This week’s blogging challenge is books I love that became a movie or TV show. For this one, I’m going back to an old classic—The Wizard of Oz.
When I was a little girl, my great-uncle used to send me books for my birthday. He’s the one who introduced me to Narnia and to The Wizard of Oz. But not just that story, the complete series. Every night before I went to bed, my dad would pull one of the books and read me a few chapters. I loved the story and the writing and the world L. Frank Baum created. And of course, I loved spending the time with my dad.
The movie, however, terrified me. To this day, I still have nightmares of an evil witch showing up at my door, the world outside alight in fire. And the witch is always the Wicked Witch of the West. But that never stopped me from watching Judy Garland in the movie, and peeking between my fingers when the witch showed up. I loved the progression from black and white to color and back again. I was fascinated to see the characters from Dorothy’s farm transform into the scarecrow and cowardly lion. And being able to carry on their stories throughout the series, to find out what happened later, was even better.
Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why I like reading series, and why I enjoy writing them. When a character I connect with reaches the end of their story, I don’t want to part with them. I want to know that their happily ever after continues. I want to see where their life takes them and I enjoy making them pop back into other people’s stories to impart some wisdom they’ve learned or to share in a laugh or two.
Tell me, what books did you love?
When I was a kid, my mom read the entire Wizard of Oz series to us, too. I remember the hammer heads and my mother commenting the books kept getting 'weirder and weirder'. I don't remember if they did, but I'll have to go back and reread. Thanks for the suggestion. :-)
ReplyDeleteThey're very different from the first one. Kinda weird, but also good!
DeleteI was terrified of the witch (and the flying monkeys!) in The Wizard of Oz, too. That film was really well done, though.
ReplyDeleteMy post.
I agree!
DeleteThe flying monkeys did it for me on The Wizard of Oz. I need to do reread that series.. it's been ages! My post is here: http://jhthomas.blogspot.com/2019/05/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge_22.html
ReplyDeleteIt really wasn't a kid movie, when you think about it.
DeleteI LOVED the books in the Oz series. I actually wanted to be Ozma. Truth! While I do like the movie very much, I pretty much forget it was based on the book. IMHO, the book was so much better.
ReplyDeleteMy post is here if you'd like to visit: http://www.mariannearkins.com/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge-books-i-love-that-became-films-or-tv-shows/
The books usually are.
DeleteI never read the books, but I have seen the movie. My dad read to us from Winnie The Pooh when we were kids, so this all sounds very familiar.
ReplyDeleteI was never into Winnie the Pooh as a kid, but with my own kids I was. Funny how things change.
DeleteOK, The Wizard of Oz might be the best. Not wanting to see movies if I've read the book goes straight out the window for The Wizard. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you!
DeleteI was bitten by a monkey when I was around 4, so I cannot handle The Wizard of Oz. Freaks me the heck out.
ReplyDeleteSorry that happened to you, Amy. How scary.
DeleteWhoa, that would freak me out too.
DeleteI never did get round to reading this, but I loved the film.
ReplyDelete