Wanting to see and learn music from Wicked, I went on my usual deep dive as I tip-toed to Oz. When I get into a musical, I go all in. I did that with Les Miserable, Phantom, and Into the Woods. Now I find Wicked and Hamilton calling. So first, The Wizard of Oz got my attention. Even though I just finished reading a book by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel’s father, Oz wins the in-depth first.

What got me started was the movie was on television on Sunday. I’ve always felt the show was presented for me, personally, as it always aired around my birthday. Yes, I’m a Sagg. Some years, I skipped it. But I decided to watch it this year because of all the Wicked hype.

I started to read Wicked but wondered what I might be missing from the original books.

So I’ve started reading The Complete Wizard of Oz. I have it on Kindle and Audible, but I am sure you can get it on Libby.

Already, I see names, places, and situations that Wicked mentioned that we never saw in that old but beloved movie. One I found interesting is the choice of Kristin Chenoweth. She is the good witch of the north. In the books, she is small in stature. So Kristin fits.

With The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (written 1900), the first book now checked off from a sleepless night of constant listening, and the second, The Marvelous Land of Oz (written 1904), well underway, I am happy with my new reading and future musical pursuits.

Does anyone know where I can see the illustrations? I thought I’d see them in the Kindle version, but they don’t seem to be there. I read a few of these to my kids when they were little, and I remember finding the pictures charming, if not a bit disturbing.

Anyway, back to the yellow brick road!