tori_storydelver's reviews
625 reviews

This is certainly one of the better books in the Oz series. I really enjoyed Prince Inga and his magic pearls. I believe this one seems so different from the other books not because it doesn't take place in Oz, but because there is an element of danger added to this one. There were still several things I didn't like, and Baum's style of writing is still lacking to say the least, but it was an imaginative and interesting story none the less.

This is a fantastic collection of short stories and poems all centered around the animals who live in the jungle. Only three of the seven stories in this book focus on Mowgli, and his stories are quite different from either of the Disney movies with the same title. Kipling's writing style is very poetic and enjoyable, and I loved that he chose to include poems and songs in between his short stories. Like most readers, my favorite story was Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and my least favorite was Her Majesty's Servants. I also really enjoyed Toomai of the Elephants. I never was fortunate enough to have read this as a child, but I feel you would take away much different ideas as a child than as an adult. That is not to say that I think this book is exclusively for either. As a child I would have loved the animal characters and sense of adventure. As an adult however, I think there is real meaning behind these stories. I often found myself pausing after each of the stories to reflect back on the message Kipling was trying to get across.

If it were possible to give a book a half star rating, I would be giving this one 3 1/2 stars. Like many other reviewers I only really liked a few of the stories in this compilation. I love Neil Gaiman's writing, one of my favorite books of his being Smoke and Mirrors, another collection of his short stories. That being said I was really excited to read this book and felt a little let down after I had finished it. The introductions to each story were really interesting, and I enjoyed reading each of them before I read the corresponding short story. The stories were very diverse and showed just how wide Gaiman's range is. However, as I said above, very few of these stories really grabbed my attention. It is worth reading if you are a Gaiman fan, but I should warn you not to hold it up to your normal expectations.

3.5 stars

After the last book I took a long break from the series, but I am back, and actually even kind of enjoyed this one! This one follows Cap'n Bill and Trot (not really the scarecrow until the second half). These characters are from another of Baum's series which I am unfamiliar with, but that didn't seem to matter much for this story. It follows the road trip formula typical of the other Oz books, but it has a slightly different feel to it than the other books. For one thing, Trot has read the books of Oz and is familiar with Dorothy, and Ozma, and many of the other characters introduced in the earlier books. Also, they travel to a couple different "fairy Countries" before ending up in Oz. There are a few minor inconsistencies, as I have come to expect from this series, but nothing like Tik-Tok of Oz. The biggest problem I had with this book is how it drags on for a few chapters after they dethrone King Krewl and decide to go to Emerald City.

This was definitely one of the better Oz books of the series so far. Instead of the same characters getting lost again, or wondering around Oz with no real purpose, This time a new character, Ojo, goes on a quest for the ingredients that can save his Uncle who was accidently turned to marble. I really liked the new characters that were introduced (except the glass cat who is meant to be dislikeable). I loved the patchwork girl and how she would randomly break into rhymes. I also enjoyed that there was somewhat of a plot, even if it was a very simple one. Despite everything I liked about this book, it is still an Oz book, which by formula means that the ending is very unsatisfying and there are underlying themes that make Oz seem like it's not actually the happy, accepting place it appears.

Although The Marvelous Land of Oz is still my favorite book of the series The Emerald City of Oz is a close second. Finally, L. Frank Baum made his writing a little more complex. Throughout the story he is going back and forth between Dorothy's journeys and the Nome King's plans for taking over Oz. Yes, you heard me right, there is actually an antagonist through the whole story! How they resolve the problem however comes just as quickly and conveniently as you can expect from an Oz story at this point.

Without giving too much away, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry join Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Aunt Em stands out as one of the best characters in this story because of her realistic comments about the crazy things happening in the "fairy land" that is Oz. This sets up Dorothy giving her aunt and uncle a tour of Oz, and along the way they run into several never before heard of inhabitants of the country. Although, it seems Dorothy would have ran into these little towns during her first visit to Oz since she is going back to the Winkie's country from Oz. Also, Ozma is a completely different character than she has been in the other books. She doesn't seem to care about what happens to Oz or its inhabitants and has now become a pacifist. She is completely unconcerned despite knowing that the Nome King and his growing army are planning to attack Oz and enslave all of its people. The biggest disappointment is that despite having introduced several magical ways they could have defeated the Nome King and his armies peacefully in previous stories, Baum makes up a new magical thing to solve all their problems. The very last chapter sets this book up as the end of the series, and I would be happy with the Oz books ending here, as I suspect L. Frank Baum would have been, but it appears I am not even half way through the series yet. I hope (beyond reason) that the rest of the books are at least as good as this one, or maybe just not as bad as the two previous books!

Although L. Frank Baum is not the most talented writer, his Oz stories are certainly entertaining! The characters are bizarre and fascinating, whether it be a tiger that can not satisfy his appetite and morals at the same time, or a creepy princess that can change heads, the characters are what keeps you interested and wanting to read more. A lot of people say this is their favorite Oz book, but I preferred Marvelous Land of Oz, maybe because it is a bit darker. I do love the Nome King and the game he makes them play, but even that was dragged out longer than it should have been, and had a very simple solution by the end.

The biggest problem I have with these books is how simple the storyline always is. I didn't read these books as a child, but I've re-read books from my childhood like Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass which are both much more complicated, and I understood them now as much as I did as a child. Maybe Baum thought kids couldn't comprehend complicated plots. No adult ever recommended that I read the Oz books, and they are written at about a 5-year-olds reading level, but they are too long and intimidating for a 5 year old to pick up. I think this is a huge reason I never read these books as a child, and why children don't read the Oz books today, despite them being a famous children's story. They would make great books to read to your very young children before bed, but I feel like everyone else who reads these are going to be left unsatisfied.