Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

This is a really strange one.

The more I delved into it, the more I found myself becoming accustomed to the weirdness.

Does this say something about me?

At first, I firmly believed that I wouldn't read it to my kids as it seemed far too strange.

However, now I'm having second thoughts.

They might actually enjoy it.

We'll just have to wait and see how it concludes.

Am I uncool for having never read this before?

Okay, I've finished both of them.

Alice in Wonderland was just okay.

Still very weird.

Weird and I couldn't quite wrap my head around it.

Through the Looking Glass took the weirdness to an entirely new and rather bad level.

The entire time I was reading it, I kept thinking, "Is Carroll on drugs? This makes absolutely no sense."

And then I even entertained the thought that maybe I needed to be on drugs to understand it.

I've had some crazy dreams that were similar, all disjointed and random, but that doesn't mean I desire to read a book about such psycho dreams.

And what's with constantly shaking the poor kitten?

I might consider reading Wonderland to the kids.

I definitely won't read Through the Looking Glass.

And does anyone truly know what all of this means?

Because if it's "just for fun", it really wasn't.

C is for Carroll, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a truly remarkable tale. I have been enamored with this strange and seemingly drug-fueled story for a very long time, yet I had never actually read it. The description of the curious croquet ground, with live hedgehogs as balls and flamingoes as mallets, is both vivid and imaginative. It's a beautiful story about the power of imagination and the fantastical world that exists within a child's mind. I thoroughly enjoyed this classic, even though I had known the story since I was a young child. I highly recommend seeking out the Seven Seas Entertainment version, as the anime/manga style sketches and cover pages are simply gorgeous.

On the other hand, Through the Looking-Glass was a bit more tedious for me to read. However, I still found it enjoyable. The child-like definitions and literal interpretations added a unique charm, and the poetry, though confusing and jumbled, was highly amusing. I am now convinced that I am a Lewis Carroll fan, and I can't wait to explore more of his works.

And let's not forget this adorable boy in the picture. He's just so cute that I can't help but want to give him a big hug!

  C, is for Carroll.




Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland



4 Stars



Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet ground in her life: it was all ridges and furrows; the croquet balls were live hedgehogs, and the mallets live flamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and stand on their hands and feet to make the arches.



I have been in love with this bizzare seemingly drug-fuelled story for a very long time, and yet – somehow – had never read it...







Error corrected!



I think everyone is familiar with this tale, so I won’t go into it overmuch, except to say that it is a beautiful story about imagination and the fantastical world that is the child’s mind.



I thoroughly enjoyed this Lewis Carroll classic despite knowing the story since I was a young blonde child with a head full of stories herself. And strongly advise anyone who loves this story to seek out the Seven Seas Entertainment version of this classic as the anime/manga style sketches and cover pages are simply gorgeous!!











How was I supposed to resist this copy?! Trick question, there is no way I could have!! BUT I can’t find it on here so I am posting it on another version *shoulder shrug*.



Through the Looking-Glass



3.5 Stars



I found Through the Looking-Glass a bit more tedious to read, to be honest, BUT I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It could be because I was never a big chess fan. My elementary school had "Chess tournies" which were mandatory and I could never get behind the game, it's just not for me.



However, I did love the child-like definitions for things and the literal interpretations given to objects. It had a very Dr. Seuss feel to it (which I now feel certain is the opposite of that, Dr. Seuss has a very Lewis Carroll vibe.... timelines matter). The poetry, while confusing and jumbled, was highly amusing.



I am conformed, I am a Lewis Carroll fan!



Also, this adorable Boy....







GIVE HIM TO ME!!!!

Over the years, with its numerous animated and live-action movie adaptations, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has often been transformed into a strange, psychedelic drug-induced hallucination. However, in my mind, it was originally an irony-filled and charming children's story. So, it was definitely time for a reread.

I wouldn't consider myself a particularly perceptive person. As a child, I focused more on the many absurd adventures rather than the irony. Therefore, the constant stream of "a-HA" moments that I now experienced came as a very pleasant surprise. I love a book that ages well, especially when it reads like a completely different story at different times in life.

The contrast between Alice's educated demeanor and its (lack of) use in real-life situations was interesting to follow. For example, her fumbling attempts to use her French lessons while unintentionally insulting the mouse felt very relatable. Nevertheless, I have mixed feelings about the protagonist's curiosity and bravery, which often seemed rather thoughtless and/or selfish. Take the Mad Hatter's tea party, for instance. She joined uninvited and then felt offended by the participants' (lack of) manners and amenities.

Alice's Adventures Through The Looking Glass has a much more intriguing premise but is also more boring to get through. Admittedly, I know absolutely nothing about chess, so the many clever game references would have gone right over my head without the footnotes. The overall effect seemed more like an ambitious endeavor than a story with a natural flow.

If the prequel gave us a story with several comedic episodes, this one seemed like a series of funny banters that happened to have a story linking them together. It was still good, but the overall narration didn't flow as naturally as before.

Score: 3.5/5 stars

4 rounded-up stars for nostalgia and writing style

I would recommend skipping the footnotes. While the poem references were useful, the emphasis on the inspiration behind one or more of the events became tiresome after a while. For example, in the episode from Alice's Adventures Through The Looking Glass where Alice forgets her name and only remembers it's something with "L". The footnotes insist this is a reference to "Liddel", while I thought it was more likely a pun on how "Al" from "Alice" has the same pronunciation as the letter "L".

... plus the creepy revelation that Charles Dodgson used to intentionally "cultivate friendships" with young girls rather put me off any subsequent rereads. I probably shouldn't have googled documentaries on the subject.

\n  “We're all mad here.”\n

In a captivating journey through these two enchanting little stories, you will encounter a truly magical realm. There is a charming world filled with wonder and mystery, a curious little girl named Alice who embarks on extraordinary adventures, and a host of whimsical characters that will delight your imagination. And let's not forget the abundance of delightful nonsense that pervades every page.



This is precisely what makes these stories so appealing. They transport us to a place where the rules of logic and reason are suspended, and anything is possible.

Story 1- Alice's Adventures In Wonderland : 5 Stars

In short: Alice tumbles down a rabbit hole and finds herself in the strange and wonderful land of Wonderland. Here, the most peculiar things occur, and she encounters a diverse cast of characters, from the Cheshire Cat to the Mad Hatter. I was truly amazed by how much I adored this book. Once I started reading, I simply couldn't put it down. Even though some might argue that I'm too old for such tales, I firmly believe that one is never too old for the great fairy tales. They have the power to touch the child within us and bring us joy and excitement. This story is a prime example of that, with its charmingly messy plot and delightful humor.

“Take some more tea,\" the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
\"I've had nothing yet,\" Alice replied in an offended tone, \"so I can't take more.\"
\"You mean you can't take less,\" said the Hatter: \"it's very easy to take more than nothing.\"

I was thoroughly entertained by the wit and humor of the characters. Their conversations were filled with clever wordplay and absurdity that had me laughing out loud. The entire world of Wonderland was brought to life in such a vivid and imaginative way that I felt as if I was right there with Alice, experiencing it all for myself.


Story 2- Through the Looking Glass: 3 Stars

In short: Alice steps through a mirror and enters another world, this one even more confusing than the last. Here, she becomes embroiled in a game of chess with the various chess figures, and strange and wonderful things continue to happen.



Puzzled. That was my initial reaction to this story. While I had loved the confusion and chaos of the first story, I found myself a bit lost in this one. However, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I still admire Carroll's unique writing style and his playful wit. There were moments in this story that made me smile and chuckle, such as the line “Well, now that we have seen each other,\" said the unicorn, \"if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you.” But overall, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that I wasn't fully understanding everything that was going on.

All in All: \n  MADNESS.\n The good kind. These stories are a celebration of the power of imagination and the joy of nonsense. They remind us that sometimes, it's okay to let go of our inhibitions and embrace the strange and wonderful. I'm extremely glad that I decided to read these books, and I have a suspicion that I will return to them again and again, eager to explore the magical worlds of Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass once more.



“In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream-
Lingering in the golden gleam-
Life, what is it but a dream?”

❝ So many out-of-the-way things had happened lately that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible. ❞

₊˚❀.ೃ࿔*:･

This is an extremely strange and fantastical compilation of a little girl's rather disjointed encounters with a group of mentally ill individuals and creatures. The peculiar dialogue and scenery possess a certain allure that no modern author could hope to imitate successfully. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Wonderland holds a special magic and nostalgia for me. The story takes the reader on a wild adventure filled with curious characters and unexpected events. It's a world where the impossible becomes possible and the ordinary is transformed into something extraordinary. I'll always cherish the memories of reading this classic and the joy it has brought me.

Relectura....y varios años despues me sigue encantando.

It's been a while since I reread it, and several years later, I still love it.

No hay nada que pueda decir que la opinión de Virginia Wolf acerca de estos libro no pueda decir por mi.

There is nothing I can say that Virginia Woolf's opinion about these books cannot be said by me.

"Los libros de Alicia no son libros son para niños, son los únicos libros que nos convierten en niños."

"Alice's books are not just books for children; they are the only books that turn us into children."

These words truly capture the essence of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass." The vivid imagination, the nonsensical yet charming stories, and the unforgettable characters have the power to transport readers of all ages back to a time of innocence and wonder.

Whether you're a child experiencing these books for the first time or an adult rediscovering them, they have a unique magic that never fades. They remind us to embrace our inner child, to question the world around us, and to find joy in the simplest of things.

In a world that often seems too serious and complicated, Alice's books offer a much-needed escape. They are a testament to the power of literature to inspire, delight, and transform us.

So, if you haven't read these books in a while, I highly recommend giving them a reread. You might be surprised at how much they still have to offer.

Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" are truly remarkable works. The dialogue between the unicorn and the narrator in the quoted passage is both charming and thought-provoking. Carroll's ability to create a world that is both fantastical and filled with social commentary is truly impressive.

The fact that Carroll wrote these two novels six years apart and that the narrator took a similar amount of time to read them adds an interesting layer to the experience. The annotations in the novels provide valuable insights into the historical and cultural context in which they were written. For example, the scene of the sneezing cook and the crying child in "Alice in Wonderland" is not just a random event but a reflection of the hardships faced by the poor at that time.

The novels are also very light and easy to read, with conversations that flow seamlessly. Even a restless person like the narrator found it difficult to put them down. Carroll's mind was clearly a fertile ground for creativity, and it is a pleasure to explore the worlds he created.

Overall, these novels are a must-read for anyone who loves literature. They are not only entertaining but also offer a deeper understanding of the times in which they were written. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a good read.

Read this edition all Alice fans must. This is a must-read edition for all Alice fans, and here's why. Firstly, it contains exclusive content that you won't find anywhere else. Secondly, it offers a unique perspective on the beloved story. I know this because I've done my research and stuff.

P.S.






P.P.S. You are quite welcome.