"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" / L. Frank Baum
Synopsis
When a cyclone brings Dorothy and her dog, Toto, to an unfamiliar land, she tries to find a way back home. She discovers that the only person who can help her is Oz. She starts a journey in order to find him. On her way, she meets the scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the cowardly lion. They all join her in belief that Oz will grant them their wishes. After a long journey, they all meet Oz. But he is not ready to help them unless they'll kill the wicked witch of the west. The whole group succeeds in the task, but Oz doesn't keep his promise. They discover his secret and he discovers them the truth about themselves - the scarecrow who wanted brains was always smart, tin woodman who thought he had no heart was a loving man all the while, and the cowardly lion was never a coward.
Dorothy meets the Cowardly Lion, from The Wonderfu...
The Cowardly Lion as pictured in The Wonderful Wiz...
The Tin Woodman as pictured in The Wonderful Wizar...However, no one is prepared to understand this truth, and Oz has to trick them into thinking he's used magic. Only Dorothy can't get back home. She starts another journey with her friends and finds Gelinda, the good witch, who helps her get home.
My opinion
I didn't like the book since it was too simple. The only thing the reader has to know is simple English. The reader doesn't have to work his mind at all.
Maybe I feel that way because I'm not an 8-year-old girl anymore. Maybe it's because I couldn't see the hidden meanings. Either way, my mind wasn't stimulated.
Moreover, the plot didn't interest me. I wasn't anxious to finish the book. I wasn't anxious to read it at all. As a matter of fact, the reading became a burden at some point.