welcome to...ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN SEPTEMBERLAND. might be my best month/title pun since middlemarch march. we are BACK (and a week late) for Project Long Classics, in which elle and i tackle a long intimidating classic in small chunks for an entire month. however, this book is not long, and it's not intimidating, and personally i will be reading this AND the sequel at a chapter-ish a day. join our book club to join the project!! follow on instagram here or join the discussion here. this is my favorite book of all time. this teeny tiny children's classic is so dear to me - whether you want a light fairytaley read or a thematically rich toughie you can analyze all day long, you can find either experience in this. filled with whimsy, imagination, and the bittersweet nostalgia of dreams and childhood, i never tire of this - and i get something new from it with every read. at one chapter a day, this and its sequel (THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS AND WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE), which i see as a continuation of the first more than a separate book, can be read in 24 days! bleh. gross. look how sweet and earnest. if anything can heal me it's this. update: not yet, but we did get our first curiouser and curiouser...slay... or maybe just because i like cake. i've never been slumped like this and at this point i am Frightened. my goodreads challenge is beginning to appear to stare back at me, like the void or one of those scary crusty small white dogs. but this book is simply...everything. but! cheshire cat appearance. and "we're all mad here." huge quote for people with watercolor tattoos and hot topic graphic tees. what can i say? not all my opinions are unpopular. also: "Alice did not much like keeping so close to her: first, because the duch*ess was very ugly." vibes. sooooo important to remember that even in a nonsense-world, nothing is more illogical and annoying than outdated monarchical structures and the incompetence of the judicial system. or was it?
as we start things off, i'll include the cheesy declaration of love i wrote when announcing this pick in our book club discord:
it's actually day 8. i'm terribly slumped - the kind where it literally never occurs to you to read and then when it does you're like...am i physically capable of doing this? how did i ever make these words enter my head?
the titular mouse's tale / mouse tail pun here...one of the greatest of all time i dare say...DAY 4: THE RABBIT SENDS IN A LITTLE BILL
i don't know how the little EAT ME cakes manage to sound so good with virtually no description, but they do. maybe because these look so goddamn delicious?
folks...it's day 12.
the baby-turning-into-a-pig thing is honestly objectively terrifying. especially when alice is like "this baby is like a star-fish" and looks down and boom.
ICONS ALERT!!! a real heavy hitter. maybe my favorite chapter.
monarchs, am i right.DAY 9: THE MOCK TURTLE'S STORY
well, it's actually day 14, so i might as well mess around and finish this book already. i wanted to relish it but my dumb suddenly-illiterate brain refuses to allow me to!
this one is a ton of fun but impossible to compete in a universe that contains the walrus and the carpenter.DAY 11: WHO STOLE THE TARTS?
let's go to court!!!!!
and it was all a dream!!!
or does it even matter at all?
(no.)
perfect book.
OVERALLi have this wholeeeee five star review below, but i'll quickly say that nothing makes me happy and fulfilled and whimsical like this book does. and that's my ideal way to be.
my favorite forever!
rating: 5
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original review
THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK.
No qualifier. No excuse. No “one of my favorites.” This one is it, y’all.
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Well, also Through the Looking Glass. But THAT’S PRACTICALLY THE SECOND HALF OF THE SAME BOOK. (And other examples of my inability to make decisions or commit in any way to anything.)
I currently have 18 copies of this book. I’ve attempted to read it at least annually for the past three years. And by “annually,” I mean I last revisited this book about nine months ago.
But hey, it was a different year then, technically speaking.
How do I even review this? I don’t know where to begin. (Just a heads up that my obsessive personality is going to become verrrrry clear as this review progresses. I’m not proud. This is who I am, you guys. I was a member of the fandoms of some teen pop sensation or other for nearly ten consecutive years. I’m no longer thirteen but I still need an outlet. Honestly I’m quite afraid that if I don’t have an obsession, I’ll become a drug addict. Lots of pent up energy.)
Well, I’ll say that I always, always, always feel enveloped by this book. I have never picked this up without feeling instantly submersed in Wonderland. And it’s really my favorite place to be. It’s hard to feel unhappy when you’re in the greatest setting ever created.
And oh yeah, there’s that. I firmly believe this is the most amazing and beautiful and confusing and curious setting of all time. It’s immersive, and it’s strange, and it’s so unique and fantastic and creative and I love it so much. I can come up with even more loosely positive adjectives if that overwhelming number didn’t suffice.
Wonderland is my Hogwarts. While many readers pray their letters just got lost in the mail, I’m constantly hoping I’ll see a white rabbit in a waistcoat and fall down, down, down into what must be the center of the earth.
I love Alice and her curiosity. She may also be my favorite character ever. She’s funny and sweet and childish and such a blast to read about. Her reactions to everything are so, so funny. Her curiosity always outweighs confusion and fear. I’d like to wake up one day and be Alice. I’ll likely become one of those creeps who pays millions for plastic surgery in order to “resemble” some celebrity or other.
On an unrelated note, anyone have millions of dollars they’re trying to get rid of?
I’m also fiercely protective of this book. I constantly pick up retellings only to be utterly disappointed. (Like Heartless. Get out of here with your shoddy Carroll-stealing.) DO NOT, DO NOT! GET ME STARTED ON THE TIM BURTON FILM ADAPTATION. Horrific. Alice, an adult? Alice, engaged? Alice FIGHTING THE GODDAMN JABBERWOCK?
But I do love the original animated Disney adaptation. There’s a certain quality to the book that’s captured within that film, which I haven’t found recreated in any other retelling or use of the setting or adaptation.
Oh, and one more thing, while I’m here.
THIS BOOK ISN’T ABOUT DRUGS, YOU SURFACE-LEVEL INTERPRETERS OF SYMBOLISM. It’s not that easy, boo.
In the words of BBC News, “[the drug] references may say more about the people making them than the author.”
Lewis Carroll isn’t thought to have been a user of drugs, the Caterpillar was smoking tobacco, and the mushroom is no more magic than the various cakes Alice eats.
Honestly, the drug reading is simple and boring. It’s such a stretch to attempt to read each character as a different substance. And scrolling through countless quasi-psychedelic GIFs to find the actual ones was irritating, too. Ah, yes, real art: taking images from a 1951 children’s film but messing with the colors and movement until it looks like nothing more than a trigger for epilepsy. Enough, Tumblr.
Alice in Wonderland carries as much or as little significance as you want it to. It’s everything from a mindless romp in an imaginative land to a depiction of the effects of a ruthlessly authoritarian system of justice.
Just have fun with it.
And please, for the love of God, stop applying your weird psychedelic edits to a Disney movie.
Note on the audiobook: This time around, I listened to the audiobook, to switch things up. Scarlett Johansson read it. I loved her funny accents and hated her overly-acted narration. A mixed bag.
Bottom line: This is my favoritest and I doubt it will be dethroned anytime soon. Come at me, every other book.
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reread updates
when I find myself in times of trouble
Lewis Carroll comes to me
speaking words of wisdom
"just reread"
Greetings, fellow literature enthusiasts! As someone deeply immersed in the world of classic literature, it's a pleasure to delve into the enchanting realm of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" with you. My extensive knowledge and passion for literary classics are not just evident in my credentials but also in the nuanced understanding I bring to each work. Let's unravel the whimsical tapestry of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece.
The article you've presented takes us through a delightful journey in Septemberland, exploring "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in a unique format. The author, an avid reader and book club participant, engages readers in a daily breakdown of the chapters, offering personal reflections, humor, and insights. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts discussed in each section:
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Introduction to Project Long Classics:
- A month-long endeavor to tackle a classic in manageable sections.
- Noteworthy mention of "Project Long Classics," a collaborative effort with Elle.
- Invites readers to join the book club for participation and discussion.
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Day 1: Down the Rabbit-Hole:
- Expresses deep affection for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel.
- Describes the book as a blend of light fairytale and thematically rich content.
- Highlights the enduring appeal of the story and the joy derived from multiple readings.
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Day 2: The Pool of Tears:
- Acknowledges a brief delay in the reading schedule.
- Reflects on the therapeutic nature of reading during a slump.
- Teases the appearance of a curiouser and curiouser element.
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Day 3: A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale:
- Playful reference to the titular mouse's tale/mouse tail pun.
- Implies the pun's status as one of the greatest of all time.
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Day 4: The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill:
- Remarks on the allure of the "EAT ME" cakes with minimal description.
- Possibly humorously attributes the cakes' appeal to personal love for cake.
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Day 5: Advice from a Caterpillar:
- Acknowledges a reading slump on Day 12 but emphasizes the book's significance.
- Describes the book as everything, indicating its profound impact.
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Day 6: Pig and Pepper:
- Notes the terrifying nature of the baby-turning-into-a-pig scenario.
- Celebrates the appearance of the Cheshire Cat and the iconic phrase "we're all mad here."
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Day 7: A Mad Tea-Party:
- Declares this chapter as a favorite.
- Teases the presence of icons and hints at personal opinions.
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Day 8: The Queen's Croquet-Ground:
- Playfully comments on monarchs.
- Suggests a lighthearted take on the royal setting.
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Day 9: The Mock Turtle's Story:
- Acknowledges being on Day 14 and expresses eagerness to finish the book.
- Shares a quote highlighting the duch*ess's perceived ugliness.
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Day 10: The Lobster Quadrille:
- Describes the chapter as fun but humorously implies its competition with the walrus and the carpenter.
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Day 11: Who Stole the Tarts?:
- Encourages a legal perspective, emphasizing the illogical nature of Wonderland's judicial system.
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Day 12: Alice's Evidence:
- Ponders the dream-like nature of the conclusion.
- Raises the question of whether it matters if it was all a dream.
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Overall Reflection and Rating:
- Provides a five-star review, expressing unparalleled happiness and fulfillment derived from the book.
- Describes the book as the ideal source of whimsy and personal fulfillment.
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Original Review:
- Highlights the reviewer's undivided love for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
- Mentions owning multiple copies and frequent re-readings.
- Playfully acknowledges difficulty in making decisions or commitments.
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Final Thoughts and Reread Updates:
- Affirms the book's enduring status as a personal favorite.
- Jokes about finding solace in times of trouble through Lewis Carroll's words of wisdom.
- Concludes with a declaration of the timeless joy derived from revisiting the classic.
In essence, the article reflects a deep connection with "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," blending personal experiences with a thoughtful exploration of the book's themes and characters. The reviewer's passion for the work shines through, creating an engaging and relatable narrative for fellow literature enthusiasts.
