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angi_23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
megdom's review against another edition
4.0
What a storyteller, Carroll is. I like that the edition I have has discussion of the meaning of the words in Jabberwocky - I thought it was nonsense, which it is, but constructed by combining words. And I love that Alice is depicted as the anti-heroine. Fun to pick this up again after so many years!
abibumbleb's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
3.0
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
buddha_chic's review against another edition
2.0
Lewis's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was more than disappointing; it was disturbing, pointlessly long-winded and unnecessarily hysterical. I had the Disney version of Alice and her adventures in my head and what I got was a deranged and acid-tripping tale that was surprisingly and most certainly NOT kid friendly. Apparently, this genre isn't magical realism but fantasy mixed with literary nonsense. (Seriously, look it up.) With that, I have to agree. (1.5/5 stars)
readingjunkie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
j_laws_tagg's review against another edition
4.0
A great children's classic I had never read until recently. I loved it. It is so absurd and childish I couldn't help but smile and laugh as I went along. If you've ever seen and Alice in Wonderland movie you only know half the story since "Through the Looking Glass" is a great sequel to the first book (This is also the book that introduces the Dweedle Dee and Dum characters). Check this classic out soon. It's a quick easy read.