Review: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
/2019 CHALLENGE: 1 RE-READ PER MONTH 02 / 12
4 stars. THIS BOOK IS SO STRANGE! I fucking loved it as a kid but wow - this book is a really, really bizarre acid trip. In a good way.
I know so much has been said about Lewis Carroll and the possible inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I can't personally add anything about that, except that I hope it's not true and I hope this classic remains untarnished. Because it's truly a one-of-a-kind, unprecedented and kind of unmatched as far as children's literature goes.
(Also, there’s no evidence that Lewis Carroll did drugs. Just sayin’.)
Now that I'm older and more well-read, this reminded me of a lot of my favorite authors growing up: Roald Dahl, Clive Barker (the Abarat series features an interested sort of Wonderland), CS Lewis, Norton Juster, etc. This really felt like kind of a warm up for books like that, or like it sprouted branches and now we can enjoy it’s fruit. It's charm and wit will probably keep inspiring authors as long as books exist. I also personally love books like Alice (Christina Henry) and other dark renditions.
But the one thing that really stuck out during my re-read was how much I absolutely love Alice. What a badass, world-hopping, roll-with-it warrior!
"The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: 'No room! No room!' they cried out when they saw Alice coming. 'There's plenty of room!' said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table."
I love her.
“One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked. This of course, Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it away."
She's fantastic. Alice couldn’t stand the squeaky pencil, so she took it away.
"Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple. 'I won't!' said Alice."
I don't understand why Alice isn't more regularly recognized and featured as a young feminist heroine. She's so cool and clever and, of course, curious.
I was also really into the way Lewis Carroll handled the lack of explanation for events. I'm always intrigued by books that don't give you a chance to question things. I know that some people prefer answers to EVERYTHING, they hate ambiguity. I see the beauty in it. I suspect Carroll was aware that children wouldn't mind, even poking at the concept a bit:
"'What IS the use of repeating all that stuff,' the Mock Turtle interrupted, 'if you don't explain it as you go on? It's by far the most confusing thing I ever heard!'"
Not as confusing as it may seem, ha. It definitely comes across as a book that's "just for fun," but I wouldn't be surprised if there was playful meaning behind every joke, every twist of dialogue, every story and riddle and interjection. That's what makes it so rewarding for children and adults - the magic and the meaning. It's not for everyone, but it's hilarious and weird and an amazing piece of writing and completely worth your time.