alice's adventures in wonderland

this book has entered my top 5 books of all time. read it whenever you can. it's super short, lyrical, clever and reads quite quickly.

also, lewis carroll is an intriguing guy. a math professor at christ church, oxford who based the character of alice on his dean's daughter with the same name. there is talk of pedophilia, but the hardcore lewis carroll fans i've met (and there are many in this city, it seems) tend to wholeheartedly (and with unremitting, unsubstantiated hope) counter that claim.

favorite bit:

• "No wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise."
• "Wouldn't it, really?" said Alice, in a tone of great surprise.
• "Of course not," said the Mock Turtle. "Why, if a fish came to me, and told me he was going a journey, I should say, 'With what porpoise?' "
• "Don't you mean 'purpose'?" said Alice.
• "I mean what I say," the Mock Turtle replied, in an offended tone. And the Gryphon added, "Come, let's hear some of your adventures."