Wednesday, August 21, 2013

THE BANISTER BUZZ 8/21/13 - A TRIP TO WONDERLAND VIA PAGE & SMALL SCREEN, PLUS SOME ONCE NEWS


Buzzers and Buzzettes, this week I'm taking you down the rabbit hole to one of my favorite fictional locales, a magical, mind-bending place called "Wonderland." I have been a huge fan of All Things Alice ever since discovering Lewis Carroll's brilliant flights of fancy, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, in my elementary school library many moons ago, so imagine my delight when my new Twitter pal, Johnnie-Marie Howard, told me about a new YA series that's a dark, funky, super creative re-envisioning of the Alice story.

I rushed right over to Amazon, read the blurb, and purchased an e-copy of Splintered by A.G. Howard. That's right, people, I didn't even sample the book first. I was so beguiled by the blurb and the gorgeous cover art that I took a leap of faith and I was so glad I did! Splintered grabbed me on the first page and held me in its thrall for the entire weekend. Household chores, friends, family, my own writing - all of it was forgotten so that I could keep reading about Alyssa Gardner, the  skateboarding, blue hair extension-wearing teen whose great-great-great grandmother, Alice Liddell, was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's books. Alyssa has a lot to deal with - her mother's locked up in an insane asylum, her secret crush, the hottie-next-door, is dating the mean girl who's been picking on her since they were kids, and oh yeah, she can hear the voices of insects and flowers, which probably means she's going crazy. 

How Alyssa and the aforementioned hottie, Jeb, end up in Wonderland and what strange, shocking, perception-skewing things happen to them while they're there I won't share with you because I want you to enjoy the amazing journey this book will take you on. What I will divulge are a few of the reasons why I loved this book so much. 1) Alyssa is a wonderful (ha ha) protagonist, smart, brave, pro-active, and wise beyond her years while still being realistically vulnerable and confused. She's a heroine a reader can root for. 2) The author did an incredible job of taking elements and characters from the original tales and putting her own imaginative, twisted spin on them. Her creativity knows no bounds, and I am in awe of her world-building and storytelling skills. 3) Unlike most of the weak, unbalanced love triangles I've come across in YA books, the three-sided romantic configuration in this book is incredibly compelling and I found myself changing my mind about who Alyssa should be with from chapter to chapter - Jeb, the sexy artist with the troubled past who's always been there for Alyssa, or Morpheus, her seductive, infuriatingly engimatic guide to Wonderland whom Alyssa finds herself drawn to even though she doesn't trust him.   

I'm going to stop gushing about this book now, but I want  everyone to read it and tell me what you think! If you don't normally delve into the YA genre, don't let that scare you off. This book is one that I think readers of all ages will enjoy; the themes of love, loss, sacrifice, and self-discovery are just as relevant to adults as they are to teens. P.S. The second book in this series, Unhinged, will be out on January 7, 2014. The cover art is, once again, stunning. Kudos to Maria T. Middleton

Now that you all know what an Alice enthusiast I am, it should come as no surprise to you that the new fall TV show I am most looking forward to is Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. Original Recipe Once is one of my fave shows; it's a fabulous hybrid of fairy tale, fantasy, mystery, and family drama and I think the creators have done a brilliant job with the show. So, I was thrilled to hear that they were going to tackle Wonderland and its inhabitants. The Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts have already appeared on Once, and I loved the show's interpretation of those  characters. But the new Wonderland is going to be focusing on Alice, a young woman in what looks to be Victorian Era London who's languishing in an asylum because no one believes her tales of the fantastical realm she visited and the unusual creatures she encountered there.

While she was in Wonderland, this Alice met and fell in love with a genie named Cyrus (I am already crushing on Peter Gadiot, the actor playing this role, based on the trailer and his interviews from Comic-Con.) and she is devastated over his loss. When the Knave of Hearts shows up and gives Alice hope that her beloved is still alive, she's off on another adventure, which promises to be a blast for viewers. The cast of this show is stellar - in addition to exciting newbies Peter, Sophie Lowe (Alice), and Michael Socha (Knave of Hearts), acting greats John Lithgow (The White Rabbit) and Naveen Andrews (Jafar) will be on hand. I think this show is going to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and be a big hit. So, be sure to tune in for the premiere on Thursday, October 10th on ABC.     

 

On the subject of Once, there's been some big casting news for the mother show. JoAnna Garcia Swisher is in as everyone's favorite mermaid, Ariel, and Kiwi actress Rose McIver will be playing Tinkerbell. I think both ladies will be perfect in their respective roles, and I can't wait to see what Once has planned for their characters. Might I suggest that the rascally Captain Hook make a love connection with one of them? I was 'shipping Hook and Emma early last season, but now that her baby daddy, Neal/Baelfire, is back, I have zero interest in seeing a love triangle with Emma being torn between bad boy Hook and her first love, Neal. There's just no way Hook can ever win that one and seeing him get dumped on would be no fun at all. Hook is at his best when he's being flirty, so I say, pair him up with the singing fish or the sassy fairy and let's see what happens. I think Hook's best bet would be Tink since she's always been a bit naughty and knows how to devote herself to a man (Rumor has it that Once's Peter Pan will be a malevolent 17 y/o, so that should keep him out of the running for Tink's heart.) Rose  and Colin O'Donoghue look good together, don't they?

  
A special treat for my fellow Hookers - a deleted scene from S2 in which Hook tries to make time with Red: 

 

I'm going to end this fantasy edition of The Banister Buzz by inviting you all to join me for a virtual party at Alice's Tea Cup - hats not optional. Doesn't this place look amazing? The next time I visit New York City, I am so dropping in on this little eatery and having a croque monsieur, along with a pot of Earl Grey Extra Fancy. 



As always, thanks for reading. I heart comments, so let me know if you've read any good YA books lately, what obsessions you've carried over from childhood, who you think would be the perfect mate for that scallywag Captain Hook, or what kind of tea and scones you'd like to be served at our little get-together. 



46 comments:

  1. I will have to check out the Splintered books. They sound interesting.

    You already know I'm bouncing up and down excited for OUAT:W and OUAT itself to come back. I miss my prime time TV.

    That scene...oh Hook, never change, you delicious devil! And I feel the same way about blue jell-o. I would rather see him with Tink than with Ariel, by the way. And it would be fitting for Peter Pan to be a 17 year old child since Peter Pan never grew up while he was in Neverland.

    And...if we can figure out a trip to NYC next year for a certain play, then we will definitely have to hit up Alice's Tea Cup!

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    1. Mich, I have no doubt that you would love Splintered! It is SO good!

      I'm glad I'll have you to squee along w/me when both of the Onces premiere next month. I cannot wait!

      At this point, I'd be happy to see Hook with anybody! Colin O. has such great chem with all of the actresses on the show; it's a shame to waste that. Hook needs a love interest STAT!

      And yes, we must put Alice's Tea Cup on our travel agenda if we can make this trip to NYC happen next year.

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  2. Love it! Great job with the column!

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    1. Thank you, Lauren. I'm so glad you're enjoying it. :)

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  3. The covers for Splintered and Unhinged are stunning! I'm definitely someone who is drawn to the covers of books, and those two, in addition to your review Tracie, have definitely made me want to check them out.

    Sigh...Hook. How wonderful it is to see you, even when you're bruised, limping, and thinking you're hallucinating blue jello. I'm so ready for the new season of OUAT and OUAT in Wonderland looks amazing too. Peter Gadiot is a cutie! I agree, I think a Hook/Tink match up would be awesome. I think her sass would be the perfect match for his charm. Also, the romantic in me just can't imagine Ariel with someone other than Eric.

    Loving the Buzz Tracie!

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    1. Those covers are really captivating, aren't they? I hope you'll give Splintered a shot, Michele. I guarantee you will not be sorry!

      I didn't realize how much I was missing Hook until I wrote this column and saw that deleted scene. I can't wait to see where OUAT goes with the character this season. Since we've already seen the good girl trying to reform the villain with Rumple and Belle, I want Hook to make a love connection with someone who's a bit of a bad girl. I am loving the idea of Tink and Hook more and more. And ITA that Ariel really belongs with Eric.

      So happy to hear that you're enjoying The Banister Buzz, Michele! Thanks for stopping by.

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    1. I am eternally grateful to you for telling me about Splintered, Johnnie-Marie! Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, ST. I'm so pleased that you like the column! :)

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  6. That series sounds really fun - I will have to add it to my TBR. You have yet to steer me wrong so no doubt, I will enjoy it.

    Oh, and next time you are in NYC, I would gladly join you at Alice's Tea Cup - I've been there before and it's such a charming place!

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    1. Meredith, you will love Splintered I have no doubt! The love triangle in this book is SO much better than another YA series that we read and snark on. ;)

      If Mich and I make it up to NYC next summer, you will definitely have to join us at Alice Tea's Cup for a par-tay. Fun! :)

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  7. I love the cover of the book. Very Johnny Depp from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

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    1. The cover of Unhinged does remind me of Depp in both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory AND Alice in Wonderland. Funnily enough, the character on thiscover is not the Mad Hatter; it's Morpheus who gets his hats made by Hatter. ;)

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Marlene! :)

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  8. I never really got into the YA books. But, I just might have to change my mind.

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    1. I'm not usually big YA reader, Janine. Never got into Hunger Games or The Mortal Instruments series, but I felt like Splintered transcended the YA genre. It's really more adult than adolescent. Give the sample of Splintered a try and see what you think.

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  9. I love those covers! And Alice's Tea Shop is right up my alley. Black Currant is my favorite flavor :)
    Happy Reading & Reviewing,

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    1. Oh, Black Currant, that sounds delish, Elizabeth!

      Aren't those covers fabulous? I just can't get enough of looking at them. There are so many wonderful, little details.

      Thanks for stopping by to show your support. :)

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  10. Don't call me a Hooker... oh, wait... I get what you mean now.

    LOVED Splintered so I can't wait to read the next one.

    As for the tv shows, holy delectable. I'm already curious as heck about these! CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!! I am concerned because Wonderland ABC show doesn't look top notch but I'll still fall victim to it's charm!

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    1. LOL I fought the "Hooker" nickname for a long time, Jen, but it makes me laugh. So, I just go with it now.

      I should have known you'd already read Splintered! You are way more plugged into the YA world than I am.

      I expect the Wonderland spin-off to be every bit as high quality as the original series. The Wonderland trailer was clearly done on a budget because they cut in a lot of footage from Once.

      Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment!

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  11. I have been to Alice's Tea Cup! And I love, love, LOVE OUAT! Can't wait for it to start back up again.

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    1. Oh, I'm so jealous that you've been to Alice's Tea Cup, Carolyn. I can't believe that I've been to NYC so many times and still managed to miss out on visiting this charming spot!

      Hooray for you being a Once fan! I'm excited that we'll be getting double the goodness this fall.

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  12. Great covers and that tea shop looks very inviting. Would be fun to sit and read the books there! (Have never seen "Once..." Guess I'm missing out - as per usual!)

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    1. I hadn't thought about sitting in Alice's Tea Cup and actually reading the Lewis Carroll books - what a great idea, Jackie!

      And yes, you are missing out by not watching Once. From what I understand, the Wonderland spin-off will be a 13-ep standalone series, so you could start watching that this fall and you'll know going in that it will only be on for three months, which means you don't have to make a big commitment.

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  13. Love love love this post. Perfection! :) I'm not hugely into Alice in Wonderland (enjoyed the Disney version and there ends my experience with it) but I like the oddness of it. Did you know you can do tours in England of the area Alice lived in? (http://oxfordwaterwalks.co.uk/?page_id=117) And the shop that the Through the Looking Glass illustrations were based off of is real, too ( http://www.aliceinwonderlandshop.co.uk/) AND there's an Alice Day every July, held by a museum ( http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/the-story-museum/alice). I'm looking forward to seeing what Once Upon a Time in Wonderland will be like. Will I stick with it? I'm not sure. I adore Once so I might end up watching it all the way through. I'm so excited to see Ariel and Tinkerbell in Once! I don't know if they'd pair up Hook and Tink, though. They don't often match up the worlds like that. Can't wait to find out!

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    1. Oh, Kaley, thank you for all of the lovely Alice links! Now I want to take a Wonderland-themed trip to England!

      As I said above, the Wonderland spin-off will only be 13 eps long, so you shouldn't have any trouble sticking with it. And I am confident that the new show will be just as fabulous as the original. I adored the trailer!

      Don't rain on my 'shipper parade! I am desperate for Hook to get a love interest this season. I'm not choosy about who it is since Colin has chemistry with everyone. I do like the idea of him and Tink, though. They could be fun together! And it's not like Hook has any animosity against Peter Pan on Once, so Tink wouldn't be betraying her beloved Peter by fancying Hook.

      Thanks for all of your comments, Kaley!

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    2. Oh, I totally agree about wanting Hook to get a love interest! I think it'd be cool to see him with Tink (since that would never happen in the original story) I just don't know if they'd do that. It's such a long time to wait for the series to start and I think I just saw today that Tink doesn't get introduced until the third episode!

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    3. I read the same TVG article about Tink and may or may not have squeed like a fool when I saw that Tink will have a past with Capt. Hook! Yay for flashbacks! I hope that we get lots of scenes with the two of them. I get giddy at the thought of Colin being flirty with a new actress on the show.

      I, also, read that Ariel will be involved in the Neverland story, so I bet she'll have some interactions with Hook, too. Though she'll only have eyes for Prince Eric, who was just cast, it'll still be fun to see her sharing screen time with my favorite pirate.

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  14. okay so I just seen the trailer for that show once in wonderland i have my alarm set in my phone for that day I so can't wait...

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    1. Yay! I'm sure I'll be doing plenty of chatting about Wonderland on Twitter, Johnnie-Marie. So, feel free to chime in on the discussion. I'm sure this show will be fantastic!

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  15. Im loving this column. Those books look very interesting and I love the front cover art work. The design and colours are glorious. Though I will probably get them on my Kindle to read. Yes I thought the guy looked like Johhny Depp! It made me do a double take. Thank you for the deleted scene I think Hook and Red would be perfect together. I couldnt see the trailer for the new Wonderland series :( :(. It may be the age old problem of being in the UK! and legal boundaries and all that. I assume the series will be shown over here and hopefully on the same channel as OUT. I am really enjoying the current series and the inventive ways they have come up to give a new twist to the tales we already know and love.

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    1. I thought the Splintered series would be something you'd like, Ally. It's such an incredibly clever premise, the characters are fascinating, and the writing is top-notch! Funny that when I read Splintered, I didn't picture Morpheus as looking like Johnny Depp. Ben Barnes was suggested for the role on A.G.'s website, and I agree that he would be perfect.

      I'm glad you were able to see the deleted scene with Hook and Red! Sorry about the Wonderland trailer. I think the link I used was to the ABC channel, so that's probably why you couldn't view it in the UK. I'll see if I can find you a trailer link that's not restricted to certain areas.

      Is S2 of Once still airing in the UK? I assumed that it was over by now. I just checked and there's no UK premiere date for Wonderland yet, but as you said, it will probably air on the same network as Once.

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  16. Hi again. Just downloaded Splintered to my Kindle. If you don't here from me for awhile you know where I am.

    Ally

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    1. Yay! I'm so excited that you're reading Splintered, Ally! Can't wait to discuss it with you. Happy reading! :)

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  17. Tracie, You are really going ga-ga over this! LOVE IT! I have a Alive 3-D pop-up book! I'm LOVING this new column! xoxoox cindy

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    1. Thanks so much, Cindy. I'm glad you are enjoying the column. It is a lot of fun to write and gives me a nice break from novel work.

      How funny that you have an Alice pop-up book! I love it! :)

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  18. love the covers on the books. i really enjoy this blog!!!

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    1. That's so nice to hear. Thank you, Nova! Stay tuned for another Banister Buzz column coming soon. :)

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  19. Your enthusiasm is catching. Looks like there are two MORE series I'll be watching, thanks to you. I'm going to dub my widening backside a "Banister Butt." ;)

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    1. LOL Hey, don't blame your butt size on me, Brea! You could be doing leg lifts and butt crunches while watching these shows. And there are other TV-watching snacks besides cupcakes. ;)

      Seriously. I am of the firm belief that watching good television is helpful to writers. One can learn things about pacing, characterization, and dialogue from watching the boob tube! So, just keep telling yourself that gelling on the couch, watching TV, is "research" for your writing.

      Thanks so much for leaving a comment! :)

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  20. LOL! (I'm still laughing from reading Brea's comment!) I know exactly what she means... Thanks to you, Ms. Banister, I have discovered series and actors that I now adore (Game of Thrones & Emun Elliott to name a few) so I trust your recommendations! I will be adding Splintered to my TBR. I really enjoyed the sample pages and it sounds like a great read!

    Another great Banister Buzz! Love it! :)

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    1. We are definitely simpatico with our taste in TV and books, Cat. I still need to watch Miranda since both you and Brea raved so much about that show.

      I'm so glad that you're going to read Splintered! Can't wait to discuss it with you. I know you're going to love it as much as I did! :)

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  21. I read Splintered and I can tell you I was quite impressed with the quality of the writing, the details and the world building. Your mind is transported to a world that is a lot more surreal and fantastic, grotesque, dark and vicious than the Wonderland we have come to love. It was great and I can't wait to read Unhinged.

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    1. Beautifully said, Maggie, and of course, I agree 100%. Splintered really captured my imagination. It was a wonderful homage to the source material while still being incredibly unique.

      Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment! :)

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  22. Hi Tracie! I just popped over from Goodreads to read your column. Isn't the cover art for Splintered amazing!!! I loved the column and am a huge fan of fairy tales. We are still in Krakow, Poland a beautiful medieval city with castles, towers and cobbled streets - very fairy tale. Last night we rode in a white horse drawn carriage around the ancient market square. Very romantic until both horses stopped and pooped in the middle of the road! It's our last day and we travel back to our English village tonight. Look forward to reading your next column Tracie xxx

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    1. Cathy, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Krakow sounds beautiful! I've always wanted to visit a castle (we don't really have those here in America.) And I share your love of fairy tales. If you haven't read "Entwined" by Heather Dixon I highly recommend it. The book is a very imaginative retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses tale and it's fantastic!

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