I found, to my dismay, that I was not enjoying any part of the first book and so abandonned the project. I still may be the only person in the northern hemisphere who has not seen any of the movies.
So now, with the advent of the much anticipated new Tim Burton's movie Alice in Wonderland, I thought maybe I should re-read the beloved classic. Because, I think I was about twelve when I last read it and I really don't know the story. Oh, I know enough to get the gist of it, but I wanted to be able to compare the book and movie. Then I heard that the movie has taken many liberties with the story and it is not at all the same as the book.I don't care. I am thoroughly enjoying the tale. I have gotten lost in the pages.
Is this not the most beautiful edition of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland you have ever seen? Okay, maybe my photos don't show it justice. You may have to find your own copy to really appreciate the beauty. This was being unpacked as I wandered about the shop, and I had to have it.
It is lusciously illustrated by Australian Robert Ingpen.
The watercolours flow from one page to the next, encompassing the text (so no glaring white pages) and nearly every page has an illustration.
More tea, anyone?
and if you've read this far and found this post through Twitter, would you mind letting me know how you came here? (just curious)
I am certain that I must be the only person in the Southern hemisphere that hasn't seen any of the TLOTR movies...almost sacrilege apparently given that one of our own directed them and one of my good friends was a stills photographer on one of them!
ReplyDeleteMy eldest daughter loves Alice, and has quite a few books and is looking forward to the movie very much as it comes out here almost on her birthday...the illustrations in your book are indeed beautiful!
Sagittarian: and of course, you don't need the movie (LOTR) to see the lovely scenery!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the LOTR movie and the books as well. As for Alice...can't wait to see the movie. I know they have taken liberties; but it is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp for gosh sake!!
ReplyDeleteEnough said!
Hugs
SueAnn
There are actually TWO of us in the northern hemisphere who haven't seen any of the LOTR films. I would be the other one. I had to read The Hobbit with a Grade 7 class once and I absolutely hated it (even though I skipped through an awful lot of it).
ReplyDeleteNow, Alice in Wonderland, there's an entertaining read! Not sure about the upcoming film, though - I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to film adaptations of books - but as Slommler notes, Johnny Depp!
SueAnn: I never really understood the Johnny Depp attraction, but he seems great in the trailer. And Tim Burton is just brilliant.
ReplyDeletePinklea: I remember that I loved the Hobbit as a teen and read the book several times... now I am a totally different person.
ReplyDeleteI usually get upset at the changes made in a movie, but I'm willing to give this one a chance. And I am impressed by how much I love the story as an adult!
We obviously differ. I love LOTR and read it 10-12 times. And I loved the movies and I can't wait to re-read Alice. It's been forever since that one.
ReplyDeleteJazz: I was truly surprised about LOTR as I really was looking forward to re-reading them. R-reading was Alice was more of a curiosity thing, but I am enchanted by it (you really must find this edition, the illustrations add so much).
ReplyDeleteI've never read the LOTR books, nor have I seen the movies. It's all the weird names thing that keeps me from enjoying books of that nature. Can't get caught up in the story for trying to sort out the names. Haven't read or watched Harry Potter either.
ReplyDeleteThose are stunning illustrations in the Alice book! I will have to look it up next time I'm in a book store.
I have been having urges to revisit Alice. I think I may find hidden meanings now that I am older.
ReplyDeleteI read the LOTRs set as a teen, but haven't ever gone back to them. I didn't particularly like the movies - too much fighting. As for Alice, I've never liked the book. I find it really creepy. I've never seen a version of it I liked either.
ReplyDeleteSusan: yes, I agree about the weird names, one needs a flow chart. I never got into Harry Potter either.
ReplyDeleteGail: I am not reading too much into it, just enjoying the fantasy...
ReplyDeleteSAW: I can see the creepy side... I don't actually remember what I thought of it as a child. I'm sure Tim Burton will make it creepy and funny at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI found LotR to be much more enjoyable through the medium of audiobooks. I'll go back to the books and read certain sections, but I end up skimming a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations in the Alice book are delightful. I've not properly read it either, and it sounds like a fine idea to pick up a copy.
Amy: I do like being read to. I used to listen to audio books when I commuted for work. I was just going to get a copy of Alice from the library, but then I saw this, and at a reasonable price ($24 HB), it was worth getting my own copy.
ReplyDeleteSurprising sometimes how much our tastes and interests change as we get older! Glad you are still enjoying Alice. And it will be interesting to hear how the movie strikes you.
ReplyDeleteOur squirrels are faring nicely in the snow. Their nest is in some other yard and they have a sky bridge to cross the street on limbs high up. They seem to know where the acorns (and occasional walnut) are buried. This one disappeared under the snow for a minute or two and reappeared with an acorn. It repeated this act several times before heading back up the tree and its nest.
I did not read the Hobbit until I was adult. I could not settle to TLOTR books, somehow. Yet my brother introduced a non reader to them, & he was blown away!
ReplyDeleteAs to Alice, I remember getting them from the Library as a child & loving the story. I have a copy & should re-read it.
I particularly like, "Believe 12 impossible things before Breakfast"... Hope I have it right.
I have not read LOTR either, nor seen the films, although I did read and enjoy the Hobbits. I used to read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, but eventually was turned off many of the books because of the way they typecast women or insisted that chastity was necessary in order to perform magic, and /or being male.
ReplyDeleteRobert Ingpen is a wonderful artist and I must hunt down that Alice edition.
Do you know the work of Graeme Base? He is wonderful too.
Lew: it rather makes you doubt some of your memories of things you loved...
ReplyDeleteMeggie: I still liked The Hobbit when I re-read it, seemed a much better story.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that so many other people also didn't like the books.
Persiflage: I was vaguely familiar with Robert Ingpen (at least I recognized the name) but now I want to collect his other books, especially Wind in the Willows. I must look up this Graeme Base, he is a new one to me.
ReplyDeleteI love love love Lewis Carroll. One of my very favorite poems is "The Walrus and The Carpenter." I love to read it aloud. I have read Alice's adventures several times over the years and I always get lost in them. I am looking forward to the movie.
ReplyDeleteGeewits: maybe because I am rarely around little kids, it doesn't occur to me to read children's literature over and over. shame, really.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the movies either, nor have I read any of the books except Hobbit - and that was only because my daughter wanted me to read it to her when she was too young to read it herself. Yawn. Alice in Wonderland, on the other hand is weird and interesting and creepy -- even without knowing all that stuff about Lewis Carroll
ReplyDeleteI LOVED "The Hobbit" but haven't read the other books yet. (I should really get around to that)
ReplyDeleteHave you read "Wind in the Willows"? Its another beautiful childrens classic!
Thank goodness I'm not on my own!
ReplyDeleteXUP: yeah, sometimes you don't really want to know too much about an author (or artists); it can ruin their work for you.
ReplyDeletePauline: when I am next in Ottawa, I sahll bring my copies with me for you. And yes, I love Wind in the Willows, I now want to get Robert Ingpen's illustrated version.
ReplyDeleteKen: wow. I can't beilive I have surrounded myself with so many non LOTR lovers!
ReplyDelete(still love you though, Jazz)
I haven't read Alice in Wonderland for years! The illustrations look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOh I agree, the images in this book are full of all the wonder and fantasy that the story was supposed to be about. Thanks for sharing a peek with us all.
ReplyDeleteStine: the illustrations are quite engaging. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the book as much had it been only text.
ReplyDeletePearl Maple: you are welcome. I was amazed to dicover just how prolific Ingpen has been!
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the Lord of the Rings - I enjoyed the hobbit as a child but i couldn't get into either books or films as and adult. I do look forward to Alice though...
ReplyDeleteReasons: 3 weeks to wait...
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of the Rings Trilogy either. Somehow I could not bring myself to make the effort.
ReplyDeleteI do remember having read Alice in Wonderland back at school. The illustrations seemed to belong to a different genre back then.
I loved the Hobbit as a child, but never managed to get into the Lord of the Rings trilogy - though I loved the movies.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to Alice though I'm not expecting it to be anything like the original story. I've seen the trailer and the 3D effects are stunning - especially when the Cheshire Cat starts hovering right in front of your nose! ;-)
Anil: I would think this story could conjure up all manner of ilustrations.
ReplyDeleteNicky: it is good that we have been warned about it being completely different. but I am still looking forward to it.
ReplyDelete