Meditations in Wonderland
Author: Anna Patrick
Introspective and unique, Meditations in Wonderland shadows Elizabeth, a 24 year old interior designer living in Brooklyn with her boyfriend Adam and her French bulldog, Fitz when one day she falls down the rabbit hole made famous by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Elizabeth’s Alice becomes a real character in Elizabeth’s meditation as Elizabeth’s subconscious finally looks at Elizabeth’s need to take uppers and hide them from Adam in order for Elizabeth to feel “ok” about herself. As her doppelganger, Alice, entices Elizabeth into both a horrible and real nightmare that includes the characters in Wonderland, Elizabeth decides to chase after Alice until she can discover what Alice wants.
As Elizabeth discovers the aspects of Wonderland that hold both terror and wonder, she courageously discovers that Alice must be faced in order to be found, and that Wonderland can be luminous as well as treacherous.
In a new and different characterization of an old classic, Ms. Patrick allows her protagonist to find way through the labyrinth of youth and self-discovery. The Cheshire Cat becomes a strand of Elizabeth’s consciousness and tells her the truth; Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the famous Wonderland Twins, show themselves as mirrors; and Alice herself becomes the inner voice that turns Elizabeth on her head and forces her to face her dark side, and to incorporate Alice into her world as she decides to grow up.
As a beloved childhood classic becomes the structure behind a modern novel of one woman’s decision to own her life and her choices, Meditations in Wonderland chases the reader into a creative novel with wit, strong characters, and well written prose that keeps us running behind Elizabeth.
Well done!
Ratings are based on a 5-star scale
Overall: 3.8
Review by Broad “A”
We received a copy of this title for our book review. All opinions are our own
Meditations in Wonderland
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