Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Pages: 160
Publisher: Project Gutenberg
Copyright: 1993 (1900)
Format: Ebook
Rating: 
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This was the first book I read on my iPhone using the Stanza app. I downloaded it for free from Project Gutenberg. I got the idea from Meghan at Medieval Bookworm.
Do I even have to summarize this one? Dorothy is blown away from Kansas during a cyclone and lands in the wonderful Land of Oz. She has many adventures on her quest to return home to Kansas. Along the way, she meets the scarecrow, the tin woodsman, the cowardly lion, and, of course, the wizard.
I could spend this whole review pointing out the differences between the book and the movie – there are quite a few of them. But I wont. I’ll just say, that this short little fairy tale is worth reading, for the story and the satire. My favorite tidbit is that all persons entering Oz must be fitted with permanent green glasses – in order to prevent blindness of course, not to make the otherwise normally-colored town appear green.
It’s not intricate. There’s not as much conflict as the movie. But it’s a nice little modernized fairy tale.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
Other Reviews:
Books ‘N Border Collies
Mad Bibliophile
Medieval Bookworm
Melody’s Reading Corner
Buy The Wonderful Wizard of Oz at Powell’s Books or Amazon.com
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{ 8 comments }
How did you like Stanza, Jessica? I thought it was a neat app, but the iPod’s screen just about made my eyes pop out of my head.
When my son was in the 3rd grade (I think it was the 3rd grade) every 3rd grade class in the school system read this book, so I read it too. I thought it was pretty good, but think I probably would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t know the story going into the book.
I felt pretty much the same way about this as you did. It was worth reading, but I didn’t fall in love with it.
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton =-.
I read this book because I really really wanted to read Wicked by Gregory Maguire because I was (am) insanely in love with the musical and I really enjoyed it. Possibly because I was on a Wizard of Oz overload but I thought it was sweet and easy to read.
.-= Elise´s last blog ..Book Review: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters =-.
This is the best book I have ever read in my life time. I’m reading it at my school right now and its turning out AWESOME! Thank you so muck L. Frank Baum for writing the best book ever!
Loren – I actually enjoyed Stanza quite a bit. The small screen of my iPhone didn’t bother me too much. I think this book was a perfect fit for the format because the book and its chapters are very short.
Kathy – Wow! I think that if I’d read this in the third grade, I would have loved it more.
Nymeth – Yeah, I think this is a short little classic that will please but not delight.
Elise – This was a sweet and easy read. I loved the musical Wicked but have been unable to get past the halfway mark in the book. Weird, eh?
Julia – I’m so glad that something you’re reading in school has become one of your favorite books.
I just finished this book a week ago and I felt the same way. I thought that was a decent amount of irony and satire that made this a fun read for kids. Right now I’m tempted to read the sequels because I hear that they tend to get a little darker as the story progresses.
I hope you continue with Oz because book 3 is my favorite: Ozma of Oz!
.-= Constance´s last blog ..The Winter Sea =-.
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