ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

When reading Alice on one's own, it's easy to have one's attention seized by Carroll's many fanciful characters--the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and so on. Listening to Shelly Frasier read it reminds one of a crucial aspect to this story: It's a little girl who's experiencing these adventures, and, as Frasier's subtly inflected voice reminds us, Alice can go from excited to terrified in an instant. In addition to getting her voice just right, Frasier masters all of Carroll's other verbal gymnastics, from the Dormouse's snores to the dreamy illogic of the Caterpillar, and, of course, the nonsensical verse. This is a great pleasure. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]