The Land of Oz (original 1904; edition 1999)

This was good. It was a bit more focused on the turn of phrase than progression of plot, but the story helped to advance things forward sensibly. I was particularly attached to the Cowardly Lion in the first book so I was sad to see that he didn't make a second appearance in this one. I was rather taken with the Wogglebug in this because he reminded me so much of the Humbug in The Phantom Tollbooth. Tip turning boy to girl was a bit of a leap forward in thinking for the time that this book was born from. All in all, none of this should be forgotten. Bookone garners all the attention, but book two was no slouch. ( )

Ho letto molto volentieri il Mago di Oz, una storia che consideravo tra le mie preferite quando ero piccolo, tuttavia non ho apprezzato questo suo seguito.
La fantasia è fantasia e siamo d'accordo, ma proprio non sono riuscito a digerire la totale inverosimiglianza di alcune parti, che tradisce il target infantile del romanzo.I personaggi "celebri" in particolare mi hanno deluso: l'uomo di latta mi è parso di una bontà e gentilezza ai limiti della nausea, mentre lo spaventapasseri (che dovrebbe essere quello "intelligente") si rivela spesso un povero sprovveduto. I nuovi arrivi sono un po' meglio, in particolare il Saw-Horse - l'unico col quale "intavolerei" una discussione (notare il gioco di parole =DD) -, ma niente di eccezionale. A onor di cronaca cito la sporadica presenza di alcune battute argute, ma quello che regala le perle migliori in questo senso, il Woogle Bug, viene perculato dagli altri, uomo di latta e spaventapasseri in testa, proprio per il suo umorismo ("Se vuoi stare nel nostro gruppo smettila con queste uscite." - per la serie sono arrivati i fighi). Forse un pubblico giovane (massimo 11-12 anni) potrebbe apprezzarlo. Io non ci sono riuscito. ( )

Everyone is use to the original Wizard of Oz because of the movie but the rest of the series is worth checking out if you are looking for fun children's literature. In this second book of the series, there are a lot of new, interesting characters like the Gump and the Saw-horse. Things like friendship and honesty and kindness are shown to be better than money and there is enough nonsensical fun to appeal to children. I liked it a lot! ( )

I was thrilled to discover that my university library had a copy of this book that I have been wanting to read since childhood. The oz series has always fascinated me, but due to the fact that there are so many books in the series I have never been able to acquire all of them. I discovered that my university library has 13 out of the original 14 that are written by L. Fran Baum which thrills me.

The book in many ways can be seen as an early American story that involves a transgender character, if you really want to think about it in those terms. What the book is though is a magical romp in a land that most of us are familiar with. We are introduced to new characters, like Jack Pumpkinhead. We are also revisited by familiar favorites, like the Scarecrow.

The book feels like a wonderful journey into the land of oz for those of us that deeply appreciate what Baum was doing with these stories. Baum uses current issues, like the women's suffragist movement of his time, beautifully in his books. This book showcases that movement and also is a really good fairy tale story. It holds up to the original classic that most of us love.

The book is primarily focused on a young boy named Tip that escapes the evil clutches of Mombi. Mombi is a low-level practicing witch, since it is forbidden to be a true witch other than the ones previously mentioned in Wizard of Oz. The book is about his journey and how ultimately he discovers what he is in the land of oz. The book is fun, beautifully written, and just a darn good read for anyone that wants to take an additional trip down to Oz. ( )

This is one of my favorites of all of the Oz books. The conversations between the characters and the lines that come from them are some of the most memorable that I have ever read. As always, Baum's remarkable ability to tell the story of Oz continues in this book as we travel through new countries and meet new friends.

There is just enough description throughout to allow the reader to make a clear picture in their mind and let the world grow inside of them. Through unique bedtime-like storytelling the adventures of the characters come across as clearly as if you were watching them happen and easily move you along on the journey with them. Anyone who has fallen in love with one of the movies needs to read all of the books to truly fall in love with all that Oz is. ( )