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Finding Dorothy
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Finding Dorothy - January Buddy Read
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I see we had a change to our January buddy read. I’m somewhat interested in Dorothy, because of Wicked, maybe it’s her story I’m interested in, but nothing wrong with looking into Dorothy as well. I found the book with an3 week hold.
Linda wrote: "I see we had a change to our January buddy read. I’m somewhat interested in Dorothy, because of Wicked, maybe it’s her story I’m interested in, but nothing wrong with looking into Dorothy as well. I found the book with an3 week hold."
Linda, I think this was the book we'd always meant to read. Here's the link to the thread - I really hope that works - where we said:
And here are the books we selected for the first four months of 2025!
January 2025 - Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts - Picked by Alissa
February 2025 - The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez - Picked by Lea
March 2025 - The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson - Picked by Alissa
April 2025 - The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck - Picked by Lea
Anyway, I'm intrigued about whatever other book there might be out there that you thought we were picking! Maybe we need to read that one too. :-) :-) :-)
I'm glad you found the book and hope you get it soon. Looking forward to discussing it with you!
Lea wrote: "Linda wrote: "I see we had a change to our January buddy read. I’m somewhat interested in Dorothy, because of Wicked, maybe it’s her story I’m interested in, but nothing wrong with looking into D..."
No worries, I thought we were reading
first, in January. But I’m flexible.
This looks interesting to me, but not sure when I'll get to it. I put both the ebook and physical copy on hold at my library. The ebook estimate is 9 weeks. Hopefully, not quite that long for the physical one.
My library copy is in transit now, so I should get it next week.
Linda wrote: "No worries, I thought we were reading The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone, #1) by Abby Jimenez first, in January. But I’m flexible."I'm really getting excited about reading The Friend Zone too. I haven't read anything by Abby Jimenez before, and this one sounds so good. I'm glad you will still be able to join both! I'm hoping Finding Dorothy is great too! I just finished The Tin Woodman of Oz and I have two more left in the series. I'm both excited and sad about that! :-)
Patricia wrote: "This looks interesting to me, but not sure when I'll get to it. I put both the ebook and physical copy on hold at my library. The ebook estimate is 9 weeks. Hopefully, not quite that long for the physical one."Good luck, Pat! I hope it comes soon for you. Sometimes the eBooks estimates from Libby are off. Usually it's in the direction coming sooner than expected for me, but it took The Tin Woodman of Oz two extra weeks to arrive than estimated. I'll cross my fingers that it arrives sooner or that you will be able to get the physical copy soon. As always, if some of us start reading it before you, we will still come on here and make comments and chat with you about the book even after we finish. Hope we all like this one.
Jackie wrote: "My library copy is in transit now, so I should get it next week."That will work out perfectly, Jackie! So happy you will be joining us!
Lea wrote: "Linda wrote: "No worries, I thought we were reading The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone, #1) by Abby Jimenez first, in January. But I’m flexible."I'm really getting excited about reading The Friend ..."
I think you will love Abby Jimenez, she will make you laugh and cry and smile all the way through her books. I just love her!!!
Linda wrote: "I think you will love Abby Jimenez, she will make you laugh and cry and smile all the way through her books. I just love her!!!.."THIS!! I love her so much
I'm starting this today!
Linda wrote: "I think you will love Abby Jimenez, she will make you laugh and cry and smile all the way through her books. I just love her!!!"Alissa wrote: "THIS!! I love her so much"
She comes so highly recommended. I can't wait to read my first book by her with you both - two of her fans! It will be amazing.
Alissa wrote: "I'm starting this today!"I started today too. Once you started, I got so enthusiastic about this book. So far, I'm really enjoying it. :-)
Patricia wrote: "This book Before Dorothy isn't out yet, but I wonder how it will compare or add to Finding Dorothy?"How interesting. That looks like a fictional story about Auntie Em whereas this is fiction based upon Maud Baum, L. Frank Baum's wife. I might need to read both. And finish up my series. I have only two more books to read, and I'm already wondering if I should try to get my hands on the rest of the series that was written by another author. I usually don't like to continue series after another author takes over. Anyways, is anyone else interested in reading Before Dorothy after it comes out later this year?
I still have 2 weeks hold on this book.
Lea wrote: "Patricia wrote: "This book Before Dorothy isn't out yet, but I wonder how it will compare or add to Finding Dorothy?"How interesting. That looks like a fictional story about Aunt..."
I’m not sure. 🤔🤔
Jackie wrote: "Picked up Finding Dorothy from the library this morning."Yay! I hope you enjoy it, Jackie!
Linda wrote: "I still have 2 weeks hold on this book."No worries, we will still be here to discuss when you get the book, Linda!
Jackie wrote: "I might be interested in Before Dorothy. I'll make a note to revisit in June after it is published."Linda wrote: "I’m not sure. 🤔🤔"
I haven't read anything by Gaynor yet, but I do have The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter on my Individual Challenge. How I like that book will likely impact if I want to read this one. I guess I'll have to move that book up my TBR, so I can have an opinion once Before Dorothy comes out. :-)
I really like Maud's character. She is a spitfire. As for the portion of the book with her relationship with Judy Garland, I'm not sure how much of that is true to life, but I do think that young rising stars were treated poorly by Hollywood producers. It's the age old human trait to exert power and control over the vulnerable. It makes me so angry. I did google picture of Maud Baum and Judy Garland, so there is a photo. They did meet. Chapter 15(view spoiler)
Lea wrote: "I did google picture of Maud Baum and Judy Garland, so there is a photo. They did meet..."I LOVE that!!
I also love seeing all the Oz references ex. the scarecrow, her mother being a "witch". Made me so happy
Linda, I'm glad you got the book and have started. I agree with your thoughts on Chapter 1. There's more I want to say on that, but I'll wait until you get further along in the book. :-)
Alissa wrote: "I LOVE that!!I also love seeing all the Oz references ex. the scarecrow, her mother being a "witch". Made me so happy"
Yes! And in the beginning, Frank was an actor, so I believe his books were written such that they could make an excellent screenplay as well.
Regarding your last question, all will be answered in good time. :-)Regarding your other comment, I spent some time Googling women in higher education and learned a lot about something I completely take for granted. We all stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us!
Finished this one today. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and it has given me feelings of watching The Wonderful Wizard of Oz nd possibly even reading it, since I’ve never read it before. I also haven’t watched the movie in years!! I also enjoyed listening to the afterword.
Linda wrote: "Finished this one today. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and it has given me feelings of watching The Wonderful Wizard of Oz nd possibly even reading it, since I’ve never read it before. I also haven’t watched the movie in years!! I also enjoyed listening to the afterword."I also loved the afterword. I thought it might be the best part!
I'm glad Letts wrote this story - it was a story that I think needs to be told.
I also want to re-watch The Wizard of Oz...and I'm excited to finish out the Oz series next month.
I had never read them before and was surprised how much I enjoyed them....once I got over the fact that there are many many continuity errors. I hope you enjoy them, too, Linda.
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (other topics)The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (other topics)
Before Dorothy (other topics)
The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter (other topics)
Finding Dorothy (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Elizabeth Letts (other topics)Abby Jimenez (other topics)
Jim Thompson (other topics)
Cassie Dandridge Selleck (other topics)
Elizabeth Letts (other topics)
A richly imagined novel that tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum's intrepid wife, Maud--from the family's hardscrabble days in South Dakota to the Hollywood film set where she first meets Judy Garland.
Maud Gage Baum, widow of the author of the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, met Judy Garland, the young actress playing the role of Dorothy on the set of The Wizard of Oz in 1939. At the time, Maud was seventy-eight and Judy was sixteen. In spite of their age difference, Maud immediately connected to Judy--especially when Maud heard her sing "Over the Rainbow," a song whose yearning brought to mind the tough years in South Dakota when Maud and her husband struggled to make a living--until Frank Baum's book became a national sensation.
This wonderfully evocative two-stranded story recreates Maud's youth as the rebellious daughter of a leading suffragette, and the prairie years of Maud and Frank's early days when they lived among the people--especially young Dorothy--who would inspire Frank's masterpiece. Woven into this past story is one set in 1939, describing the high-pressured days on The Wizard of Oz film set where Judy is being badgered by the director, producer, and her ambitious stage mother to lose weight, bind her breasts, and laugh, cry, and act terrified on command. As Maud had promised to protect the original Dorothy back in Aberdeen, she now takes on the job of protecting young Judy.