Before my Lit and Media Studies class, the film version of The Wizard of Oz was my only exposure to the Oz universe. Having now read the first book in the series, I can say that it's a far more enjoyable experience than the movie. An issue I always had with the movie was that it seemed to take eons for Judy Garland to take a stroll down a relatively short yellow brick road. If she wanted to get home so badly, she wouldn't have wasted so much time singing with every single person she meets on her way to Emerald City. In fact, it takes an entire hour just for Dorothy to meet up with the full gang. Pacing is handled far better in the book. Instead of feeling like a drawn out afternoon stroll, it feels like an actual journey. More events occur along the way, and no single event overstays its welcome. Aside from possibly Dorothy, all of the main characters in the book are more developed and have interesting backstories. The book also makes it far more clear that the scarecrow, lion, and tin man all had what they were looking for before they got to Emerald City. The scarecrow helps them solve problems to continue their journey, the tin man cries out of sympathy, and the lion swears to defend them with his life. The wizard only helps with a shift in perspective. I'm glad I got the chance to read the book; I would have maintained a tarnished view of the Oz universe otherwise.
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