The Marvellous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
(Review by Jacqui Slaney)
After enjoying the first of these books, I knew I would read more of them but did not intent to return as quickly as I seem to have done. I blame my suddenly increased workload and a bad cold which has meant that I just want an easy story to enjoy that is not taxing on the old brain ( well that’s my excuse):
The sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and set shortly after the events in the first book, The Marvellous Land of Oz follows the adventures of a young boy named Tip, who, for as long as he can remember, has been under the guardianship of a witch named Mombi in the Land of Oz. One night he plans his escape to the Emerald City, stealing Mombi's powder of life. Along the way, he meets with our old friends the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman as well as making some new ones such as Jack Pumpkinhead, the Wooden Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, and the amazing Gump. Can they escape Mombi and make it to the Emerald City?
Just as in the Wizard this is a strange little tale, but it is entertaining, with the idea of an army of girls throwing out a ruler of a kingdom armed only with knitting needles. They think men have ruled long enough and any way the jewels decorating the city would look much better on them.
As mentioned in the description you have the familiar characters of the Scarecrow and the Tin man along brand new ones such as Jack- who is slightly annoying with his continual worrying about his head spoiling and the Gump, who is made up of sofas and tree branches and the mounted head of a animal.
For those who may have seen it, Jack and the Gump have been used in another film about Oz the rather strange sequel called Return to Oz. But do not worry this book is nothing like that, it is a tale of a boy running away from an evil guardian and on his journey creates three rather strange creatures and has battles with Jackdaws and finds out the truth about his past.
As I have said in the previous review, the writing is simple, there are not pages of descriptions, but the characters make you smile and the good guys win which with some stories that are around and especially with Christmas close surely that’s what everyone wants to read.
7 out of 10
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