Neighboring Worlds & Interwoven Threads

[cruel_fortuna]

@hjbau: It's actually a rather quick read at only 115 give or take pages; which really it's less than that because of the various poems peppered throughout the text & the illustrations.

The only rub I have about it now, having read it several times is how Carroll was rather bad at using hanging sentences; although it served a purpose & I'm sure he probably did it purposefully.

Either way both 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' , 'Through the Looking-Glass' & his various verse are worth reading. In fact, when I was talking to someone in the forums who thought the Red Queen looked like an elephant, I almost quoted some Carroll to them.

In fact, "The Mad Gardener's Song" would have fit the situation perfectly. It goes as such:

"He thought he saw an elephant,
that practiced on a fife:
He looked again and found it was
A letter from his wife.
'At length I realize', he said,
'The bitterness of Life!'"

[hjbau]

I am going to put it on my list. I actually am picky about what i read because there is only so much time to read so if i don't like a book i give it up. If i read 50 or 60 books a year for the next 50 years that isn't really that many books, but it is a classic and i always will give those a go.

[cruel_fortuna]

I'm the same way. I give a book around 50 pgs. to make me feel invested. If I'm not still interested with the characters or the 'conflict' or stakes that the book is trying to sell, then I quit reading. I read quite a few books myself but as of late, I have been using audio-books more. It's great, especially for long-drives or just everyday commutes ( like the 1. 15 hr. commute I make every Mon - Fri. - that adds up fast. So audio-books help me finish on average about 2 books/week. )

Some of the classics are long-winded though. I just got through reading Middlemarch & God, I thought that book would never end! But then again, Victorian era books are notoriously preachy & crammed with social commentary in regards to the times.

[PaleBeyondReason]

I wonder if one of the worlds could be a monster world like in Where the Wild Things Are. Another one I thought of is maybe Atlantis or the Little Mermaid.

[cruel_fortuna]

@pale: In response to your speculation, I"ll just quote my idea from another thread, which basically affirms your speculation & is my way of saying, "Plausible & I agree." c :

. . . I think a different world thereby means you're in a different dimension but there are entities & worlds that can exist in a void. This kind of runs parallel to a pop culture theory of human instrumentality, whereby the collective consciousness of all humans in the universe, are melded into a single entity, a hive mentality. In effect, the hat might be it's own world, acting as a sort of limbo for anyone who enters.

( you can find the whole quote in this thread. )

[PenguinLetters]

I have to say, the whole neighbouring worlds theme is so reminiscent of parts of books in the Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Magician's Nephew. The Hat is like The Wood Between the Worlds, with doors instead of pools of water. The Last Battle also makes mention of other worlds, at the end. Lucy sees that Narnia is actually ringed by a great chain of mountains, one of which is England. To this Mr Tumnus replies, "That country [England] and this country [Narnia] - all the real countries - are only spurs jutting out from the great mountains of Aslan. We have only to walk along the ridge, upward and inward, till it joins on."

All this to say that I really hope Narnia is included in Once Upon a Time, and since Disney helped distribute the Narnia movies there might be hope yet!

[hjbau]

I love Narnia too. It is still under copyright though so they would have to work something out. I am also now sure if it would work, but that is just because i love it so much. I totally thought of the Wood Between Worlds and the pools when they were in the hat too.