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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, an American classic, as a grown adult and out of pure curiosity.
One of the funnier and more outstanding phrases in the Wizard of Oz was: Dorothy is determined to go home and shall not be deterred by flying monkeys, bats, witches or other strange creatures. Confidence and determination in our actions is key to success, we must forge ahead no matter what and we should never give up.
How bittersweet is little Dorothy wishing to leave all the grandeur of the Land of Oz behind to go back home to very little in Kansas! The longing to go back home is no stranger to any of us. One’s heart’s desire is no further away than their own back yard? While it sounds sentimental and sweet, that has not been my heart’s desire. My own back yard has never had enough to fulfill my travel-loving, world-trotting, adventure-seeking heart.
However, if it is a return to a place where we grew up and formed our childhood memories, then who am I to disagree? I who would give anything to be able to set foot in the beautiful house and gardens that I grew up in Iran. I who reminisce about my childhood years and imagine a return home someday more often than I care to admit. A return to a place I formed those early memories of childhood is a bitter longing. For that reference and that only, I liked the Wizard of Oz.
One of the funnier and more outstanding phrases in the Wizard of Oz was: Dorothy is determined to go home and shall not be deterred by flying monkeys, bats, witches or other strange creatures. Confidence and determination in our actions is key to success, we must forge ahead no matter what and we should never give up.
How bittersweet is little Dorothy wishing to leave all the grandeur of the Land of Oz behind to go back home to very little in Kansas! The longing to go back home is no stranger to any of us. One’s heart’s desire is no further away than their own back yard? While it sounds sentimental and sweet, that has not been my heart’s desire. My own back yard has never had enough to fulfill my travel-loving, world-trotting, adventure-seeking heart.
However, if it is a return to a place where we grew up and formed our childhood memories, then who am I to disagree? I who would give anything to be able to set foot in the beautiful house and gardens that I grew up in Iran. I who reminisce about my childhood years and imagine a return home someday more often than I care to admit. A return to a place I formed those early memories of childhood is a bitter longing. For that reference and that only, I liked the Wizard of Oz.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-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
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not sure the obsession with going back to Kansas. Toto needs serious training. My fave is the Lion, he’s a diva.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
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
adventurous
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I always thought I'd read this before, but I guess not. I have of course seen the classic movie many times (my sister watched it something like twice a day for several months while growing up), but it was interesting to see which aspects came directly from the book and which were altered or not included. I'm not sure if I would want to read this to my kids, as some parts were quite complex and involved and others could potentially be scary. It's funny to me that Baum says in his introduction that he wanted to write a fairy tale that wasn't as dark as those of Grimm and Anderson, and while that's certainly the case, this book has some parts that you would never see in today's children's books (such as the Scarecrow essentially getting dismembered). As far as classics go, this is a enjoyable story, but it's not a children's book I'm eager to share or re-read.