You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Drug use'
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: By Lewis Carroll by Lewis Carroll
8 reviews
angelo_vossen's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Lewis Carroll’s „Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“ has long been heralded as a whimsical masterpiece, but upon closer inspection, it reads more like a nonsensical fever dream than a coherent novel. The book’s biggest flaw is its utter lack of structure — Alice stumbles from one bizarre scenario to the next with no real plot to tie the events together, making the entire experience feel more like a random collection of absurd vignettes than a satisfying story.
The characters, while often quoted in popular culture, are little more than caricatures with no depth. The Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts exist solely to spout riddles or display exaggerated quirks, but there’s no real emotional investment in any of them. Even Alice herself is frustratingly passive, serving as little more than a vehicle for Carroll’s surrealism rather than a character with actual development.
Carroll’s wordplay and logic puzzles, often praised as ingenious, quickly become tiresome. What may have once been seen as clever now feels self-indulgent, as though the author were more interested in showing off his linguistic gymnastics than telling a compelling story. The dialogue is riddled with non sequiturs that serve no purpose beyond confusing the reader, making it clear that the book’s primary goal is whimsy for whimsy’s sake—at the expense of readability.
Furthermore, the novel’s dreamlike nature ultimately undermines any potential stakes. Nothing Alice does truly matters, as everything is conveniently erased by the “it was all a dream” ending, making the entire journey feel pointless. There’s no real lesson, no moral takeaway—just a chaotic, directionless string of events that frustrates more than it delights.
While „Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“ may have historical significance, it’s hard to ignore that it relies far too heavily on nonsense, leaving little room for narrative satisfaction. More of an exercise in eccentricity than a compelling read, it’s a book that may charm some with its whimsy but will leave many others wondering why they bothered at all.
The characters, while often quoted in popular culture, are little more than caricatures with no depth. The Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts exist solely to spout riddles or display exaggerated quirks, but there’s no real emotional investment in any of them. Even Alice herself is frustratingly passive, serving as little more than a vehicle for Carroll’s surrealism rather than a character with actual development.
Carroll’s wordplay and logic puzzles, often praised as ingenious, quickly become tiresome. What may have once been seen as clever now feels self-indulgent, as though the author were more interested in showing off his linguistic gymnastics than telling a compelling story. The dialogue is riddled with non sequiturs that serve no purpose beyond confusing the reader, making it clear that the book’s primary goal is whimsy for whimsy’s sake—at the expense of readability.
Furthermore, the novel’s dreamlike nature ultimately undermines any potential stakes. Nothing Alice does truly matters, as everything is conveniently erased by the “it was all a dream” ending, making the entire journey feel pointless. There’s no real lesson, no moral takeaway—just a chaotic, directionless string of events that frustrates more than it delights.
While „Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“ may have historical significance, it’s hard to ignore that it relies far too heavily on nonsense, leaving little room for narrative satisfaction. More of an exercise in eccentricity than a compelling read, it’s a book that may charm some with its whimsy but will leave many others wondering why they bothered at all.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Violence, and Abandonment
phvntomstvrs's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Violence and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty and Body horror
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
4.0
This is still a great peice of classic children’s lot from the Victorian era. It’s whimsical, nonsensical, and funny.
I know that there is controversy with Caroll himself and the origins of the book with his “friend” Alice. It dims the enjoyment from it being a 5 star book, but otherwise if I think of this as separate from the author it really is a fun twisting tale.
I know that there is controversy with Caroll himself and the origins of the book with his “friend” Alice. It dims the enjoyment from it being a 5 star book, but otherwise if I think of this as separate from the author it really is a fun twisting tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
jmdressel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
odd and interesting and classic. so glad i read it. was difficult to follow in some sections, but a very fun and engaging text!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Slavery
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I decided to read this book because I bought a poster with 100 books to read in your lifetime. This is the eighteenth book I've read on this list. Compared to the previous book, this was fun and easy read and very different compared to the other classics I've read.
This book is based on Alice, she has gone down a rabbit hole without the least idea of what was going to happen afterwards. In the world of nonsensical Wonderland and the back-to-front Looking Glass kingdom depict order turned upside-down: a baby turns into a pig; time is abandoned at a disorderly tea-party and a chaotic game of chess makes a seven-year-old girl a Queen. But amongst the anarchic humour and sparkling word play, puzzles and riddles, are poignant moments of nostalgia for lost childhood.
This book is so fun and so nuts, but I loved how cuckoo it was. I didn’t realise because they made her older in the films, but I cannot believe that Alice was only seven! I was so shocked when I read that. I enjoyed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland compared to Through the Looking Glass because it felt more fun and less serious, and I wanted more of the prequel of Alice’s life. Through the Looking Glass was a bit more intense and a bit confusing times, I lost the storyline a bit throughout it but managed to recover to enjoy and understand it.
Overall, I loved the drawings throughout the book, and it was a very enjoyable read and I’m glad that I finally enjoyed a book from the poster. Hopefully, we can keep this momentum up and I can enjoy the next book on the poster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
Moderate: Pedophilia and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Body horror
mysafe_place's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
"In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summer's die;
Ever drifting down the stream -
Lingering in the golden gleam -
Life, what is it but a dream?"
I only discovered this (part of a) poem while reading this version of the book and it felt so relatable and comforting to me. The whole book does, to be blunt. I simply wanted to share this because I believe that these verses will give readers and dreamers (sometimes those function as synonyms for me, aren't they the same somehow?) a bit of hope, a bit magic in this dull and rough reality. And who does not strive that? Even if it is considered a children's book I am convinced that you can just as well enjoy it as an adult, if not even more. The author said that it was simply meant to be a "book of nonsense", or at least he calls it that way, but I could not help but find some sense in it. Some deeper meaning. Not in a logical or rational way, that would have been the wrong way to do it. I love this book dearly and if you already know the story: read it anyway!
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summer's die;
Ever drifting down the stream -
Lingering in the golden gleam -
Life, what is it but a dream?"
I only discovered this (part of a) poem while reading this version of the book and it felt so relatable and comforting to me. The whole book does, to be blunt. I simply wanted to share this because I believe that these verses will give readers and dreamers (sometimes those function as synonyms for me, aren't they the same somehow?) a bit of hope, a bit magic in this dull and rough reality. And who does not strive that? Even if it is considered a children's book I am convinced that you can just as well enjoy it as an adult, if not even more. The author said that it was simply meant to be a "book of nonsense", or at least he calls it that way, but I could not help but find some sense in it. Some deeper meaning. Not in a logical or rational way, that would have been the wrong way to do it. I love this book dearly and if you already know the story: read it anyway!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Pedophilia, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
rafacolog's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty and Drug use
jessiahmarielle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Picked this up because I wanted a fast read. I've never read Alice in Wonderland, and vaguely remember watching the film growing up. There was some dark humour sprinkled in, which made me research the true meanings and origins of Alice in Wonderland. I enjoyed the read though.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use