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Alice I Have Been
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
BONUS: This edition contains an Alice I Have Been discussion guide and an excerpt from Melanie Benjamin's The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. Few works of literature are as universally beloved as Alices Adventures in Wonderland. Now, in this spellbinding historical novel, we meet the young girl whose bright spirit sent her on an unforgettable trip down the rabbit holeand the grown woman whose story is no less enthralling. But oh my dear, I am tired of being Alice in Wonderland. Does it sound ungrateful? Alice Liddell Hargreavess life has been a richly woven tapestry: As a young woman, wife, mother, and widow, shes experienced intense passion, great privilege, and greater tragedy. But as she nears her eighty-first birthday, she knows that, to the world around her, she is and will always be only Alice. Her life was permanently dog-eared at one fateful moment in her tenth yearthe golden summer day she urged a grown-up friend to write down one of his fanciful stories. That story, a wild tale of rabbits, queens, and a precocious young child, becomes a sensation the world over. Its author, a shy, stuttering Oxford professor, does more than immortalize Alicehe changes her life forever. But even he cannot stop time, as much as he might like to. And as Alices childhood slips away, a peacetime of glittering balls and royal romances gives way to the urgent tide of war. For Alice, the stakes could not be higher, for she is the mother of three grown sons, soldiers all. Yet even as she stands to lose everything she treasures, one part of her will always be the determined, undaunted Alice of the story, who discovered that life beyond the rabbit hole was an astonishing journey. A love story and a literary mystery, Alice I Have Been brilliantly blends fact and fiction to capture the passionate spirit of a woman who was truly worthy of her fictional alter ego, in a world as captivating as the Wonderland only she could inspire.
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Coleen
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Mehso-so

I was just “meh” on this one, not because of the somewhat controversial subject matter, but because it just seemed too slow-moving and it dragged for me. I was ready to move on after about halfway through, but I kept going until the end. I mostly enjoy Melanie Benjamin, but this one wasn‘t my fave.

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KristiAhlers
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Pickpick

Everyone knows I‘m all about Alice in Wonderland! This year I‘m doing an #aliceinwonderlandretelling challenge. I‘ve been a long time fan of this author and I found this story to be a truly page turning read. She manages to add true historic facts in with her fiction. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks I really love this cover!! 2y
38 likes1 comment
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GidgetsTreasures75
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Pickpick

6-15-22: My 58th finished book of 2022! 80 year old Alice Liddell, the muse of Alice in Wonderland, reflects on her life. From being the 7 year old Alice of the famous story, to the 11 year old who may or may not have had an emotional and possibly physical relationship with the author, Lewis Carroll, to the grown woman, married with 3 sons, trying to not be “that” Alice. Fascinating, sad, and a little uncomfortable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣8️⃣

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megnews
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Mehso-so

The writing was fine but I‘ll never be able to look at the story of Alice in Wonderland the same again.

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Littlewolf1
Alice I Have Been | Melanie Benjamin
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Thank You @rubyslippersreads for my wonderful gift… I have to say though… This bag is life😍

wanderinglynn That bag! 😍😍😍 3y
DinoMom Yes , that is a fantastic bag! 3y
rubyslippersreads I‘m so glad you like it! 💙🎩 #MerryUnbirthdaySwap (edited) 3y
24 likes4 comments
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Lauranahe
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Pickpick

This was...interesting. It‘s historical fiction based on the real girl who inspired Alice in Wonderland, and it‘s intriguing. But, it has pedophilia as a main theme of the story, which is based on speculation between Alice and Mr Dodgson, who was Lewis Caroll. There‘s no proof of it, but there are some hints; I did a deep dive into Alice Liddell out of curiosity. So while I enjoyed the book, I had to remember it‘s ultimately fiction, not fact.

26 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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rubyslippersreads
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Two of my favorite books are on sale as #ebooks today. 😊 #kindledeal #kindle #ebook

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ReadingRover
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I don‘t think it‘s too big a secret that my participation in the #jb group has been an epic fail so far. By no means is this intentional. I have a lot of anxiety & it tends to get in the way of many of my good intentions. I‘m weird & I‘m really sorry. But I just want to thank all of you for not giving up on me. Today I want to thank @Jas16 in particular because I received this. It was so thoughtful, kind & unexpected. I appreciate it so much.

Kaye ♥️ 5y
ReadingRover @kaye 🤗 hugs 🤗 5y
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Jas16 Hi Megan. I am actually the one who sent you the book! Glad it arrived and hope you enjoy. 5y
ReadingRover @Jas16 oh no!!! I‘m so sorry. I thought that maybe you just weren‘t on Litsy much based on that other profile. I tried to search by the name and i couldn‘t find you. I‘m so sorry. Thank you so much it was so kind of you. I was actually just thinking about it and was going to send an email because I thought maybe you just weren‘t active on Litsy and I didn‘t want you to think I didn‘t appreciate it. 5y
Jas16 @ReadingRover no worries at all! It is such an easy mistake to make especially since I know my handwriting is atrocious. 5y
40 likes1 stack add6 comments
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MinDea
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Happy #HumpDayPost!
1. #Shadow always makes me happy 😊
2. Melanie Benjamin is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. I would love to be back in this time and meet the real Alice and Lewis Carrol
3. Water!!! (With ice)
4. For my birthday every year I see the new marvel movie. This year we saw The Avengers Infinity Wars
5. I'll take the rain!

Have a wonderful week!

Burghbookaddict 😻😻😻 6y
TK421 How did you like Thanos' portrayal in the movie? 6y
MinDea @TK421 I have such mixed emotions about that movie. Have you seen it? 6y
TK421 Yes, we saw it last weekend. I liked it. I thought that Thanos was done well. I am quite curious about the next movie now. At least we only wait a year for it. 6y
MinDea @TK421 I love the marvel movies. I felt so sad when we left the movie. Thanos just annihilated them. It was a bit just... Sad. But I do think it was very well done. I liked it, but just was sad for what happened. 6y
85 likes5 comments
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SandyW
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Bailedbailed

Finally, a book @PenguinInFlight and I disagree on. This was one of her #FreakyFriday recommendations. I just can't get past the idea of pedophilia. (I'm not interested in reading Lolita either.) I guess that's my trigger.

I had high expectations too since Diana Gabaldon, author of "Outlander," writes "this is magic."

Still, with 4 out of 5 of Bev's picks being a success, I'm looking forward to the next one!

@Clwojick
@monalyisha

AceOnRoam I'm with you on this! 6y
PenguinInFlight No worries! ☺️☺️I was sure we weren‘t going to love all the same books. I should have put a trigger warning on that one, and it completely slipped my mind. 🤦🏻‍♀️(Sorry!) 6y
SandyW @PenguinInFlight No worries back at you. I don't really need trigger warnings... I had no problem with Deerskin. This is just a topic I don't really want to understand any better. Besides, there are sooo many of your books left to read, and so far I've enjoyed all the others! 6y
44 likes3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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@shendrix413 THANK YOU!! I love it 😁 I love Alice in Wonderland, so I'm super excited and intrigued by the tagged book. And soups are one of my favourite things to make, so the soup and stew deck will definitely be getting a workout in my kitchen! AND a whole book about chocolate? Yes, please!

#FeedaReader @MinDea @TricksyTails

TheKidUpstairs Oh! I just found the Christmas book bookmark, the cat looks like my Otis!!! Thank you! 6y
MinDea Lovely! Alice I Have Been is so good. I loved learning about the real Alice and Lewis! Melanie Benjamin is one of my favorite historical fiction authors! 6y
Melissa_J Hi! I‘ve been a negligent penpal but will be getting my act together this week. I have some books that might interest you so can I email you a pic and you can let me know if there are any I can include with your letter? 6y
TheKidUpstairs @Melissa_J no worries, life gets crazy sometimes! Yes, absolutely email a picture, I can never say no to books 😁 6y
TricksyTails Lovely goodies! 👏😍 6y
101 likes1 stack add5 comments
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ElishaLovesBooks
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I have been so spoiled with this #FeedAReader package!!! Thank you so much @TheBookHippie for everything!!! I included a picture of my 2 youngest because they promptly snatched up the pins that say “I love reading” and made me let them wear them!! I love the books, the bookmark, the tea, the oven mitts, and everything else-it‘s like you know me so well!! I truly appreciate it! 💕❤️💕❤️

MinDea Alice I Have Been is so good. Melanie Benjamin is one of my all time favorite authors!!! Such a lovely package and adorable kids!!! 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @MinDea That book was on my TBR all based on your recommendation!!😊😘I‘m sure I will love it! And thanks-My kids do have their adorable moments 😂 6y
TricksyTails Your kids are the cutest!! ☺️ What a wonderful package of goodies! ♥️♥️♥️ 6y
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ElishaLovesBooks @TricksyTails Thank you!! 😊😘I am very lucky! 6y
TricksyTails They are lucky to have you too! 🤗♥️ 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @TricksyTails Awww, thanks!!😍 Could you say that a little louder so my teenagers can hear you? 😂🤣 6y
TricksyTails YOU KIDS ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE COOLEST TAPE MONSTER FIGHTING MAMA!! DON‘T YOU FORGET IT! 😂♥️🤗 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @TricksyTails Hehe!!❤️❤️❤️ You‘re the best!! I will be showing them that in the morning!! 6y
TheBookHippie Oh yay!!!! What fun!!! Cuties !!! The pins are huge hits with all the kiddos I read with as well! Enjoy! This was a great swap!! 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️ 6y
70 likes10 comments
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Mamashep
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
Pickpick

Read this one for book club for this month. While I had a hard time buying that a 7yo was as unaware of the inappropriateness of some adult attention and that an 11yo was so adult, I still really liked Alice‘s story and I‘m looking forward to my book club‘s discussion.

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DMC_run8
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Day 26. Apparently I own zero fairytales. #riotgrams

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Loreen
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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SandyW Forget the covet, love your cup and saucer! 6y
17 likes1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Pickpick

#2018Book7
#LitsyAtoZ Part 2: TBR books by title
#BookA

rubyslippersreads ❤️ this book! 6y
LeahBergen I enjoyed this one! 6y
61 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Rachael_reads
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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#fairytaleretellings #retellingsbookswap

Thank you @rubyslippersreads !!!
I love everything. I love Alice. The postcard and bookmarks are awesome. Plus, I don't have any of these books!!! Thank you!!!
PS... Sorry I'm late posing this.

emtobiasz Ooh, what is that purple book on the bottom? 6y
rubyslippersreads I'm so glad you liked everything! I ❤️ Alice too. The only one I haven't read is Down the Rabbit Hole, so I'll be "curiouser and curiouser" to hear your review of that one. ? 6y
rubyslippersreads @emtobiasz I hope @Rachael_reads doesn't mind my jumping in and answering, but it's 6y
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Mommamanzi Wow, what a great package! I want to read Down The Rabbit Hole now!!!! 6y
tpixie @rubyslippersreads @Mommamanzi @Rachael_reads I loved both Alice and Down theRabbit Hole. I‘m an Eve Dallas/JD Robb fan. ❤️ 6y
tpixie @rubyslippersreads ooh that sounds fun, too! 6y
79 likes6 comments
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FantasyChick
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I love giveaways and this book sounds great!!! My book for the #outofthisworldgiveaway is the story of Alice.....after 'Wonderland' and in her own words as a now much older woman. This book wasn't for everyone...but I loved it! It really was out of this world for me 😊
Congrats on your new book @valeriegeary It sounds awesome! #everythingwelost #arc
#international

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Sharpeipup
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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With this book, I fell in love with historical fiction. I think this might have been my first #audiobook #judgedbyitscover #marchintoreading

17 likes6 stack adds
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Tanner
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Day 18 #historicalheroines #feistyfeb I've also been curious about the original Alice and what exactly happened.

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Loreen
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I love a pretty #deckleedge. I wish I had more books with the edge and French flaps. #feistyfeb

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MinDea
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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She replied and gave me a recommendation!!!! I love her books and it is so awesome she replied to me!!!

Laura317 How neat is that!?! I love when someone does that. 7y
7 likes1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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#LitsyAtoZ Part 2: Books I own alphabetized by title. Once again, I'm cheating by getting X and Z from the library.

Blair_Reads Bossypants and Yes Please 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
ErikasMindfulShelf The Night Circus 💕💕 7y
44 likes2 comments
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rubyslippersreads
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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This is currently on sale for Kindle--I really enjoyed it. I'm fascinated by both the literary and real Alice.

BookishTrish Me too! That's a great cover! 7y
Tigerbook What's up with the cat? 7y
rubyslippersreads @Tigerbook I just thought it was cute. Maybe it's Dinah! 😸 7y
71 likes3 comments
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rubyslippersreads
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Is it cheating to actually pick the #cheshirecat? I bought him at Disneyland when I was a little girl. #favoriteanimalsidekick #chesirecat #novemberland

TizJ3ss Not cheating! Gotta love Cheshire!! ❤️❤️ 7y
Cinfhen I love your photo 😍 7y
tasha @niki.inwonderland 7y
67 likes3 comments
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IncredibleRamblingElimy
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I am totally, completely, utterly taken in... And a little disturbed... by Alice Liddell and Mr Dodgson.

6 likes1 stack add
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IncredibleRamblingElimy
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Another day, another book! Found this while browsing at the gorgeous new Perth library and it tickled my fancy. About to dive down the rabbit hole.

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MinDea
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin

Hello Litsy community! I am looking for some historical fiction recommendations! Anyone have something they'd recommend??? Alice I have Been really got me into this genre and now #MelanieBenjamin and #ErikLarson are a couple of my favorite authors in this genre.

annahenke 😊 This is my favorite genre! To name a few recent ones: The Nightingale or Amy Snow or 8y
MinDea Thank you @annahenke ! I will look up those books! If you have more I'd absolutely love to hear them! 8y
annahenke Do you have a specific time period of interest? 8y
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MinDea Nope! Just looking for some good and interesting ones. 8y
MinDea @Liberty @Lupita.Reads any recommendations? 8y
MinDea @LisaReads any you would recommend? 8y
Laura317 The Plum Tree is a favorite of mine. 8y
LisaReads I agree with @annahenke The Nightingale was really good! Also, I loved The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult 8y
Lupita.Reads Thanks for the tag @mindea ! I recently read and really enjoyed Barkskins! Definitely one that would fit into the historical fiction genre. Annie Prolux is a fantastic writer 8y
5 likes10 comments
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niftytiffd
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I've been so excited about reading Alice I Have Been since I saw it recommended last week. I was supposed to start it tonight but my sister just found our old Sega Genesis... and my night quickly turned into us pretty much reliving our childhood. #90skid #aladdin #thisgamewasmyjam

Laalaleighh I loved this game. 8y
niftytiffd @Laalaleighh It was definitely a fave! 🎮 8y
25 likes2 comments
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JoeStalksBeck
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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This sounds very interesting!
Few works of literature are as universally beloved as Alice‘s Adventures in Wonderland. Now, in this spellbinding historical novel, we meet the young girl whose bright spirit sent her on an unforgettable trip down the rabbit hole–and the grown woman whose story is no less enthralling.

Penny_LiteraryHoarders Read this years ago - it is a good read! 👍🏻 8y
LadyBrik Loved this one! 8y
Angelala007 Very interested in reading this one! 8y
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Laalaleighh I bought this and lost it in a move (I can't talk about it, it's too horrible, so many lost books) I need to rebut it! 8y
Laalaleighh re-buy* 8y
JoeStalksBeck @Laalaleighh oh dear gawd. 😩there will be no losing of books on my watch 8y
PenguinInFlight I LOVE Melanie Benjamin's books!!! This was my favorite. It's sooooooo good! I hope you enjoy it!! 💜☺️ 8y
Sharpeipup I truly enjoyed it after my boss recommended it to me. Even years later, I think of that story whenever Alice is mentioned. 8y
JoeStalksBeck @Sharpeipup ❤️❤️📚 8y
Tanner I enjoyed it too (not that I remember too much of it anymore - it's been a few years). 8y
BibliOphelia On my TBR - looking forward to hearing what you think! 8y
93 likes26 stack adds12 comments
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TheBookHippie
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Pickpick

So excited to read this!

Saruh I read that 4 years ago and it's in my top 10 for sure! 8y
11 likes1 comment
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CatLadyBibliophile
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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I should probably stop precariously stacking books directly over the head of my bed. I ran out of space on my actual TBR stacks under the bed. Oops. Most of these are books I need to read but don't actually have plans to anytime soon.

rubyslippersreads ❤️ this book. 😄 8y
48 likes1 comment
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CatLadyBibliophile
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Pickpick

A wonderfully imaginative tale. This is a quick read for any Wonderland lover.

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SarahRotenberry
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
Pickpick

Fantastic historical fiction on a subject I didn't even know I was interested in. Melanie Benjamin tells the lifelong story of Alice Liddell; stubborn, precocious daughter of Prince Albert's personal chaplain and Dean of Christ Church in Oxford.

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SarahRotenberry
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Posting rn so I don't cry 😫

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Leelee08
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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Used bookstore=LIFE ❤️❤️❤️

brendanmleonard Yessss, the worst ones are the ones that JUST sell used books and you're like "I want to take you ALL home." 8y
Leelee08 Amen to that! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @brendanmleonard So glad I'm not alone when I feel like I want to save them all! ;) 8y
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stargazerblue49 Ann Brashares 💛💛💛 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage 💜💜💜Mark Bitman! 8y
Leelee08 They're all so awesome!❤️❤️ 8y
27 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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SleepieBear
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
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80 pages in and super glad I knew a bit about Lewis Carrol (Mr. Dodgson) before I started.

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Gear
Alice I Have Been: A Novel | Melanie Benjamin
Pickpick

This book is about Alice Liddell, the little girl who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland. While this is fictional MB adds in a section at the end of the actual facts and how she altered them to fit her story. I am excited to read her other works for sure! ☺️