White Stone: The Alice Poems

by Stephanie Bolster

These evocative poems move from the icon of Alice in Wonderland to the imagined figure of Alice out of Wonderland—on a Vancouver beach with the poet, underground with Persephone, in Memphis with Elvis. But first they explore the life of the real Alice Liddell (1852–1934), who sat still for Charles Dodgson's camera and inspired the Alice books that prompted his rise to fame as Lewis Carroll. In this powerful sequence, the emotional life of Alice Liddell as girl and woman is depicted in brilliant narrative juxtapositions. Presented is Alice the creation and Alice the person in a cultural context that, on one level, reexamines cognition and dissociation and on another, liberates the poetic sequence from the monotony of story and closure.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sami Al-Khalili · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie undoubtedly lyrical composed a collection of poetry that has proven the accolade of the award of The Canada Council For The Arts. Her delivery and syntax is intentional and sometimes playful with wordplay and italicizes references for the knowing audience yet I couldn’t connect to her, not Alice in Wonderland, yet Stephanie Bolster. I may be unwittingly exposed but it could be the chosen font that I dare feel an amuse of pedantic undertone?

I’d love to read more of her work.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Stone: The Alice Poems is a series of poems written about both the fictional and real Alice of Alice in Wonderland. I actually read this for a first year English class, and the author came and spoke with us about her work. I was impressed by the imagery and the history contained in the poems. Bolster put a lot of effort into writing this and it shows. It is interesting and perfectly poetic. Everything a poem should be.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass should read these amazing poems. Ms. Bolster's other books are also "must reads."

[Jeff Musgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite collection of poetry.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alice in Wonderland narrative (and Charles Dodgson/Alice Liddell context) is one of my favourites. Everyone has that childhood story they latch to in later years; Alice was mine. So, in the height of this obsession (my late teens, devouring everything Alice I could find while trying to spin a novel of my own...that failed, but my love never did) I ordered this collection of poems. I remember loving it back then, but a reread brings a little perspective.

Split into 4 parts -- child-Alice Liddell, adult-Alice Liddell, character-Alice, and Stephanie-Bolster's-Alice-feelings -- the collection is generally fine. The last section is the weakest, the first the strongest (and by far the most intense and interesting). Occasionally beautiful, most of the poems are kinda stopgaps -- intriguing if you like the Alice narrative, not so great if you don't care. And, unfortunately, the poems do little to make you care, so.

But: these pages hold some gorgeous turns of phrase, as well as one of the best feminist poems I've ever read ("Portrait of Alice, Annotated"). A quick read without much to really chew, so the time spent is certainly worth the perusal.

[April Yamasaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift, and appreciate the collection of poems all centered on Alice--the Alice of Lewis Carroll and the real Alice, the Alice transported to different times and places. Beautifully evocative.

[Colin Bruce Anthes · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Until we see the body, the gathered fans say, we won't believe she's gone."

[Matt Morris]

Read my review of this & other books at http://miscmss.blogspot.com/2017/02/b...