's impact can be seen all over pop culture. Speaking as a modern reader experiencing the book for the first time, I found it to be an enjoyable little read. I suspect that I will read the second Alice book, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found there, in the future.
Rating: four stars
Length: 96 pages
Source: overdrive media console
Other books I've read by this author: this is my first
Next I will be reviewing Madam Xanadu vol 2: Exodus Noir by Matt Wagner and Among Others by Jo Walton
xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads
herself chasing a white rabbit, rapidly shrinking and growing, listening to the advice of a hooka smoking caterpillar, attending a mad tea party, and finally participating in a croquet match hosted by the murderous Queen of Hearts.
Alice in Wonderland is a classic children's book that I did not read while I was still in the intended audience. Instead, my main memories of the story will always be associated with the beautifully animated Disney movie of the same name. I was inspired to pick up the audiobook after listening to a podcast hosted by The History Chicks. While listening to the audiobook (which was quite shorter than expected, only about four hours long), I couldn't help but wonder how I would have reacted to the novel had I read it as a child. I suspect I would have become impatient with the rambling, aimless nature of the story, something which occasionally tried my patience as an adult. At the same time, I m sure I would have been more accepting of the nonsensical tone of the novel. As someone used for trying to find patterns and meaning in text, I at first found myself wondering what certain aspects of the novel were really about. It wasn't until about halfway through that I let myself just embrace the pure craziness of Alice's story, and accept it for what it was, a bizarre adventure starring a confused girl.
One thing that I did find interesting about this book was the ending (which I don't really consider a spoiler given how old this book is. If you are more sensitive then I am, best to skip this paragraph). Here, Alice wakes up and realizes that her adventures were a dream. As someone who has often been frustrated at the far too logical and linear appearance of dreams in books and other forms of popular media, I couldn't help but be impressed at it's presentation here. Alice in Wonderland is probably (to me at least) one of the more accurate depiction of dreams I've encountered: rambling and illogical with a habit of jumping from one topic to the next.
Alice and Wonderland is one of the most influential children's novel in the western world, and it's impact can be seen all over pop culture. Speaking as a modern reader experiencing the book for the first time, I found it to be an enjoyable little read. I suspect that I will read the second Alice book, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found there, in the future.
Rating: four stars
Length: 96 pages
Source: overdrive media console
Other books I've read by this author: this is my first
Next I will be reviewing Madam Xanadu vol 2: Exodus Noir by Matt Wagner and Among Others by Jo Walton
xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads