Book Review Frank L Baum The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz

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Spoiler alerts - Various publishers. 1900. I think everyone knows the story of Dorothy's trip to Oz from the movie and its songs and sequels, remakes, etc. The original novel is surprising for its differences. For one thing, Dorothy really goes to Oz in the cyclone (tornado). She only dreams it in the film. The Ruby slippers are silver and Glinda only appears right at the end. There are also additional adventures, with fragile people made of porcelain china, a giant spider, and killer bees. The Wizard is described as a phoney (a humbug) but a well meaning one. The Emerald City isn't Emerald, but ordinary. It only looks Emerald because the Wizard makes everyone wear green sunglasses to make it look so. It is a charming, fun novel, that spawned many sequels, and all the more interesting for its departures from the Hollywood version. What I like is the lion, Strawman and tin man actually using their powers to resolve a crisis and beat obstacles. Faced with a ravine, the Tin Man uses his axe to make a wooden bridge for example. No songs though sadly, and no rainbow. Youtube - The Witch Is Dead song from the film Arthur Chappell