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davey_edmo's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book, almost unique in its approach of being a graphic novel documentary, the dual histories of Sunderland and Lewis Carroll/Alice and how they combine. Oxford has always held a strong possession to the Alice story and Carroll but it seems like this may not 100% true. It feels like a huge book to read but you fly through it, even when it shoots of on mini-tangents you soon come back to the main plot wanting to read more about Carroll, Alice, George Formby, Sid James, and the mackems! A great book full of fun facts and interesting stories.
nwhyte's review against another edition
5.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2710804.html
Wow. How come nobody told me about this sooner? (Well, yes, I know you told me. I should have listened.) This is a glorious exploration of the cultural history of Sunderland and its immediate vicinity, and specifically its impact on the Alice books and the other works of Lewis Carroll. Talbot makes the argument that Oxford has for too long claimed a monopoly on Alice, when in fact both Dodgson and the Liddell family had long-standing links with this part of North-East England, and there is convincing evidence that the relationship between the families, and many crucial details in the books themselves, depend crucially on the Wear estuary. Talbot presents the entire story as told by two of his own avatars to a theatre-goer, assisted by various mythic and historical figures including the ghost of Sid James, who literally died on stage in Sunderland (on my ninth birthday, I note). And there are many diversions into Talbot's own career and personal history, and into the history of comics, picking up many pleasing resonances and a number of spot-on pastiches.
I thought this was brilliant. I love deep local histories anyway - the Irish word is dinnseanchas, the lore of places - and the fact that I know very little about that part of the world possibly enhanced my enjoyment as Talbot makes his immediate geographical landscape relevant to the cultural references which I know much better. It's a little demanding in that some knowledge of Talbot's other work, and much knowledge of Lewis Carroll, is assumed, and I guess when this was first recommended to me I probably lacked the former. But I also suspect that readers who know less about the writer can skip the more Talbot-centric parts and get a lot out of the rest.
Wow. How come nobody told me about this sooner? (Well, yes, I know you told me. I should have listened.) This is a glorious exploration of the cultural history of Sunderland and its immediate vicinity, and specifically its impact on the Alice books and the other works of Lewis Carroll. Talbot makes the argument that Oxford has for too long claimed a monopoly on Alice, when in fact both Dodgson and the Liddell family had long-standing links with this part of North-East England, and there is convincing evidence that the relationship between the families, and many crucial details in the books themselves, depend crucially on the Wear estuary. Talbot presents the entire story as told by two of his own avatars to a theatre-goer, assisted by various mythic and historical figures including the ghost of Sid James, who literally died on stage in Sunderland (on my ninth birthday, I note). And there are many diversions into Talbot's own career and personal history, and into the history of comics, picking up many pleasing resonances and a number of spot-on pastiches.
I thought this was brilliant. I love deep local histories anyway - the Irish word is dinnseanchas, the lore of places - and the fact that I know very little about that part of the world possibly enhanced my enjoyment as Talbot makes his immediate geographical landscape relevant to the cultural references which I know much better. It's a little demanding in that some knowledge of Talbot's other work, and much knowledge of Lewis Carroll, is assumed, and I guess when this was first recommended to me I probably lacked the former. But I also suspect that readers who know less about the writer can skip the more Talbot-centric parts and get a lot out of the rest.
loonyboi's review against another edition
3.0
A good, if scatterbrained book. It's impeccably researched, and very well drawn, which I have come to expect from the very talented Bryan Talbot. But it really doesn't have any narrative. It's more or less a walking tour of Sunderland, tying its history to that of Lewis Carroll and Alice. Except it has many diversions, some more interesting than others. I enjoyed Alice in Sunderland, but it was a slog from time to time as Talbot went off on another tangent. If you're willing to put yourself in Talbot's hands, you'll probably enjoy the book, but be prepared for a meandering and not terribly focused time.
chgoange's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting "trip" thru English, Wonderland, and comic book history.
iloveyoon's review against another edition
2.0
Couldn't even get half-way through.
WAAAAAy too many facts - thought it was going to be more about Alice in Wonderland/Lewis Carroll, but it was packed full of history (going back to viking raids and such) of Sunderland.
my head ass-plode.
WAAAAAy too many facts - thought it was going to be more about Alice in Wonderland/Lewis Carroll, but it was packed full of history (going back to viking raids and such) of Sunderland.
my head ass-plode.
yoyology's review against another edition
5.0
A remarkable graphic work that cannot easily be described in brief. It's something like a biography of Sunderland, a city in the U.K. with a quirky past as an intersection of industry, literature, and popular culture. The life and work of Lewis Carroll ties everything together, but it's only a small part of the whole.
What's really outstanding is Talbot's art, which draws from widely varying styles including photorealism, pen-and-ink rendering, pastiches of great illustrators like Tenniel and Hogarth, and digital collage.
Well worth reading and re-reading to catch what was missed the first time.
What's really outstanding is Talbot's art, which draws from widely varying styles including photorealism, pen-and-ink rendering, pastiches of great illustrators like Tenniel and Hogarth, and digital collage.
Well worth reading and re-reading to catch what was missed the first time.
lushbug's review against another edition
5.0
There are so many interesting facts I didn't know about Lewis Carroll and Sunderland!
A great read with some some fantastic illustrations. Funny too!
A great read with some some fantastic illustrations. Funny too!
charlotteprice's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Lots of information, about the history of Sunderland in North East England, and those who came from there. The focus is on Lewis Carroll and as such, the book rather goes in circles. Sometimes this is distracting and complicated, especially since it's lengthy enough a book that one has to put it down a few times to get on with one's life.
But overall very interesting and enjoyable! A little manic at times but, that's Wonderland for you.
But overall very interesting and enjoyable! A little manic at times but, that's Wonderland for you.
bsparx's review
2.0
What is there to say about Alice in Sunderland? Off the top of my head I can say that I’m happy I finished it finally. When I reached that ending, an ending that felt like it was miles away no matter the closer I got to it, it felt like a great relief.
It isn’t that Sunderland isn’t interesting, it is, but it makes you feel like you’re being bombarded by information left, right, and centre, because you are.
Sunderland is a graphic novel of information overload based around the history and connections of Sunderland, Lewis Carroll, and Alice in Wonderland. I would have loved all this information if it wasn’t absolutely drenched in it and had an easier way of either relating to the reader or a smoother delivery.
This is a chaotic collection of information and facts dressed up in what is meant to be a fun way to experience it all, but it makes me feel like I should have had my umbrella, raincoat, and perhaps taken some form of hallucinogens before embarking on this adventure.
For the rest of my review please visit my blog.
It isn’t that Sunderland isn’t interesting, it is, but it makes you feel like you’re being bombarded by information left, right, and centre, because you are.
Sunderland is a graphic novel of information overload based around the history and connections of Sunderland, Lewis Carroll, and Alice in Wonderland. I would have loved all this information if it wasn’t absolutely drenched in it and had an easier way of either relating to the reader or a smoother delivery.
This is a chaotic collection of information and facts dressed up in what is meant to be a fun way to experience it all, but it makes me feel like I should have had my umbrella, raincoat, and perhaps taken some form of hallucinogens before embarking on this adventure.
For the rest of my review please visit my blog.