Finding Dorothy: Book Review

Finding Dorothy

Finding Dorothy

By Elizabeth Letts

Complimentary copy from Random House

Finding Dorothy is amazing. I absolutely loved it. The story is not what you think. You would think it's about the character, Dorothy. Sorry, to disappoint you. it is about the real people who were responsible for the making of the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. And of course the real person, Judy Garland. The main character is Maud Gage Baum. Who was she? you ask. She was the wife of L. Frank Baum. You will find out more about her amazing life as you read the book. 

The setting takes you to the backlots of Hollywood. Then we sweep back to the young life of Maude Gage. Maude's mother, Matilda Joslyn Gage was a force to not reckon with.  She was in the forefront of Women's rights. She kept company with Susan B. Antony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Her ideas were more radical than most people. 

You could just imagine what life was like for Maude, and her sisters, and the family. Maude knew from a young life she was expected to go to college, graduate, become a doctor, or lawyer. Unfortunately or fortunately, she went to college but didn't finish Cornell.  It didn't happen the way her mother wanted. Instead, she met, Frank Baum.

Frank was a dreamer, imaginative, jack of all trades, passionate in any endeavor he put his mind to, he loved the arts( writer, playwright, actor). He loved children and was very kind. Where Maud was the opposite.  She was responsible, balanced the books for the house, the disciplinarian( she had to because Frank was away most of the time).

The other part of the story was the making of the Wizard of Oz on the backlots of MGM. I loved this part of the story. Maude was Frank's protector. She knew Wizard of Oz was about their life together. She knew she had an obligation to Frank, and he's book. She made sure the movie followed Frank's vision from the book. She never took, "no" as the final word. She had many confrontations with the studio. She felt obligated as well to protect Dorothy. There were many times she stepped in to protect her.

Dorothy and Maud Baum

 For example, the movie studios thought they owned you. They told you what to eat when to eat, take uppers to wake you up, and downers to sleep. Many times Maude felt responsible for her. She did everything she could to protect her.

I remember each year anticipating watching Wizard of Oz each year( around Feb.).  So, you know I had to read the book. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. I could see the story to me felt so vivid. I could see it come to life. I hope someone buys the rights to the book. 

 I enjoyed the writing style of the author. The descriptive style from Maude's married life, living in the midwest on the farm. and the time period, and Hollywood. The sweeping back and forth in time to Maud's earlier life to 1939 Hollywood. 

  I loved the sprinkling tidbits about the characters, the actors, and the movie into the book. The book was perfect for the time we live in during the pandemic.  It was MAGICAL, just like the movie. Thank you Random House for allowing me to review. After reading the book. I did my own research to find out more about Maude, Matilda, and Frank, and the Wizard of Oz.