Tuesday, June 26, 2007
The Emerald City of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
This is one of the Oz books--I don't know where it falls in the series and I've been told that after the first three, it doesn't matter. It's essentially a couple of travelogues. One is the journey of the general of the Nome King, who ventures to odd lands to recruit troops to conquer and destroy the Land of Oz. The other trip is that taken by Dorothy and assorted companions, who, oblivious to the growing threat, are touring some unvisited corners in Oz's vast realm. As plots go, this one's pretty simplistic and, well, dull. The imaginative stops on the respective journeys make up for it a bit, though they vary in quality. Nothing of the book raises it from the realm of waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
This is one of the Oz books--I don't know where it falls in the series and I've been told that after the first three, it doesn't matter. It's essentially a couple of travelogues. One is the journey of the general of the Nome King, who ventures to odd lands to recruit troops to conquer and destroy the Land of Oz. The other trip is that taken by Dorothy and assorted companions, who, oblivious to the growing threat, are touring some unvisited corners in Oz's vast realm. As plots go, this one's pretty simplistic and, well, dull. The imaginative stops on the respective journeys make up for it a bit, though they vary in quality. Nothing of the book raises it from the realm of waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
Labels: LFrankBaum, Oz, WaitingRoomMaterial
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
The Land of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
I felt guilty reading this book. Well, not the book, really, but the advertising in the front of the book. In it, the Oz books are touted as nigh a foundational work of fantasy literature. Me, I've only seen the movie. I feel so... inferior. Anyway, I then read the book. This is the sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Apparently a large enough number of people nagged Mr. Baum to write it. The story follows a young boy named Tip who runs away from his guardian, a cranky old lady who dabbles in magic and has threatened to turn him into a marble statue in punishment for trying to scare her. He travels to the Emerald City and meets up with the Scarecrow, who is the current ruler, just in time to help the latter escape from an invasion by General Jinjur and her army. The two join up with an unusual assortment of companions and together they seek to restore the rightful ruler to the ol' green burg. It's an enjoyable book--quite imaginative, really. I really couldn't rave on about it like the advertising blurbs, but it's certainly worth checking out. Maybe if I read a greater number of the books, I'll be able to join the chorus of praise.
LibraryThing link
I felt guilty reading this book. Well, not the book, really, but the advertising in the front of the book. In it, the Oz books are touted as nigh a foundational work of fantasy literature. Me, I've only seen the movie. I feel so... inferior. Anyway, I then read the book. This is the sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Apparently a large enough number of people nagged Mr. Baum to write it. The story follows a young boy named Tip who runs away from his guardian, a cranky old lady who dabbles in magic and has threatened to turn him into a marble statue in punishment for trying to scare her. He travels to the Emerald City and meets up with the Scarecrow, who is the current ruler, just in time to help the latter escape from an invasion by General Jinjur and her army. The two join up with an unusual assortment of companions and together they seek to restore the rightful ruler to the ol' green burg. It's an enjoyable book--quite imaginative, really. I really couldn't rave on about it like the advertising blurbs, but it's certainly worth checking out. Maybe if I read a greater number of the books, I'll be able to join the chorus of praise.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, LFrankBaum, Oz
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