Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #1)
Published by Penguin Popular Classics; first published 1900
156 pages
Format: ebook
Genres: Children's/Fantasy/Classics/Series
I got this book from the library
This book counts as part of my Classics Club list.
Synopsis: Join Dorothy Gale, Toto, and all of her friends as they explore the incredible land of Oz. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is American's most enduring fairy tale. From the moment Dorothy puts on the silver slippers (changed to ruby slippers by MGM to take advantage of their new advance in movie making: color) until the moment she clicks her heals and returns home to Kansas you will be swept away and captivated by her extraordinary story
Published by Penguin Popular Classics; first published 1900
156 pages
Format: ebook
Genres: Children's/Fantasy/Classics/Series
I got this book from the library
This book counts as part of my Classics Club list.
Synopsis: Join Dorothy Gale, Toto, and all of her friends as they explore the incredible land of Oz. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is American's most enduring fairy tale. From the moment Dorothy puts on the silver slippers (changed to ruby slippers by MGM to take advantage of their new advance in movie making: color) until the moment she clicks her heals and returns home to Kansas you will be swept away and captivated by her extraordinary story
I loved the movie The Wizard of Oz every since I was very little and watched it quite recently. I'm also a huge fan of the musical Wicked, but realized that I had never read the series that made all those things possible.
I know that it was a children's book series, but I was surprised that it was only 156 pages. My other big surprise was that the book and the movie are vastly different. There are so many more characters that play a huge role in the book that are never mentioned in the movies. There's also a very interesting back story to the winged monkeys that I think makes them more likable in the book than in the book.
I think that both the film and the movie both have their merits, but I am definitely more intrigued by the book series at the time. Since Dorothy did not make it back to Kansas at the end of book one I can't wait to continue the series and see what happens next and at what point she does return.
One of the things that I really did love about the book is that despite the fact that Dorothy's companions lack a brain, a heart and courage, the Scarecrow is rather smart, the Tinman in loving (my favorite character) and the lion has moments of bravery. I find that so interesting because I think that if I had read the series as a child, I may not have picked up on it.
I so want to read the Oz books! Isn't it so weird that as kids we grew up with the movie but somehow missed out on the books?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, as a kid I was always bothered by the lacking of a brain and heart thing, because even little me knew that you had to have a brain and heart to be alive and functioning, and that bothered me, lol. I didn't care so much about the lacking courage thing since it's not a physical thing, and cause I didn't like the Lion much anyways.
Maybe I should add this to my TBR for next month... hmmmm...
I guess I was a dense little child because those things never clicked with me. Then when I watched when I was older I was like "How is this even possible?"
DeleteI'd be interesting to see your thoughts on it. It'd be a breeze to get through in an afternoon. Cave to the pressure...if you want. (I'm terrible at being a bully...)
I loved the textured landscape of Baum's Oz as opposed to the technicolor nonsense of the movie. I like that the Witch isn't te cenral antagonist and I especially love that the novel is so much darker and more sinister than the movie. I also love the mush more nuanced flying monkeys.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was kind of bummed out that so much was changed for the movie. The Oz of the book is so much more interesting and the characters have so much depth.
DeleteGreat review! Your last paragraph sums up what I love about this book/movie! :)
ReplyDeleteAlice @ Alice in Readerland
Me too! The tinman steals the show in my opinion, but maybe it could be because he tears up as easily as I do.
DeleteI just read this too! As much as I LOVE the movie, I also loved the book - but differently. I was surprised that the companions seem to already have the qualities they are searching for, and I loved the flying monkey's back story. It was a lot of fun, but I'm not sure I'll continue with the series.. -Sarah
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing..
ReplyDelete