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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Violence
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
This is my first Oz book other than The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which i read an innumerable amount when i was younger. having not read Baum's first Oz work since i would read it every time I was in the car, over and over, The Emerald City of Oz is a surprise. The Wizard of Oz, while also a book in which Dorothy explores the land of Oz, still had an influential plot--Dorothy had a quest: find the wizard in order to get home. In The Emerald City of Oz, Dorothy, at this point a regular ozlander, introduces her wageslave farmer family to the city, and so goes on a road trip with them and a few of her friends she met after the events of the first novel. it's delightful and funny and mindbogglingly imaginative, and reminiscent of Dorothy's adventures in the first novel, where every resident she meets is new. Dorothy remains a wonderful children's protagonist, perfectly encapsulating that paradoxical childish aspect of curious open-mindedness and utter faith in her own opinions and beliefs.
Baum and Ende both have these adored child emperors--for Baum, Ozma, for Ende, the Childlike Empress--and both of them rule their respective lands with compassionate laissez-faire. Most of the residents of Oz are directly impacted more by Glinda, who magics them, than they do Ozma, whom they adore. More curious than these wise largely uninvolved young women who rule are the ways in which they justify their ruling styles. In both The Neverending Story and this particular issue of Oz, it's explicit that the evilness of some of the creatures is a feature of the fairylands; it will not be addressed or punished. The one who enacts any sort of "justice," especially of a punitive kind, is Dorothy, and to some extent, the Wizard. They bring from the United States their ideas of right and wrong, and, more importantly, how they deal with those issues. Being from the States, their first response is punishment. In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the punishment for the Wicked Witch of the West is death, brought on by the Wizard and held as a prerequisite for Dorothy's way home. However, Ozma doesn't respond to her subjects in that way. the residents of Oz are held to a different standard altogether. They are living beings whose evil is not their fault, just as her goodness is not hers.
Maybe it's not the most morally superior view, but I do love that in a fantasy novel--a children's fantasy novel--morality is specifically not the point. If anything, Baum prefers to impart manners, a way of interacting with others that makes them not viciously uncomfortable, which is very funny.
Idk there's an article here comparing the overarching moral views of Baum and Ende, and how hands-off it is, how willing to take the evil with the good without really every condemning...
the book is good though i highly recommend it, and more than even the book, i recommend baum's beautiful note to his readers at the beginning, thanking them for their contributions to the marvelous land of oz. this edition as well, by Dover, is really lovely with wellbound pages and an extremely vibrant cover at nearly 40 years old. the illustrations by Jno R. Neill look like rolling smoke on the page, fluid and yet solid, and perfect for Oz.
Baum and Ende both have these adored child emperors--for Baum, Ozma, for Ende, the Childlike Empress--and both of them rule their respective lands with compassionate laissez-faire. Most of the residents of Oz are directly impacted more by Glinda, who magics them, than they do Ozma, whom they adore. More curious than these wise largely uninvolved young women who rule are the ways in which they justify their ruling styles. In both The Neverending Story and this particular issue of Oz, it's explicit that the evilness of some of the creatures is a feature of the fairylands; it will not be addressed or punished. The one who enacts any sort of "justice," especially of a punitive kind, is Dorothy, and to some extent, the Wizard. They bring from the United States their ideas of right and wrong, and, more importantly, how they deal with those issues. Being from the States, their first response is punishment. In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the punishment for the Wicked Witch of the West is death, brought on by the Wizard and held as a prerequisite for Dorothy's way home. However, Ozma doesn't respond to her subjects in that way. the residents of Oz are held to a different standard altogether. They are living beings whose evil is not their fault, just as her goodness is not hers.
Maybe it's not the most morally superior view, but I do love that in a fantasy novel--a children's fantasy novel--morality is specifically not the point. If anything, Baum prefers to impart manners, a way of interacting with others that makes them not viciously uncomfortable, which is very funny.
Idk there's an article here comparing the overarching moral views of Baum and Ende, and how hands-off it is, how willing to take the evil with the good without really every condemning...
the book is good though i highly recommend it, and more than even the book, i recommend baum's beautiful note to his readers at the beginning, thanking them for their contributions to the marvelous land of oz. this edition as well, by Dover, is really lovely with wellbound pages and an extremely vibrant cover at nearly 40 years old. the illustrations by Jno R. Neill look like rolling smoke on the page, fluid and yet solid, and perfect for Oz.
The Friday the 13th Part 4 of the Oz series. I love that Baum tried to absolutely unequivocally end the series right here. Not so fast, cookie man!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one felt up to the level of the first couple books. The story was well crafted, the stakes were high. It wrapped things up well (though I know Baum was pushed to keep writing the books).
The characters worked well in this one. I especially loved seeing Uncle Henry and Aunt Em dealing with Oz.
Overall, this was a delight!
The characters worked well in this one. I especially loved seeing Uncle Henry and Aunt Em dealing with Oz.
Overall, this was a delight!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One of my top favorites from the series! I love the Gnome King as a villan. I loved the punishing amount of puns! The new cast of characters made for excellent fun, the Cuttenclips, Utensia, and Bunnybury all made it a real adventure! And to top it off it is cannon that the people of Oz are not Ozians, but Ozites!
Quotable Quotations 🗣 📢
“Look at him as you do at me when I’m late to dinner.” Aunt Em turned upon the Lion a determined countenance and a wild dilated eye. She glared at the immense beast steadily, and the Lion, who had been quietly blinking at them, began to appear uneasy and disturbed.
"To be angry once in a while is really good fun, because it makes others so miserable. But to be angry morning, noon and night, as I am, grows monotonous and prevents my gaining any other pleasure in life."
"In this world in which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wands that work wonders."
"People often do a good deed without hope of reward, but for an evil deed they always demand payment."
"...it is folly for us to try to appear otherwise than as nature has made us."
"...it seems to me the Land of Oz is a little ahead of the United States in some of its laws. For here, if one can’t talk clearly, and straight to the point, they send him to Rigmarole Town; while Uncle Sam lets him roam around wild and free, to torture innocent people."
"No one has the right to destroy any living creatures, however evil they may be, or to hurt them or make them unhappy. I will not fight, even to save my kingdom."
"The reason most people are bad is because they do not try to be good. Now, the Nome King had never tried to be good, so he was very bad indeed."
"All your troubles are due to those 'ifs'," declared the Wizard.
"As these two officials took their places, Dorothy asked: "Why is the colander the High Priest?" "He's the holiest thing we have in the kingdom," replied King Kleaver. "Except me," said a sieve. "I'm the whole thing when it comes to holes."
“I wish there wasn’t a saucepan in my kingdom,” he said. “You fellows are always stewing, over something, and every once in a while you slop over and make a mess of it. Go hang yourself, sir--by the handle." 🤣
"She decided that whenever she spoke, after this, she would use only enough words to express what she wanted to say."
“Do ‘ifs’ really make Flutterbudgets?”
“I think the ‘ifs’ help,” he answered seriously. “Foolish fears, and worries over nothing, with a mixture of nerves and ifs, will soon make a Flutterbudget of any one.”
“When we try to deceive people we always make mistakes."
Quotable Quotations 🗣 📢
“Look at him as you do at me when I’m late to dinner.” Aunt Em turned upon the Lion a determined countenance and a wild dilated eye. She glared at the immense beast steadily, and the Lion, who had been quietly blinking at them, began to appear uneasy and disturbed.
"To be angry once in a while is really good fun, because it makes others so miserable. But to be angry morning, noon and night, as I am, grows monotonous and prevents my gaining any other pleasure in life."
"In this world in which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wands that work wonders."
"People often do a good deed without hope of reward, but for an evil deed they always demand payment."
"...it is folly for us to try to appear otherwise than as nature has made us."
"...it seems to me the Land of Oz is a little ahead of the United States in some of its laws. For here, if one can’t talk clearly, and straight to the point, they send him to Rigmarole Town; while Uncle Sam lets him roam around wild and free, to torture innocent people."
"No one has the right to destroy any living creatures, however evil they may be, or to hurt them or make them unhappy. I will not fight, even to save my kingdom."
"The reason most people are bad is because they do not try to be good. Now, the Nome King had never tried to be good, so he was very bad indeed."
"All your troubles are due to those 'ifs'," declared the Wizard.
"As these two officials took their places, Dorothy asked: "Why is the colander the High Priest?" "He's the holiest thing we have in the kingdom," replied King Kleaver. "Except me," said a sieve. "I'm the whole thing when it comes to holes."
“I wish there wasn’t a saucepan in my kingdom,” he said. “You fellows are always stewing, over something, and every once in a while you slop over and make a mess of it. Go hang yourself, sir--by the handle." 🤣
"She decided that whenever she spoke, after this, she would use only enough words to express what she wanted to say."
“Do ‘ifs’ really make Flutterbudgets?”
“I think the ‘ifs’ help,” he answered seriously. “Foolish fears, and worries over nothing, with a mixture of nerves and ifs, will soon make a Flutterbudget of any one.”
“When we try to deceive people we always make mistakes."
lighthearted
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No