the denizens of Oz

I first read L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1968. I remember the day well because it was the first real book that I had ever read from cover to cover in one day. I read the book again for the first time since '68 a few weeks ago , to my daughter. Though she's quite an accomplished reader, she still likes to have Dad read out loud to her. Because of her passion for the Harry Potter books, I thought she might like the fantasy world of Oz.

I am reading it again now, to my two boys. And if you glance over there to the left, you will see that Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is on my reading list.

I'm rather enjoying my visit to Baum's Oz.

If you're knowledge of Oz is based on the delightful movie, then you really ought to get acquainted with the very different world that Baum wrote about. And if you're really unfamiliar with L. Frank's world, it might surprise you to learn that he wrote some fourteen books in the Oz series, and more were written by a few other dedicated authors.

Wicked has become popular due to the fabulously successful Broadway musical, and while the book can stand on its own, I'm finding that I appreciate it more because I can see the connections from the characters in the different books.

I will admit that I have not read any of the other books in the Oz series, but I will be adding them to my reading list and you can expect to see some over there on the left soon. Oz is as unique and marvelous a land as Rowling's Hogwarts.

Maguire's Wicked is definitely not for children (there's politics, murder, treachery, intrigue, and sex), but it is so far a pretty good read.

Again, don't assume you know the land of Oz because of an MGM musical. Visit it for yourself.