Book reviews: Bridge to Terabithia | A Midsummer Night's Dream | The Wind in the Willows

Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
Original title: Bridge to Terabithia
First published: 1977
Genre: Middle grade, Fantasy
Series: --
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Pages: 179
Finished: 25/07/2020
Summary: Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone. That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

My thoughts: I read this during the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read a book that's inspired a movie I've already seen. I've seen the movie several times and it's one that I actually quite like. Somehow I'm always weeping at the end of it, despite knowing the plot inside out by now. Sadly, the movie is better than the book in this case. I just think the adaptation to the screen really brings out the emotions and visuals that this story needs. In book form, I didn't get the same experience. I don't mean to say that it's poorly written, but the movie had my expectations high and they were not met. Had I read the book first, I'd have had no interest in seeing the movie after. Things I liked about the book are Jess' relationship to his sisters, and the stern teacher. I did not like the style of the illustrations.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Author: William Shakespeare
Original title: A Midsummer Night's Dream
First published: 1595
Genre: Classic, Play, Comedy
Series: --
Publisher: Avenel Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 20
Finished: 26/07/2020
Summary: Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the faeries) are having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Oberon's head mischief-maker, Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Duke's wedding (one of whom is given a donkey's head and Titania for a lover by Puck) and the complications become fantastically funny.

My thoughts: I read this for the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read a book with a cover that matches the colour of my birth stone (emerald). I read "The Comedy of Errors" earlier this year and found it rather humorous. This one? Not so much. Perhaps I missed the comedic point of it all. Oh well. At least it was easy to keep up with the characters and plot, which was a bit more difficult in "The Comedy of Errors" (with two pairs of characters sharing the same two names). To me, this wasn't a very engaging or fun play. I didn't care what the ending would be. I understand that it's a big classic, and I hope I enjoy his other works more.

Rating: 2,75/5

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Title: The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Original title: The Wind in the Willows
First published: 1908
Genre: Classic, Childrens
Series: --
Publisher: Wordsworth
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Finished: 26/07/2020
Summary: Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new world. There's boating with Ratty, a feast with Badger and high jinx on the open road with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. The four become the firmest of friends, but after Toad's latest escapade, can they join together and beat the wretched weasels?

My thoughts: I read this during the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read the first book I touched. This was the first one I touched in a secondhand store. I unfortunately had to stress through this one a bit, as I had to squeeze it in together with some of the Shakespeare play on the final day of the Reading Rush. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant book to stress through. It's quite what I expected it to be. It neither surprised me nor let me down. The characters were rather cute and nice, though I hated Toad, that little fu**er, and the story was one with a clear moral to teach. I wish Toad was never even introduced in the story and that we'd only get to read about the calm and pleasant adventures of Mole and Ratty. Begone, Toad!!! Very cute illustrations as well.

Rating: 3,25/5

Book Reviews: Siddharta | The Copper Gauntlet | The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: Siddharta

Author: Hermann Hesse
Original title: Siddharta
First published: 1922
Genre: Classic, Philosophy
Series: --
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 116
Finished: 26/07/2019
Summary: Siddhartha, a handsome Brahmin's son, is clever and well loved, yet increasingly dissatisfied with the life that is expected of him. Setting out on a spiritual journey to discover a higher state of being, his quest leads him through the temptations of luxury and wealth, the pleasures of sensual love, and the sinister threat of death-dealing snakes, until, eventually, he comes to a river. There a ferryman guides him towards his destiny, and to the ultimate meaning of existence.

My thoughts: My fifth read for "The Reading Rush" 2019! This one was read for the challenge "read a book with purple on the cover"; a challenge that proved difficult to fulfil! It seems that not many of my slimmer books have something purple on the cover, so I was lucky to discover that "Siddharta" delivered in my time of need ;)
Unfortunately, I didn’t find this book to be anything but boring. It is a work of philosophy, and it was easy to read and understand, but it offered me no new wisdom or view on life. Basically, it’s a repetition of “money can’t buy happiness” and a small bunch of other lifestyle ideals. The characters were boring, and I really didn’t care for Siddhartha going out into the world and finding himself and the right path of life. Overall, this book scores a low rating because it gave me nothing at all, without being inherently bad.

Rating: 2/5

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Title: The Copper Gauntlet
Author: Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Original title: The Copper Gauntlet
First published: 2015
Genre: Middle-grade, Fantasy
Series: Magisterium #2
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardback
Pages: 264
Finished: 27/07/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to the magical world of the Magisterium in the fall. It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc. Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth.

My thoughts: Behold: my sixth read for the 2019 Reading Rush! This was read for the challenge "read a book you meant to read last year".
This series is still a lot like Harry Potter. The similarities are just too many to go unnoticed. However, seeing as I read and loved “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell, which also shares a glaring amount of similarities with Harry Potter, I guess I cannot fault this series for doing the same. And honestly? It’s a very decent middle grade fantasy series. As far as these first two books go, I’m enjoying them a lot and as the world and story unfolds, I am compelled to read more and more. We follow a worried and cynical protagonist with a character depth that I like, and I’d say almost all the characters are well developed and described so far in the series. I’m also starting to see how much parts of the series are similar to Cassandra Clare’s other works, though I can’t say the same about Holly Black with certainty, since I’ve only ever read one book by her.
All in all, a solid, suspenseful, exciting read!

Rating: 4/5

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Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Original title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
First published: 1999
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Series: --
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Paperback
Pages: 231
Finished: 28/07/2019
Summary: This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that the perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

My thoughts: My seventh and final read for the 2019 Reading Rush, thus completing the last two challenges on my list; "read a book with five or more words in the title" (this has 6) and "read seven books" WHICH I HAVE NOW DONE OMG. I am officially the best ever (for a minimum of 2 minutes).
This is a very special book. Did I cry? Yes. I don’t think I will say more than that.

Rating: 4,75/5

Book reviews: The Outsiders | En olustig början | Dream On

Title: The Outsiders
Author: S.E. Hinton
Original title: The Outsiders
Genre: Classic, YA
Series: --
Publisher: Puffin
Format: Hardback
Pages: 218
Finished: 01/01/2019
Summary: No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends - true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. And when it comes to the beating up on "greasers" like him and his friends - he knows that he can count on them for trouble. But one night someone takes things too far, and Ponyboy's world is turned upside down...

My thoughts: This will be a short review, because I really liked this book. I read this for my exam project in school about the development of core messages and sub-genres of young adult literature in school and private since the 70's. To be honest, I wasn't stoked to read this. Sure, I wanted to read it sometime, but at the time that I picked it up I just felt that the genre wasn't what I needed at the time. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. “The Outsiders” offers likeable characters, a good narrative, an exciting plot, and some wisdom, as well as insight to the underclass youth of the 60’s USA. It’s a quick and easy read, and I do highly recommend it, seeing as it’s both a classic and a good book.

Rating: 4,5/5

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Title: En olustig början (An Uneasy Beginning)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Original title: The Bad Beginning
Genre: Middlegrade
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #1
Publisher: Richters
Format: Hardback
Pages: 170
Finished: 05/01/2019
Summary: Dear Reader,
I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.
It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

My thoughts: This is the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, which Netflix series adaption I watched before reading this novel. As many other middlegrade books, it’s short and easy to get through quickly, and of course needs something extra to stand out in the sea that is middlegrade literature. This is offered by a witty and odd narrative, and a continued sense of unease through the whole book. The breaking of the fourth wall (by the narrator addressing the reading in person) also adds to the special character of this series. Although I’ve already seen the series, I’m looking forward to reading more of these books this upcoming year. The reason for the low-ish grade is because it didn't blow me away.

Rating: 3,5/5

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Title: Dream On
Author: Kerstin Gier
Original title: Das zweite Buch der Träume
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Series: The Silver Trilogy #2
Publisher: Square Fish
Format: Paperback
Pages: 317
Finished: 07/01/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! Things seem to be going well for Liv Silver: she's adjusting to her new home (and her new family) in London; she has a burgeoning romance with Henry Harper, one of the cutest boys in school; and the girl who's been turning her dreams into nightmares, Anabel, is now locked up. But serenity doesn't last for long. It seems that Liv's troubles are far from over--in fact, suddenly they're piling up. School gossip blogger Secrecy knows all of Liv's most intimate secrets, Henry might be hiding something from her, and at night Liv senses a dark presence following her through the corridors of the dream world. Does someone have a score to settle with Liv?

My thoughts: It’s not been too many years (I think 2015?) since I read “Dream a Little Dream”; the first novel of the Silver trilogy. Kerstin Gier, a German author, has been one of my favourite writers since I first read her Ruby Red trilogy several years ago. What makes her writing and her books special is to a large extent her humour. The way she portrays her female protagonists as clumsy, witty, and goofy makes them stand out from every other bland YA main character out there. We follow Liv in this trilogy; a teenage girl who makes mistakes, has prejudices, and very much differs from the other characters in the book. Because, as it should be, the characters in Gier’s novels don’t blend together. Another thing Gier is good at is building worlds and plots that seem majestic and could be very serious and maybe even scary, but she makes them sort of fun and dainty, if that makes any sense. We’re kind of talking the opposite of The Lord of the Rings on the seriousness scale, but it’s still very entertaining. Imagine a contemporary young adult novel with a twist of time travel or dream travel. That’s what Gier’s books are like. Reading one of them is like drinking a mug of hot coacoa with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. I like it!
Spoiler content: (mark to see the white text) I’ve gathered from the Goodreads reviews that many people would’ve wanted Liv to end up with Grayson, even after reading this second book. I just frankly don’t agree with that, especially since the brotherly and sisterly bond between Liv and Grayson strengthens. I think Henry is a much more interesting partner choice for Liv, even if Grayson is a nice character.
Link to my review of the first book in the series.

Rating: 4,5/5

Book reviews: Så har jag det nu | Wonder | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Title: Så har jag det nu
Author: Meg Rosoff
Original title: How I Live Now
Genre: Dystopian, YA
Series: --
Publisher: Brombergs
Format: Paperback
Pages: 188
Finished: 15/5/17
Summary: Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy. As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. 

My thoughts: Let me start off by stating that this was not particularly my cup of tea. I don't enjoy dystopian novels very much (though my Swedish teacher keeps throwing them as us) and I'm not too fond of bland, forced heterosexual romances that seem to only be there for the sake of it. I don't mean to take it out on this novel specifically; I'm just so tired of all these halfhearted love stories between and guy and a girl that don't do anything to enhance the story or add any depth to the characters. In fact, romances in general shouldn't stand as a major theme in most novels. I could name several that would do just as well, or even better, without the romance in the centre.
Anyways, back to the novel. The protagonist's name is Daisy and she has some issues. She's anorectic, a bit depressed maybe, and just generally sad and miserable most of the time. I can't say I enjoyed reading the story from her point of view. Not because she had issues, not at all, but because she was passive as all hell and didn't care about almost anything but her cousins, how thin she was (and proud of it), and her dad and his new girlfriend, both of whom she seems to hate a little. While there was an ongoing war around them, she still focused on eating less, ignoring all else. I was rather interested in said war, but nope, we don't find out much about it so....
The other characters are fine, though I never got to know any of them well enough to actually come to care for them. The novel is short, and there is little focus on anyone but Daisy overall. I would've liked to read it from someone else's point of view, Isaac's for example, but I was stuck with Daisy throughout the whole thing. Well-o-well. I didn't hate her character; I could sympathize with her despite me disliking her.
The story itself is interesting, or at least to a certain point. The plot has its moments of excitement, but I was never really into it enough to enjoy it. There will be other books, though. This is by far not the worst I've ever read.

Rating: 2/5

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Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Original title: Wonder
Genre: Contemporary, Middle grade
Series: Wonder #1
Publisher: Corgi Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 310
Finished: 27/5/17
Summary: Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

My thoughts: As usual, I don't have as much to say about good books as I have with not-so-amazing books (*cough cough* How I Live Now *cough cough*). I did thoroughly enjoy Wonder, though! The novel is of reasonable length and I worship the short chapters. I'm especially grateful for them as I only have a 9 minutes train ride each morning to read and I'm a slow reader...
Anyways! The short chapters are not what made this book into what it is. This is an emotional ride following a young boy, August, who's struggled with poor self esteem his entire life due to a severe facial malformation that he's had since birth. We get to read the story from several different points of view, all of characters that are close to August. I enjoyed all the perspectives and I was impressed at how the author had really succeeded in successfully writing so many different perspectives and personalities in a believable way. I loved the friendship between August and Jack and Summer, though I'd wished to see more of Summer towards the end of the novel. I also missed the character of Miranda in the first half, but oh well.
In the end, I had a hard time putting this down while reading it. It's one of those books where you go "ah, just one more chapter" again and again. It was uplifting and inspirational and invoked a lot of sympathy in me. The reason I'm not giving it a full 5/5 rating is because I didn't find it exciting. That was the one element I missed during the entire story. I didn't get excited at any point really. Sure, it wasn't a fantasy adventure or anything of the sort so I can't have expectations that are too high, but even books like these can invoke some rush of adrenaline. Well, that's what I didn't get.

Rating: 4/5

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Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Author: Jack Thorne
Original title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Genre: Fantasy, Play
Series: --
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 330
Finished: 3/6/17
Summary: It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

My thoughts: My first impression when I started reading this was not good. I had dearly hoped it would be better than its Goodreads rating told me, but I was met with something that didn't even live up to that rating in the first place. I was about to give up on it completely, I kept going and in the end, it did sort of redeem itself. Here's my thoughts.

I read this along with my good friend Emilia. It was a quick read, though it still took me about a week to get through it, what-with schoolwork and all else that stands in the way. Let me start off by stating that I do not, and will not, consider this book to be a true part in the Harry Potter series. Partly because J.K. Rowling didn't actually write this, and because I do not feel it deserves it. Argue however you like, but this is my final judgement. When reading Act One of this play, I very nearly hated it. The old characters were wrong to me, and although I understand that time might have changed them, they were still just ghosts of how I remember them. However, where Jack Thorne failed with characters like Harry, he still did a pretty good job with the newer characters, like Albus and Scorpius (whom I ship together). Nevertheless, I got used to his Golden Trio in the end, thank dog. In acts 2 through 4, I thankfully encountered some real excitement and though there were some MAJOR PLOT HOLES, I still found myself captured by the story.

I had a hard time picturing this play on an actual stage. I'm sure the pros made it work, but some things in the script just seemed impossible to do even with cool light and sound effects. I guess I'll have to wait and see when they release the play on video.

My rating for this book was going to be a 2/5 rating in the beginning, but I ended up adding a star. The story really picks itself up in the second act and some scenes had me moved. However, I still cannot overlook the first act and the plot holes, and the major issues I had with some of the characters. I see it more as a passable fanfiction. Far from the best I've read, but still decent enough to give a try. As a fanfiction. Maybe it's better when seen as a live play? I don't know. As a script, though, it has some things to work on before I'm going to find it worthy as the eighth part of the Harry Potter series.

Rating: 3/5

Book review: The Little Prince | Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close | Ett öga rött | Alice in Wonderland

Title: The Little Prince
Author: Antione de Saint-Exupéry
Original title: Le Petit Prince
Genre: Children, Classic
Series: ---
Publisher: Wordsworth Editions
Format: Paperback
Pages: 109
Finished: Early 2016
Summary: A pilot crashes with his plane in the middle of the desert. Expecting to be miles away from civilizations, he is shocked to meet a little boy there, a little prince.

My thoughts:
Did you know this book is one of the five most sold books in the world? Or so Wikipedia tells me, at least. Impressive, isn't it? Just under it is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Most sold, amongst the purely fictional works (or the Bible would've won), is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
The Little Prince was written by a French pilot, such as the main character of the story, whose name was Antione de Saint-Exupéry. This story was released for the first time in 1943, about a year before he and his plane disappeared somewhere. Rather ironic, when you think about it.
So I adored this little book. It's so quirky and I love the fun illustrations that come with it. It's been a while now since I read it, so I don't remember much, but I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and it wouldn't surprise me if I were to reread it again in the future.

Rating: 4/5


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Title: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
Original title: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Genre: Contemporary
Series: ---
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 326
Finished: 23/10/16
Summary: Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies. When his father is killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he discovers in his father's closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which brings him ever closer to some kind of peace.

My thoughts:
This book had me sad 4 pages in, and it had me crying by the end of it. The story is like a punch to the gut, and it left me feeling emotional and a little overwhelmed. I read this for English class. We were asked to pick one book to read for novel discussions, and I'm happy I picked this. It's a great book, really, however at times the sadness became too much. I mean, the whole book is just pages upon pages filled with tragedy and depression, though in the most beautiful way (still left me feeling hollow though). Another thing that bothered me slightly was Oscars character, and how he at times felt a bit too unreal for a 9-year-old. Even if he was special, his character was a little exaggerated at some points and it didn't feel natural. Other than that, I really recommend this book! It's not a favorite, but it's absolutely worth the read!

Rating: 3.5/5

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Title: Ett öga rött (An Eye Red)
Author: Jonas Hassen Khemiri
Original title: Ett öga rött
Genre: YA, contemporary
Series: ---
Publisher: Månpocket
Format: Paperback
Pages: 251
Finished: 23/10/16
Summary: Halim har genomskådat allt. Han har genomskådat Integrationsplanen. Han har genomskådat fiskpanettsrasismen i matbespisningen, han har kommit till insikt om hur Allahs makt hänger ihop med ödet och varför intellektuella liknar halta kameler. Tyvärr har han också genomskådat sin pappa, som har övergett Kampen och i stället bara talar om vikten av att tala bra svenska.
Men Halim har en egen plan: han ska bli Sveriges mäktigaste revolutionsblatte. En tankesultan, som knäcker koderna och får de snyggaste gussarna.

My thoughts:

(Ett öga rött translates to An Eye Red - the incorrect grammar is intentional)
So we had to read this for Swedish class, the main reason being we'd study the language of the writing, which doesn't follow the V2 rule (ah Swedish stuff I'm too lazy to explain). I had a hard time getting used to the grammar and the flow of the writing in the beginning, but I got into it pretty quickly. I found the language pretty interesting, but I had other major issues with this novel.
Firstly, the main character. Or really, it's all about the main character. His name is Halim, and he's a second generation immigrant to Sweden (don't really remember where his parents were from). That's chill, that's all cool, but the novel is in diary form and let me tell you, Halim is not holding back on the racist comments. Or the sexist and homophobic comments either. Like chill bro, learn some respect. He'd use words (in Swedish) that would be translated to fag, whore, bitch, nigger, blackhead and more. I found this offensive and was unsettled by reading it. Halim also made a lot of bad decisions which I couldn't really understand, and the way he treated the people around him was so rude. He also mentions his masturbation moments a lot. I didn't appreciate that much...
Anyway, I read it for the different grammar, not for the plot. Would not reread.

Rating: 1.5/5

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Title: Alice in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll
Original title: Alice in Wonderland
Genre: Classic, fantasy
Series: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland #1
Publisher: Barnes & Noble
Format: Hardback
Pages: 124
Finished: 27/10/16
Summary: Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"
So begins the tale of Alice, following a curious White Rabbit down a rabbit-hole and falling into Wonderland. A fantastical place, where nothing is quite as it seems: animals talk, nonsensical characters confuse, Mad Hatter's throw tea parties and the Queen plays croquet. Alice's attempts to find her way home become increasingly bizarre, infuriating and amazing in turn.

My thoughts:

I finished the first part yesterday night, and I'll be moving on to part two, Through the Looking-Glass, and I'm looking forward to watch the movie by Tim Burton after that!
I found this book so entertaining! The illustrations are amazing, and the story is so strange and full of things to philosophise about, all the hidden meanings in the text. Seriously though, Carroll must've been high on something when he wrote this, and I love it. Alice is a little know-it-all, though I still enjoyed her character, and she's being bossed around by all the other quirky characters and it's just so fun to read. It's a short book, so I don't have much more to say about it except that you should go read it right now! It's wonderful!

Rating: 4.5/5