S'Wonderland

When Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole, little did she know she was in store for growing and shrinking, talking animals, a mad tea party, and a trial.

I love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll for many reasons: the imaginative and lyrical writing, the delightful dialogue, the fantastic fantasy world, the colorful characters, the detailed illustrations by John Tenniel, and, most of all, the independent and thoughtful protagonist. I think the character of Alice is truly great. She's resourceful and spunky. The only big thing upon which Alice and I disagree: she, at the start, thinks books without pictures or conversations are useless. Nonsense, dear child!

A Booklist is Born

Thank you to Rebecca for prompting this booklist! May your class put it to good use.

Recommended Reading: Written by Charles Dodgson Himself
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll
The Selected Letters of Lewis Carroll
The Annotated Alice - the original text by Lewis Carroll and illustrations by John Tenniel with notes by Martin Gardner

If you have yet to read the original version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, please do. Project Gutenberg has posted the full text and illustrations online. You can visit Google Books.

Recommended Reading: Non-Fiction
Alice's Adventures: Lewis Carroll in Popular Culture by Will Brooker
The Other Alice by Christina Björk - This juvenile biography about Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson offers humorous anecdotes (42!) and gorgeous illustrations. Sadly, I think it is out of print. Happily, I own a copy. Thank you, used bookstore! Highly recommended.

Recommended Reading: Fiction
Still She Haunts Me by Katie Roiphe - The story of an unlikely friendship between an intelligent man who fit nowhere and the spunky girl who inspired his best-known work. This is a fictional take on the friendship of Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson, with Charles' real letters woven in throughout the book. Shelved in adult fiction/literature. Highly recommended.

Related Works of Fiction
The Problem of the Missing Miss by Roberta Rogow - Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dodgson team up to find a little girl who has been abducted. A fun, fast-moving historical mystery, shelved in adult fiction or mystery. No fantasy elements are involved. There are just enough references to each author's works to be cute, rather than overdone. To the best of my knowledge, the two men never met in real life. I liked how they worked together in this book. Thanks to Sarah for the recommendation.

Art and Gift Books
All Things Alice: The Wit, Wisdom, and Wonderland of Lewis Carroll compiled by Linda Sunshine
Dreaming in Pictures: The Photography of Lewis Carroll by Douglas R. Nickel
The Art of Alice in Wonderland by Stephanie Lovett Stoffel

Wasted Opportunity
The Baby-Sitters Club #121: Abby in Wonderland by Ann M. Martin - I love the BSC series and I love Alice in Wonderland, so I was plenty excited for this book. Sadly, it let me down. Abby attends an Alice-themed party thrown by her grandparents. The costumes*, the food, and the decorations were all appropriate for the theme, but Wonderland itself did not matter to the story. It could have just as easily have been a fifties-themed party or a Narnia-themed party. The plot of the book did not have any ties to nor parallels with Wonderland. I wasn't expecting it to become a fantasy, of course - BSC stories are dramatic and comedic, but firmly realistic - but I wanted Wonderland to matter, to have been chosen for a reason. In fact, the plot itself was not fully realized. When I read the final page, I felt as if the story was only half-over.
*The grandmother dressed like the White Queen, who is actually from Through the Looking-Glass. The illustrations on the cover did not quite match the descriptions in the book. But I digress.

Attempted Sequels - Related titles that left me lukewarm
Automated Alice by Jeff Noon
Alice Through the Needle's Eye by Gilbert Adair
The Roundhill by Dick King-Smith
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

. . . and those I have yet to read:
The Looking-Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
A New Alice in the Old Wonderland by Anna M. Richards
Fantastic Alice edited by Margaret Weiss

Musicalice

My favorite film version of this imaginative tale was made in 1972. As I mentioned in a much earlier post, I first saw this movie as a child and was absolutely delighted to see a brunette Alice (portrayed by Fiona Fullerton) rather than a blond girl.

I refer to this film as "the 1972 British live-action musical Alice's Adventures in Wonderland starring Fiona Fullerton as Alice, adapted and directed by William Sterling, with music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black based on those by Lewis Carroll."

...and yes, I say all of that in one breath.

I think Charles Dodgson would like this adaptation of his most famous story. It offers a beautiful score by John Barry (Somewhere in Time), and the lyrics by Don Black are nearly lifted directly from the page.

I found many scenes and musical numbers on YouTube, so I compiled a playlist. Then someone uploaded the film in seventeen parts on YouTube. THANK YOU! I have arranged those seventeen parts in order (plus some other Alice-related videos) so you may now watch the movie simply by clicking below:



The movie is available on DVD. The DVD is, of course, better quality than YouTube. Get it. Watch it.

I myself own two copies of the DVD. The soundtrack is available on CD, yet I do not own it because it is packaged with the soundtrack for Petulia, also scored by John Barry, and I just want the Alice soundtrack.

The icon I used for this post captures one of my favorite shots from the film. Look how well it matches Tenniel's illustration.

See all of the icons I made from the film. Thanks for the screenshots, Emily!

Additional Film and Television Adaptations of Alice

(If it's bold, I've seen it from start to finish. If it's italicized, I've only seen a few scenes.)

Film and television adaptations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland include:

Alice in Wonderland (live-action film, 1903)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action film, 1933)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action made-for-TV movie, BBC, 1946)
Alice in Wonderland (stop-motion film, 1951)
Alice in Wonderland (animated film, Disney, 1951)
The Adventures of Alice (live-action made-for-TV movie, BBC, 1960)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action made-for-TV movie, BBC, 1966)
Alice of Wonderland in Paris (animated film, 1966)
Alice in Wonderland, or, What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (animated made-for-TV movie, Hanna-Barbera, 1966)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (live-action musical film, 1972 - see above for reasons why it's my favorite adaptation)
Алиса в Стране Чудес (animated film, Russian, 1981)
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (filmed stage play, 1982)
Fushigi no Kuni no Alice (animated film, Japanese, 1983)
Alice in Wonderland (made-for-TV two-part movie, CBS, 1985)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action + puppetry five-episode TV series, 1985)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action four-episode TV series, BBC, 1986)
The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987)
Alice in Wonderland (animated film, Australian, 1988)
Alice (live-action + stop-motion film, 1988)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action made-for-TV movie, NBC, 1999)
Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland (live-action film, 2004)

Related Films

I heard about Phoebe in Wonderland in August 2008 and was immediately interested. I watched the trailer online and want to see the film in full.

Alice, Meet Johnny Smith

The Dead Zone was a thought-provoking, creative television series. It brought Alice up more than once.

In Season 1, they closed an episode with a character reading aloud to Johnny from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, after having referenced the story a few times throughout the previous scenes.

Later, for an unrelated episode, they released a still image of Sarah and J.J. reading the book. (I made that picture into an icon.)

In Season 6, the episode Big Top revolved around an Alice in Wonderland-themed fair. The circus performers who were dressed as characters from the book had gorgeous costumes and props. Though I wouldn't wear them together, I seriously want Alice's dress and knee-highs. The episode also made multiple, important references to the show's pilot episode, which made me extremely happy.

Disney's Wonderland

I'd much rather read the original book or watch the aforementioned musical than watch the Disney film. The inaccurate parts of Disney's adaptation annoy me too much. They changed things from the book, then brought in elements from Through the Looking Glass only to change those too. I didn't care for their depiction of Alice as I felt she was not as strong nor as intelligent as she was in the book.

(As a side note, my favorite Disney film is The Little Mermaid. I prefer that film to the original story, largely due to the story's tragic and religious ending.)

Charles in Charge

All of the research I've done about Charles Dodgson makes me feel as though he was an intelligent man who loved math, photography, and storytelling, but he didn't quite fit in society. I do not think he was the creepy guy that some assumptive persons would lead you to believe. I think Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was a smart, creative man who didn't fit into society or at least didn't have equal peers, and I think Alice Liddell was honored by the story she inspired.

Oh, if I could only have a little piece of each: I would love to inspire someone's story, and to share my own stories with the world. I am, at times, the White Rabbit for others, but then the results are for others, and I am peripheral yet again.

I am known to explain the difference between Dodgson and Lewis Carroll any time the opportunity presents itself. (Real name versus pen name. Real person, a really shy person, versus a famous name, a known author.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Lenny's Alice in Wonderland Site has one of the best FAQs I've ever read regarding the books, the author, and related works. Check it out.

How It Started

Have you seen the original manuscript for the first version of the story? Written in Dodgson's own hand, with his own sketches, the story was original called Alice's Adventures Under Ground. It's now available in many different collections and volumes of his work.

Here's one spot where you can read it online.

The Book's Conclusion

I readily admit that I've never cared for the way the book ends. I have two main reasons for this: I felt as though her adventures hadn't quite reached a close, even with the trial and such. She makes a bold declaration, yes, but she was already bold and acted as such throughout the story. Then, when she wakes up, she has lovely thoughts and remarks, yet her sister's thoughts close the tale.

My Personal Conclusion

I love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I just discovered that a television movie based on the novel Stranger with My Face will be premiering on Lifetime Movie Network next Saturday night. I hope it's decent. Adaptations of Duncan's books, be they feature films (I Know What You Did Last Summer) or television movies (I've Been Waiting for You, the TV movie based on the novel Gallows Hill; also, Killing Mr. Griffin), are often quite different from the books. Such is often the case with novels turned into movies.

What are your favorite Lois Duncan novels? IKWYDLS is mine, followed by Gallows Hill and Daughters of Eve.

Take this sinking boat
And point it home
We've still got time

Raise your hopeful voice
You had a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly
Sing your melody
I'll sing along

- Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

If you've seen the film Once, you'll recognize this song.

If you have not seen the film Once, go watch it. Right now.

View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.

Consult the Poetry Friday roundup schedule at A Year of Reading.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Get your flashlights ready, because this is a book to read late at night when huddled under the covers.

There once was a young girl named Coraline who moved into a new flat with her mother and father. The neighbors are friendly, if not a bit odd and a bit confused, repeatedly calling her "Caroline" by mistake. The little girl is a self-proclaimed explorer, taking walks around the neighborhood no matter what the weather. With both of her parents occupied by work, she counts the doors at home, and figures out how to open up a door which is supposed to open up to nowhere - more specifically, a brick wall...

Coraline's curious nature is akin to that of Alice (in Wonderland), Anne (of Green Gables), and other young heroines that are famous, fantastic, and fictional. Far from being a damsel in distress, Coraline is witty, intelligent and aware. Her 'White Rabbit' comes in the shape of a black cat who has no name; as he wryly explains to her, cats know who they are so they don't need names, unlike insecure human beings.

This intriguing and creepy story is just right for readers of all ages, especially fans of Lewis Carroll and John Bellairs. This book will certainly satisfy loyal followers of the author Neil Gaiman and the artist Dave McKean. I read Coraline immediately upon its release and continue to recommend it on a regular basis. If this book had been released when I was a child, I would have read it as often as I read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

Other Versions of Coraline

A graphic novel version of Coraline, adapted and illustrated by P. Craig Russell, is also available. Not only does Russell keep the story in tact, but he brings the characters to life with his beautiful illustrations. The graphic novel is certain to please those who loved the original book. It will also appeal to those who haven't read the book (yet!) and/or those who prefer comics and graphic novels to full-length novels.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the cat in Coraline? He's one of my favorite fictional felines. Some of my favorite pictures in the graphic novel include him, naturally. I was also amused by the fact that Coraline (at the start of the graphic novel) and I were wearing almost the exact same outfit.

Coraline has also been made into a stop-motion 3-D feature film, which was in February 2009. While I enjoyed it, but I definitely preferred the book to the film. The film had a great many changes, such as making Coraline's family American and setting the story in the USA. I didn't see the need to do that. My favorite elements of the film were the music, the mouse circus, and the cat. There needed to be more of the cat. (You knew I was going to say that, didn't you?)

Key to My Heart

On the afternoon of December 27th, 2008, while waiting for the bus, I spotted a black key on the back of the bench. Clearly, silently, it was awaiting me. Oversized and looking to be made of plastic, it resembled something from a Fisher-Price toddler vehicle, and the rounded top looks like a button with four little holes. Thinking that I could string it onto a thin cord or chain (after washing it, of course) and make it a necklace, I picked up the key with my thick gray glove. I was surprised by its (slight) weight; it was made of metal. Then I saw the inscription on the key and nearly shrieked. Though I managed to contain myself so I wouldn't alarm passersby, I couldn't help grinning like the Cheshire cat. Written on the key was simply:

coraline.com

Yes, I have a key to Coraline's flat. How cool is that?

Otherwhere
Visit MouseCircus.com - Neil Gaiman's official website for young readers - as well as coraline.com

Recommended Reads
If you like Coraline, you'll also enjoy the following books!

For young readers - really, for all ages:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The OutCast series, four books by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Books by John Bellairs, including The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt
Books by Mary Downing Hahn, including The Doll in the Garden
The May Bird trilogy by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman by Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden, and Stephen R. Bisette (non-fiction)

Related Posts
SparkLife: Coraline
Cats Cats Cats
Favorite Fictional Felines
Sassy Sidekicks of Children's Literature
Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman by Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden, and Stephen R. Bisette

From author and artist Amy Krouse Rosenthal comes The Beckoning of Lovely.



To get involved or learn more, visit http://whoisamy.wordpress.com/

See my later post about The Beckoning of Lovely Spring Tour.

A list of my favorite films, in order of release:

Bringing Up Baby (1938) - comedy
My Favorite Wife (1940) - comedy
Ball of Fire (1941) - comedy
Laura (1944) - film noir
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) - film noir
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) - comedy
Singin' in the Rain (1952) - best musical movie ever
North by Northwest (1959) - suspense
Charade (1963) - suspense
The Trouble with Angels (1966) - comedy
The Odd Couple (1970) - comedy
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) - fantasy, musical, NOT the Disney version
The NeverEnding Story (1984) - fantasy
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer (1985) - fantasy, animated
Anne of Green Gables (1986) - drama
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - comedy
The Little Mermaid (1989) - animated, musical
Stargate (1994) - fantasy, action/adventure
Anastasia (1997) - animated, musical

As you can tell, my heart belongs to classic films and musicals.

I am a musical theatre girl. I sing, dance, and act. I write songs, scripts, screenplays, and stories. I love directing and choreographing.

I favor intelligent, thoughtful, witty, and clean pictures.

I will watch anything featuring Cary Grant, Gene Kelly, or Barbara Stanwyck.

Gene Kelly was a dancer, an actor, a singer, a director, a choreographer, and a visionary. I want to follow in his footsteps. I would have loved to have worked with him. I've read that he was a taskmaster, but that would be just fine with me.

Cary Grant was talented and classy. (Please join The English Muffin-Lovers Society if you are a Cary Grant fan!) He was able to do comedy and drama equally well.

The same can be said for Barbara Stanwyck. Look at her in Ball of Fire, then Double Indemnity. She was dynamic. Such a commanding presence.

Almost all of my favorite performers, have passed away, including the three I just praised, plus Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Donald O'Connor, Natalie Wood, June Allyson, and so many others. How I wish I could have worked with them. Oh, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Wells, if only I could have taken your direction. Rod Sterling, I would have loved to have appeared on The Twilight Zone. The list goes on and on.

Many of my favorite films are based on books.

If there's a film based on a book, I like reading the original book prior to seeing the film, but in some cases, I saw the movie when I was little and had to track down the book years later.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is based on a story entitled Love Lies Bleeding by John Patrick using the pseudonym Jack Patrick. I cannot find this story anywhere. I can't find any evidence of it ever having been published. If any of you know where I can find it, please tell me.

( Read more... )

Related Posts: I ramble about films, prompted by tlace; I posted before about my favorite films; and I think highly of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Some children wish they never had to grow up. They may be surprised to discover that plenty of adults feel the same way. Many people want to escape reality, to fly away. Rebels want to defy authority. Daredevils and wallflowers alike may yearn to go on magnificent adventures.

For all of these reasons and more, readers have been drawn to the tale of Peter Pan for over one hundred years. I myself have always liked the story - but not for any of the aforementioned reasons. For example, I have always liked Tinker Bell. ( Read more... )

Film and Stage Adaptations

While I like some of the songs from the stage musical, I cannot stand the fact that Peter Pan is played by an adult woman. I feel it defeats the purpose. It's supposed to be the story of a boy who never grows up. A boy. Not an adult woman who looks like a young boy. I really think that's kind of creepy. ( Read more... )

Disney's Tinker Bell movie is special, because it is the first time their version of Tinker Bell has ever spoken clearly. Her emotions are usually punctuated by tinkling bells and sound effects, clearly relayed by her body language and her actions, but now she has a voice! Congratulations to Mae Whitman for winning the role of Tink. I've always enjoyed Mae's performances in films. This movie is no exception. It's very cute, and Tink fans - especially those who have read the Disney Fairies books - will like it.

Book Adaptations

The author granted Great Osmond Street Hospital with the rights to the story. Now, in an effort to retain and extend those rights, the hospital has selected Geraldine McCaughrean to write a sequel. Her creation, Peter Pan in Scarlet, was released in October of 2006. Scarlet is not be the first book based on the story of the eternally youthful boy. Many authors and publishers have attempted prequels, sequels, and companions to Barrie's works. I love some and loathe others. ( Read more... )

Please Read the Original!

If you have yet to read the original version of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, please do so. Thanks to Project Gutenberg, you may read it online.

Speaking of original . . . The original version of article was featured in the September issue of The Edge of the Forest, a children's literature monthly.

For more about Tinker Bell and other fairies in fiction, please check out my Fairy Nice booklist.

Little Willow: Suze and I first met years ago, back when Buffy was slaying vampires on TV on a weekly basis. Our shared interests in books, theatre, and dance have led to many lively discussions, punctuated often with exclamations. We live in two different nations, so we don't get to see each other in person very often, but we keep in touch regularly via electronic mail. We've both had a busy month so far, but between work, rehearsals, and shows, we made time to talk about books by an author we both enjoy: Sarah Dessen. We've discussed her books before - we even made a very special trip together to see her stories on screen - but this is the first time I've gotten Suze to speak up on my blog. Say hi, Suze.

Suze: Hello! I'm very honored to be allowed to have my say on Little Willow's blog! Do bear with me as this is my first time . . .

Little Willow: Okay, let's go!

What was the first book by Sarah Dessen that you ever read? What did you think of it?

Little Willow: Dreamland. It was heavy - appropriately so, but heavy. I am glad that the next Sarah book I read, That Summer, was lighter and countered it. Which book did you read first?

Suze: Someone Like You. I can vaguely recall being told in no uncertain terms that I needed to read Sarah Dessen and most importantly to "start with Someone Like You!" It was a very touching story about friendship, and naturally, it sucked me right in. I literally could not put it down until I'd finished it.

What was the second Sarah Dessen book you read?

Little Willow: That Summer, Dessen's debut. I then read the rest of her novels in order of publication. At that point, That Lullaby was her newest book.

Suze: Also That Summer, incidentally. However, I didn't quite stick to the order of publication - pretty close though.

Which Dessen novel is your favorite? Why?

Little Willow: Poignant and realistic, The Truth About Forever is my favorite Sarah Dessen book. I loved how Macy and Wes challenged each other to be more truthful and honest with themselves.

Suze: I hate this question because it always leads to a very long and painful argument in my head. I'd have to say it's a tie between This Lullaby and the Truth About Forever. Of course, I also love Just Listen and Keeping the Moon . . . Then I have a soft spot for Someone Like You... See what I mean? I'll refrain from going into detail about why I love each and every one. For now, anyway.

Favorite character? Why?

Suze: Another difficult question to answer. My favorite female character would have to be Remy from This Lullaby because of her incredible sense of self. She hasn't had the easiest life and shes definitely made a ton of mistakes, but yet in the end she came out on top and she did it by herself, I find her strength and independence admirable. My favorite male character would be Wes from The Truth About Forever for a lot of the same reasons, plus the whole 'sa-woon' thing didn't hurt his case either! You?

Little Willow: I really liked Remy as well. She was independent and headstrong, like I am, and I understood why she was determined to rely on no one but herself. I really enjoyed the conversations that Macy and Wes had in The Truth About Forever. They founded their relationship on honesty, and as they learned more about each other, they also learned more about themselves.

Suze: I agree. I can't think of a better way to really get to know someone. Of course, they would have to tell the truth, and I've noticed that honesty seems to be harder to come by these days.

Little Willow: Honesty is the best policy. I am a huge fan of honesty.

Suze: Me too! After Owen's teachings in Just Listen, I have really made an effort to be more honest and tell less of the little white lies that most people tell on a daily basis. Of course, this can get me in a bit of hot water on occasion - so it's a bit of a work-in-progress!

What do you think of the way Dessen connects all of her books? Do you prefer recurring characters or subtle cameos?

Suze: I absolutely love the way her characters often return for Cameo's in future books. It's always nice to read a little about what happened afterwards, yet she never lets an appearance of a former character take away from the actual theme or story of the book. Although, sometimes, I find myself wishing that she would get carried away and go more into detail about what has happened to any given character - but I know it probably take away from the story she's trying to tell. Still, it's nice to read about them, kind of like seeing an old friend after a long time apart... What do you think, LW?

Little Willow: I like musing on the theory of six degrees of separation, so I enjoy the fact that Dessen has chosen to connect her stories without making them direct sequels or a series. I like the subtle cameos. I especially liked the appearance of Wes and Macy in Just Listen. Without being named or involved in the story, just simply described as two other people in the restaurant, longtime Dessen fans instantly knew who they were while new readers thought nothing of it. I wanted to make Rogerson go far, far away from Ruby in Lock and Key, which is understandable, since I wanted him to go far, far away from Caitlin in Dreamland. (Can you tell yet that I'm anti-drug?) On a happier note, Suze, what did you think about the band that reappeared in Just Listen?

Suze: I loved it! It was wonderful to know that Truth Squad was plaing at Bento once again, and I was even more pleased that 'music-buff' Owen approved of thier music. It was also equally nice to have Remy there and that little exchange with Dexter and his cell phone was adorable! I was so dissapointed when Annabelle ran out and never got the opportunity to hear the Potato Song.

Now for a shared experience: Our trip to the movie theatre to see How to Deal on opening night.

Suze: Ah, that was good times! I remember anxiously waiting for it to come out, and being slightly disappointed that I would be on vacation and unable to see it. Then you suggested going and made it very easy for me to hop a bus...

Little Willow: ...and after a long workday, we met at the bookstore and then went to the theatre. I was excited for the movie, which combined two of Dessen's books, That Summer and Someone Like You. Sadly, my excitement turned into disappointment. The movie took the main character from one book and gave her the family from the other book, downplayed Halley's extremely close friendship with Scarlett, and changed her relationship with Macon. It added in things that were supposed to be funny but which I didn't find particularly humorous, and it did not have any of my favorite moments from the books. What did you think, Suze?

Suze: My thoughts on the movie were very similar to yours. Scarlett's character was portrayed completely differently - she was more like a lovesick ditz than the character that I loved in the book. Then I was absolutely horrified when Halley abandoned her best friend while she was in labor - to go make up with Macon. I thought that your announcement at the end was very accurate. Do you remember what you said to everyone in the theatre?

Little Willow: I believe I said something like, "Read the books. The books are better." Is that right?

Suze: Yes, it was definitely something along those lines. I often wondered if anyone actually went out and read the books afterwards.

Little Willow: I hope so - and I hope that people reading this post will go read the books now, too!

Related Posts at Bildungsroman:  
Author Spotlight: Sarah Dessen
Interview: Sarah Dessen
Roundtable: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Playlist: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
They Tried to Ban This Book Today, or, There's a Sticker on the Cover of This Book: Reacting to the Challenge of Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Tune In:
Watch Sarah Dessen and Melissa Walker on readergirlz TV

 
Have you ever taken an impulsive trip to or through a big city?

 
Little Willow: I can't say that I have. I don't have an impulsive bone in my body! This book let me travel through a night in New York, somewhere I've never been. (Someday, Broadway! You're gonna hear from me!)

Jackie: OOO. One of the BEST road trips I've had was with my best friend in high school and college. We just got in the car and drove east. No destination. No reservations. No expectations. Some camping gear and maps. I think I have more crazy memories from that one trip than many other trips combined. We started in Grand Rapids, MI and ended up in Boston, but didn't really spend any time there before we had to come back. We also hit Albany, Toronto, Niagra Falls, and Quebec (which was very disarming). Not in that order, though. All in one week. It was fantastic. I should plan LESS, now that I reminded about how impulsive that was.

 
What was your favorite part of the book?

Jackie: Well, I've thought a lot about Borscht since reading the novel. Haven't broken down and had it yet. I blame my childhood horror of beets.

Little Willow: I have never had borscht, though I like beets. I bought a can of shoestring beets today, in fact.

Jackie: I'm less afraid of beets these days. Especially the non-red ones I see at the farmer's markets.

Little Willow: Seriously, though, my favorite moments include

I love the concept of alternate realities. I also enjoy smartly expressed societal remarks. Therefore, I love the well-written dystopian stories. Here are some favorites:

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Tip of the hat to Wikipedia's dystopian lit list, which served as a springboard for this post.

My favorite television series that involved dystopia is, of course, the original version of The Twilight Zone. I really liked the early seasons of Sliders, a show all about alternate realities. Though I like the concept of dystopia, I love the concepts of alternate realities, as I stated earlier. The chaos theory, the butterfly effect, time travel - bring them on!

Check out my time travel booklist.