World Famous Comics: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Calico Classics)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Calico Classics)
By: Lewis Carroll Publisher: Contemporary Books Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Contemporary Books Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 271 Publication Date: 1988-10 Reading Level: Young Adult
Product Description: A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters.
Amazon.com Review:
"And what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"
Taking to heart his charming, insatiably curious heroine's words, Lewis Carroll worked many long hours (days, months...) with illustrator Sir John Tenniel to create the most perfect pictures imaginable for what were to become instant classics: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. When thinking about Alice and her dreamy surrealistic adventures down the rabbit hole and behind the looking-glass, who can help picturing the golden-haired girl in her lilac dress and striped stockings, gazing up at the Cheshire Cat or arguing with Tweedledum and Tweedledee? Tenniel's drawings remained black and white for over 40 years until 1911, when eight prints in each book were hand colored. Now, for the first time, every remaining illustration has been colored, making these the first editions to feature all of the original art in full color. Traditionalists need not worry: colorist Diz Wallis colored proofs taken from Tenniel's carefully preserved woodblocks, remaining faithful to his original drawings. The beautiful tones of these new hardcover editions look as natural as can be; they could just as easily be from the 19th century. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
My first impressions of this book were that it was like reading C.S. Lewis on cheap drugs. The events are complete non sequiturs and the changes in plot are worse.
It appears to be a spoiled child wandering in a world she does not understand, nor is willing to learn about - unlike Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe who seeks to understand the local customs and circumstances.
The book is very easy to read but it leaves distaste in my literary mouth. I know it is considered a classic but I just do not see it, and if I did not have to read it for school I would not have bothered to finish it.
(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)
Through the Looking Glass
Though this book is not much better than Alice's Adventures, the chess motif and theme does make the book much more interesting. With the bossy, dominant Red Queen and the quiet, kind, messy white queen, the book is a study in contrasts.
The interweaving of the Nursery Rhyme Characters and the frequent fish poetry references does provide more continuity and a sense of sequential events than Alice's first adventure. I also appreciated the linking of the cat at the beginning and end of the story.
It does still feel like Carroll did way too many opium pipes in his time.
(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)
Finally... I bought this classic book for my Grand Daughter, then started reading it myself as soon as I received it. 'hard to believe that I'd never read it in all my years. It may be "old fashioned" but I think it is a "must read" for all children.
Wonderful Book Such A Great Read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Collection)
What else can be said this book is such a beautiful piece of literature. I can never put it down when I start it.
Timeless classic Without a doubt, one of the most endearing and fascinating books in all of literature. While it is often labeled a children's novel, it takes the understanding of an adult to grasp the richness of symbolism contained in each page. We get a front row seat as Alice journeys through a myriad of characters that range from the bizarre to the down right funny. Alice is the wiser for each encounter, but what makes the book so charming is that she manages to retain her child-like wonder. I must admit that this novel would not be complete without the illustrations from Punch cartoonist John Tenniel. Tenniel gives the characters a richness and exaggerated life that is unmatched. The book is incomplete without those drawings. Lastly, there is little bit of Alice in all of us. Who among us has not wanted to walk in the forest, open a closed door, or peek behind a curtain. The thought of escaping and exploring the unknown without the fear of harm is almost intoxicating. If that is you, get the book and start down the rabbit hole.
Lost in a Dream World Alice in Wonderland is one of those books you can still enjoy as an adult even though it was written for children. The story is completely nonsensical and at times humorous. In fact I think some of the jokes can only be understood as an adult so it is worth reading again.
I have a yellowed copy of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, which was given to me on my seventh birthday. It has the original artwork on the cover. My grandmother gave me a copy along with a harmonica. The harmonica was lost long ago, the book remains and has always had a place in my heart. I was too young to read the entire book, so my father started reading this book to me. Perhaps still having this book has given me a connection to the past.
I laugh when I reminisce about my father singing "Beautiful Soup," most beautifully I must add. He also recited "Jabberwocky" and I can still hear his voice as I read the tale of the Walrus:
"The time has come,' the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes - and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages - and kings - and why the sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings."
Alice spends a great deal of time either shrinking or growing taller, depending on what she eats in Wonderland. There are talking chess pieces and flowers. Everything in the looking glass world is backwards so it is fun to think about how life would be on the other side of a mirror.
The Mad Tea Party is also very memorable. There is all kinds of nonsense conversation children will love to try to figure out, and as adults still might be trying to figure out! They will love the riddles and beautiful illustrations. The mouse, the chess pieces and the Cheshire cat talk most intelligently about various concerns in Wonderland. Just as everything in a child's world is sometimes alive to them, so Alice's world is filled with things that are alive and most interesting to children.
Alice never seems to run out of adventures. The Looking Glass House is amusing to me as it has a cute black kitten who is quite mischievous. I quote:
"Oh, you wicked, wicked little thing!" cried Alice catching up the kitten and giving it a little kiss to make it understand that it was in disgrace. "Really, Dinah ought to have taught you better manners! ...Kitty sat very demurely on her knee, pretending to watch the progress of the winding, and now and then putting out one paw and gently touching the ball, as if it would be glad to help if it might.
John Tenniel's illustrations make the book and together he and Lewis Carroll created a magical world for children to explore.
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