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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Alice Takes Back Wonderland in Books
Dec 14, 2018
<i>This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review </i>
When a book starts with “‘Do you know fairy tales are real’ asked the cat,” you know you are in for a magical ride. Nearly everyone knows the tale of the seven-year-old girl from nineteenth century London who falls down a rabbit hole and spends a day of madness in the magical world of Wonderland. In David D. Hammons version, however, Alice was a young girl from twenty-first century Missouri. On her return to the real world she was diagnosed with ADHD and Schizophrenia and forced to believe that the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter were figments of her imagination. But ten years later a white rabbit appears and leads Alice back to the world where nothing makes sense.
All is not well in Wonderland. The Cheshire Cat is dead and the Ace of Spades is in charge. Barely anything is the way Alice remembers. Everything looks far too “normal” and similar to the world she comes from. Ace is determined to remove the wonder from Wonderland and create a place where madness is forbidden. Alice has a big fight on her hands as she tries to end this former playing card’s tyrannous reign and restore Wonderland back to its original insanity.
<i>Alice Takes Back Wonderland</i> is not purely a retelling of Lewis Carrols famous story. Although many of the well known and loved characters appear in this book, so do others from a variety of different fairytales: <i>Peter Pan, Pinocchio</i>, and various tales from the <i>Brothers Grimm</i>. As readers will discover, all is not exactly as it should be for these characters either. Despite them being contrasting, magical stories, Hammons has successfully merged them all together in an imaginative manner resulting in a humorous young adult novel.
Although mostly focused on the goings on in Wonderland and the other fictional locations, it is also a subtle metaphor to describe what Alice’s life had been like back in present day America. For a decade Alice was forced to take medication to help her understand the difference between reality and fantasy. It got rid of most of the nonsense thoughts she picked up during her first visit to Wonderland. In a way, that is what the Ace of Spades is doing to characters he believes are mad. He is taking the wonder out of them, just like the pills to the wonder out of Alice.
Lovers of fairytales will definitely love this book, especially those who grew up loving <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> and <i>Peter Pan</i>. In some ways it is a continuation of the original tale, yet in other ways it could be viewed as an alternative way the story could have gone. Primarily targeted at young adults, <i>Alice Takes Back Wonderland</i> is much darker than Carrols version and combines a mix of real life with fantasy. It also goes to show that no one is too old for fairytales!
When a book starts with “‘Do you know fairy tales are real’ asked the cat,” you know you are in for a magical ride. Nearly everyone knows the tale of the seven-year-old girl from nineteenth century London who falls down a rabbit hole and spends a day of madness in the magical world of Wonderland. In David D. Hammons version, however, Alice was a young girl from twenty-first century Missouri. On her return to the real world she was diagnosed with ADHD and Schizophrenia and forced to believe that the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter were figments of her imagination. But ten years later a white rabbit appears and leads Alice back to the world where nothing makes sense.
All is not well in Wonderland. The Cheshire Cat is dead and the Ace of Spades is in charge. Barely anything is the way Alice remembers. Everything looks far too “normal” and similar to the world she comes from. Ace is determined to remove the wonder from Wonderland and create a place where madness is forbidden. Alice has a big fight on her hands as she tries to end this former playing card’s tyrannous reign and restore Wonderland back to its original insanity.
<i>Alice Takes Back Wonderland</i> is not purely a retelling of Lewis Carrols famous story. Although many of the well known and loved characters appear in this book, so do others from a variety of different fairytales: <i>Peter Pan, Pinocchio</i>, and various tales from the <i>Brothers Grimm</i>. As readers will discover, all is not exactly as it should be for these characters either. Despite them being contrasting, magical stories, Hammons has successfully merged them all together in an imaginative manner resulting in a humorous young adult novel.
Although mostly focused on the goings on in Wonderland and the other fictional locations, it is also a subtle metaphor to describe what Alice’s life had been like back in present day America. For a decade Alice was forced to take medication to help her understand the difference between reality and fantasy. It got rid of most of the nonsense thoughts she picked up during her first visit to Wonderland. In a way, that is what the Ace of Spades is doing to characters he believes are mad. He is taking the wonder out of them, just like the pills to the wonder out of Alice.
Lovers of fairytales will definitely love this book, especially those who grew up loving <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> and <i>Peter Pan</i>. In some ways it is a continuation of the original tale, yet in other ways it could be viewed as an alternative way the story could have gone. Primarily targeted at young adults, <i>Alice Takes Back Wonderland</i> is much darker than Carrols version and combines a mix of real life with fantasy. It also goes to show that no one is too old for fairytales!
Lottie disney bookworm (1056 KP) rated The Odd Sisters: A Villains Novel (Villains #6) in Books
May 16, 2020
The Odd Sisters is the latest addition to the Disney Villains collection written by Serena Valentino. In truth I read this as soon as it came out but I have been so slow with my reviews that I am now looking forward to the next instalment this summer which focuses on the formidable Cruella De Vil.
As you may expect, the Odd Sisters focuses on the three witches whom we have come to recognise from every novel in the villain’s collection. When we left the sisters, they were trapped in the dreamscape; punished by Circe for the roles they had played in creating and revelling in the misfortune of others. This novel leads directly on from ‘Mother Knows Best’, with Circe scouring journals alongside Snow, revealing more and more of the story behind the sisters and their madness.
This is the one review of Serena’s novels that I have really struggled to write. Not because the book is not good! The story itself ties up all the loose ends from ‘Mother Knows Best’ but still leaves room for character development in the form of Tulip and Popinjay who have embarked upon their own adventure: I am sure it is not the last we will hear from them.
My struggles lie in not spoiling the story for a potential reader. This is one story which you just have to experience and read in the correct order! There is an established order for a reason people! Serena Valentino does not write and release these books on a whim- you must pay attention!
A unique characteristic of this novel is the addition of illustrations. The cover art for the series of villain tales is arguably iconic, yet, this is the first book which has included internal illustrations. These illustrations are beautiful as standalone drawings but they also bring a level of humanity to the Odd Sisters: quite apt, as this is the story which explains how they came to be so inhuman in their behaviour and values.
The inclusion of illustrations also allows the seamless addition of the sisters’ journal which eager readers have fallen on and devoured for clues of future villain tales. Later Serena Valentino herself (@blackbirdpirate) would reveal on Instagram that one fan had deduced these clues perfectly, leading us to expect upcoming tales from the likes of Lady Tremaine, Hades and the Shadowman.
‘The Odd Sisters’, although obviously centering around the three witches, seems to bend to Snow White as the main character in the tale. Snow’s journey concludes in this novel, finally allowing her to end her-frankly unhealthy- relationship with her stepmother. It also transpires that the odd sisters’ journey into madness began with Snow…but you will have to read the book to find out how.
Despite being significantly different from the previous villain tales, Valentino continues to keep us gripped with this almost cathartic novel. In tying up the loose ends such as the significance of the teacups (that has been bugging me for ages!), Valentino is able to build suspense in Circe’s journey and focus on dropping teasers for where the books will lead next. I for one, cannot wait to find out.
As you may expect, the Odd Sisters focuses on the three witches whom we have come to recognise from every novel in the villain’s collection. When we left the sisters, they were trapped in the dreamscape; punished by Circe for the roles they had played in creating and revelling in the misfortune of others. This novel leads directly on from ‘Mother Knows Best’, with Circe scouring journals alongside Snow, revealing more and more of the story behind the sisters and their madness.
This is the one review of Serena’s novels that I have really struggled to write. Not because the book is not good! The story itself ties up all the loose ends from ‘Mother Knows Best’ but still leaves room for character development in the form of Tulip and Popinjay who have embarked upon their own adventure: I am sure it is not the last we will hear from them.
My struggles lie in not spoiling the story for a potential reader. This is one story which you just have to experience and read in the correct order! There is an established order for a reason people! Serena Valentino does not write and release these books on a whim- you must pay attention!
A unique characteristic of this novel is the addition of illustrations. The cover art for the series of villain tales is arguably iconic, yet, this is the first book which has included internal illustrations. These illustrations are beautiful as standalone drawings but they also bring a level of humanity to the Odd Sisters: quite apt, as this is the story which explains how they came to be so inhuman in their behaviour and values.
The inclusion of illustrations also allows the seamless addition of the sisters’ journal which eager readers have fallen on and devoured for clues of future villain tales. Later Serena Valentino herself (@blackbirdpirate) would reveal on Instagram that one fan had deduced these clues perfectly, leading us to expect upcoming tales from the likes of Lady Tremaine, Hades and the Shadowman.
‘The Odd Sisters’, although obviously centering around the three witches, seems to bend to Snow White as the main character in the tale. Snow’s journey concludes in this novel, finally allowing her to end her-frankly unhealthy- relationship with her stepmother. It also transpires that the odd sisters’ journey into madness began with Snow…but you will have to read the book to find out how.
Despite being significantly different from the previous villain tales, Valentino continues to keep us gripped with this almost cathartic novel. In tying up the loose ends such as the significance of the teacups (that has been bugging me for ages!), Valentino is able to build suspense in Circe’s journey and focus on dropping teasers for where the books will lead next. I for one, cannot wait to find out.
Splintered (Splintered, #1)
7.9
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This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s...
Paul Smedley (141 KP) rated Attention Attention by Shinedown in Music
May 5, 2018
They’re back!
Well! The Shinedown guys are back with another rip roaring album that doesn’t fail to please.
It’s been long awaited since the last album, Threat to Survival and it does not disappoint.
It’s got that recognisable Shinedown stamp on it so as soon as you hear the riffs and vocals, there’s no denying who it is.
The songs are fuelled by a rebellion feel and motivating you to stand up against what’s holding you back. It is perfect for the gym to keep pushing you.
My favourite track on it is Human Radio so far although it is quite hard to pick a favourite.
It’s good to see the album at the front of my local HMV too as the music I tend to buy is hidden away deep within the shelves of the metal/alt rock section with no deserved place of its own.
If you haven’t listened to any Shinedown then I recommend you check them out. There are quite a few albums to listen to. Sound of Madness would be a good starting point although feel free to start with Attention Attention and work backwards as you will find a vein of familiarity with the songs that everyone can relate to.
An epic album from an epic band. Been to see them six times live and one of the best bands I’ve seen performing. Their energy is relentless and the engagement with the crowd is awe inspiring.
Welcome back, Shinedown!!!!
It’s been long awaited since the last album, Threat to Survival and it does not disappoint.
It’s got that recognisable Shinedown stamp on it so as soon as you hear the riffs and vocals, there’s no denying who it is.
The songs are fuelled by a rebellion feel and motivating you to stand up against what’s holding you back. It is perfect for the gym to keep pushing you.
My favourite track on it is Human Radio so far although it is quite hard to pick a favourite.
It’s good to see the album at the front of my local HMV too as the music I tend to buy is hidden away deep within the shelves of the metal/alt rock section with no deserved place of its own.
If you haven’t listened to any Shinedown then I recommend you check them out. There are quite a few albums to listen to. Sound of Madness would be a good starting point although feel free to start with Attention Attention and work backwards as you will find a vein of familiarity with the songs that everyone can relate to.
An epic album from an epic band. Been to see them six times live and one of the best bands I’ve seen performing. Their energy is relentless and the engagement with the crowd is awe inspiring.
Welcome back, Shinedown!!!!
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