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Title: Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera, or, Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving Pictures

Author: Victor Appleton

Narrator: John Michaels

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-02-12

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Book 14 of the Tom Swift series, Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera, finds our hero, the young inventor Tom Swift, approached by a moving picture distributor, Mr. Period, to not only invent a better motion picture camera, but to take his airship and film exciting events. Off to Africa go Tom, Ned Newton, Mr. Damon, Mr. Nestor, and the friendly giant Koku to film wars between the natives, fights between the animals, and stampedes of the elephants. Of course our hero does not let him down.

Want to film an avalanche? No problem. It's off to Switzerland in the mighty airship with only one stop for gas. But wait folks, there is more! How about a narrow escape from a volcano eruption in South America? Every chapter is a cliffhanger, leaving the listener chomping at the bit for more.

Members Reviews:

Tom Swift Produces a Travelogue

In the previous book Tom Swift managed to acquire a ten foot tall giant which he renamed Koku and apparently the author now intends to keep him as part of the team. His incredible strength comes in useful several times but it's still an odd addition to the group. In this book Tom Swift is hired to develop a new kind of movie camera and then travel the world filming dramatic events (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, brush fires etc). This being the early 1900's, most people would have never seen these occurrences and would pay good money to see a film. Tom and his group that now includes Koku and Mary Nester's father set off in Tom Swift's hybrid balloon/plane.

I've read every Tom Swift book up to this point and they almost all follow a few set templates. In this case it's the classic Tom Swift inventing some new device/vehicle and a rival group attempting to steal it. The Swift compound has been broken in to so many times one wonders why Tom is the least bit surprised any more. They make several trips to Europe and two to Africa while avoiding their rivals. It's a decent book and I'm always glad when Andy Foger keeps his ugly mug out of the story but it's all just so darn forgettable. It's an ok book, nothing special.

Aimless Wanderings

I have been reading the Tom Swift series from the beginning. This book is the 14th in the series, published in 1912. I believe it is the worst of the series so far. Series like this have a usual format, and this book strays from the Tom Swift format. There is no antagonist. Many things are standard for Tom Swift, however. Each book is about an adventure surrounding a new technology. Here it is the motion picture. Cinemas were pretty new and quite successful in 1912. Here is the challenge from the money man James Period: "I want you to invent a new kind of moving picture camera. A small light one--waorked by electricity--a regular wizard camera. I want you to take it up in an airship with you, and then go to all sorts of wild and strange countries, Africa, India--the jungles--get pictures of wild animals at peace and fighting--herds of elephants--get scenes of native wars--earthquakes--eruptions of volcanoes--all the newest and most wonderful pictures you can." A new character, introduced in the previous volume, is Koku, a giant from the jungles of South America. Koku is to replace Eradicate, who is too old to go on adventures now. They go out and take movies of the various things on the list, having to overcome mostly nature.

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Title: Passing

Author: Nella Larsen

Narrator: Robin Miles

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-24-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

First published to critical acclaim in 1929, Passing is a remarkable exploration of the shifting racial and sexual boundaries in 1920s New York, and still carries relevance today as a modern classic.

Irene Redfield is a woman with an enviable life. She and her successful husband, Brian, share a comfortable Harlem townhouse with their sons. But everything changes on the day she encounters a long-lost childhood friend. Clare Kendry - light-skinned, charming and beautiful - tells Irene how she left behind the black neighbourhood of her adolescence and began passing for white, hiding her true identity from everyone, including her racist husband....

Members Reviews:

Read it!

Really enjoyed this book.

Thought provoking, not what it appears to be

While the language is straightforward and rather plain, the characters are complex and somewhat confusing. The narrator is unreliable, to the extent that the reader is not even sure what happens at the end of the novel. It's a fast read (barely over 100 pages) but it leaves the reader wondering about motivations, desires, and outcomes.

Five Stars

One of my favorite books now.

This is a great novel to read if you are into analyzing characters ...

This is a great novel to read if you are into analyzing characters and are into doing research to further understand the characters. Overall, it was an easy read and for the most part it was enjoyable.

A great Novella

The Novella is clearly and beautifully written. It talks to your feeling and describes the characters' reaction as typical humans who so many people can relate to. It is a wonderful reading experience, you would just feel yourself in another world. Love it.

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Title: The Call of the Wild

Author: Jack London

Narrator: William Dufris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-06-12

Publisher: Mission Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Jack London's The Call of the Wild was written in 1903, but Buck's gripping adventure makes for a thrilling listen on audio more than 100 years after it was first published. This gripping story follows the adventures of the loyal dog Buck, who is stolen from his comfortable family home and forced into the harsh life of an Alaskan sled dog. Passed from master to master, Buck embarks on an extraordinary journey that ends with his becoming the legendary leader of a wolf pack.

Generally considered to be London's greatest achievement, The Call of the Wild brought him international acclaim when it was published. His story of the dog Buck, who learns to survive in the bleak Yukon wilderness, is viewed by many as his symbolic autobiography.

Critic Reviews:

"To this day Jack London is the most widely read American writer in the world." (E. L. Doctorow,

New York Times Book Review)

"No other popular writer of his time did any better writing than you will find in

The Call of the Wild." (H. L. Mencken.)

Members Reviews:

Wonderfully done classic

The narration by Dufris make the story leap off the page (or out of the headphones, more correctly) directly into your very presence. This is a great listen for vacation. The whole family will thrill at Buck's adventures. This is a classic very well done.

Ten year old son loved this book

My ten year old son loved this audiobook. We started listening to it together in the car, but he finished it on his own because he did not want to wait for another car trip. The narrator did a good job expressing the character's sounds and emotions.

A classic!

If you could sum up The Call of the Wild in three words, what would they be?

Ultimate Dog story

Would you recommend The Call of the Wild to your friends? Why or why not?

I would only recommed to serious readers... It is extremely detailed in places and sometimes hard to maintain my attention

Which scene was your favorite?

The Dog being saved from certain death

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I think it has already been made a film

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Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Trevor White

Format: Abridged

Length: 1 hr and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-01-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Trevor White reads Mark Twain's timeless tale about friendship and loyalty set in America's Deep South. Tom Sawyer is a fun-loving and adventurous boy who always tries to keep one step ahead of his long-suffering Aunt Polly. Who wouldn't want to skip school when there are adventures to be had along the banks of the Mississippi River? Tom gets into plenty of scrapes with his friend Huckleberry Finn.

But the innocent and child-like japes turn for the worse as the two boys witness an event that has them fearing for their lives.... Buried treasure, danger, excitement and the infamous Injun Joe all feature in this tale of two boys' zest for adventure.

Members Reviews:

Great Bedtime Reader

All of the Illustrated Chosen Classics are great bedtime readers. My wife sits in the hall of the children's bedrooms and reads these stories to them at bedtime. The difference between these books and the traditional novels is that these stories move very fast. My son, in particular, will hear one of these abridged classic novels and, if he likes it, will then read the full unabridged version on his own. Kind of gives our kids a taste of the classics without having to start reading a really large and sometimes overwhelming looking book. My son is 10 and my daughter is 15. We have about 30 of these types of books in our library.

A Classic Still

Like many people of my age (62), I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a child because at that time it was widely perceived to be a child's or young adult's book. This is unfortunate as it is not nor has it ever been directed at the young. In my rereading I discovered for the first time why it is still called the original great American novel. Huckleberry, like Twain, is opinionated and perceptive. His narration and point of view drive the novel forward. Rather than relegate this work to the children's shelves or castigate it as racist, folks should embrace this novel for what it is, a bildungsroman that shows the growth of a country as well as the growth of its young protagonist.

It captivated a classroom full of surly teens

I teach English, and the junior year in North Carolina is devoted to American literature. I approached Huck Finn with no small amount of trepidation because of Twain's use of vernacular. I ran into the same problem with "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and solved that by listening to Ruby Dee's audio recording, which students loved. I purchased this recording of Huck Finn, and it was to die for fabulous. Students read along in their books as we listened to the recording, and it helped bring the characters and the story alive for them. They laughed when I hoped they would laugh, and they understood the novel so much better by being able to listen to it. This recording was invaluable.

Reading this book as an adult is a whole different ...

Reading this book as an adult is a whole different experience. I'm fairly sure the versions I read as a child were watered down. I don't have any memory of murder and mayhem in the versions I read as a child. All the same it was highly entertaining and deserving of being a classic.

Friendship and mischieviousness.

I grew up reading this book, a story about Huckleberry Finn and his adventurous life on the Mississippi River as a boy.

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Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Author: L. Frank Baum

Narrator: Anne Hathaway

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-08-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5549 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration - Female, 2013

One of the best-known stories in American culture, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over 100 years. Academy Award-winning actress Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married, Alice In Wonderland), fresh from filming one of this years most anticipated films, The Dark Knight Rises, lends her voice to this uniquely American fairy tale.

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as they get swept away into the magical land of Oz , where they encounter characters and places you may remember from the movie and several more that never made it to the big screen on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City.

Its such a wonderful book and I was so happy to be a part of bringing it to life, Ms. Hathaway said. There are a lot of great voices in it. The more fun you have with it, the sillier and the more free you get with it, the better it is because its a story that can handle it. Its amazing to be able to discover something new about something you feel you know so well.

Editorial Reviews:

Anne Hathaway is nothing short of masterful in her narration of Baums beloved classic. As she guides listeners through the world of munchkins, winkies, and quadlings; witches; and the humbug Oz, Hathaways impressive vocal repertoire shines. As narrator, she is lithe yet precise; her voice sounds lilting or emphatic, as the story details require. In character, she is spectacular. Each character is filled with personality - a light-voiced Witch of the North; a brusque soldier at Ozs palace; a monotone, robot-like Oz; and a usually cheerful and genuine Dorothy. The variety enriches the listening experience. Yes, one may know the story well, but Hathaway makes this recording a definitive one.

Critic Reviews:

Anne Hathaway is nothing short of masterful in her narration of Baums beloved classicAs narrator, she is lithe yet precise; her voice sounds lilting or emphatic, as the story details require. In character, she is spectacular. Each character is filled with personalitya light-voiced Witch of the North; a brusque soldier at Ozs palace; a monotone, robot-like Oz; and a usually cheerful and genuine Dorothy. The variety enriches the listening experience. Yes, one may know the story well, but Hathaway makes this recording a definitive one. (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Fantastic

AS a kid, the first thing I looked forward to after Christmas was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It was always aired in Feb., which was sweeps month. I did not know that, I just knew it was sometime after Christmas. It was a great musical and this is a great book. They differ some and are the same a lot. The musical gave the Wicked Witch of the West a huge part that she did not have in the book. It was interesting to see the differences and easy to see why certain changes were made. The book is more violent, with some head chopping going on, but not enough to make the whole book not worth reading. It was published in 1900 and was the best selling children's book for two years.

Baum has an excellent imagination and I loved the ceramic people, which was not in the movie. There are lessons on courage, intelligence, tenderness, confidence and ambition, which children and adults of today can learn much.

Hathaway has taken a real beating by some reviewers.

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Title: The Red Badge of Courage

Author: Stephen Crane

Narrator: Chris Hendrie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 02-10-12

Publisher: Chris Hendrie AudiobookstoLife

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

One of the great war novels, this unabridged audiobook explores the conflicting emotions of a young union soldier as he is thrust into the American Civil War. Actor Chris Hendrie powerfully recreates the young soldier's journey through the fear and horror of war and ultimately brings him to courage and valor.

Members Reviews:

I felt like I was at war

How would I behave and feel if thrust into battle? Easy to declare that one is patriotic and in agreement with a cause, to get in line and sign up, but how about the day in and day out part of battle? The waiting, the social intercourse with fellow fighters, the gear, following without question a commander, could I do that? How does the average 19-23 year old feel in those situations? This book conjures up thoughts, feelings, emotions that put you on the front line. Well written and a good story, the killer combo.

A Reflection Upon Man's Emotions During Battle

This is not a book about a specific person, or about a specific battle. Our protagonist isn't even given a name, age or home, save during his musings back to when he quit seminary school (indicating probably about 18 years old, and from the Northeast), and bade farewell to his mother, who called him Henry. We meet "the youth", as he's called throughout, while he's waiting to be sent to battle for the first time. The youth must have been a Northern soldier, and the battle must have been in Virginia; other than that, this book is more generic with regard to events, and about emotions, changes in soldiers, and their reactions to events.

Halfway through this book: "The youth took note of a remarkable change in his comrade since those days of camp life upon the river bank. He seemed no more to be continually regarding the proportions of his personal prowess. He was not furious at small words that pricked his conceits. He was no more a loud young soldier. There was about him now a fine reliance...."

Toward the end of the battle: "...The lieutenant, also, was unscathed in his position at the rear. He had continued to curse, but it was not with the air of a man who was using his last box of oaths..."

At the end of the book: "A specter of reproach came to him. There loomed the dogging memory of the tattered soldier - he who, gored by bullets and faint for blood, had fretted concerning an imagined wound in another; he who had loaned his last of strength and intellect for the tall soldier; he who, blind with weariness and pain, had been deserted in the field..."

A powerful reflection upon the changing of a man during the course of a battle. It's slow reading, because it does warrant reflection.

An absolute, all-time classic - a haunting, harrowing ...

An absolute, all-time classic - a haunting, harrowing account of war, by a writer who never served in the military, never heard a shot fired in anger. The simplicity and clarity of Crane's plot and writing style make this one of the most mesmerizing, haunting accounts of war imaginable. There is a reason this book is still read more than a century after it was written, a century and a half since the war was fought that is its subject. I devoured this in 2 sittings.

A Universal Classic, not just American

This is a classic I missed in my youth that I am glad I finally read.

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Title: The Scarlet Letter

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrator: Ian Lynch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-31-11

Publisher: Cherry Hill Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 516 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthornes, magnum opus, tells the story of Hester Prynne, who gives birth two years after separation from her husband and is condemned to wear the scarlet letter A on her breast as punishment for her adultery. She resists all attempts of the 17th century Boston clergy to make her reveal the name of her childs father while she struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity.

Members Reviews:

Trust Me-- Try It!

Where does The Scarlet Letter rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This is the first audible I have listened to, and it is wonderful! The narration was great, and the plot was deep, but not beyond understanding.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Scarlet Letter?

When the two lovers decide to leave the harsh world they face daily, and run away together.

What does Ian Lynch bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I will be honest. This book would be a hard read. It is decently old, and the language can be difficult (although, as an 8th grader, I have read harder, so it isn't impossible). But, listening to it made it so that you could understand what was happening, even if you didn't understand the sentence.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

Be brave, and try it. This is my new favorite book! Even though it is old, it will have you on the edge of your seat one moment, and swept off your feet the next. It is romantic (and, in my opinion, romance is better with old English aka. Pride and Prejudice) and sometimes creepy.

A joy to listen to

Where does The Scarlet Letter rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This is among my top three.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved that that the story unfolds so beautifully. Although you know what is going to happen from the beginning it is very compelling and has lots of very lovely moments.

What about Ian Lynchs performance did you like?

I think the narrator made this perfect. He uses appropriate tone, pronunciation and pacing of delivery for the period in which the novel is based. The different characters- male/female/child whilst easily differentiated are not made into an over the top performance. First class narrator.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

There is good use of music for chapter/scene breaks.

Consider a different version

I think I would have enjoyed this audiobook more if I had purchased a different version. I wasn't very impressed with the narrator, whose voice was often inexpressive. The language was so beautiful and eloquent, but the narration seemed very amateurish. I would recommend at least listening to a sample of this version or trying to find a different version all together.

The story was a little bit hard to relate to since it takes place in a time with very different values and ideas about sin and punishment than today.

Mediocre reading

The story itself drags on and could easily be condensed into a short story. The reader attempts to vary his pitch for various characters, but comes across grating.

Why do such strong women choose such weenies...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because it is well done. The preformance was very good and the story was excellent.

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Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Subtitle: A Radio Dramatization

Author: Washington Irving, Jerry Robbins (dramatization)

Narrator: Jerry Robbins, The Colonial Radio Players

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-11-11

Publisher: The Colonial Radio Theatre on Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 94 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Ichabod Crane, a lanky, lean, superstitious school master, arrives to teach the children of Sleepy Hollow. As he vies for the attention of the lovely Katrina Van Tassel, his rival for her attention is the town rowdy, Brom Bones. Brom tries to scare Ichabod away with local superstitions and ghost tales. And soon enough, the ill-fated schoolmaster encounters a terrifying legend come to life: the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.

Meticulously adapted to stay true to the mood and flavor of the book Washington Irving is most famous for, this Colonial Radio presentation won the Charles Ogle Award for the Best Fantasy Production of 2005.

Members Reviews:

Return of the Classic!

Another quality performance by the Colonial Radio Players. Faithful to Washington Irving's original story, the first American fairy tale comes to life in such a way as to feel like the audio was stripped from an animated production. With original music and sound effects, this is a performance best listened to by the light of a single candle so as to add to the ambiance.

Hard to hear dialogue...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Despite the great performance by the voice actors, the dialogue was hard to distinguish from the excessive ambient sounds and background music. Too bad as I love this story, as well as other offerings from Colonial Radio. So no, my time and money were wasted on this occasion.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Crane was done well.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening was confusing...then just weird...but when you realize what is going on, it is really quite chilling!

Do you think The Legend of Sleepy Hollow needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. It is a standalone classic. Not in need of a sequel.

Any additional comments?

Maybe it's the speakers in my Kindle...I dislike giving a bad review for such a great company. If you have better sound equipment you might be fine with the dialogue.

Very Faithful Adaptation

Large portions of this adaptation are taken directly from Washington Irving's text. The first few pages and the ending are nearly unabridged readings. In-between, sentences are quoted verbatim as the structure follows closely the original story.

The dramatized portions include songs (similar to the Disney animated adaptation) and other whimsy as well as sound effects and music. The thrilling finale is read with suitably theatrical gusto and is completely unabridged from the original text.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is perhaps the ultimate Halloween story, and this rendition does it proud.

Very entertaining

Who was your favorite character and why?

James as he was very intelligent, sensible and down to earth.

Which character as performed by Jerry Robbins and The Colonial Radio Players was your favorite?

All the characters were performed brilliantly.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some humour and most enjoyable due to the presentation.

Any additional comments?

I love this radio performance format and the sound effects are so realistic it's a treat.

Caught by the Hessian!

Jerry Robbins and the Colonial Radio Theater have created an outstanding example of radio drama capturing Washington Irving's shadowy tale of marauding ghosts and goblins.

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Title: Poor Richard's Almanac

Author: Benjamin Franklin

Narrator: Robert Bethune

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-10-11

Publisher: Freshwater Seas

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The prefaces, proverbs, and poems of Benjamin Franklin, originally printed in editions of Poor Richard's Almanac for 1733 to 1758.

As Benjamin Franklin himself put it: "Courteous Listener: Besides the astronomical Calculations, and other Things usually containd in Almanacks, which have their daily Use indeed while the Year continues, but then become of no Value, I have constantly interspers'd moral Sentences, prudent Maxims, and wise Sayings, many of them containing much good Sense in very few Words, and therefore apt to leave strong and lasting Impressions on the Memory of young Persons, whereby they may receive Benefit as long as they live, when both Almanack and Almanac-maker have been long thrown by and forgotten. If I now and then insert a Joke or two, that seem to have little in them, my Apology is, that such may have their Use, since perhaps for their Sake light airy Minds peruse the rest, and so are struck by somewhat of more Weight and Moment. The Verses on the Heads of the Months are also design'd to have the same Tendency. I need not tell thee that many of them are of my own Making. If thou hast any Judgment in Poetry, thou wilt easily discern the Workman from the Bungler. I know as well as thee, that I am no Poet born, and it is a Trade I never learnt, nor indeed could learn. If I make Verses 't is in SpightOf Nature and my Stars, I write. Why then should I give my Readers bad Lines of my own, when good Ones of other Peoples are so plenty? 'T is methinks a poor Excuse for the bad Entertainment of Guests that the Food we set before them, tho' coarse and ordinary, is of one's own raising, off ones own Plantation, [etc.] when there is Plenty of what is ten times better, to be had in the Market. On the contrary, I assure ye, my Friends, that I have procur'd the best I could for ye, and much good may it do ye. I am thy poor Friend, to serve thee, Richard Saunders."

Since Ben Franklin would have been amazed at audiobooks, let these few details be added: unlike most editions of Poor Richard, this one includes essentially all of the text, not just the aphorisms and sayings. This gives you, Courteous Listener, a much better appreciation of how Franklin wrote and thought. In particular, you will find that the full body of the Poor Richard almanacs contains a great deal of religious and spiritual thought in which Franklin laid out and propounded his understanding of Christianity as it stood in his day. Last but not least, since a long parade of sayings, poems, etc., would be dull all strung together, this edition includes snippets of music between them, drawn from about four dozen Colonial-era tunes and imitating the sound of Colonial instruments such as flute, fife, lute, English guitar, music box, and harpsichord. May you enjoy it and draw benefit from it, as Ben himself would have wished!

Members Reviews:

lame music inbetween every quote

This book is wonderful, the voice is perfect accept for the music and sound affects. The music would fit for a book for a toddler.

Content Good But Disappointing Production

Would you try another book from Benjamin Franklin and/or Robert Bethune?

The writings of Benjamin Franklin were very enjoyable. This production was ruined for me by the loud irritating music between each passage. I found it necessary to listen with one hand on the volume. Else the words were too soft to hear or the music so loud I would go deaf.

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Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Author: L. Frank Baum

Narrator: Liza Ross

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-11

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This great children's classic, written in 1900 and immortalised in the Judy Garland film The Wizard of Oz, retains its charm in this reading by Liza Ross. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion are all here in L. Frank Baum's literary technicolor - along with some of the music that made the film unforgettable.

Members Reviews:

5 stars There's something fun and very "escapist" about Oz

3.5 stars

There's something fun and very "escapist" about Oz. It's a nice trip into a fantasy land where nothing too deep or evil is happening. I think there's a little bit of meaning in some of the things. Such as a man without a heart not realizing he has all the qualities of a person with one, and so on.

Overall it's just one of those quick, easy, breeze through reads that I might not enjoy so much if I just read it as an adult. But because it's part of my childhood I can overlook the lacking parts and just go for the ride.

A classic of American Literature

Obviously there is more material in the book than the movie, including more detailed back stories for the Tin Woodsman and the flying monkeys. Some readers may find some material redundant (for example, there are many scenes at Emerald City). However, this is a lively read, and anyone who is interested in American Literature and/or exploring more of Oz, should enjoy this book.

The Book is always better

The book is always better than the movie. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting the two versions of this story. The written story was very different than the movie but both adventures bring you back to "there's no place like home."

Great Book

Great read. I loved it. It's quite the adventurous book. There is so much going on, so many different characters you meet, and so many different creatures in the book that you rarely get bored. I was rather intrigued from start to finish. There were a lot of times when I would find myself getting lost in the book, and picturing myself in that situation. The book is truly magical and wondrous and really enjoyable.

Excellent book and an excellent read

Excellent book and an excellent read. It is no wonder it has endeared the hearts of millions of children from one generation to the other.