Lee:
I've started "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and I'm almost pleasantly relived. Unfortunately for myself, this is my first time reading about Alice. But since I've read "Alice in Zombieland" and seen the 3 different representations of "Alice in Wonderland," I didn't know what to expect.
Lex, and everyone else, I am glad to find myself not yelling at my book with frustrations. The main ideas are similar, and I am grateful. But going in this, I was already thinking of Alice as a silly little girl and she absolutely is not, in my opinion at least.
I'm only on the chapter, Pool of Tears, but I think I already love her. Alice, as a little girl, is already struggling with this idea of wanting to be something she is not, but loving, absolutely, who she is. She wants to be big, she wants to be small, she hates that she cries all the time, but she also has a moment where she is grateful she is only Alice, and not someone else.
I think what I like about this is in the "Once Upon A Time in Wonderland" series, the opening episode mentions Alice, who is most certainly older, that she would not be the first little girl to create a fantasy world to escape to, just the only one who refuses to believe it is fantasy. I don't think I could love Alice any less, even if I tried. This is so her personality, the belief that she should be normal and the fact that she is wonderfully not.
Lex..... What's with the baby turning into a pig? and Alice wishing more babies would turn into pigs? Is this an odd thing to find curious, out of all the other curious things I should find more curious?
(Haven't quite reached the baby turning into a pig. I've been so neglectful this week! I'm catching up!)
Lex:
I gotta agree. Alice is a lot easier to read! I don't find myself reading and rereading sections of it. I'm still on an ebook, someone at the library lost it and my used bookstores have failed me, but I suppose that's alright. I got the free kindle one on Amazon and this format is much friendlier.
I got to Pool of Tears, too and still wasn't sure I liked Alice actually. She kind of scared me and I pitied her. The talking to herself part, the crying, her inability to understand why she was doing what she was was annoying. I hope she gets better. So far I can't place my finger on her. I don't think I like that her "thoughts" are said out loud. It feels filtered to me and I wonder if that's why I can't place her.
"...just the only one who refuses to believe it is fantasy." I like that, Lee! As we keep reading I'd imagine we'd see more and more connection and... proof for this. :) I may have to start "Once Upon A Time in Wonderland."
I kind of enjoyed Alice swimming in her own tears.
...
As I read on, I, too, am liking Alice more and more. She's funny and seems to think in puns. I've just met the Mouse and wonder why he's so feisty when he's a mouse. Stereo-typically, I'd label him quiet, shy, and skittish.
Lee:
I'm kind of used to kids talking to themselves, I know a five year old that goes into full discussions with herself while going to the bathroom. #isthatweird? (Can I hashtag in a blog?) .
I do agree on the puns, but I think she's almost trying to think in nursery rhyme. I'd hoped though, by reading the book, I would understand the "Off with their heads!" I don't....
Though oddly, out of all the things Alice questions this is the one thing she kind of just accepts. I mean she questions in depth about how tea time would have to end, because how could tea time last forever at 2 o'clock, and how the Cheshire Cat could smile, why is the rabbit always late? She goes into full thought about these odd details, but when it comes to the Queen and King cutting heads, her only thought is how she does not want to lose her own. I mean, yeah... I'm totally with you but could we be a little bit more curious about why the Queen's beheading everybody, besides the fact that she has a problem with a temper. However, I do have a slight guilty happiness about the fact that the Queen is clearly in charge, over the King.
It's nice to see every now and then.
Lex:
I guess I'm just not used to being around kids. Can't understand them and seems like I'm against understanding them! Ha. May explain my confusion and annoyance with Alice at first, even if she has grown on me.
I'd have to agree that we could really be more curious about the Queen and even in our everyday lives. And, like I mentioned earlier she has grown on me. I'm starting to understand a bit where and why Alice's thoughts go where they do. Part of me wonders though if some of that curiosity is partly her refusal (much like mine with her) to experience something new. Perhaps I'm back at square one and still unable to put my finger on her.
Like you Lee, I enjoyed that the Queen is in charge. I loved that part where the King whines and asks her to remove Cheshire Cat. :) very child-like.
Lee:
I loved that part as well!!! I did have to wonder though if the author did this on purpose.... Was Lewis Carroll trying to create a space for Alice to one day fill, something a little girl would obviously want to become and maybe even do better, and in the continuing book she does become Queen. I'll probably bring this up 3-4 books down the line when I've had time to ponder. But for now, I'm ready to leave the land of wonder and probably go to New Orleans instead.
What do you say Lex, you with me?
Lex:
Let's get moving!
