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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
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:
Complicated
šš
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of the worst written books I've ever read. I believe if someone tried to describe any of the scenes as concisely as they could, but they had read them from a well written telling, the descriptions would be at least three times the length of the chapters as Baum wrote them.
However, the story is weird and wonderful in a way that kept me going.
However, the story is weird and wonderful in a way that kept me going.
oh i really enjoyed this one short and sweet and perfect lessons that apply no matter your age
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Like so many people, the movie has been part of my life since I'm old enough to actually have a memory of it (literally sitting down with the family on Thanksgiving and watching this back in the 70s are among my first memories) but I have never read the book. Why I would have thought they were similar I have no idea but really in most ways but the most basic they are not.
I found it interesting that Baum's introduction to this said he wanted to write a less violent children's story than the old folktales but in reality he doesn't. It's interesting how many reviewers glibly state Dorothy enters the story with one murder and goes on to commit more. To be fair, her house kills the Wicked Witch of the East (even if the Munchins do credit Dorothy and give her the silver shoes as a trophy which is kinda weird if you think about it). But there is more on page violence. The tinman beheads 40 wolves, the scarecrow wrings the neck of 40 crows and the cowardly lion kills a giant spider (but who cares, it's a giant spider) and Dorothy of course does kill with the Wicked Witch of the West but by accident (having no idea she would melt because who would know that?) and all four do reluctantly take the assassination assignment from Oz himself so there's that. It is not significantly less violent than anything the Grimm brothers wrote.
And man does Kansas not come off well in this. It's gray and ugly and it's people gray and ugly. No seriously, Dorothy's uncle works so hard he doesn't even know how to smile and Aunt Em is so off put by Dorothy's child-like glee at things she often covers her ears and screams. I'm with the Scarecrow who looks at Dorothy and wonders why she would have ever wanted to leave beautiful Oz for the ugliness of Kansas. Dorothy tells him that's because he has no brains which he agrees is a good thing because if everyone was like him, Oz would be crowded and Kansas empty (given my choices, I'd pick Oz, sorry Kansas).
So what are the difference in this from the movie. Many, and without ruining them all, there are not just munchins. Every cardinal direction has some group of people (and a mage) living there. From people made entirely of China to ones with springloaded necks and battering ram heads. The Flying Monkeys are far more interesting in the book than the movie. There are many more trials for Dorothy to face. The Tinman's story is much more tragic and creepy.I know there is supposed to be political subtext but I don't know what it is (I would probably have to read some scholarly work for that).
If you look at Dorothy through today's lens, she is at least a female lead and she doesn't require that much rescuing. In fact the other three credit her for rescuing them and making their dreams come true but it's more about the teamwork. On the other hand, she's also rather flat and seems immune to the magic around her. She never wavers from her desire to go home but never seems to see Oz for how magical it is which was disappointing.
And oh those ruby slippers....that's all Hollywood.
I found it interesting that Baum's introduction to this said he wanted to write a less violent children's story than the old folktales but in reality he doesn't. It's interesting how many reviewers glibly state Dorothy enters the story with one murder and goes on to commit more. To be fair, her house kills the Wicked Witch of the East (even if the Munchins do credit Dorothy and give her the silver shoes as a trophy which is kinda weird if you think about it). But there is more on page violence. The tinman beheads 40 wolves, the scarecrow wrings the neck of 40 crows and the cowardly lion kills a giant spider (but who cares, it's a giant spider) and Dorothy of course does kill with the Wicked Witch of the West but by accident (having no idea she would melt because who would know that?) and all four do reluctantly take the assassination assignment from Oz himself so there's that. It is not significantly less violent than anything the Grimm brothers wrote.
And man does Kansas not come off well in this. It's gray and ugly and it's people gray and ugly. No seriously, Dorothy's uncle works so hard he doesn't even know how to smile and Aunt Em is so off put by Dorothy's child-like glee at things she often covers her ears and screams. I'm with the Scarecrow who looks at Dorothy and wonders why she would have ever wanted to leave beautiful Oz for the ugliness of Kansas. Dorothy tells him that's because he has no brains which he agrees is a good thing because if everyone was like him, Oz would be crowded and Kansas empty (given my choices, I'd pick Oz, sorry Kansas).
So what are the difference in this from the movie. Many, and without ruining them all, there are not just munchins. Every cardinal direction has some group of people (and a mage) living there. From people made entirely of China to ones with springloaded necks and battering ram heads. The Flying Monkeys are far more interesting in the book than the movie. There are many more trials for Dorothy to face. The Tinman's story is much more tragic and creepy.I know there is supposed to be political subtext but I don't know what it is (I would probably have to read some scholarly work for that).
If you look at Dorothy through today's lens, she is at least a female lead and she doesn't require that much rescuing. In fact the other three credit her for rescuing them and making their dreams come true but it's more about the teamwork. On the other hand, she's also rather flat and seems immune to the magic around her. She never wavers from her desire to go home but never seems to see Oz for how magical it is which was disappointing.
And oh those ruby slippers....that's all Hollywood.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While virtually every adult is highly familiar with the film based on this book, I have yet to find one adult who actually read the book as a child even though it was highly influential and popular when it arrived on the literary scene in 1899. It is a fabulous book for older elementary children and those entering middle school, but it was also pleasurable to read as an adult.
The book differs from the film, offering more story content than the film. It also made me appreciate the wonderful actors who interpreted the text so imaginatively. The author worked to create a modern fable that was not scary, but rather promoted character virtues such as teamwork, cooperation, modesty, self-reliance, and more. The illustrations are also delightful and it was a pleasure to realize how closely Hollywood recreated the film characters from these illustrations.
Adults should consider taking another trip down this yellow brick road...
The book differs from the film, offering more story content than the film. It also made me appreciate the wonderful actors who interpreted the text so imaginatively. The author worked to create a modern fable that was not scary, but rather promoted character virtues such as teamwork, cooperation, modesty, self-reliance, and more. The illustrations are also delightful and it was a pleasure to realize how closely Hollywood recreated the film characters from these illustrations.
Adults should consider taking another trip down this yellow brick road...
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes