Review: Alice in Wonderland: The Original 1865 Edition With Complete Illustrations By Sir John Tenniel

Alice in Wonderland: The Original 1865 Edition With Complete Illustrations By Sir John Tenniel by Lewis Carroll
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alice is very interesting to me as a reader, as she isn't just curious and has a great imagination, but she also seems to believe in superstitions and even though she doesn't know certain words she uses them as they sound nice to her. Many would say she is bonkers, which she probably is, but I think she is rather a funny character who I can also relate to in some way.
The only thing I will never agree, (as I already saw people say this before) is that Alice is stupid. She might be stubborn, she might be clumsy, but not stupid. For instance, she didn't drink the bottle immediately even though it was labeled as 'Drink Me' and she also didn't try to fit through the door with her normal sized body, as she was smart enough to know that she would get stuck, even if her head would fit through. She is doing lots of things that many wouldn't do as she is quite a curious child who just wants to find stuff out.

The White Rabbit is always in a hurry and also obeys the Queen of Hearts fully, which perhaps shows loyalty, but in this case it's rather fear of consequences (the Queen is short-tempered), which makes him clever as he has achieved a higher status and doesn't act without thinking first, as he knows consequences would arise if he would do it the other way around. Considering that he isn't just some low-ranking person, but reached for a higher position shows how ambitious he is to reach his goals regardless of his worries and fears. I like the White Rabbit, even if he appears to be stiff and a bit too obedient sometimes. Also, from all the characters he seems to be the least mad one, as if he also just encountered Wonderland like Alice.

The Cheshire Cat is a mysterious cat, who seems to be more empathic than most people would think. Even though his disappearances make him appear mysterious and also distanced as he decided to be seen and spoken to and not the other way around, he has a kind and caring side too as he listens to what Alice has to say and also seems to understand her even if she has to twist her words to not get in trouble. But the Cheshire Cat can also be mischievous, as he plays with others around and also makes them feel confused or even helpless, but he can also help them out if its needed. Even though he says he is mad, he seems to understand the way Alice speaks better than some of the other characters.

I really like Alice In Wonderland, even though it was my first time reading it, it feels like I already read it somewhere. It feels so bizarre to me, but then I remember that I read and also watched stuff based on the original book, so perhaps that's why.

Don't know why, but I tend to have trouble explaining to people why I like this book or rather the idea behind it. Maybe it's because when I was younger and I was still able to be influenced by media it got stuck with me or maybe it's because I tend to say stuff too that doesn't make sense (but who doesn't?) or because I just like Fantasy in general as it was one the first genres I encountered which is to this day still one of my favourites.

I like the writing style a lot of Lewis Carroll, I actually mean it. The way he twists the words but still makes sense of them. If you read the 'confusing' parts carefully you will notice that, even if it's confusing at the first glance, that even a man like Lewis Carroll has a thought process which can be seen there. So it doesn't make sense but it makes absolutely perfect sense (to me). Also, I'm a big fan of anyone using the 'old-fashioned' way of writing poems. Nowadays you can write poems without them needing to rhyme, but to be honest a not rhyming poem and a written down thought is absolutely the same (to me) and without the rhyming it just doesn't feel special (at least to me).

After finishing Alice in Wonderland I feel the pity now of not having bought the Looking Glass as well or even better: Both together as one book. Seems like I have to wait now.

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Read: 30. December 2024 - 30. December 2024

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