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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
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:
Yes
Why yes, this is my first time reading this. And no, I don't live under a rock (or a house in this case). The story and its characters are lovely and charming. There's a reason this one continues to resonate. Thankful for the escape and lore this book has created for so many.
I have to be honest, this book was not what I was expecting. It was very dark. I actually did a quick Google search to double check it was written for children (it says 12 and up!).
While the main elements of the plot are the same from the movie we all know so well - the yellow brick road, the trip to Oz and its mysterious Wizard, the death of the witch under Dorothy's house, and of course, the four main characters (and Toto!) - a LOT was different too. We didn't meet the Good Witch until the very end of the book. The shoes aren't red! There's a lot more violence. The Witch doesn't go searching for Dorothy and her friends until they reach her land, etc. This is one of the very rare cases where I think I have to say, I liked the movie better. (Of course, I'm comparing the story I've known for decades to the one I just read..)
This was a very quick read (and easy to get through) and of course, featured classic characters, but the next time I'm thinking about Oz, I'll catch the movie.
*I read this as part of the 2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge - "Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading Challenge"- 2018 Challenge - "A Childhood Classic You've Never Read"
While the main elements of the plot are the same from the movie we all know so well - the yellow brick road, the trip to Oz and its mysterious Wizard, the death of the witch under Dorothy's house, and of course, the four main characters (and Toto!) - a LOT was different too. We didn't meet the Good Witch until the very end of the book. The shoes aren't red! There's a lot more violence. The Witch doesn't go searching for Dorothy and her friends until they reach her land, etc. This is one of the very rare cases where I think I have to say, I liked the movie better. (Of course, I'm comparing the story I've known for decades to the one I just read..)
This was a very quick read (and easy to get through) and of course, featured classic characters, but the next time I'm thinking about Oz, I'll catch the movie.
*I read this as part of the 2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge - "Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading Challenge"- 2018 Challenge - "A Childhood Classic You've Never Read"
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I promise I didn’t forget about or otherwise abandon the #popsugarreadingchallenge2019! I am still in-progress with LONESOME DOVE, which I very much want to finish this year. I’ve just been busy with Christmas and soooo tired, so not reading much. But! Ingrid and I finished L. Frank Baum’s THE WIZARD OF OZ this week, which was my pick for Prompt 9a, “A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom” (“There’s no place like home!”). Dorothy doesn’t say this in the novel, but it’s cool. Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, docking one because the ending is rushed and the whole thing has pacing issues, although my daughter didn’t mind. I loved this series as a kid and have had the paperback set for 30 years, so now it’s her turn. #tjgreads2019 #raisingareader
What an absolute delight and so much better than the movie, which was a much loved movie from my childhood. I made the mistake of assuming that this was a case of a movie enhancing the book, and I was completely wrong.
Currently filing a lawsuit with the Childhood Experience Department: Wondrous Fictional Classics Division over the fact that I didn't read this until I was a full-on adult.
I love children's classics because they feel like eating candy that's good for you. They're sweet and fun and often magical but also written all old-timey so it counts are reading Classic Literature and it makes your brain bigger, guaranteed.
So I'm glad (as with Anne of Green Gables) that I got around to this one eventually...but what the hell was child-me doing that kept me reading this off the agenda? I had no friends, was a huge nerd, and read all the time. (Some things never change.) There's no excuse.
Anyway.
Bottom line: A delight for all ages and times!
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currently-reading updates
anyone else have this sneaking suspicion we're not in kansas anymore?
I love children's classics because they feel like eating candy that's good for you. They're sweet and fun and often magical but also written all old-timey so it counts are reading Classic Literature and it makes your brain bigger, guaranteed.
So I'm glad (as with Anne of Green Gables) that I got around to this one eventually...but what the hell was child-me doing that kept me reading this off the agenda? I had no friends, was a huge nerd, and read all the time. (Some things never change.) There's no excuse.
Anyway.
Bottom line: A delight for all ages and times!
----------------
currently-reading updates
anyone else have this sneaking suspicion we're not in kansas anymore?
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated