Meditations In Wonderland

Where to begin with this book? It's a little difficult to fully express how spot on this story is to exploring ones own deepest self. I don't think I ever really stopped to consider how much Alice in Wonderland actually mirrors that kind of journey. Which is originally why I was so excited to dive into Anna Patrick's intriguing Meditations in Wonderland. I couldn't wait to follow Elizabeth down the rabbit hole.

I was introduced to a woman who was afraid of her own reflection. One who, on the surface, had a life filled with all the things she could want. A loving relationship, a happy home, the kind of support that we all dream of. Inside though, was a terrified Elizabeth. One who relied on uppers to get her through. Meeting her was jarring at first, but soon I began to understand the type of person that she was. Someone clinging to the good, and trying desperately to forget the darkness underneath.

Which is why I was fully prepared for the “Wonderland” that she sank into to be dark. Surprisingly, it wasn't as dark as I'd thought it would be. However I can say that Anna Patrick does a stellar job of bringing Elizabeth's inner Wonderland to life. The writing here was beautiful. Peppered with just the right amount of description, to lead you through the desolate and sometimes worrying landscape. I felt for Elizabeth. I wanted her to succeed. Despite some slow parts through this narrative, I still wanted to keep reading on, just to make sure she was okay.

Really my one biggest gripe was Alice herself. I can't say too much, for fear of spoiling anything, but I wanted to the showdown between these two to be much more than it was. I appreciated the relationship between these two. Loved the dichotomy between light and dark. All the nods to the original Wonderland were brilliant. I just wanted more action, and perhaps a little more tension.

Overall, this is an extremely interesting look at the parallels between Alice in Wonderland and our own minds! It's a solid story, and one that I think you'll enjoy getting lost in. Just mind that you don't also get sucked down the rabbit hole.