Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

In light of the newest representation of this book coming out in theaters, and having never read it during my childhood, I decided to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This is a classic story that is filled with an abundance of memorable characters, pages upon pages of wordplay and symbolism, and a seductive world filled with complete madness and wonder, where Alice finds herself in all sorts of curious predicaments, where common sense fails and the nonsensical comes to be expected.


Lewis Carroll begins his story with the infamous sight of the white rabbit dressed in a waistcoat and pocket-watch, muttering to himself: "I'm late! I'm late!". Abandoning her sister, Alice follows the curious rabbit down a rabbit hole and unexpectedly finds herself drifting deep underground, and so begins our invitation to be a part of the wonderland. It is here that Alice encounters a copious amount of strikingly unique and wonderful characters, unforgettable in the world of literature. Alice herself, based largely on Alice Liddell, a real-life child, is a wonderful heroine that you can't help admiring. Other characters you won't soon forget include the White Rabbit, the sagacious caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the grinning Cheshire Cat, the Gryphon, the Mock Turtle, and the Duchess and her peppery cook. These characters join together to take Alice on countless remarkable adventures.


What I find most intriguing as an adult reader, is Carroll's brilliant use of wordplay and symbolism throughout the story. Not only does the book have fantastic qualities and imaginative inspiration, but nearly every page contains a clever pun, nonsensical poem, mathematical puzzle, or some sort of double meaning. There are hidden messages and subtle witticisms on every page, making it all the more entertaining.


One of the things I found very interesting, is that Alice is often considered the first realistic representation of a child in literature. She's curious, but sometimes a little shy. She's polite, but her manners give way to frustration and outbursts. She's intelligent, but she relies heavily on an education that often fails her. She tries to stand tall in the presence of the contradictory natures of the people she meets, but more often than not, is baffled and belittled by them. She possesses some degree of common sense, but does some remarkably unintelligent, and irresponsible things. She's likable, but she's also a bit of a show-off. In other words, she's the first, and perhaps the best example of a three-dimensional child character in literature. One that can be related to on many levels, and throughout numerous generations and cultures. This is a timeless story, that will forever be engraved in the hearts of many generations.


I would suggest to find an edition of this novel adorned by illustrations. If you want to go one step further find the 2004 Barnes and amp; Noble Classics printing, with introduction and notes by Tan Lin. This edition includes some extra things in addition to the text of the book. There is a brief biography of Lewis Carroll, a time line of his life and career, a fascinating and insightful introduction, information on various film adaptations, a short story by Carroll - "What the Tortoise said to Achilles," commentary on the text by various individuals and publications, and a set of questions designed to aid the reader's thought and analysis of the text. The book also contains all of the original illustrations, which are indispensable to a full enjoyment of the story.

I saw the newest Alice in Wonderland film, and it was truly a delight. Although it's drifts slightly from the book, as most movies do, it truly brings everything to life. You will find yourself lost in a wonderland, unlike any portrayed on screen before. And so my next suggestion. Go see the film. It will help you to appreciate each remarkable character, my favorite being the Mad Hatter, and leave you anticipating your next night's sleep where, perhaps you too, will find yourself in a world apart from this one. 

The Phantom Tollbooth

"A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect. Be gone, odious wasp! You smell of decayed syllables. "

I have to admit that I love children's literature. There is just something so comforting and unexpecting about it. Perhaps it's the defined line of good verses evil, were good always triumphs. Or all the little lesson's taught throughout the grand adventures. Sometimes I feel like mature writers try so hard to create something for adults, something that is so far from children's literature, that more and more stories of depression, affairs, and complex and dysfunctional relationship between good and evil are crowding the bookshelves.

"And remember, also, that many places you would like to see are just off the map and many things you want to know are just out of sight or a little beyond your reach. But someday you'll reach them all, for what you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow. "

I appreciate all types of books and authors, but sometimes it's just so great to indulge in the simplicity of a children's novel. This week I read The Phantom Tollbooth, written in the sixties by Norton Juster. This is the story of the awakening of a lazy mind. Milo, a young boy, who is bored with everything around him, who has no interest in learning, for he believe that there is nothing worth knowing, comes home one day to discover a phantom tollbooth. And so ensues the beginning of Milo's journey to The Lands Beyond. This is a fantastic world of imagination and mythic proportions, where Milo travels through Dictionopolis, the place of words, the Valley of Sound, Digitopolis, the land of numbers, and the Mountains of Ignorance. Along the way he encounters countless odd characters who are anything but dull. Through his encounters with characters in the Lands Beyond, Milo learns about imagination, using his time wisely, perspective, words, sounds, numbers and a host of other things. His ultimate goal is to find wisdom—both figuratively, through his education, and literally, by locating the missing princesses Rhyme and Reason. When he finally returns to the real world, Milo is forever changed. He realizes that he does not need the tollbooth to travel to exotic and magical places; he only needs to look around him. The once perpetually bored Milo is suddenly inspired and enthralled by practically everything. "...There was much much to see, and hear, and touch- walks to take, hills to climb, caterpillars to watch as they strolled through the garden. There were voices to hear and conversations to listen to in wonder, and the special smell of each day. There were books that could take you anywhere, and things to invent, and make, and build, and break, and all the puzzle and excitement of everything he didn't know- music to play, songs to sing, and words to imagine and then someday make real. His thoughts darted eagerly about as everything looked new- and worth trying."

"But it's not just learning things that's important. It's learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things at all that matters."

"You must never feel badly about making mistakes, as long as you take the trouble to learn from them. For you often learn more by being wrong for the right reasons than you do by being right for the wrong reasons. "

The Phantom Tollbooth is charmingly inventive, created almost entirely of puns, and the consequences of taking English language idioms literal. Juster frequently plays upon the dual meanings of words and expressions to create humorous situations. When Milo orders a "light meal" at Azaz's banquet, he is literally served light. When Milo catches a word on the tip of his tongue in the Soundkeeper's fortress, a word physically appears in his mouth. And When the Humbug jumps to the conclusion that nothing more can go wrong with the group's journey, he leaps out of the car and lands on the island of Conclusions. Juster uses puns both to amuse and educate, as these unusual situations often result in Milo learning an important lesson.

"... for one of the nicest things about mathematics, or anything else you might care to learn, is that many of the things which can never be, often are. You see it's very much like your trying to reach Infinity. You know that it's there, but you just don't know where-but just because you can never reach it doesn't mean that it's not worth looking for. "

During the week I spent reading this book, I found myself graving ice cream more often than usual, particularly mint chocolate chip, an old childhood favourite. I didn't think much of it, I though maybe it was in part due to the thawing ground, and the fresh air of spring, but now that I look a little more closely, I think it may be connected with the type of book I was reading. I think that the feelings and memories of childhood that The Phantom Tollbooth were stirring up, was also causing me to desire other things from my childhood. I personally think that it is great, and rather important to indulge in childhood treats, books, and activities. Those things keep us young and free spirited. I hope that in twenty years I still find myself on the swing set, with the air rushing past me as I get higher and higher.

 "Time is a gift, given to you, given to give you the time you need, the time you need to have the time of your life. "

"Expectations is the place you must always go to before you get to where you're going. Of course, some people never go beyond Expectations, but my job is to hurry them along whether they like it or not. "

Although I love reading a thick book, with a grand title, and a controversial plot, if only for the reason of feeling somewhat validated as a true adult and intellectual person, I often get just as much enjoyment from children's literature. I would suggest to everyone to read more kids novels. They are easy to read and understand, they are often filled with lovable characters, and true adventures. I have read books such as Harry Potter, Holes, and The Hobbit countless times, and will continue to go back to them over the years, for they truly bring joy to my heart.

"...so many things are possible just as long as you don't know their impossible."