It is almost impossible to escape all of the advertising for Tim Burton's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. After seeing yet another trailer on the television I realised that I had never read the actual book. I have only ever watched the Disney version so I dusted off my copy of Lewis Carroll's complete works and entered into the world that Alice discovers.
It is one of the strangest books that I have ever read. After the first couple of chapters I decided that I just needed to relax and stop questioning everything that I was reading. Once I had done this I began to enjoy Carroll's extremely curious tale, however I am still a little concerned about where some of his ideas came from.
I'm sure that most of you know that Alice falls down a rabbit hole after pursuing a large white rabbit who she hears muttering to himself about being very late. She finds herself in a bizarre new world of Mad Hatters, March Hares and Cheshire Cats. The Queen of Hearts provides the danger with her constant orders to chop off people's heads.
Lewis Carroll uses language in a very beautiful and eccentric manner and this is probably what I enjoyed most about the book. I nearly read this on my e-reader but I am so glad that I found my old copy as the intricate illustrations add so much to the story and I would have missed out on those. I am not going to try and analyse the meaning behind the tale, I am simply going to enjoy it for what it is, a wonderful classic.
10 comments:
I think the illustrations are wonderful - do e-readers not have pictures?
I am very much looking forward to seeing how Burton interprets it, and hoping to go to Antony House en route to holiday where some of it was filmed at the start of next month.
Verity- Some of the books on my e-reader have illustrations but sadly Alice in Wonderland didn't. I am hoping to go and see the film next week. Antony House is supposed to be lovely, I was reading about it the other day, you will have to take some pictures!
I have always loved this book! And yes, it is very strange. :-)
I found it one of the most cuckoo reads (and wonderfully cuckoo as well as oddly) when I read it for the first time last year. I am intrigued by the film am not sure will be rushing out to see it though.
I love this story. And I can't imagine reading it without the pictures.
I do think trying to analyse this takes away the magic of it, and its best left as a fairytale.
Stephanie- Strange in a good way though, I'm so glad that I got round to reading it!
Simon- After reading the book I am not sure if I am going to be rushing out to see the film either!
Jo- the illustrations compliment the story so well don't they? I really enjoyed reading it.
You have really made me want to read this! I shall have to borrow it xx
C&P- It is a little bit mad, I was thinking though that you could do an Alice in Wonderland collection of cakes!!!
I'm exactly the same as you were...watched the Disney film but never read the book! My interest as you said was restarted from seeing the trailers for the new screen adaptation, I do love a good adaptation. Your review has made me wonder if I should try and read the book before seeing the film now though! Seriously need to get over my reading lag.
thebookwormchronicles- I still haven't got round to seeing the film, think I will have to though, should be worth it if only for Johnny Depp!
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