the wonderful wizard of oz by l. frank baum

i read this for one of my book clubs. it was alright. i don't think i will ever read it again. i think the thing that bothered me the most was the overly simplistic writing style. i realize it is written for kids, but i've read several other books written for the same age group which don't have the same tone. and it bothered me how much happens, and how much symbolism there is in the book, but it's not developed enough to really make the impact it could. and then dorothy just ends up at home. her character doesn't learn anything, really, or grow . . . through the whole book you're just moved from one event to the next and then you're done.

about 2/3 of the way through i found myself hurrying to finish so i could move on to something else. i just wanted to be done.

the blue castle by l.m. montgomery

on wednesday night i got into bed and decided to read for a few minutes to wind down. i picked up "the blue castle" because it was the book assigned for february for one of my book clubs.

eight chapters later i forced myself to put the book away and go to sleep. but i probably could have read straight through the night and been content with the consequences.

i have never read anything by lm montgomery before, but i surely will be seeking out her other books! i loved this book. it was perfection. there's a sassy girl and humor and manly men and the great outdoors and romance and love and unabashed happy-ending-ness. delightful. that's what it was . . . delightful! i passed it off to my mom this morning, and if i know her taste at all, which i think i do, she'll have it finished by tomorrow night.

thanks be to becca for picking this book. it will be re-read several times in my life.