The Death of the Mad Hatter

[naturalbri]

I have always had a soft spot for Alice in Wonderland. From the first time I read the book, I found it an intriguing story, where you find anything is possible and often none of it makes sense. There have been a lot of remakes, rewrites and spin-offs of this story, and often they just don’t reach that same craziness and wonderment of the full-on topsy-turvy world that Lewis was able to bring.
Aside from the film remake, where I must say Depp played a brilliant Hatter. Spot on. I haven’t really found any that stand out as a brilliant re-envisioning of the original, but I must say that Death of the Mad Hatter was truly, exactly that.
This book isn’t quite a remake of the original, as it takes place in a different time and way. It is, however, true to the original style, in that we have a crazy world, filled with all the things you things couldn’t and wouldn’t happen, but they do!
I have always thought of the Hatter as my favourite character, usually followed by the Cheshire Cat. They both have unique minds and are fun to read along with, often speaking in riddles. However, in Pep’s world, one must find a different love, as the Hatter only really makes an appearance once or twice, in speaking.
This was perfectly okay though, as I fell completely in love with Alice Mae, with her quirky clothes and brilliant attitude, and ‘The Boy with the Girl’s Name’, there’s nothing to hide with him. You meet him straight off and notice that he thinks he has the world all figured out, but the moment he spots Alice Mae walking into his school, he knows that he never knew anything.
Oh, and I also liked Mr Ruth.
All in all, this completely bonkers world is fast-paced, imaginative and completely new. I loved every moment of it and each time I got to connect the ties between the original and this brilliant extension.
If you love stories that are out of the ordinary, fun, exciting, a little more than crazy and have a hint of romance, then this is just the story for you.
I was completely hooked and now I am eagerly waiting the moment when I get to her more of this mixed-up, fun-filled, entirely addicting world.
(Pep…..Please write more!!!)

[Circling Turtle]

I love retellings of fairy tales or classic stories that have evolved into fairy tales (such as Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland). I've read a couple of Alice in Wonderland retellings, such as Automated Alice by Jeff Noon and The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, and The Death of the Mad Hatter looks right up my alley! Alice in Wonderland is such a classic that each original retelling only adds to its charm, rather than takes away from it. Thanks for this review.

[literarycat]

I have always loved Alice in Wonderland, and enjoy retellings of the classic tale. Death of Mad Hatter seems like a great book to add to my collection, although it would be disappointing that he doesn't make that much of an appearance.

[Lovely_Loreley]

Hmmm this sounds like an interesting book! I'll make a note to look into it