The Wizard of Oz

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully imaginative, but for children only
Review: The movie based on this book has so eclipsed the novel in the mind of the general public that it's difficult to review the book on its own.

The book isn't a musical, obviously, and it has spectacles and scenes which could never have been brought to the screen at the time it was published. Also, the land of Oz has more of a culture and political atmosphere than the film makes note of.

That being said, this book is a wild ride through the imagination of Frank L. Baum, with elements from our world transformed in bizarre ways that could never have been anticipated. The entire idea of a talking scarecrow is brilliantly imaginative, if you think about it, as is the cowardly talking lion, the winged monkeys, and the magical field of flowers which puts the adventurers to sleep.

Oz is a wonderland unlike any other, and children will delight in the magical surprises that lurk around every bend in the yellow brick road. The special magic of this extensive series is that despite the magic suffusing every nook and cranny of Oz, there are familiar objects and creature from our world that keep us grounded.

However, the older you are, the less you will enjoy this book, because it has some pretty serious flaws by modern standards.

The language has become quite dated, and the goody-goody dialogue can be jarring to someone who has grown used to a more modern approach. If this book were released today, I don't believe it would ever enjoy the type of success that it did then.

Luckily, this book is written for the children, who can generally forgive the fact that characters talk a little strangely (as long as it's consistent, which is it), and the sometimes clunky plot turns.

For a child, the focus will be on the King of Mice, or the terrible Kalidah, just two of the magical creatures that escaped the screenplay for the movie. Baum's flights of fancy are so eccentric that children will be fascinated by the wonders they encounter.


Rating:
Summary: First step on a yellow brick road
Review: I'm sure we all know the story of Dorothy and her journey to Oz. This is similar to the movie, but there is much more. Expect new exciting adventures and characters. And the best part is this series is just beginning! Read the entire series of Oz books by L. Frank Baum, and you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: The Wizard of Oz Review
Review:
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum. I thought the plot was magical. I enjoyed that the book was a fantasy, and the it brings you to a completely different world. The theme of the book was interesting because it has never been done before. In class, we identified with the theme of following your own path to enlightenment. The characters in the book were very unique. Dorothy, Toto, the Lion, the Tin woodsman, and the Scarecrow have all different personalities. I loved that the characters persevered in their journey to get what they wanted from the Wizard.


Rating:
Summary: You Must Earn To Claim What You Want
Review: The Wizard of Oz is a well-made children's literature and very American fairy tale.

Oz's answer to Dorothy and her companion is quite a right one.
To win "hearts", "brains" and "courage" and "returning to home" they should make efforts and do something worthwhile. Unlike European fairy tales use of magic power is quite restrained or limited. Even Dorothy wearing her magic boots and hat, the writer made her unaware of the effect. Power, strength or ability you need to make a living is not something automatically confered upon from the witch nor wizard. Through a number of adventures they eventually earn rights to claim what they desire.

The storyline and the moral of the story quite fit the founding principles of America and presented to the child in such a charming manner. The movie in 1939 based on this story is also impressive and can be recommendable.

Rating:
Summary: A Halloween Classic ...
Review: For those of us who've seen the movie umpteen times, this retelling of the classic tale is actually fresh and worth the read ... (witch, by the way, isn't easy .....)