Wizard of Oz Read-Along Discussion Post for Book 2: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum @looloolooweez

This is the Discussion Post for the second book in the Oz series, The Marvelous Land of Oz, for the Wizard of Oz Read-Along hosted by Louise @ Lone Star on a Lark.

My Discussion Posts are going to be late, since I am reading this series aloud to my nine-year-old daughter so it will take me longer to get through each book.

Discussion Questions:

• Did you particularly like any of the new characters/creatures? Or were you hoping for more old favorites from the first book?

My daughter was disappointed that Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion were absent, so much so that she lost interest in the book. At this point, she says she has no desire to continue the series 😞  Oh, well.

I liked Mombi and Tip, but the Sawhorse and Jack Pumpkinhead were a little weird as were The Gump and Wogglebug. I did enjoy the story more once the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman were added in.

• Do you ever feel a little twinge of sympathy or unwarranted fondness for “bad guy” characters?

Yes, definitely! I actually liked Mombi, so I didn't really consider her to be such a villain. I think General Jinjur was more of an antagonist since she was the one who summoned Mombi to the Emerald City and was giving her orders.

• What did you think of all the gender politics stuff in this book? Do you think Baum was making an eloquent point about the feminism of his day, or is that maybe reading too much into a wacky little kids’ book?

I do believe that Baum was making a political statement with General Jinjur and her all-female army. It has been said that Baum was a supporter of the movement for women's suffrage. I'm not reading too much into gender-bending Tip 😊

The link to my review is HERE.