Adventures in Crazyland

Book 17 - A book more than 100 years old

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

I must mention that these are technically two different stories, but finding themselves contained between the same covers, I chose to continue reading rather than leave out part of Alice's life. Therefore, for the remainer of our time together today, they will be referred to as a novel rather than novels.

Living in a world where Disney exists, I had never known the true story of Alice until I read this novel. I was always under the impression that the friends Alice meets in Wonderland were a little bit odd, but reading the novel made me realize that they are actually completely crazy. As I kept reading and continued to meet more and more crazy characters, I started to wonder if Lewis had accepted a challenge wherein he was to create the craziest story ever written. Alas, it was but a dream, or was it...

I came upon many events during the course of the novel which made me put the book down and ask myself if there was any bit of sense in the paragraph I just read. Nine times out of ten, there not a bit of sense to be had. 

I tried with all my might to follow the tales told in poem form. Those were the most unsensical of the bunch!

As I came upon the end of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland I thought back. Although dear Tim Burton did a fantastic job on his version of the story, he still left out many parts of the original which could have easily been added. However, I do understand how little they add to the storyline. 

There was one chapter where I completely lost my mind. All of a sudden there was a gryphon in the story and I didn't remember meeting him before. He just kind of showed up and then spent some time with Alice and continued on his merry way. I remember coming to the end of the chapter and thinking "where did the gryphon come from? Was he there the whole time?" Evidently so, he was a large part of that chapter. I, however, was not.

We arrive at the end of the novel, unsure as to whether or not Alice has dreamt the entire adventure or if she is really just as crazy as the rest of the characters. 

The beginning of each story is made to sound like she has become part of the adventure and is entirely not dreaming, but once you arrive at the end, it is as if she has awoken from a dream and therefore, dreamt the whole affair. I suppose that is the way of dreams though. If you have ever watched the movie Inception then you will begin to see how Alice could very well have been dreaming. She doesn't remember how the dream began, and she has no idea how she got to be where she is. This is the way with dreams. They just sort of begin where they will, it is only the end which we are rather attentive for. 

I'm not sure if I am better off having read this novel or not. I don't feel like it has helped me grow in anyway. I am rather more perplexed about the whole idea than I was before I began. I might just stick with the movie versions from hereon out.

Beware the Jabberwocky, this is t-bear signing off