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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I have only been familiar with the movie version of The Wizard of Oz. I have likely seen it a dozen times. We are reading a book about the author of The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, for book club I and decided I would like to read the original book in preparation.
My overall impression of The Wizard of Oz is of a father telling a bedtime story to his children. Each chapter is a little adventure that all tie together. The story feels very simple. The movie stays fairly close to the plot of the book. The biggest exception are the iconic ruby red slippers of the movie are silver in the book. There are other changes as well but I am impressed with the movie version. I feel like the book is literal. Dorothy really goes to the land of Oz while the movie leads you to believe that Dorthy dreamed about Oz.
I believe I will grow to appreciate this classic children's book even more as I read about the author and the events in his life that inspired this book.
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge #31 A book mentioned in another book.
(Finding Oz by Evan I. Schwartz)
My overall impression of The Wizard of Oz is of a father telling a bedtime story to his children. Each chapter is a little adventure that all tie together. The story feels very simple. The movie stays fairly close to the plot of the book. The biggest exception are the iconic ruby red slippers of the movie are silver in the book. There are other changes as well but I am impressed with the movie version. I feel like the book is literal. Dorothy really goes to the land of Oz while the movie leads you to believe that Dorthy dreamed about Oz.
I believe I will grow to appreciate this classic children's book even more as I read about the author and the events in his life that inspired this book.
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge #31 A book mentioned in another book.
(Finding Oz by Evan I. Schwartz)
This was my second time reading this book out loud to my kids. There are some parts that drag a little but it was a fun read. I'm planning to watch the movie with the kiddos in the next couple weeks and then go visit the Oz Museum (somewhere east of Topeka) this spring.
Well, now I can say I read it. It's a very fast read, with very short chapters of rather childishly simplistic conflict/resolution mini-escapades. But I was surprised, since it seems to be such a children's book, that there are so many nonchalant descriptions of the Woodsman chopping people's heads off. Maybe that just shows how much cultural sensitivities have changed in the century since the book was written. Oz is a very imaginative place; I probably would have been captivated by it and it's strange inhabitants if I had been younger when I first read the book. It is very different from the movie, too, but hits on a lot of the same points, (like the wizard giving them things they already had).
4 / 5
this was such an adorable story and i understand why it’s so popular. the whimsical, nonsensical elements really made me feel like i was just a child enjoying the magic of a fairytale. but the logic part of me couldn’t help but try to understand all the illogical parts and metaphors that occurred (uni is really doing a number on me). loved it nonetheless.
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tbr-review:
i’m surprised i haven’t read this before, being such a classic and household name. i think i’ve even watched the play. but no matter, i’m finally getting around to reading it thanks to my uni courses, and i’m actually looking forward to it for once.
this was such an adorable story and i understand why it’s so popular. the whimsical, nonsensical elements really made me feel like i was just a child enjoying the magic of a fairytale. but the logic part of me couldn’t help but try to understand all the illogical parts and metaphors that occurred (uni is really doing a number on me). loved it nonetheless.
//
tbr-review:
i’m surprised i haven’t read this before, being such a classic and household name. i think i’ve even watched the play. but no matter, i’m finally getting around to reading it thanks to my uni courses, and i’m actually looking forward to it for once.
What a fun book to start of 2025! Now that Wicked: Part One is out, I thought it would be fun to read some of the source material for the movie. This book is one of those where I feel like the movie was better than the book. However, there were a few chapters of the book that I was surprised by and wish they were able to adapt it into the movie. “Charming” is the best word to describe this book. The writing (and the simplicity) definitely screams “this was written in 1900” which did take me away from the book but only a tad. I think this one is a classic that everyone should read. Now, I need to watch The Wizard of Oz! Hopefully I can watch it all knowing that it was “snowing” asbestos on set…
It's impossible to read this objectively after watching the film adaptation so many times but I think this is excellent, for the most part. The pacing is all over the place and you can see why all of the later chapters that didn't progress or affect the plot were scrapped for the film.
It's nice to have now read it but I won't be continuing with the other books in the series. I will be reading Wicked, though, in the near future.
It's nice to have now read it but I won't be continuing with the other books in the series. I will be reading Wicked, though, in the near future.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a classic I had never read and decided to read it aloud to my four year old. We just finished it and he said "that was great! Dorothy had a very big adventure". The pace of the novel was just right, as we were able to get to know the characters and feel attachment towards them yet each chapter brought on a new adventure full of surprises. I was a little surprised by some of the violence, there is a bit of head chopping and such, but my little guy handled it surprisingly well. We always talked about what we read before going to sleep so that I could make sure he was comprehending what was going on and that he wasn't frightened. Honestly those concerning moments were brief and not dwelled upon so seemed to hardly notice them at all. I'm glad we read it together as it really captured his interest (he never wanted to stop reading it), had rich vocabulary, and encouraged lots of imagination.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really, it’s Brooke Shields who kept me interested and my intention to learn about an American classic.
i only got about half of the story because i kept falling asleep :) a great chapter at a time bedtime story