The Wizard of Oz (Tor Classics) by L. Frank Baum Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.87 You Save: $4.12 (83%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Wizard of Oz (Tor Classics)
Book Review: The Birth of Oz
Summary: 4 Stars
The Oz books were a huge part of my childhood. I never really got into other series that other kids my age liked: Hardy Boys, Box Car Children, Encyclopedia Brown. For some reason, I always preferred the more fantastic stories, which probably heavily influenced my later choices in fantasy and science fiction.
My wife never read the Oz books, and so I talked her into reading them with me. We have no children, but we both still enjoy children's books, and have a collection that we look forward to one day sharing with our children. "The Wizard of Oz" tops that list, for both of us now, with a few caveats.
It is obvious on reading the books that they are from a different world and a different time. I'm not talking about some fictional land somewhere over the rainbow; I'm talking about a time when children were not supposed to be protected from any nastiness or unpleasantness. Anyone who has read the original versions of Grimm's Fairy Tales knows what I'm talking about: beheadings, wars, violence, betrayal, abuse, etc. Some of these are found without apology in the land of Oz, which may shock people whose only other introduction to the world was through Judy Garland. The Tin Woodman is constantly chopping the head off of something, (to protect Dorothy, of course), not to mention the Scarecrow breaking the necks several dozen nefarious crows. Many other differences from the musical are discovered when reading the books: The Cowardly Lion isn't really cowardly, the Tin Woodman has always had a heart, and the Scarecrow is without a doubt the cleverest one in the bunch. I've never understood why the movie ignored these facts, or why the MGM's wizard didn't do as the great Oz in the books, and just give the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion exactly what they asked for: brains, a heart, and courage. This is to say nothing of the annoying fact the "Good Witch" in the movie knew the whole entire time Dorothy could have gone home whenever she wanted.
People who feel children should be protected and shielded at all cost to the "uglier" side of make-believe would do well to stay away from Oz. But individuals who feel a little fantasy, a little humour, and a small pinch of moral make for a fun story enjoyable by kids of all ages should enjoy Oz.
Book Review: There's no place like home
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book recently after reading Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I was very familiar with the movie The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition) but had never got around to reading the book, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.
Read it by yourself or with your child, you will be surprised how different it is from the movie we all know.
Book Review: The Great Adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was a great adventure!! You meet a lot of imaginary creatures and go through the woods through a town made of china and its good for children or adults!!!!!! So if you want your child to read more often give him/her the wizard of oz it will be imposible for your child to stop reading it!!!!!!!!! So if you want to read read read than read the wizard of oz!!!!!!!!!!!ITS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Book Review: the fairy tale of the wizard of oz
Summary: 5 Stars
THE WIZARD OF OZ
The Wizard of Oz is about a girl, Dorothy, who's house was carried up in a cyclone with her and her dog Toto still in it. It turns out she landed in the Land of Oz. She meets some munchkins and a nice witch who tells her to go down the yellow brick road to meet the Great Oz who can get her back to Kansas where she lives. On her journey, she meets bad creatures, and friends who also need to get to Oz. They have some difficulties along the way. Will Dorothy ever get back to Kansas to meet her Aunt Em again?
This book has a clear message that you should keep trying, even if it's hard. Dorothy and her friends keep trying to get to Oz and anywhere else they need to be, even though the challenge is difficult.
This is a great fairy tale. I loved this book! So if you're looking for an exciting fairy tale, read The Wizard Of Oz!
Book Review: A "not so" wonderful wizard of Oz
Summary: 3 Stars
The reason I read this book was because of all the high praise I hear about it. Don't get me wrong the book was wonderfully written for a 5 year old. There were some parts I enjoyed but most parts left me bored and wondering when it will end.Most of you have seen the movie, some of you have seen it many many times. What i'm getting at here is that book was actully worse than the movie. The book has a bunch of different and wierd parts that the movie didn't have.After awhile dorothy get annoying when see keeps complaining that see wants to go home and she seems not to care about anyone exept for her dog toto.
To any child or,parent looking for a book for a child, this book is for you. But to the teenagers and adults that don't enjoy children's books, this book isn't for you. It may seem that i've been harsh on the book but there is some good parts too. Its also a classic so it wouldn't hurt to read this book.