​Review; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Review by Paul Fiander

Written by: Lewis Carroll
Narrated by: Scarlett Johansson
Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins 
Publisher: Audible Studios

​When it comes to great pieces of children's literature not many rank above Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The book is a classic in every server of the word but most of all it is thoroughly entertaining. Since the work was first published there have been more than a few recreations from the Disney treatment to Tim Burton’s more recent look at Lewis Carroll's best known work. However the original is something to enjoy and with this in mind I dived into the audiobook with relish.

For this review I’ll be looking at this book in two ways. firstly for myself and secondly as a parent. In terms of my enjoyment I got a lot more out of this title then I did as a child. The crazy madcap characters and wondrous setting are enough to captivate any young mind but it's the word play by Carroll that really stand out. The almost poetic nature of the work was lost on me when I was younger and even now I'm not sure I would appreciate it but that is where great narration comes in. Scarlett Johansson was the choice for this performance and she seriously does the book justice. From the voice of Alice to the Mad Hatter each character has a unique sound that feels perfectly in sync with the book’s portrayal. Most of all though she just seems to read with enthusiasm that is infectious to the say the least. So as an adult I was just as enchanted with this book as I was even I was younger.

Not to the second look that of a parent, I'm very much in favour of children using the printed word and Audiobooks. Obviously reading is an important skill but there are times where good narration can help them to perform a book in their mind and then in class. To that end as I alluded to earlier Johansson does a wonderful job with her performance. The nonsense story that Alice embarks upon is genuinely funny and it really does appeal to children. That being said it can be a bit difficult for younger children to follow so it's best to listen to the extract before diving in. I will happily play this to my kids over time, it will make car journeys a lot easier but more than that it really is a book that both generations can enjoy for different reasons on an intellectual level and both love for the ridiculous fun the tale entails.

Overall this is a great buy and getting a big name in to civet the book feels apt for this title. At 2 hours and 40 odd minutes it's lighter than a lot of the books I listen to but it's quality more than mashed up for it. Whether you are new to the book or have forgotten it this is a great way to experience Alice’s Adventures.