Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Oh My Ears and Whiskers, What A Delight!

Wow!! When Audible says "Scarlett Johansson performs" this brilliant classic, they're not kidding!! I expected, when I pre-ordered this title, simply a competent reading of one of the all-time great satires of Victorian England. Instead I received this incredible tour-de-force, a veritable one-woman play in which Ms. Johansson acts out all characters singlehandedly and nearly flawlessly (I say 'nearly' only because a few characters sound not as described, e.g. The hookah-smoking caterpillar, who is described as speaking "in a languid, sleepy voice," barks at Alice like a shrill, stuffy schoolmarm). Overall Johansson is excellent, giving unique voice to each character while using wonderful expression, perfect pacing and vocal inflection for all narrative passages. She could only be better if she were British (it could be argued that having an American narrate 'Alice' is like having an Englishman narrate 'Huckleberry Finn'). This is a must for your listening library, whether you are 8 or 88 years of age. For extra value, curl up with a hard copy of Martin Gardner's The Annotated Alice (or the 150th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) while you listen, so you can discover what Lewis Carroll was skewering during all the apparent chaos and nonsense Alice experiences after her fall down the rabbit hole.

61 of 69 people found this review helpful

Incredible

Any additional comments?

I've loved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for as long as I can remember. As a child I adored the magic, the adventure, and the kooky characters. As an adult, I grew to love Carroll's imagery, symbolism (perhaps unintentional), and his ability to turn what seems like nonsense into an enduring children's tale. No matter how many times I've read this story and watched the movies, I feel like I can always return to the familiar and colorful place that is Wonderland. Scarlett Johansson brings such incredible depth and wonderment to this timeless tale, that this just may be my new favorite interpretation. Her sister, veteran narrator Vanessa Johansson directed this performance. I guess talent runs in the family

26 of 30 people found this review helpful

Amazing!

This is one of my favorite books and Scarlett does such a wonderful job, I really hope she comes back to do Through the Looking Glass!

24 of 32 people found this review helpful

I underestimated

Having an American read the character of Alice in the story of Alice in Wonderland seemed like a big mistake to me when I set out to listen to Scarlett Johansson read this classic.

I underestimated her skill as a reader and performer, and what a pleasant surprise that was.

The story of Alice in Wonderland isn't a new one. It's been animated and acted and animated again, and released in a  hundred formats. Filled with whimsical characters and a fulfilling plot of a little girl coming into her own (say what you will about Lewis Carroll's hidden agenda in the story) it's a surefire win for both kids, and imaginative adults alike. If you enjoyed this book as a kid, you'll enjoy the version performed by Scarlett.

Scarlett truly offers a transcendent performance in this. While her British accent might not be perfect her ability to bounce between all of the characters in the story and give them unique life is wonderful. I especially enjoyed her performance with the mock turtle and the griffin.

Alice in Wonderland is a short listen at less than three hours, but one that I think anyone will enjoy. I don't recommend speeding the narration. Her voice is well suited for the style of the story and the pace she reads at, and you'll lose some of her nuance if you accelerate the pace.

Lots of fun from a new voice telling an old story.

Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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18 of 24 people found this review helpful

Oh Johansson, I love this

Finished this amazing story on my flight to Tokyo. this preformance was spectacular and will be in my collection forever.

17 of 25 people found this review helpful

Spectacular Performance by Scarlett Johansson

Easy listening for adults and children alike. Johansson is no short of remarkable bringing these many characters to life! It's hard to believe she does the voices for all. Great audio for a road trip, bedtime story, or lazy day.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

OH I Would like to hear more very much!

Any additional comments?

Being a Disney lover, I obviously knew the story of Alice in Wonderland, but had never actually read the book. When I saw that Scarlett Johansson was the narrator I bought it to check it out. She was amazing! She really brought the characters alive and I enjoyed the whole book from start to finish. Her story telling had me love the adventure so much more than even before that I picked up the book and we are reading it at home to my boys. I always try to be animated when reading out loud to them, but this has really given me even more encouragement! Such a great find, I hope she comes back to do more!

10 of 16 people found this review helpful

A calssic no doubt

Would you listen to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland again? Why?

I would indeed.

What other book might you compare Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to and why?

None to think of.

What about Scarlett Johansson’s performance did you like?

All of it, she's quite good with voices, even if I hadn't seen any film she's been in.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The Mad Tea Party was hilarious.

Any additional comments?

A must-have for certain.

5 of 8 people found this review helpful

Very good, the narration is enthralling.

Really pulls you in, better than most narrations I've heard for Alice in Wonderland. Not dull for a moment.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful

Scarlett Johansson nailed it.

What did you love best about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

The story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

Her talking to the Mock Turtle and the Tea party.

What does Scarlett Johansson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She made it seem like you were there and in the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There are at least three films made from this book.

Any additional comments?

Can Scarlett Johansson do Alice Adventures Through the Looking Glass? Please.

6 of 11 people found this review helpful