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achilleanshelves's review against another edition
Cw - Sexual assault, assault, homophobia, AIDs, death of an animal
sammyantha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
3.5
Damn that was a slowwww start. The first 100 pages are boring but setting the scene. I almost DNF it bc it was taking awhile to get off but I’m very interested in the Wizard of Oz so I decided to keep on going hoping it would get better, and it did!! (Normally books don’t for me, if I start out not liking it) wow I really wish this was true story to add to the lore. I loved how interconnected everything was
ghostofchristmaspast's review against another edition
4.0
Dark and unrelenting; a realist take on the fantastic story behind the creation and propagation of The Land of Oz. The book relays the stories of three primary individuals: Dorothy Gael, a young girl living in rural Kansas with her aunt and uncle; Judy Garland's early life and her time at MGM filming The Wizard of Oz; and Jonathan, a gay man dying from AIDS in 1989. Dorothy's story is by far the most interesting of the bunch; Garland's story seems to be abandoned somewhere in the middle of the book, and Jonathan's story doesn't really take off until the last 100 pages or so.
Dorothy's upbringing by her aunt and uncle, after her parents die of diphtheria, is brutal and unkind. Her transformation from a carefree little girl into an unkempt menace is a great personification of the effect Kansas has on her- even if the transformation comes across a little sudden. Most brutal of all is the sexual abuse inflicted upon her by her uncle, as well as the callous killing of her dog Toto. The appearance of L. Frank Baum as a substitute teacher, and the revelation this brings out in Dorothy, prompts him to give Dorothy a better life in another form. Dorothy's story is neatly wrapped up in the 1950s, just as Jonathan's is beginning.
I did love this book, although I felt it did become a little bit of a slog towards the end. The writing gets a little esoteric at this point- though justified through Jonathan's AIDS-induced dementia, but still a little hard to read. Parts of it were wonderfully written- Dorothy inside the cyclone, Dorothy's reappearance in the 1950s, Judy Garland's make-up application one summer's morning at MGM. I would recommend this book to any Oz fan who wants to try something a little different.
Dorothy's upbringing by her aunt and uncle, after her parents die of diphtheria, is brutal and unkind. Her transformation from a carefree little girl into an unkempt menace is a great personification of the effect Kansas has on her- even if the transformation comes across a little sudden. Most brutal of all is the sexual abuse inflicted upon her by her uncle, as well as the callous killing of her dog Toto. The appearance of L. Frank Baum as a substitute teacher, and the revelation this brings out in Dorothy, prompts him to give Dorothy a better life in another form. Dorothy's story is neatly wrapped up in the 1950s, just as Jonathan's is beginning.
I did love this book, although I felt it did become a little bit of a slog towards the end. The writing gets a little esoteric at this point- though justified through Jonathan's AIDS-induced dementia, but still a little hard to read. Parts of it were wonderfully written- Dorothy inside the cyclone, Dorothy's reappearance in the 1950s, Judy Garland's make-up application one summer's morning at MGM. I would recommend this book to any Oz fan who wants to try something a little different.
bookswithlukas's review against another edition
1.0
You will want a tornado to take this book away.
I actually feel very indecisive about the rating I've decided to give this book, but seeing as I couldn't even bring myself to finish it, one star was all I could justifiably give to it.
It's a real shame too, as reading the blurb on the back cover the story holds so much promise. 'The Wizard of Oz' takes center stage and connects a group of characters stories into one narrative, including the story of the 'real' Dorothy Gale, who didn't have it quite so easy as the girl from the movie.
I probably kept going with this book longer than I normally would have as I was interested in seeing how everything would inter-connect, but as it was getting to those moments it felt like the author began to lose his way and didn't really know how to do it. The story is also told from multiple view-points, which is usually a literary trope I enjoy, but here it is very noticeable who the unenjoyable characters are, to the point where I began dreading who was going to helm the next (usually rather long) chapter.
The character of the 'real' Dorothy is probably the most interesting, but her story get's incredibly bleak to the point where it makes you not want to read on. Dead parents, bullied in school, childhood friends committing suicide, weight issues, getting raped by her uncle...it all becomes too much. Plus, the character seems to snap halfway through, and this character who once inspired pity, begins to get really unlikeable and annoying.
Overall, this book left me disappointed by it's promising story, and the varied likability of it's cast of characters. Oddly enough, I actually think it's something that would make a better movie. I probably won't be checking out anything by this author again.
I actually feel very indecisive about the rating I've decided to give this book, but seeing as I couldn't even bring myself to finish it, one star was all I could justifiably give to it.
It's a real shame too, as reading the blurb on the back cover the story holds so much promise. 'The Wizard of Oz' takes center stage and connects a group of characters stories into one narrative, including the story of the 'real' Dorothy Gale, who didn't have it quite so easy as the girl from the movie.
I probably kept going with this book longer than I normally would have as I was interested in seeing how everything would inter-connect, but as it was getting to those moments it felt like the author began to lose his way and didn't really know how to do it. The story is also told from multiple view-points, which is usually a literary trope I enjoy, but here it is very noticeable who the unenjoyable characters are, to the point where I began dreading who was going to helm the next (usually rather long) chapter.
The character of the 'real' Dorothy is probably the most interesting, but her story get's incredibly bleak to the point where it makes you not want to read on. Dead parents, bullied in school, childhood friends committing suicide, weight issues, getting raped by her uncle...it all becomes too much. Plus, the character seems to snap halfway through, and this character who once inspired pity, begins to get really unlikeable and annoying.
Overall, this book left me disappointed by it's promising story, and the varied likability of it's cast of characters. Oddly enough, I actually think it's something that would make a better movie. I probably won't be checking out anything by this author again.
_wiz_'s review against another edition
The concept of the book just didn't interest me at all, perhaps because I don't have childhood memories of Oz.
bellatora's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of the strangest books I've read. I'm not even sure I particularly liked it, but then again I'm not sure I particularly disliked it.
It's mostly about Dorothy Gael, an orphan who is sent to live with her Aunt Emma and Uncle Henry in 1875 after her father disappears and her mother and little brother die of the “Dip.” She brings along her loyal dog Toto, which ends in tragedy because Aunt Em does not treat dogs like pets.
The book description talks about Dorothy’s abusive aunt and uncle and this was initially confusing. Aunt Em is clearly angry at her life (she’s now a poor farmer’s wife, while growing up she was the respected daughter of a reverend and writer) and is strict and cold. But I wouldn’t say abusive. And Uncle Henry seems perfectly fine…until
Then things go insanely south and Dorothy's entire story drives straight into the brickwall of absurd tragedy. Dorothy starts acting out in school, becomes a bully, and is all defiance and pain. L. Frank Baum appears as a substitute teacher. Baum is Dorothy's teacher for all of a few days before he has Dorothy free write – providing him the idea for Oz – and then she has a complete and utter mental breakdown but. Dorothy ends up running away from home and suffers a more complete mental breakdown complete with hallucinations. Does childhood trauma cause delusions? Or does Dorothy have schizophrenia or another mental illness? It is never explained or explored.
Interspersed with Dorothy's story is the story of an actor (Johnathan) and his boyfriend (Ira) in the 1980s. Johnathan has AIDs and he’s not taking it well. He finds out Dorothy may have been a real person and loses it and goes and tries to find her. Having hallucinations along the way. Because apparently all mental stress causes hallucinations.
There's also the story of young, handsome do-gooder Bill Davison who starts working at an insane asylum in 1956 and seeks to help the committed Dorothy Gael.
And there's a chapter about the young Judy Garland when she’s still performing at her family theater.
And a chapter about Judy Garland’s make-up artist on the set of Wizard of Oz.
As you may have guessed, this book jumps around a lot. I'm not sure why so many different characters and perspectives were included. Judy Garland, while a fascinating person, felt more like an afterthought than an important inclusion in the novel.
This was also an exceedingly tragic book. It wallowed in tragedy. It rolled around and covered itself in tragedy. It snuggled up to tragedy at night and held it close. If a character is happy, you only have to wait a few pages because nothing good ever lasts.
And yet I stayed intrigued. I had no idea where this book was going (I'm still not sure I know), but certainly wanted to know. It may have been jumpy and miserable, but it kept me hooked.
It's mostly about Dorothy Gael, an orphan who is sent to live with her Aunt Emma and Uncle Henry in 1875 after her father disappears and her mother and little brother die of the “Dip.” She brings along her loyal dog Toto, which ends in tragedy because Aunt Em does not treat dogs like pets.
The book description talks about Dorothy’s abusive aunt and uncle and this was initially confusing. Aunt Em is clearly angry at her life (she’s now a poor farmer’s wife, while growing up she was the respected daughter of a reverend and writer) and is strict and cold. But I wouldn’t say abusive. And Uncle Henry seems perfectly fine…until
Spoiler
Dorothy hits puberty and he starts raping her.Then things go insanely south and Dorothy's entire story drives straight into the brickwall of absurd tragedy. Dorothy starts acting out in school, becomes a bully, and is all defiance and pain. L. Frank Baum appears as a substitute teacher. Baum is Dorothy's teacher for all of a few days before he has Dorothy free write – providing him the idea for Oz – and then she has a complete and utter mental breakdown but
Spoiler
receives no help because no one takes her revelations of her uncle’s sexual abuse seriouslyInterspersed with Dorothy's story is the story of an actor (Johnathan) and his boyfriend (Ira) in the 1980s. Johnathan has AIDs and he’s not taking it well. He finds out Dorothy may have been a real person and loses it and goes and tries to find her. Having hallucinations along the way. Because apparently all mental stress causes hallucinations.
There's also the story of young, handsome do-gooder Bill Davison who starts working at an insane asylum in 1956 and seeks to help the committed Dorothy Gael.
And there's a chapter about the young Judy Garland when she’s still performing at her family theater.
And a chapter about Judy Garland’s make-up artist on the set of Wizard of Oz.
As you may have guessed, this book jumps around a lot. I'm not sure why so many different characters and perspectives were included. Judy Garland, while a fascinating person, felt more like an afterthought than an important inclusion in the novel.
This was also an exceedingly tragic book. It wallowed in tragedy. It rolled around and covered itself in tragedy. It snuggled up to tragedy at night and held it close. If a character is happy, you only have to wait a few pages because nothing good ever lasts.
And yet I stayed intrigued. I had no idea where this book was going (I'm still not sure I know), but certainly wanted to know. It may have been jumpy and miserable, but it kept me hooked.
writer_matt's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to start this review with a quote - not from the book proper (although, I think the book offers up hundreds of amazing lines, ideas, thoughts etc) but from the afterword. Ryman writes,
"I fell in love with realism because it deflates the myths, the unexamined ideas of fantasy. It conflates them with forgotten facts. It uses past truth - history.
I love fantasy because it reminds us how far short our lives fall from their full potential. Fantasy reminds us how wonderful the world is. In fantasy we can imagine a better life, a better future. In fantasy, we can free ourselves from history and outworn realism." (pg. 368)
Ryman has a lot of thesis in this novel, but I was not sure exactly what his main purpose in the novel was until I read these lines - the world the Ryman's Dorothy lives in is the polar opposite of Oz, but it is the potential of fantasy that offers release from that world. Sadly, for Ryman's Dorothy, that fantasy world does not exist - it is unreachable, and so she must exist in the cruel world of Was and reality. The only escape for Dorothy here is a descent into madness. Insanity - Ryman seems to suggest - is a gateway to our personal Oz.
Now, based on that, it would seem that I was not a fan of this book, yet that could not be farther from the truth. In fact, I adored this book...I loved it. It might end up being one of my favorite books of all time. Let me explain. I have always been a fan of Oz - the book, the film, the sheer terror that is Return to Oz - but I have always wondered where is my Oz. Where does Oz exist for those of us unable to follow our yellow brick road? And in some respects, Ryman answers that question - Oz doesn't exist, except in our minds. This book scripts a wholly original and realistic world of people that influenced the writing of the book and were influenced by Baum's novel (and Garland's portrayal of Dorothy).
The book is set up so that it meanders across time and space - between California and Kansas - watching as two people become very much carried away by the idea of escaping out of their lives. For Dorothy, as I've said, there is no real escape, except into madness. And for Ryman's other main character - Jonathan - history, specifically tracing the history of Oz, is his escape. And it is Jonathan that pushes me to think of the book as a potential favorite. Set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, Jonathan is a recently diagnosed AIDS patient, who becomes convinced that he needs to find Dorothy before he dies. Watching Jonathan's decent into delirium is heartbreaking, but the parallels that the novel draws between Jonathan and Dorothy are so beautiful, it is hard not to follow them to their wrenching conclusion.
I will say this - the book is bleak. There is very little happiness contained in the pages. Between Dorothy's cruel life, knowing the Jonathan is leaving behind his lover of twenty something years, and the realities of Judy Garland's life...amongst other factors...the book does not offer much in the way of light and positivity. Except that it does - there is still hope here. Hope that there is an Oz for all of us. Hope that the world of Kansas in the 1880s helped to create the power and strength found in the Kansas of the 1980s. And hope that these characters felt something - something akin to love, even when they didn't realize it was there.
The book is a fantasy - this was not how Oz was created - but it is also a realistic book as this depicts exactly how great an impact Oz has on those people who encountered it as a child (or adult). Read it hesitantly, knowing that your impression of Oz might be dampened, but even so at the end - you'll still love Oz, but you might do so in a slightly more mature way.
"I fell in love with realism because it deflates the myths, the unexamined ideas of fantasy. It conflates them with forgotten facts. It uses past truth - history.
I love fantasy because it reminds us how far short our lives fall from their full potential. Fantasy reminds us how wonderful the world is. In fantasy we can imagine a better life, a better future. In fantasy, we can free ourselves from history and outworn realism." (pg. 368)
Ryman has a lot of thesis in this novel, but I was not sure exactly what his main purpose in the novel was until I read these lines - the world the Ryman's Dorothy lives in is the polar opposite of Oz, but it is the potential of fantasy that offers release from that world. Sadly, for Ryman's Dorothy, that fantasy world does not exist - it is unreachable, and so she must exist in the cruel world of Was and reality. The only escape for Dorothy here is a descent into madness. Insanity - Ryman seems to suggest - is a gateway to our personal Oz.
Now, based on that, it would seem that I was not a fan of this book, yet that could not be farther from the truth. In fact, I adored this book...I loved it. It might end up being one of my favorite books of all time. Let me explain. I have always been a fan of Oz - the book, the film, the sheer terror that is Return to Oz - but I have always wondered where is my Oz. Where does Oz exist for those of us unable to follow our yellow brick road? And in some respects, Ryman answers that question - Oz doesn't exist, except in our minds. This book scripts a wholly original and realistic world of people that influenced the writing of the book and were influenced by Baum's novel (and Garland's portrayal of Dorothy).
The book is set up so that it meanders across time and space - between California and Kansas - watching as two people become very much carried away by the idea of escaping out of their lives. For Dorothy, as I've said, there is no real escape, except into madness. And for Ryman's other main character - Jonathan - history, specifically tracing the history of Oz, is his escape. And it is Jonathan that pushes me to think of the book as a potential favorite. Set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, Jonathan is a recently diagnosed AIDS patient, who becomes convinced that he needs to find Dorothy before he dies. Watching Jonathan's decent into delirium is heartbreaking, but the parallels that the novel draws between Jonathan and Dorothy are so beautiful, it is hard not to follow them to their wrenching conclusion.
I will say this - the book is bleak. There is very little happiness contained in the pages. Between Dorothy's cruel life, knowing the Jonathan is leaving behind his lover of twenty something years, and the realities of Judy Garland's life...amongst other factors...the book does not offer much in the way of light and positivity. Except that it does - there is still hope here. Hope that there is an Oz for all of us. Hope that the world of Kansas in the 1880s helped to create the power and strength found in the Kansas of the 1980s. And hope that these characters felt something - something akin to love, even when they didn't realize it was there.
The book is a fantasy - this was not how Oz was created - but it is also a realistic book as this depicts exactly how great an impact Oz has on those people who encountered it as a child (or adult). Read it hesitantly, knowing that your impression of Oz might be dampened, but even so at the end - you'll still love Oz, but you might do so in a slightly more mature way.
arthurbdd's review against another edition
5.0
Magnificent meditation on several lives intertwined via The Wizard of Oz. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2007/06/19/if-ever-a-wiz-there/