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Alice
by Christina Henry
Published: Titan Books (2016)
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Gripping and original, Alice,
marks Christina Henry’s first foray into her astonishing reimagining of the Alice in Wonderland mythos. Tortured by
a past she can’t entirely remember, the titular Alice finds herself incarcerated in a mad
house; trapped and alone save for the presence of the mysterious Hatcher in the
room next door. With no one else to turn to, Hatcher becomes the rock to which
she tethers her sanity, even as the medications blur her grip on reality, but
when the hospital mysteriously burns down she’ll discover that she is as
important to his survival as he is to hers.
Brilliantly disturbing, Christina Henry’s Alice takes a fresh look at the oft told tale
of the young girl that fell down the rabbit hole. Emerging in a world better encapsulated
by the noun “horror” than “wonder” Alice
must survive in an environment that would see women relegated to less than second
class citizens. Many of the classic tale’s memorable cast make and appearance,
but in vastly unrecognisable roles; each though, once more pushing ‘their’ Alice to uncover her true
powers.
As disturbing as the tale gets Christina Henry manages
to narrate the story astonishingly well and while some readers might finds passages
not to their tastes, it cannot be argued that they are gratuitous. Each action
of the key antagonists fits perfectly into the twisted nature of the world she
has created, remaining shocking yet believable throughout. Alongside this, that
pacing of the novel is excellent, revealing just enough information to keep the
reader grasping for more.
If I were to find one mild disappointment about
the novel, it would be in the ending. After spinning a haunting tale for over
three hundred pages, the novel’s climaxing altercation concludes in a matter
paragraphs. It feels at odds with the rest of the book. Throughout, Alice and
Hatcher are forced into some pretty grim situations yet the manner in which the
climax resolves itself is almost dreamlike. When all hope is lost, so too is
the grittiness of the work. In spite of this I’d still recommend giving Alice a read. This is one look at the classic
tale that you’re not likely to forget.
