aurinkotuuli's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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
3.0
secre's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was quite amazed at just how poorly I actually remembered this classic tale. Admittedly, it's been many a year since I last saw a film representation and I hadn't previously read the book, but I thought I knew the tale quite well. I really didn't. This is a fun and short read that surprised me at times. I also didn't realise it was a series of novels and may have to look at the remainder of the series which I don't recognise at all. Either way, I enjoyed my brief foray with this classic.
goblin_reaper's review against another edition
4.0
“There is no place like home.”
•
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?”
•
“ ‘If we walk far enough,’ says Dorothy, ‘we shall sometime come to someplace.’ ”
⚔⚔⚔
After getting my curiosity spiked about the world of Dorothy, Oz, Toto, munchkins, and the Wicked Witch of the West (when I watched that one animated adaptation with Tom and Jerry years ago), I was reminded to read the storybook only a few weeks ago when I was reading an article on the world's most expensive shoes (don't ask me how I ended up there from reading an article on cryptocurrency). The article featured the ruby glass slippers used in the original film (1939) and I suddenly wanted to read the book after seeing that. So here I am, a few weeks later, with a review on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
This remarkable classic by L. Frank Baum is a story about a young girl, Dorothy, and her dog, Toto, who are swept away by a cyclone (yes, a cyclone) from their home in Kansas to the Land of Oz. Accompanied by three unusual friends, Dorothy and Toto must travel across marvelous kingdoms and wicked enemies to reach the great wizard, Oz, with whom their fates lie.
The beauty of this story was in its writing's simplicity. The dialogues— funny and almost bordering on silly— had a magic of their own and provided a direct incentive for being a light read.
“No, indeed; I don't know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all.”
This was by far the strangest thing I had heard the day I was reading the book.
⚔⚔⚔
“Whenever I’ve met a man I’ve been awfully scared; but I just roared at him, and he has always run away as fast as he could go.”
“...whenever there is danger, my heart begins to beat fast.’ ‘Perhaps you have heart disease,’ said the Tin Woodman. ’It may be,’ said the Lion.”
Dialogues like these cracked me up and made it very difficult to not laugh like a maniac at 1 am. The peculiar, charming, and humorous dialogues were the main reason I loved this book so much.
“Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man.”
“While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth, but no one can love who has not a heart, …”
“ ‘You people with hearts,’ he said, ‘have something to guide you, …”
“ ‘A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get, …’ ”
Sentences like these came up in the middle and each one managed to surprise me every time. There were a dozen more that are just as clever and funny but I would just spoil the fun for you if I mentioned them all (...no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I am too lazy to type em out, not at all!).
⚔⚔⚔
The truly wonderful (hehe) characters, second only to the dialogues, were what made me fall in love with the story.
The five companions (including Toto) had enough part in the story for a reader to gather enough about their characters. Dorothy, kind heart, fierce nature (blunt, too, sometimes… but it just might be her innocence speaking) and so very clever, stuck to her convictions and goal (to get back to Kansas) till the very end. I loved how the author portrayed the young girl.
Another thing that captured my notice (and interest along with it) was how the Tin Woodman, for one without a heart, seemed to be the most empathetic and compassionate out of all the others.
In context to the Tin Woodman stepping on a beetle and killing it, the narration goes like this—
“This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature; …”
His actions were contradictory to the way he described and thought of himself; if he was more conscious of himself in the absence of a heart, what does this tell? Something I pondered on…
I kind of disliked how the ending with the Wicked Witch of the West, Flying Monkeys, and meeting the wizard, Oz seemed rushed. I would've loved it if it had gone a little slow.
Regardless, I think I might be willing to try the sequel to this delightfully wicked story.
•
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?”
•
“ ‘If we walk far enough,’ says Dorothy, ‘we shall sometime come to someplace.’ ”
⚔⚔⚔
After getting my curiosity spiked about the world of Dorothy, Oz, Toto, munchkins, and the Wicked Witch of the West (when I watched that one animated adaptation with Tom and Jerry years ago), I was reminded to read the storybook only a few weeks ago when I was reading an article on the world's most expensive shoes (don't ask me how I ended up there from reading an article on cryptocurrency). The article featured the ruby glass slippers used in the original film (1939) and I suddenly wanted to read the book after seeing that. So here I am, a few weeks later, with a review on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
This remarkable classic by L. Frank Baum is a story about a young girl, Dorothy, and her dog, Toto, who are swept away by a cyclone (yes, a cyclone) from their home in Kansas to the Land of Oz. Accompanied by three unusual friends, Dorothy and Toto must travel across marvelous kingdoms and wicked enemies to reach the great wizard, Oz, with whom their fates lie.
The beauty of this story was in its writing's simplicity. The dialogues— funny and almost bordering on silly— had a magic of their own and provided a direct incentive for being a light read.
“No, indeed; I don't know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all.”
This was by far the strangest thing I had heard the day I was reading the book.
⚔⚔⚔
“Whenever I’ve met a man I’ve been awfully scared; but I just roared at him, and he has always run away as fast as he could go.”
“...whenever there is danger, my heart begins to beat fast.’ ‘Perhaps you have heart disease,’ said the Tin Woodman. ’It may be,’ said the Lion.”
Dialogues like these cracked me up and made it very difficult to not laugh like a maniac at 1 am. The peculiar, charming, and humorous dialogues were the main reason I loved this book so much.
“Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man.”
“While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth, but no one can love who has not a heart, …”
“ ‘You people with hearts,’ he said, ‘have something to guide you, …”
“ ‘A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get, …’ ”
Sentences like these came up in the middle and each one managed to surprise me every time. There were a dozen more that are just as clever and funny but I would just spoil the fun for you if I mentioned them all (...no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I am too lazy to type em out, not at all!).
⚔⚔⚔
The truly wonderful (hehe) characters, second only to the dialogues, were what made me fall in love with the story.
The five companions (including Toto) had enough part in the story for a reader to gather enough about their characters. Dorothy, kind heart, fierce nature (blunt, too, sometimes… but it just might be her innocence speaking) and so very clever, stuck to her convictions and goal (to get back to Kansas) till the very end. I loved how the author portrayed the young girl.
Another thing that captured my notice (and interest along with it) was how the Tin Woodman, for one without a heart, seemed to be the most empathetic and compassionate out of all the others.
In context to the Tin Woodman stepping on a beetle and killing it, the narration goes like this—
“This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature; …”
His actions were contradictory to the way he described and thought of himself; if he was more conscious of himself in the absence of a heart, what does this tell? Something I pondered on…
I kind of disliked how the ending with the Wicked Witch of the West, Flying Monkeys, and meeting the wizard, Oz seemed rushed. I would've loved it if it had gone a little slow.
Regardless, I think I might be willing to try the sequel to this delightfully wicked story.
hoole95's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
briannelaurie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
It’s perfect, truly. Even better than the movie ❤️.
moonpeaches's review against another edition
4.0
Great comfort read! Made me feel like a child and hopeful again - I can't believe "there's place like home" is a movie lie
chandranolynne's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
I read this book in one sitting today, and to absolutely nobody's surprise, I adored it! I'm so sad that I waited this long to read this wonderful book! I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time. It was cute and clever with great characters and an exciting adventure. I do wish that I had read this before I got into the Wicked Years series by Gregory Maguire. Before this, my knowledge of The Wizard of Oz came from the Judy Garland movie and The Wiz, and I really thought that a lot of the names of people and places throughout Wicked were made up by Maguire. I was pleasantly surprised to find several of them in this book! I'm also surprised that Tim Burton hasn't adapted this into a movie! I can see it in my head already.... Anyway, I realize I'm bunny trailing here so I'll wrap it up by saying I absolutely loved this book, and I already have the next three on hold at my library. The real question is, is the rest of the series worth it, or is there a reason that the first book is the only really famous one?
vanessa_issa's review against another edition
5.0
O Mágico de Oz faz parte da minha vida. Sempre tive muito carinho por esses personagens. Amo o filme, tive alguns outros livrinhos, mas essa foi a primeira vez que li a obra original. Apesar de ser diferente do que eu conhecia, é uma obra linda, com uma mensagem que ainda irá encantar muitas gerações futuras.
A edição da Darkside tá maravilhosa!
A edição da Darkside tá maravilhosa!