As I make my way through the latter books of the Oz series, I notice how Baum kept trying to get outside the confines of Oz. Perhaps he realized that giving it an all-powerful and all-knowing ruler put something of a damper on conflict and adventure, or perhaps the land had been circumscribed in a … Continue reading #Ozathon24: More adventures outside Oz
I'm doing a combined post with shorter reviews here, because in the summer my attention span for blogging has gone out the window. Plus, these books happen to go together well, as I hope you'll agree... In early June I read All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by … Continue reading Nonfiction Reader: Culture, Architecture, and Science
I'm back from break with a fun event from It Starts at Midnight - the Olympic Book Tag! Though personally I would be more into a Bookolympics, it's hard to avoid getting somewhat excited about the Games, especially when they are happening in the country next door. And it was irresistible to take on the … Continue reading Olympic Book Tag
Mallika of Literary Potpourri invites us to read and discuss books with cats in them this week, and after some unsuccessful attempts to find one -- disappointed by books with not enough feline presence or too dull or unpleasant to make me want to finish or share them with you -- I came across this … Continue reading #ReadingTheMeow2024: Dewey, the Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
What causes the United States of America to be so internally fractious and thoroughly disunited? The federal government is grinding to a halt, as opposing factions battle to wrest control of it for their own, deeply opposite agendas. Why is no one interested in getting along so that things can work better? Well, now I … Continue reading Nonfiction Reader: American Nations
We've had six months of the Ozathon so far, and I've had a wonderful time revisiting these childhood favorites and reading your thoughts. I'd like to thank all who have participated so far, particularly my co-host, Deb of The Book Stop. Others include: Howling Frog Books Staircase Wit Puss Reboots The Book Stop Rosie Amber … Continue reading #Ozathon24: The story continues
With the sixth Oz book, The Emerald City of Oz, L. Frank Baum did several things. He brought Dorothy, along with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, to live permanently in Oz. This opened the way for him to close the Oz saga permanently, leaving all the characters we'd met so far happily ensconced there. To … Continue reading #Ozathon24: Farewell to Oz?
Last year I participated in the 20 / 15 / 10 Books of Summer challenge hosted by 746 Books and it was a great success for me, so I'm joining again. I used the opportunity to cross-reference other challenges or reading goals, and I'll take that approach this time too. I'm going to list specific … Continue reading 10 Books of Summer
This is the place to collect posts on The Road To Oz, our April read for the Ozathon. Polychrome meets Ozma - illustration by John R. Neill Here's what I've gathered. Please let me know if I missed your post! Entering the Enchanted Castle Puss Reboots Staircase Wit Rosie Amber Leaving Oz in magic bubbles … Continue reading #Ozathon24: April Wrap-up
Patrick Stewart: Making It So (2023) With his patrician voice, I had no idea that Patrick Stewart came from a working-class Yorkshire background. In this memoir, he tells how he made it from obscurity to worldwide fame, and from a way of life that was practically Victorian into shows and movies that imagine a space-age … Continue reading Nonfiction Reader Challenge: Making It So
