The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

One of the best-known stories in American culture, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over 100 years. Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married, Alice In Wonderland), fresh from filming one of this year's most anticipated films, The Dark Knight Rises, lends her voice to this uniquely American fairy tale.

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as they get swept away into the magical land of Oz , where they encounter characters and places you may remember from the movie - and several more that never made it to the big screen - on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City.

"It's such a wonderful book and I was so happy to be a part of bringing it to life", Ms. Hathaway said. "There are a lot of great voices in it. The more fun you have with it, the sillier and the more free you get with it, the better it is because it's a story that can handle it. It's amazing to be able to discover something new about something you feel you know so well."

My Review:



It's the actual story of The Wizard of Oz. Of course it's filled with magical adventures, mystery, dreams, friendship, and a little bit of evil. Like most novels turned to films, the book was way better - from the portrayal of the Scarecrow, The Tinman, and The Lion to the ending - Dorothy was not dreaming about Oz, but actually navigating the mystical land. I mostly enjoyed the back stories of Dorothy's friends (most heartbreakingly The Tinman's). I also heard a lot more tie-in's with the newer film about Oz, including the Porcelain Town, etc. I would definitely recommend this book to any child interested in a fun fantasy.

Favorite Quotes:

“Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.”

“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?”

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others”

“It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool.”

“True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid...”

Read on January 30, 2014

Top 5 Genres*: Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews