Fall 2010 Book Discussion Series

"Little Girls in Strange Worlds: Three Classic Children’s Books"

Monday, October 11, 7:00 PM
Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Monday, November 8, 7:00 PM
L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Monday, December 13, 7:00 PM
J. M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy (aka Peter Pan)

Long before Dora the Explorer, Alice went to Wonderland, Dorothy visited Oz, and Wendy flew to Neverland. These classic works are not just beloved favorites, they are cultural touchstones and reference points, part of our common literary heritage. Perennially popular, these books have always appealed to adults as much as to children, and with each new generation of readers, they inspire new adaptations and re-imaginings (Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is currently the second highest-grossing film of 2010).

The Haverhill Corner Library will revisit these classic children’s books in a discussion series that will consider them through the eyes of adult readers. At a time when cheerful domesticity was considered a woman’s highest calling, these books all featured girls experiencing adventure and overcoming adversities. At a time when the entire globe had finally been mapped, these books were set in fabulous lands. At a time when Anglo-American notions of class and hierarchy were at their most rigid, these novels offered alternative models of social organization.

But while these books may have light to shed both on their times and ours, the best reason to re-read these classic works is because they’re so much fun.

Please join us at 7:00 PM on the second Monday of the month, October through December, at the Haverhill Corner Library.