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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This isn't necessarily the strongest entry in the Oz books, but it is still a solid Oz book. It strangely manages to both show its age and be pretty progressive for its time regarding how it treats women. Jinjur's army of women are said to be gossipy, scared of mice, and motivated to conquer the Emerald City so they could use the gems in necklaces and to buy dresses — but, also, shows a man shocked at how hard the work typically considered "women's work" at the time (managing a household, raising children) actually is once he's forced to perform it. Probably the reality of reading most books that are over a century old.
Apparently I wasn't a fan. Review in my notebook from 2006:
"If by "Marvelous" you mean 'retarded.'" So it's not the most sensitive comment I've ever made, but it gets to the point.
"If by "Marvelous" you mean 'retarded.'" So it's not the most sensitive comment I've ever made, but it gets to the point.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The lead is trans the whole time?! Low key preferred this sequel
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the second book in the Oz series by L. Frank Baum. It was fun and continued the story of OZ after the departure of Dorothy and the wizard. It was clearly written at a time when social norms around women were more oppressive, but It could be seen to break stereotypes while still using them somehow (aka. an army of women, but using knitting needles as weapons).
I also appreciated the queer coding and themes, even though there is speculation about Baum himself. The transformation of Tip's gender and general causal nature of queer ideas was forward thinking.
I also appreciated the queer coding and themes, even though there is speculation about Baum himself. The transformation of Tip's gender and general causal nature of queer ideas was forward thinking.
I mean this was fine for what it was but it wasn’t anything amazing…. Quite misogynistic but I’ll give it some grace for that for being from over 100 years ago