The Wizard of Oz Book Review
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Book Name: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author Name: L. Frank Baum
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: May 17, 1900
Page Number: 154 Pages
Artist Name: W.W. Denslow
Review:
One moment she’s at home in Kansas, the next she is in the beautiful land of Oz! The magical country is full of beauty and magic, but all Dorothy wants to do is go back home to her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. So, with the blessing of the Good Witch of the North, Dorothy sets out on a journey to the Emerald City. Along the way, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Each wants something and all hope the Great Wizard of Oz can give it to them; the Scarecrow's brains, the Tin Man a heart, and the Cowardly Lion's courage. Along the way, they must face horrible beasts, giant chasms, and the deadly poppy fields. Finally, they make it to the Emerald City, but will the Wizard grant them each their wish?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz might only be 154 pages, but it has so much more happening in those pages than was shown in the 1939 film. Such as how Glinda the Good Witch of the South does not appear at the Emerald City after the wizard leaves, Dorothy and her friends travel to her kingdom in the South, and the winged monkeys are not under the complete control of the Wicked Witch of the West; they are cursed to a golden cap and once they are given 3 commands, they are free. The only well-known difference between the book and the film is the magic shoes Dorothy wears. In the book, the shoes are silver, while in the movie they are ruby. Why? To show off the stunning effect of technicolor! So, to take full advantage of this they decided to make the shoes ruby red.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a fun and cute book. All the events not in the 1939 movie make this worth reading alone, as it feels almost like an entirely different story. The imagination in creating this lore is interesting to read, even if it is simplistic because it is aimed at a young audience. Like how the Scarecrow tells the story of how he was created and the reason why he wants brains. The author Baum intended this to be a fairy tale for children growing up in the 1900s and I believe he succeeded.
The main problem I had with this book was the constant repeat of dialogue by the characters. Every time an obstacle gets in the way of Dorothy and her friends, they each have to say if they don’t find a way through they will not get what they wish for. It gets on one's nerves very quickly and I found myself skipping these parts toward the end. Also, since this was written in 1900 there is language used in this book that has a different meaning today. All in all, I feel this is a sweet and short book, perfect for anyone wanting a quick read. I give The Wonderful Wizard of Oz a four out of five!
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