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ashleylm's review
2.0
Two stars feels unduly harsh, but I can't bring myself to get to three ... three means I enjoyed it well enough, but might not rush out to find more by the same author, or continue the series. Two and a half, say, but of course we aren't allowed such niceties.
I'd just finished another Alice sequel (Alice Through the Needle's Eye) which I felt came too close to Carroll's originals, throwing into stark relief how much livelier and interesting the earlier works were. But this volume strays too far in the other direction, there's far too much plot, no beloved new characters, and it's rather bloody for an Alice book.
I think it's very difficult to even approach the genius that is Lewis Caroll (so it's ridiculous that I've found myself inspired to do so--I'm 7,000 words into my attempt), so anyone who tries has my sympathies indeed. I think by far it's better to go the route of Catherynne Valente and her Fairyland series--it's awfully similar, but different enough that you're not expecting Carroll and Alice, and can enjoy it for its own sake.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
I'd just finished another Alice sequel (Alice Through the Needle's Eye) which I felt came too close to Carroll's originals, throwing into stark relief how much livelier and interesting the earlier works were. But this volume strays too far in the other direction, there's far too much plot, no beloved new characters, and it's rather bloody for an Alice book.
I think it's very difficult to even approach the genius that is Lewis Caroll (so it's ridiculous that I've found myself inspired to do so--I'm 7,000 words into my attempt), so anyone who tries has my sympathies indeed. I think by far it's better to go the route of Catherynne Valente and her Fairyland series--it's awfully similar, but different enough that you're not expecting Carroll and Alice, and can enjoy it for its own sake.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
chaitiefling's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
teetee's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Not as good as I remember Noon’s Vurt and Pollen to be but my tastes may have changed. It’s cute and entertaining. Too much word play for my liking.
tiggum's review against another edition
I'm pretty sure Noon likes Lewis Carroll, L Frank Baum and Terry Pratchett, Unfortunately, he's not in their league. Take their writing and flatten it out: remove the wit, the whimsy, and the creativity and you'll have this book.
coyotesdaughter's review against another edition
5.0
A fun, very whimsical read. I really enjoyed this book. It has a very Carroll feeling to the language, and an entertaining story with an interesting ending.
larasam's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🙃
laurentess_xo's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book on a whim - it's not my usual genre of book being YA/Sci-fi, but I have to say I throughly enjoyed it. Alice in wonderland has always been one of my favourite books in like forever, so naturally, of course, I just have to read any retellings to do with Alice.
I loved the intrigue I felt when I wasn't reading it, what's going to happen next? How will Alice get home? Who will Alice meet next? Etc..
Alice has travelled ahead of time and is desperate to get back to the past. Alice's great aunt has a pet parrot named Whippoorwill who likes to speak in riddle. Alice at first doesn't seem to understand these riddles but then neither did I. But Alice must find the answers to the riddles to find her way home.
I found myself sometimes laughing at some of things that were happening in this book and at some of the characters 'weird' names.
As with retellings, they have pretty much the same story as the original but a different take on the characters journeys, so they are a must! They also give us (the readers) the chance to see some of our favourite characters in a different light.
This is a book I can really recommend to all fans of Alice and to those who love retellings or to anyone just needing a change of genre.
I loved the intrigue I felt when I wasn't reading it, what's going to happen next? How will Alice get home? Who will Alice meet next? Etc..
Alice has travelled ahead of time and is desperate to get back to the past. Alice's great aunt has a pet parrot named Whippoorwill who likes to speak in riddle. Alice at first doesn't seem to understand these riddles but then neither did I. But Alice must find the answers to the riddles to find her way home.
I found myself sometimes laughing at some of things that were happening in this book and at some of the characters 'weird' names.
As with retellings, they have pretty much the same story as the original but a different take on the characters journeys, so they are a must! They also give us (the readers) the chance to see some of our favourite characters in a different light.
This is a book I can really recommend to all fans of Alice and to those who love retellings or to anyone just needing a change of genre.
bookdragon217's review against another edition
1.0
What a waste! I read it with my book club and there was an even split between those who loved and those who hated it. I can never get back the time I spent reading this.
ederwin's review against another edition
3.0
Alice takes another trip. She meets characters every bit as bizarre as in her first two trips. Jeff Noon gets the character of Alice just right, she sounds just the same as always, and he never forgets she is an 8-year old. The wordplay is almost as much fun, but the whimsy isn't quite as whimsical and the non-sense isn't quite as non-sensical. Wisely, he gives us less than half as many poems as Lewis Carrol, which is good because his poems are less than half as good. But overall a quick, fun read.
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