Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Henry Avila's Reviews > The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
5431458
's review

really liked it

Dorothy (from Kansas wherever that is) lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on the flat American prairie, the harsh Sun beating down from the gray sky making everything turn gray ... the gray grass, house, clothes and especially the people, animals are probably gray too might seem the least likely place that she visits that is real. No trees, brooks beautiful birds singing or anything colorful around the poor farm. But our adventures begin when a tornado lifts unlucky Dorothy , her dog Toto and only friend, while inside their small one room house up into the swirling, whistling ominous black sky, scared Aunt Em in the cellar ( a dark hole in the ground under the floor) hiding and Uncle Henry outside taking care of the frightened farm animals. The little girl is all alone with her dog as the strong winds of the storm takes her higher and higher always going above and further from Dorothy's loved ones, which is the blood relative is strangely never stated . After countless hours pass she falls asleep on her bed. Awakening by a loud noise the house crashing down on the ground the next day terrifying Dorothy ... opening slowly the door she is stunned, all is beautiful... brilliant colors green grass a lovely stream gorgeous flowers, trees with delicious fruit hanging on their branches birds sweetly singing everywhere her eyes can see, blue skies. But weird quite small people are timidly coming towards Dorothy (they think she is a horrible , powerful witch) the juvenile feels uneasy looking fully grown , like the Munchkins yet still a little girl's size ...they welcome her to this wonderland. And thanking the girl for their freedom by killing the wicked Witch of the East whose body lies underneath the house. The pretty Witch of the North and is good also, unheard of (news spreads quickly in the Land of Oz) gives Dorothy the magical silver shoes of the dead sorceress. The farm girl wants to get back home to Kansas, asks directions nobody knows it but all tell Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City where the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz, presumably lives and rules. Trouble is people never see the terrible wizard but he is the only one who can help Dorothy get back . On the long journey the young girl and Toto meet the brainless failure the Scarecrow, stuck on a pole the Tin Woodman rusting outside in a forest ( tin doesn't rust), the Cowardly Lion attacking the group on the road and afterwards crying, all join Dorothy on her impossible quest for a brain a heart and courage ( the joke of this story is, that every traveler already has them, even Dorothy's wish can be easily achieved). Wide ditches have to be jumped wild animals fought rivers crossed, ugly flying monkeys, bees, poisonous blue, red, yellow, white and purple flowers thick gloomy forests, strange people some unfriendly and not made of flesh ( the evil dreadful Witch of the West in her impenetrable, dismal castle but that is later), must be overcome to reach the fabulous Emerald City. They have a secret weapon Toto is not afraid of anything ... he can look behind the curtain.
127 likes ·  âˆ� flag

Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Sign In »

Reading Progress

August 6, 2014 – Shelved
August 6, 2014 – Shelved as: to-read
August 19, 2014 – Started Reading
August 26, 2014 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-25 of 25 (25 new)

dateDown arrow    newest »

Henry Avila I am,Lada.


Joey So did I, Henry. I felt like a child again when I read it. ^^


message 3: by Henry (last edited Aug 26, 2014 04:36AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila So, did I,see why this classic is still read more than a century later, the characters are so likable, most of them...


Tanvir Ahmed Have u seen the movie?the movie also considered as a classic


Henry Avila Everyone has, so many times, they say it is the most seen film, in history!


message 6: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Flanagan in Vancouver (Canada) the used to play the movie every new years eve for like 20 years. wonder if they still do..


message 7: by Henry (last edited Aug 26, 2014 11:10PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila It is on basic cable,TBS, in the U.S.,several times a year,Kelly.


Aditi Wow, Henry really so enticing review just like the book :)


message 9: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Flanagan lol the last year I went to watch they had replaced it with the Michael Jackson version. Don't think we watched the next year.


message 10: by Henry (last edited Aug 27, 2014 01:13AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila Aditi wrote: "Wow, Henry really so enticing review just like the book :)"

Aditi, I am surprised how entertaining this book was,the enjoyable characters make it so.


Henry Avila Don't forget Return to Oz,the sequel, made many years after the original, quite good,Kelly.


message 12: by Zoeytron (new)

Zoeytron Your review was a wonderland, Henry. Excellent!


Henry Avila I thank you,so sincerely Zoeytron...


message 14: by Kelly (last edited Aug 27, 2014 04:50PM) (new)

Kelly Flanagan who was in the return to Oz? I don't think I've ever seen it, but I've always been books over t.v. or movies
I imagine the book is way better than the movie, even allowing for it being a great classic?


Henry Avila Return to Oz, made in 1985,starring a then newcomer, Fairuza Balk,as Dorothy, Piper Laurie as Aunt Em, also Nichol Williamson. I liked it, Kelly.


Cherie Haven't seen the return movie, but we watch the original movie every year at Thanksgiving. It is always on TV. I can remember watching it on our family's first TV in 1956 when I was 5. My sister cried every time the witch came on.

I only read the book once.


Henry Avila Like I said the most seen film in history,going from black and white to color was genius, but it was done in the book also, Cherie!


Cherie Henry, I guess I need to do a re-read!

We didn't get a color TV until I was in High School. I definitely remember seeing the color transition for the first time. It was so magical! It is one of our family's "Do you remember when..." moments.


message 19: by Henry (last edited Aug 28, 2014 05:36PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila Yes, Cherie,life is in color... Kelly, both film and book are great, it's hard to say which is better. The book being much longer, has more adventures and information.And the film's unique, talented stars , at the top of their careers.


message 20: by Dolors (new)

Dolors Loved the contrasting description of the dull farm as opposed to the explosion of magic and color of wonderland. Another novel I have neglected because of the film adaptation...great review Henry!


message 21: by Henry (last edited Aug 30, 2014 07:13AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila Dolors, great to "talk" to you again and thanks as always for your kindness.The book is naturally longer than the film( both are splendid), more adventures, people , creatures , and places visited. And we learn about the characters backgrounds.


message 22: by Florence (Lefty) (last edited Aug 30, 2014 01:19PM) (new)

Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh Kelly wrote: "in Vancouver (Canada) the used to play the movie every new years eve for like 20 years. wonder if they still do.."

Hi Kelly, I live in Vancouver, and yes they still do! It just never gets old.
Hi Henry, great review as always, I've always wondered how the book compared to the film.


Henry Avila Florence, the book is different, the Wicked Witch of the West, doesn't come on the scene, until later.And her role is smaller than in the film.I thank you, as always.


message 24: by Rebecca (new) - added it

Rebecca This seems like a recap of the 1939 movie, not a review of the book.


Henry Avila I read the book and it is similar to film.


back to top