A review by jasonmar
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
2.0
When I finished book 3 (Ozma of Oz), which I enjoyed very much, I wondered if that might be the pinnacle of the series and book 4 makes me wonder that even more.
There wasn’t really a plot to this book—just a road trip with Dorothy and the Wizard and some new characters and a series of encounters with various people and creatures. The last five or six chapters were just padding—recapping the first three books and then random chapters about the new characters. I skimmed a good portion of that.
The most irritating part of this book was how Baum completely rewrote what had been established in book 2 about the Wizard’s involvement in Ozma’s kidnapping. I guess Baum decided he wanted the Wizard back as a character and decided to ignore the fact that the Wizard had conspired with a witch to kidnap Ozma so he could have the throne of Oz.
Also, and I feel sort of guilty saying this, but I think I don’t like Dorothy.
Ranked from favorite to least, up to this point in the series:
1. Ozma of Oz
2. The Land of Oz
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*
4. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
*I’m kind of relieved that I didn’t care for DatWiO. I’m happy that the original classic book isn’t at the bottom of my list anymore.
There wasn’t really a plot to this book—just a road trip with Dorothy and the Wizard and some new characters and a series of encounters with various people and creatures. The last five or six chapters were just padding—recapping the first three books and then random chapters about the new characters. I skimmed a good portion of that.
The most irritating part of this book was how Baum completely rewrote what had been established in book 2 about the Wizard’s involvement in Ozma’s kidnapping. I guess Baum decided he wanted the Wizard back as a character and decided to ignore the fact that the Wizard had conspired with a witch to kidnap Ozma so he could have the throne of Oz.
Also, and I feel sort of guilty saying this, but I think I don’t like Dorothy.
Ranked from favorite to least, up to this point in the series:
1. Ozma of Oz
2. The Land of Oz
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*
4. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
*I’m kind of relieved that I didn’t care for DatWiO. I’m happy that the original classic book isn’t at the bottom of my list anymore.