The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Finished audio 9-1-19, 3.5/5 stars. classic, pub. 1900
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the classic story of fantasy that has delighted readers young and old for decades. Dorothy finds herself transplanted to the magical land of Oz when her house is sucked up by a tornado. To get back home she must follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard to help her get back to Kansas. Along the way she meets several interesting characters, including the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, who join her on her travels to ask the Wizard for help of their own. from Goodreads
As I was updating Goodreads with my book reviews of 2019 I realized that I had somehow neglected this one. It’s been a while, but I remember being struck with how different it was from the movie. Yes, there is still Dorothy and her dog, her three companions, some witches and flying monkeys, but it was darker than the movie. There are no ruby slippers and the backstory was nonexistent.
It opens with the cyclone and Dorothy being swept off to a place that was inexplicable. She meets the tin man, lion and scarecrow and they do go off on adventures, but there is imprisonment and evil too. But as with the movie, everyone needs friends such as these, willing to go the distance with you and for you.
I liked it even though it felt (at least listening to the audio) different than the iconic movie, which is okay since I have no great love for the flick. It’s a story that you recognize but don’t really know and that somehow makes it work.
This is 
Stacy's Books 
Baum’s writing (throughout all of his Oz books!) was so incredibly whimsical, something that’s missing from the Judy Garland movie excepting your affection for it.
You’ve read them all? I didn’t realize there were so many until after I finished this one.
Fourteen books in all, plus a collection of short stories. If you read only one more, make it The Tin Woodman of Oz, which is actually late in the series and features his heartbreaking secret origin.
Adding it to my list! Thanks for the recommendation.
I’ve never seen the movie all the way through so have never been interested in the book.
My thoughts, if you’d like to compare:
https://scottnagele.com/2015/02/28/that-time-the-wonderful-wizard-put-out-a-hit-on-the-wicked-witch/
I watched The Wizard of Oz every year growing up since as far back as I can remember, along with the original Cinderella. They are two of my all time favorite movies.
I’ve never read the books, but after reading Tony’s comments, I want to make that one of my reading challenges for 2020.
I listened to this one and loved it. I like the original movie, but it didn’t compare with the book (at least this first one–I haven’t read the others).