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thatbookishwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
laurenreadsoccasionally's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoy the writing well enough but I just don't think this book needed to exist, to me it just isn't adding anything meaningful to the Alice in Wonderland concept.
jenkat09's review against another edition
2.0
I like the multi character perspectives. I'm a fan of Maguire's work but this was not as enjoyable
sienaro's review against another edition
2.0
I’m an avid Alice in Wonderland fan and I was quite pleased to find that the author of Wicked had written his very own rendition. I didn’t adore Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, but then again, I never just love Cinderella rewrites. So I decided that McGuire deserved another chance to win me over using one of my favorite stories. Boy, was I mistaken. The greatest part about this book was perhaps the rambling about Dante’s inferno and deities and such in the first two pages. Everything that followed was a whole lot of humbug and not in a good, fun, nonsense kind of way.
To put it in a word, this book was BORING. Merely one scene, like falling down the rabbit hole, takes like a whole chapter because McGuire rambles and he’s just way too wordy. It wasn’t the whimsical read I was expecting. And about three quarters of the way through, I struggled to finish because I felt the book was making far too many word circles. I did end up finishing it and SPOILERS! it did not get any better.
To put it in a word, this book was BORING. Merely one scene, like falling down the rabbit hole, takes like a whole chapter because McGuire rambles and he’s just way too wordy. It wasn’t the whimsical read I was expecting. And about three quarters of the way through, I struggled to finish because I felt the book was making far too many word circles. I did end up finishing it and SPOILERS! it did not get any better.
curlykira's review against another edition
3.0
I've been trying to figure out how I feel about this book for a long time. I can see what Gregory Maguire was trying to do with this book but I'm not sure if he quite manages it. It seems to me that he is exploring an alternative, more adult view of Wonderland where he wants to explore this world as an underworld, a katabasis similar to the ones he eludes to in Dante's Inferno and the numerous classical references. I appreciate his considered, learned approach to the tale however it comes across as heavy and uncomfortable to read. In short, it's trying too hard and leaves you feeling bloated with too many ideas at once. Death is obviously a big theme of the book with multiple characters preoccupied with the notion of it or the grief of it. Wonderland as an escape from the fear or grief death or as the underworld itself is an interesting notion. However, the way Maguire goes about exploring this idea is jarring. Why does a little girl have such odd notions of Dante's Inferno? There is a lot of research and academic thought that has gone into this book but it is hard to reconcile that with a child character. Maguire also takes multiple detours into Victorian living and history which seems excessive and takes away from the story. The book does improve as it goes on though and I was impressed with how Gregory Maguire manages to keep a similar tone of nonsense as the original book. Overall, it wasn't the most enjoyable book to read and it did take me a while to push myself to finish it. However, it did lead me to think about different ways to read Alice in Wonderland and to consider how I might have gone about writing a book like this. I am yet to figure that out yet and so I do applaud Maguire for his efforts.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
Dear Gregory Maguire:
JUST SHUT UP.
FFS. I can't with this.
JUST SHUT UP.
FFS. I can't with this.
ceealaina's review against another edition
4.0
What a weird and wonderful book.
I'll admit, I wasn't super into it at first; it felt too much like a redo of Alice in Wonderland with just a separate character swapped in. But I kept going, and I'm so glad I did. The Victorian scenes were some of my favourite parts, and I loved the contrast between England and Wonderland. Lydia was fantastic. Maguire really captures that confusion and frustration of being stuck between childhood and adulthood.
I liked reading about Ada's adventures too. I'm not going to lie, Alice in Wonderland always left me kind of wanting, because at the end, nothing really happens. It's like a weird dream, and then Alice wakes up and everything is exactly as it was. Ada's adventure has a different outcome, and I loved that.
I'll admit, I wasn't super into it at first; it felt too much like a redo of Alice in Wonderland with just a separate character swapped in. But I kept going, and I'm so glad I did. The Victorian scenes were some of my favourite parts, and I loved the contrast between England and Wonderland. Lydia was fantastic. Maguire really captures that confusion and frustration of being stuck between childhood and adulthood.
I liked reading about Ada's adventures too. I'm not going to lie, Alice in Wonderland always left me kind of wanting, because at the end, nothing really happens. It's like a weird dream, and then Alice wakes up and everything is exactly as it was. Ada's adventure has a different outcome, and I loved that.
jacobra5's review against another edition
4.0
In Gregory Maguire's normal style, he takes a well known tale and manages to work an outstanding amount of political (and gender, class and race relations) commentary into it. This book is somewhat of a combination of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.