Continuing my journey down the yellow brick road…
On January 31, 2012, I made a resolution to read all of the original L Frank Baum Oz books in 2012. I completed that goal on Dec 20, 2012, just under ten months later. You can visit my Oz Archive to see the reviews of all 14 of those books.
It was a fun ride and I’m really glad I finally did it. I have such an affection for the original movie, which led me to read the original book and even through reading these 14 books, I have kept that love. The books were mostly good. Yes, there was some bad, but nothing was just terrible. I would have thought that by the end of this challenge I would be a little “Oz’d out” if you know what I mean. But, honestly, it’s just kindled that flame a little bit more. I think I don’t want this column to end.
While I don’t plan on making another year long resolution, I do plan on reading more Oz and L Frank Baum books. After Baum, Ruth Plumly Thompson took over Oz for another 19 books. Will I read all of those? Maybe. Eventually. But not next year. There are also other movies like 1974’s Journey Back to Oz and the upcoming Oz the Great and Powerful which will be released in March 2013. I will continue to consume this media and review them under this banner. I’ll even continue to read some of Baum’s other non-Oz writings like The Sea Fairies, Dot and Tot in Merryland and Father Goose: His Book.
I just have enjoyed myself so much experiencing this challenge that I want to keep it going. And I plan to.
Thank you for experiencing it along with me. Stay tuned for more to come.
Cavalcade of Awesome 
February 20, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Was thinking about you the other day when I saw the preview for the new Oz movie. Wondered what you thought about it? I’m pretty excited but I haven’t read the Wizard of Oz in about 20 years and none of the other books.
February 20, 2013 at 2:52 pm
I’m very excited about the new Oz movie. I’m not in love with James Franco as the Wizard, but I don’t hate it either. Same with Michelle Williams as Glinda. Why they didn’t get Gwyneth Paltrow to be Glinda is beyond me (probably too expensive).
I don’t know that you need to have read the books. This movie takes place before all of them. And only 1 or 2 of them even address the times before The Wizard became the “Wizard of Oz”. I’m interested to see how this movie ends.
March 15, 2013 at 4:13 am
I think that is amazing that you read them all! Growing up, I read them all too. I faked being sick as a kid, just to stay home and read Ozma of Oz. I loved getting lost in the world of Oz, if even for a short while. By the way have you gotten a chance to read Wicked? It takes everything and turns it upside down. A fantastic journey I highly recommend.