Between lines
Editor’s note
Dear Reader,
I invite you to look back to the first time you held a book for pleasure and fun. Think about your age and the feelings and sensations that came up. Can you remember? I can! I remember when my father gave me a small graphic novel about how to take care of the environment. I loved it! I still remember the illustrations and how excited I felt. I took such good care of that book, and I’ve been forever grateful for that gift. It sparked my interest in books, and ever since then, I’ve been hooked.
This magazine is my way of sharing my love for books while offering helpful insights about their structure, genre, literary features, and other artistic works or written pieces available on the internet. I hope you enjoy it!
Best, Angie F.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Alice’s adventures in wonderland
Writtenby:LewisCarroll
By John Tenniel
Book review
If you haven’t heard of this interesting, captivating, and amusing story, you’re in the right place. The following book review provides a complete assessment of the book. However, if you've read the book or watched the movie, keep reading—you can share your opinion too!"
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, is primarily a children's book but has nonetheless become a classic of English literature. The story follows Alice, a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and lands in a fantastical world where nothing makes sense. Wonderland challenges social norms, scientific certainties, and the natural order of things. Throughout her adventures, Alice meets a series of memorable characters, such as the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar, and the Queen of Hearts, who prompt her to reflect on her identity, social conventions, power, growth, and change.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
The book is written in prose with simple, easy-to-understand language, making it both enjoyable and accessible. I appreciate how it challenges logic and reality while addressing themes that resonate with everyone, especially young readers: change, growth, power, authority, social conventions, and identity.
Photograph by: Eduardo Gonzalez
As the main character, Alice offers a clear invitation for young people to embrace themselves, use critical thinking, and activate their creativity to navigate life’s changes and their own self-discovery. The Caterpillar is another character worth highlighting, as it symbolizes change and transformation. It plays a key role in Alice’s self-discovery by asking her, “Who are you?”, a question that everyone, young and old, has always tried to answer. Additionally, the book includes riddles and jokes, while also offering a glimpse into 19th-century English society.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
While Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is primarily aimed for children, I believe it is a book everyone should read, as it portrays many real-world topics that people have questioned throughout their lives. For language learners, it is an ideal choice because the language is straightforward, with clear sentences and plenty of dialogue that shows realworld use of language. This book is both fun to read and the perfect book to discuss during this holiday season.
Illustration by: Anna Bond
Why to read this book?
A new year is approaching, and many people are probably creating their vision boards and deciding what they'd like to do or try in 2025. So, what is the editor's goal for the coming year? Yes, you guessed it—reading more as part of a daily routine! Here are a few reasons why Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is a great book to kick off your new reading goal:
1. It's written in prose, which makes the language more engaging and relatable, since it closely resembles the way real people speak.
2. It's fictional and takes us into a fascinating, entirely different world. But that doesn't mean it isn't influenced by historical and cultural backgrounds—it offers keen insights into 19th-century English society.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
3. It invites readers to question social norms, reality, and the power of creativity, sparking new ways of thinking about the world around us.
Language learners experience
If another of your goals for this coming new year is to also learn English, congratulations! You are all set for a great year. This book is a book if you want to hit the nail right away. It is
Vocabulary
Here a brief list of words you will find a long the story. Are you any of them?
Shriek
Drowsy Tumble
Grin Hatter
Frantic Queer
Frivolous Charming
CoB mica; Mischief
Language Proficiency:
This book is recommended for lower and upper intermediate learners (B1/B2). Here is why this book is perfect for practicing your reading skills.
The sentences are relatively simple, but it includes a lot of jokes and wordplay that may require extra effort to fully understand.
• The text includes some older forms of English, which takes a little longer to understand.
• The theme and story are easy to follow, allowing learners to connect with and flow through the reading.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Literary devices chart
The following chart is a compilation of some of the literary devices found on the reading. According to Garcia (2022), a literary device is a technique use to enhance the writing.. It can affect the style , structure and language of the text. These strategies are used to provoke a reaction or feeling to the story or an specific part of it.
Literary device
Authors intention
Interpretation
From my perspective, Lewis Carroll used Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to mock the colonial society of his time. He criticized ideas of order, manners, and social formalism that were important in his time. At the same time, he challenged the concept of what is considered logical and rational, illustrating how such ideas can vary dramatically depending on one's perspective.
Plot
Setting
Characters
A bored girl who travels to a fantastical world where nothing makes sense, and the rules of society are turned upside down. The story also explores her struggles with change and her attempts to navigate a world that defies her preconceived notions of herself, her society.
Wonderland is an underworld that completely defies all conventional definitions of a normal place. It is an absurd place filled with weird animals, talking flowers, and objects that behave in ways that are not logic. Some of the most iconic locations are the garden, and the Queen of Hearts’ court.
Alice, the mad hatter, the Queen of hearts, The white rabbit, the caterpillar.
Writing Genre It is a fictional work
Figurative language
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Some are metaphors, simile, personification, hyperbole, alienation, and onomatopoeia.
Fun resources to explore
The following charter some resources that have based their content in the Fight club. Let us know which one is your favorite.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Movie “ Fight club” Fight Club for kids
The Guardian (20016) article
Fight club
Writtenby:ChuckPalahniuk
By Pixabay
Book review
Nowadays, many people believe that setting realistic goals in all aspects of life requires a reality check. This book offers just that—it invites you to reflect on the system and societal norms. You will experience many emotions while reading it. Follow this review to learn more and share what you feel both while reading and after!
Fight Club is a thought-provoking novel that confronts readers with uncomfortable truths about society, evoking emotions such as disappointment, discomfort, curiosity, and even validation. Written by Chuck Palahniuk in 1996, the book is part of the postmodern literary movement. It follows an unnamed, dissatisfied man who attends various support groups to awaken emotions in his monotonous, standard life.
One day, he meets Tyler, an intriguing man with whom he forms a close friendship. Together, they create a fight club as an outlet for their frustrations with social norms, using violence to express their dissatisfaction. As the narrator becomes more involved, he grows increasingly unsettled by the impact Tyler has on others and the unintended consequences of their actions.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Photograph by: Pixabay
The book contains several literary features that draw readers into the mindset of the main character, which is what makes it so provocative. The non-linear timeline reflects the narrator's fragmented state of mind and uses flashbacks to explain the reasons behind his discomfort and disappointment with the consumerist society he lives in. The short chapters contribute to the overall sense of tension and are aligned with the chaotic and urgent events in the story that mirror the narrator’s emotional turmoil. The shocking twist revealing Tyler's true identity adds a surprising and tragic element, one that many readers can relate to. While the main themes, consumerism, social norms, identity, selfdestruction, and violence, are highly polemical, Palahniuk uses the narrator’s experiences
to expose the frustrations that many people feel about modern society. Although these themes can be harsh and unsettling, they reflect some of the hard truths about the world we live in. I recommend the book for its narrative structure, character development, and the thought-provoking themes it explores, many of which are relevant to our society today. However, I advise reading it with discretion. This reading often requires a reality check, which can be difficult and even heartbreaking at times. On the other hand, it may also make you feel grateful for what you have and for the resolutions you have made to live in today's world. While it is an impactful read, I would not recommend it for the holiday season, perhaps it's best to choose something a little more cheerful.
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Why to read this book?
If your first goal for 2025 is to read more, we’re sure you’ll discover many valuable lessons, strategies, and ways to work on yourself through books. If another goal is to develop your critical thinking skills, this book is for you. Here are three reasons why “Fight Club” will help you maintain your reading streak:
1. The book is set in the modern era, specifically the 20th century, and captures a society and set of circumstances that you can relate to.
2. It uses a non-linear narrative and flashbacks throughout the story, that creates intrigue, sets the pace, and reveals the complex emotions and moods of the characters.
3. It is a book that challenges your worldview and shakes your perspective on society. After reading it, you will experience many emotions and find yourself asking uncomfortable questions. That’s okay, that’s how we grow..
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Language learners experience
All reading is good for learning vocabulary and learning the real use of language in different contexts. Here is some more information on how to tackle this book as a language learner.
Language Proficiency
This book is recommended for upper-intermediate and advanced learners (B2/C1). Here are three ways it can help you improve your English:
• The sentence structure is generally simple, and the language is colloquial, making it easier to understand.
• It uses language commonly found in real-life conversations, helping you connect with everyday English.
• The book will require some critical thinking skills, particularly around social issues, to fully grasp the deeper meaning.
Vocabulary
Here a brief list of words you will find a long the story. Are you familiar with any of them?
Apathy
Rebellion Alienation
Disillusionment Repressed
Frustration Bizarre
Chaotic Consumerism
Anarchy
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Literary devices chart
The following chart is a compilation of some of the literary devices found on the reading. According to Garcia (2022), a literary device is a technique use to enhance the writing.. It can affect the style , structure and language of the text. These strategies are used to provoke a reaction or feeling to the story or an specific part of it.
Literary device Text
Authors intention
Plot
Setting
Characters
The author critiques modern society, its social norms and consumer-driven economy. It also explores the personal struggles individuals face and examines society's role in shaping these challenges.
The narrator, an ordinary office worker, is fed up with his monotonous life and routine. One day, he meets Tyler, and together they create a fight club as an outlet for their anger, frustration, and dissatisfaction. As the story unfolds, the fight club gets out of control, and it is revealed that Tyler is actually a product of the narrator's imagination
The story takes place in an unknown city in the United States. It also portrays the clean and organized apartment the narrator owns, which could symbolize a controlled, lifeless, and boring life. Another important location is the house, which is messy and dangerous but provides the narrator with many emotions.
The main characters of the story are the narrator and Tyler.
Writing Genre Fiction
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Fun resources to explore
If after reading this magazine you feel inspired and want to learn more about this captivating story, please feel free to explore the next resources. Let us know which one is your favorite!
Edited by: Angie Fonseca
Movie “ Alice in wonderland” by Disney
Article by BBC Culture
Language learners reading – BBC leaners
Royal Ballet – Mad Hatter’s tea party
AngieFonseca
AB O U T
Angie is a language teaching student who turned her passion for reading and books into a magazine.
Betweenlinesis a channel to share the benefits of reading, her thoughts and her recommendations about books in English and Spanish.
Universidad Nacional Abierta y A Distancia
English Literature
References
Anderson, H. (2023, May 26). Alice in Wonderland’s hidden messages. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160527-alice-in-wonderlandshidden-messages
BBC Learning English. (2025, January 9). BBC Learning English - Dramas from BBC Learning English / Alice in Wonderland: Part 1: Down the rabbit hole. https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/drama/alice-ep01
Disney UK. (2009, December 15). Alice in Wonderland [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POCgSRVvf0
García, J. (2022). Literary Devices [Virtual Learning Objective]. Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia. https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/49728
González E, (2024) Sombrero loco. [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/es-es/foto/disfraz-extravagante-de-sombrerero-loco-en-un-exuberante-jardin-29689855/
Jordison, S. (2019, August 21). First rule of Fight Club: no one talks about the quality of the writing. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/dec/20/first-rule-about-fight-club-no-one-talks-about-the-quality-of-the-writing
Mashable Screening. (2015, June 23). Fight Club for Kids (with Chuck Palahniuk) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=RB8sAKb9tPU
Pixabay (n.d) hombre boxeando. [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/es-es/foto/hombre-haciendo-boxeo-163403/ Pixabay (n.d). Hombre boxeando. [Photograph] https://www.pexels.com/es-es/foto/hombre-y-mujer-con-paraguas-en-calle-258007/ Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers. (2017, November 22). Fight Club (1999) Trailer #1 | MovieClips Classic Trailers [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtRKdVHc-cE
Royal Ballet and Opera. (2018, August 31). Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (The Royal Ballet) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq8zqhqjUIo
Tenniel J. (185) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [photograph]. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=629700
Tenniel J. (1865) Alice in Wonderland [photograph]. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=629624
Edited by: Angie Fonseca