Lara's Wanderings

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ, as with so many books, is much better than the movie. I am honestly surprised how many of my reviews start this way. First of all, I didn’t realize I had seen so many movies, but secondly, I am ashamed that movies are the way I have often been introduced to good literature. I find movies are like soup made from leftover steak. Why eat the soup when you can have the steak?

Baum intended The Wonderful Wizard of OZ to be an American fairy tale, and I believe he accomplished his goal. The story follows a little girl named Dorthy and her dog, Toto, to the land of OZ. They make friends and battle evil witches before returning home. Unlike the movie, this isn’t a dream but something that really happens to her.

The book moves much faster than the movie, which I really enjoy. The ending is also longer and brings more resolution to Dorthy’s friends. They experience many little adventures on their journey, which shows an irony that they actually already have that which they are searching for. I found it fun and delightful to read about the characters’ backstories. Unlike many adult readers who need explanations on why everything in the world works as it does, a child just enjoys the arbitrary magic of fairy tales. I guess this is what I love about children’s books. This book creates that wonderful, magical sense that children love. I was transported into the realm of dreams and whimsy in which good character actually matters.

I really enjoyed how simple the motivations of the characters were. They stayed focused on their goals and still remained faithful to each other no matter what happened to them. The world was filled with many different kinds of magical people with all sorts of impossible things happening to them. It was fun in the same way as playing make-believe with a group of young children. In their world, magic systems aren’t an issue. Magic doesn’t need a “why,” and I find that refreshing. I bring this up because I saw some reviewers who rolled their eyes at the various incidents in the book. It was too bad that they lost their child-like imagination. Focusing on the “why” misses so much from a good story and good character development.

I recommend this book to readers of all ages. I would even read this book out loud to children too young to read. Even though it works for young readers, I don’t think anyone could outgrow a book like this unless they become too serious-minded to enjoy a game of make-believe.

Check out my young adult fantasy fiction novels HERE for something optimistic and fun.

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