03.09.10
New Alice in Wonderland 2: Thoughts
I’m really not sure what to make of this. It’s like Espinosa has deliberately stripped out all of Alice’s spunk and personality! She didn’t feel sorry for Bill and actually hasn’t seemed to wonder at the strange things she’s seeing much at all. She didn’t try to prevent Bill from coming down the chimney, just sneezed in response to the soot he dislodged, which sent him flying. She did try to defend herself from the attacks by the White Rabbit and Pat, though, so that’s something.
I love that Marion bested Robin with a sword! It’s interesting which characters this version decided to use. We have Much and Little John and I’m pretty sure Will Scarlet, but that seems to be about it! I look forward to the archery contest, although we’ve already seen Robin’s amazing archery skills several times.
This is very odd. I’m not sure that I like Alice very much in this one. She’s all whiny and easily manipulated and totally manga-ish. Espinosa used the Disney-created Doorknob character, who removed any need for Alice to figure anything out for herself, and even gave him some of her clever lines from the book! So far I’m less than thrilled with this one. Hopefully it will get better.
This was odd. It was clear how they were attempting to remake Pygmalion, but they kind of missed the main point. It wasn’t about dressing her in the right clothes and taking her to the right parties in the original. Eliza didn’t become accepted by society because Henry was cool (in fact, he was quite the opposite). But Laney underwent her transformation with only clothes, a haircut and popular company. And she resisted the whole time. Yeah, the movie definitely missed the point!
The “Family and Friends” section of this book has all of the same pictures as the first book had plus two new faces. I love how the two family groups are arranged in single images as if posed for a painting or photograph (although I still think it’s odd that Kirsten is not a part of her family group). I also like that Marta’s picture is still here, even though she died in the first book. She has not been forgotten. Kirsten’s school teacher and a new Native American friend have been added as well, reminding us that there are new people to meet in Kirsten’s new home.
This book ends beautifully. I like how Alcott has the girls think back to their childhood ambitions and compare where they wanted to be to where they have gotten. I love the school full of boys and how happy Jo and Professor Bhaer are in it! Everything is so perfectly set up for the next book at the end of this one that I have to wonder if either Alcott was already planning it or if she later changed the ending of this one to match the sequel when she altered other things.
What was the point of Darion’s sacrifice if in saving his father’s soul, his own was lost, thus returning the sword to the side of evil? And why did the narrative follow the red order when we didn’t really get an ending to their part of the story? It’s just weird. I guess that I just didn’t really feel like this was well plotted out or well done in general.
I love how their plan worked out. I love how they worked together and got everyone in their community and beyond to work together too. I love that they did a play and got Miss Loupe back into the Taped Space. I also love that they all learned the value of saying yes in other areas of their lives too. This was awesome.
And now most of the cast is dead and the hero is evil and lives in a sword. Right. I have no idea where this story is going and am less sure why I should care than I was when I started. Oh, and I hate how orcs are motherless but have fathers they are proud of and sexless but even the ones who have female features are male. It reeks of “men are people but women are women”.