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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
Return to Wonderland by Various
4.0
This book was on my wishlist ever since I discovered it existed and last weekend we found a copy in the Waterstones in Amsterdam. Of course I took it home and of course I had to read it at one of the earliest opportunities.
And just like with every collection of stories there were stories that really touched me and did something with me and there were stories that resonated a little less. Let me start with saying that there was not one story that I truly disliked and wanted to be over. I liked it that every story starred other characters and that each plot and angle was so unique and original and different. I'm sure there's a story for everyone in here and they're all amazingly well written.
But, I of course want to highlight a few of my personal favourites. My absolute favourite, I think, was the library story, where the arrogant Mock Turtle has to solve the mystery of the missing book, that has appeared on the missing books shelf. It felt true to the Wonderland madness where right is wrong and wrong is right, it was funny and very very clever.
Of course that wasn't the only highlight. I also really enjoyed the story in which Alice's older sister Ina tries to save her younger sister Alice from the horrible Wonderland Lewis Caroll has created. Not only did this story work perfectly with the original story of Caroll we know so well, it also gave the spotlight to a character that barely got any attention to begin with.
And, last but not least, there was the story where Wonderland has become a giant Alice in Wonderland theme park, with coffee machines, smoothies (all tasting like banana, no matter what fruit is in there) and shirts, which was really really amusing, and the story of how the cheshire cat got his characteristic grin, which was dark and disturbing and yet also a little bit funny, just like the original Wonderland tale.
I'm not sure if I'd read the entire book again, but I'm sure I'll re-read some of my favourite stories quite often in the future.
And just like with every collection of stories there were stories that really touched me and did something with me and there were stories that resonated a little less. Let me start with saying that there was not one story that I truly disliked and wanted to be over. I liked it that every story starred other characters and that each plot and angle was so unique and original and different. I'm sure there's a story for everyone in here and they're all amazingly well written.
But, I of course want to highlight a few of my personal favourites. My absolute favourite, I think, was the library story, where the arrogant Mock Turtle has to solve the mystery of the missing book, that has appeared on the missing books shelf. It felt true to the Wonderland madness where right is wrong and wrong is right, it was funny and very very clever.
Of course that wasn't the only highlight. I also really enjoyed the story in which Alice's older sister Ina tries to save her younger sister Alice from the horrible Wonderland Lewis Caroll has created. Not only did this story work perfectly with the original story of Caroll we know so well, it also gave the spotlight to a character that barely got any attention to begin with.
And, last but not least, there was the story where Wonderland has become a giant Alice in Wonderland theme park, with coffee machines, smoothies (all tasting like banana, no matter what fruit is in there) and shirts, which was really really amusing, and the story of how the cheshire cat got his characteristic grin, which was dark and disturbing and yet also a little bit funny, just like the original Wonderland tale.
I'm not sure if I'd read the entire book again, but I'm sure I'll re-read some of my favourite stories quite often in the future.