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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I grew up watching various adaptations of these stories and was always fascinated by them as a kid – the colors, the strangeness, the talking animals, the upside-down logic. Revisiting the original books now was such an interesting experience. I read both back to back and, while I enjoyed them both, I definitely preferred Through the Looking-Glass.
It’s not that I disliked Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but I found Alice herself to be a bit annoying, especially compared to the wildly imaginative and eccentric characters surrounding her. In a world full of absurdity and brilliance, she often felt like the one dull note. Every other character was fascinating, unpredictable, and hilarious.
That said, I absolutely loved the whimsical nonsense of both books. Carroll created a world where logic is turned on its head, and the rules (if there are any) constantly shift. His language play, riddles, and rhythm are all signs of a uniquely brilliant mind. I laughed a lot while reading, especially during scenes with Tweedledum and Tweedledee, who easily became my favorite duo in the entire story.
The books don’t follow a traditional plot or structure, but that’s part of the charm – they’re more about the experience, the wordplay, and the strange journey than about resolution. It’s easy to see why these stories have remained so iconic, and I think Carroll’s talent is undeniable. These are books you can read over and over, and find something new (or absurd) each time.
That said, Lewis Carroll’s legacy is complicated as I got to learn recently. While his literary genius is clear, the speculation surrounding his personal life, especially his intense relationships with young girls, was in the back of my mind the entire time I was reading. Even though there’s no conclusive evidence or final ruling, it made it hard for me to fully enjoy the work without some discomfort. It’s a reminder that the art and the artist can be difficult to separate, especially when troubling questions linger.
Really Nice story and fun to read and see how it’s different from the Disney version.
The film adaptations really don't do justice to the whimsy and zaniness that comprise this book. "We're all mad here . . . "
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was sort of confused the whole way through the book. It was very all over the place and just confusing in general. I didn't love the story itself and it felt very odd in a bad way when you know more about the author. I know the story from the movies and it differed so much that this didn't feel like what Alice in Wonderland should be.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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
A delightful audio book to start our road trip. This is another on my list of brit lit. I know i've read it before, but it's been years, so it was fun to hear it again. Beautifully told.
this was delightful. so amusing and charming, loved being reminded of why i loved this story as a kid. also wildly interesting to see the influence its had on so much of our culture
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced