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xoeastbay's review against another edition
5.0
Two of the first books I read on my own cover-to-cover, and books I've returned to again and again through my life. I LOVE these books.
saschaben's review against another edition
5.0
The Alice books are some of the seminal and formative literary pieces which helped to shape me. I cannot imagine a better way to introduce a young and curious child to logic, and wit, and the sheer possibility of imagination within the realms of language, math, and logic than through these books. On top of that, they provide a window into a rather marvelous victorian past which is quickly fading from common memory, but has too much good in it to let go gently into that good night.
Some books for children are clever, some are wicked, some are funny, some obscure, and some simply fantastical. Most are pablum. The Alice books are all of the above --- except the pablum.
Gardner's elucidation of the Alice books is profound. If you have a love of puzzles, of the absurd, or the irrational, of whimsy and cutting wit and clever intersections of ideas, then you really need to read this book.
Some books for children are clever, some are wicked, some are funny, some obscure, and some simply fantastical. Most are pablum. The Alice books are all of the above --- except the pablum.
Gardner's elucidation of the Alice books is profound. If you have a love of puzzles, of the absurd, or the irrational, of whimsy and cutting wit and clever intersections of ideas, then you really need to read this book.
cozyusagie's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sylvschreib's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I did enjoy reading about Alice’s Adventures after all of these years and all of the creatures she discovers along the way. What I didn’t remember so much was the lack of a plot. But overall it was an imaginative and fun book to reread.
eryk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
books_tea_and_fantasy's review against another edition
1.0
✨REVIEW✨
⭐️
Where do I begin. Reading this book has been quite a rollercoaster of emotions, and not in a good way. When I saw this edition (Penguin Clothbound Classic) for the first time I knew I had to add it to my collection. Since this story has been the inspiration for so many, including an entire film franchise, I thought it would be a pretty enjoyable read. Boy was I wrong.
At the very start I was intrigued by all the fantastical elements and the worldbuilding. However, the further the story progressed, the more I came to realize that there was no clear structure, no character development and no clear plot. Furthermore, I found it extremely difficult to relate to the protagonist and found her unlikeable.
Taking all of this into consideration, this book would have gotten a solid 2 stars. That was until I did some research on the writer which caused me to lower my rating and unhaul this book despite still loving the cover.
If this book has taught me anything, it’s that nonsensical literature is just not for me.
1/60
⭐️
Where do I begin. Reading this book has been quite a rollercoaster of emotions, and not in a good way. When I saw this edition (Penguin Clothbound Classic) for the first time I knew I had to add it to my collection. Since this story has been the inspiration for so many, including an entire film franchise, I thought it would be a pretty enjoyable read. Boy was I wrong.
At the very start I was intrigued by all the fantastical elements and the worldbuilding. However, the further the story progressed, the more I came to realize that there was no clear structure, no character development and no clear plot. Furthermore, I found it extremely difficult to relate to the protagonist and found her unlikeable.
Taking all of this into consideration, this book would have gotten a solid 2 stars. That was until I did some research on the writer which caused me to lower my rating and unhaul this book despite still loving the cover.
If this book has taught me anything, it’s that nonsensical literature is just not for me.
1/60
heddas_bookgems's review against another edition
4.0
Lewis Carroll set out to write Alice in Wonderland as a children’s novel, which was quite the bold move in its day, given its break from the usual moralizing, educational fare. Instead, he offered up a whimsical, dreamlike world with a hint of sophistication that made it equally delightful for adults who know a thing or two about the absurdity of life.
What really stood out for me were the bizarre, unpredictable moments that pulled readers into a surreal dreamscape, where things felt oddly familiar yet utterly strange, sometimes in a rhyme, no less. Take Alice, for instance, suddenly pondering life’s bigger questions one moment, trying to stay calm amid chaos the next, and then inexplicably going from browsing a shop to rowing a boat with the shopkeeper. Just a typical day in Wonderland.
The dreamlike quality was definitely the book’s high point, though it wasn’t without its hiccups, occasionally, the plot wandered like Alice herself, and some parts lacked a clear direction. As for Through the Looking Glass, while it didn’t quite capture the same spark as the original, it still provided a delightfully quirky, whimsical adventure.
In the end, Alice in Wonderland remains a timeless classic, blending eccentricity, humor, and magic with just enough nonsense to make you feel right at home in its topsy turvy universe.
What really stood out for me were the bizarre, unpredictable moments that pulled readers into a surreal dreamscape, where things felt oddly familiar yet utterly strange, sometimes in a rhyme, no less. Take Alice, for instance, suddenly pondering life’s bigger questions one moment, trying to stay calm amid chaos the next, and then inexplicably going from browsing a shop to rowing a boat with the shopkeeper. Just a typical day in Wonderland.
The dreamlike quality was definitely the book’s high point, though it wasn’t without its hiccups, occasionally, the plot wandered like Alice herself, and some parts lacked a clear direction. As for Through the Looking Glass, while it didn’t quite capture the same spark as the original, it still provided a delightfully quirky, whimsical adventure.
In the end, Alice in Wonderland remains a timeless classic, blending eccentricity, humor, and magic with just enough nonsense to make you feel right at home in its topsy turvy universe.
drrb_bk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Will always be my favourite.
jitka_c's review against another edition
4.0
Je trochu ostuda, že jsem se k Alence dostala až před dvacitkou, ale lépe pozdě než nikdy :)
laxmipriyam's review against another edition
5.0
“She’s in that state of mind,” said the White Queen, “that she wants to deny something—only she doesn’t know what to deny!”