I’ve always had a love hate relationship with the wizard of oz. As a child it scared me as an adult it made me long for home. This was a great book to make me rewatch with a different lens

Well, I let this sit on my shelf way too long. It was a very enjoyable book of the writing of The Wizard of Oz, the making of the movie, and the life of L. Frank Baum and his wife, Maude. Throughout the story you get glimpses of how characters came about, how they got their names, and how one of the most popular songs of all time almost didn't make the movie.

I enjoyed this book very much and will look for other reads by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

I am disappointed that I didn't read this sooner! I was drawn to this because The Wizard of Oz was my favorite movie when I was younger, and I didn't know the story behind it at all. It was very interesting and definitely something that will stick with me for a while. I can't wait to watch the movie again after reading.

I live in Kansas so The Wizard of Oz part of growing up here. I enjoyed reading about Mrs. Baum's life and how she was instrumental in the making of the movie.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

A lovely story, based on Maud and Frank Baum's actual lives, that ties together their family, experiences and personalities into a tale of how Dorothy Gale and the Land of Oz were created. I loved Maud's mother Matilda, a bold and bright suffragist who instilled that independent, spunky spirit in Maud (though that seemed to fade over time and tough experiences). Frank was wonderful - goofy and gentle and creative. And I enjoyed the 1938/1939 sections of the book, where Maud was watching the film be made. However, the story was too saccharine and a bit heavy-handed at times for me, especially the parts where Maud was interacting with Judy.

I am a long time fan of the movie, The Wizard of Oz. I watched it every year on television growing up, bought a copy myself as soon as videos became available for purchase, and will watch it even in part any time it pops up on television. So, when this book appeared on the horizon, I knew I had to give it a read. I'm so glad I did! It gives the reader so much background information about the inspiration of the story as well as the making of the film. It rocks back and forth from the life of the author Baum, to the time when MGM was in production of the film. You got to give this one a go - especially if you are a fan of the books or the movie. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I most definitely would.

It's been an age since I read Elizabeth Letts, but as a big fan of the content of her book, I was immediately intrigued. Maud Baum, in hopes of preserving her husband's legacy, makes her way onto the set of 1939's Wizard of Oz. Through this, she is able to meet the film's star, Judy Garland, and the story's heroine, Dorothy, and finds herself fighting with different elements constantly to help them understand Oz and what it stands for. Going back Maud meets L. Frank, while working through her education and makes the choice, of whether she continues down the path her mother chose for her or does she choose L. Frank and the world he hopes for?

I have to be honest that I haven't read any of the Oz books since I was child. But understanding artistic integrity, I could instantly understand what Maud was shooting for in this story and why she found it so pivotal to fight. I thought it was fascinating to get this behind the scenes look into essentially the making of the film through this lens of Maud. It was subtle, but felt genuine. You ended up meeting the whole cast of characters, as well as some of the most heavy hitters behind the production of the film as well. That was such a fun and gratifying way to look at this part of the story. I did so appreciate too that eventually Maud got it that she couldn't just work towards the artistic integrity of the story, that Judy was someone she needed to fight for too. For years, this has been one of the biggest behind the scenes stories. I was happy to see her standing up for her and it made sense with Maud's upbringing.

For me, the film part of the story, was the strongest part. It showed Maud's full character progression and was the closest to the Maud we met at the beginning of her story in college. Because I felt those two versions of Maud were the closest to each other. Maud that married L.Frank was just nothing in comparison. She made compromises and choices, which is what you do, yes. But she gave up so much of herself, for so long. It was really hard to watch the strength of who she was just leech out of her. It also felt because we lost those pieces of her that this part of the story just dragged at times. Yes, you can't make hardship exciting. But it was just very difficult to read. I also had trouble because of how Maud's sisters were portrayed telling the difference between them? I don't know why. I know she had more than one, but I was losing the thread of which was which?

Overall, I did really enjoy this story. I think anyone who is a fan of pretty much component of the book would love it. Thank you!

I wanted to love this book, but it fell just a little flat for me. It was an interesting fictionalized look at the real life people surrounding The Wizard of Oz. The most interesting parts to me were learning about Maud’s (L. Frank Baum’s wife) mother, Matilda, who was a famous suffragette I had never heard of and the afterword where it was revealed that Maud’s great-niece was the first female senator from North Dakota. I did think it was cute how the details of the book were sprinkled throughout the book—you could see how they came to be the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the trees throwing apples, etc.

This is great book, particularly for fans of The Wizard of Oz. Readers will appreciate Oz's efforts to make sure that the movie is true to the book. Highly recommended!

Loved the story of the wife of famed author L. Frank Baum. Letts did a great job of sticking to the historical facts, while fleshing out the people.

This book tells the story of the writing of The Wizard of Oz from Maude Baum's point of view. The book goes back to when Maude first met Frank and then jumps to the 1930s when The Wizard of Oz was being filmed. Letts weaves a wonderful story about Frank and Maude's courtship, early marriage, children, trials through Frank's failed business ventures, and finally through his writing of the The Wizard of Oz. Maude befriended Judy Garland during the movie making. Letts uses historical documents and interviews to create this incredible story. It was a book that shows the reader a new side to the movie that everyone loves and the amazing love story that Frank and Maude had.

This was a slow start for me but I enjoyed it over all. Made me want to go read all the Oz books mentioned.

As a very young child, I would watch The Wizard of OZ every day. I knew all the lines and even used those very lines to get myself out of trouble, resorting to having "no brain, only straw" as an explanation for any mischief I got myself into. When I got a bit older, I would discover the first books of OZ at my local library, racing through this magical series wide-eyed and full of wonder, and checking them out again and again. I would purchase the entire OZ canon in all its vintage glory as an adult, proudly displaying its beautifully illustrated covers and majestic spines on my book shelf, and returning to that remarkable fairy world where anything could happen time and time again. Yes, I have always been a fan of OZ.

When I learned that Elizabeth Letts had written a historical fiction account of the story behind the story, I knew I had to read it. Admittedly, although I am a lover of all things OZ, I didn't know too much about the man who brought this incredible world to life - the wizard himself, L. Frank Baum. Letts' novel, Finding Dorothy, tells the story of OZ through the woman of OZ - Baum's steadfast and hardscrabble wife Maud Gage Baum. Maud, the daughter of a suffragist, would play a significant role in the life and work of "Frank," as he was called by those who knew and loved him.

One part of Finding Dorothy talks of the Baums' journey through endless struggles and career ventures, many moves and hardships, before landing on the idea that would cement their place in literary and film history - The Wonderful Wizard of OZ. The other part of Finding Dorothy, which alternates from the Baums' early and later life, tells of Maud's work on the film set of The Wizard of OZ, in which she tried to preserve the book's integrity and developed a relationship with a young, not yet famous, Judy Garland. These two narratives unfold slowly, tying into one another, to create a wonderfully moving tribute to the everlasting legacy of the Baums.

Letts' work in Finding Dorothy is brilliant in that she seamlessly relates instances on the movie set of OZ, parts of the beloved book, and some strange coincidences along the way to moments in the early life of the Baums. She weaves together the narratives from the past and the present, joining them in such a way that shows that our current lives are indelibly linked to everything we have lived and loved before.

Letts' re-imagination of life on the set of The Wizard of OZ is fascinating. Any fan of OZ will immensely enjoy "seeing" this timeless and captivating movie brought to realization. Additionally, Maud's relationship with Judy is endearing, with Maud often taking on the role of mother and protector for the young, vulnerable actress, who suffered many abuses at the hands of Hollywood.

After writing The Wonderful Wizard of OZ, Frank tells Maud that he put their entire lives into the story, that it is all in there. Recreating the Baums' past is where Letts' work really shines, as her expertly researched novel truly captures the people and places of the times. She selects significant moments in the Baums' lives, leading readers down a carefully plotted path that eventually leads to OZ. This masterful novel of biographical fiction is not to be missed by anyone who loves all the things OZ, has an interest in the early days of Hollywood, or enjoys thoroughly researched historical fiction about real people and places.

i loved this book. i knew nothing of frank and maud baum and the backstory of the wizard of oz. this book gave me that history and the story of the making of the film we all know by heart. it was like searching for easter eggs to have something pop up in the story and a flash of light knowing this was how it would be used later in the story of oz. i walked away with a great appreciation for maud and her love for frank who may not have always been easy to love and her devotion even after his death to make sure the movie did the book justice. oddly as a reader i have never read the original so now i am off to read the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz!

WOW! As someone who has LOVED The Wizard of Oz for her entire life I was so looking forward to reading Elizabeth Letts’ novel and it didn’t disappoint. The background on the making of the movie was insightful however the reveal of L Frank Baum’s life and love of the fascinating Maud Gage Baum was outstanding.

Fans of The Wizard of Oz will love this story of what happened behind the scenes of the iconic book and movie. It's a fresh and interesting take while still being able to visit the old friends you know from the book & movie.

Finding Dorothy tells the story of how Frank Baum's widow went to the filming of the Wizard of Oz and met Judy Garland and helped make sure that Over the Rainbow stayed in the movie. It also tells the backstory of Frank and his family, which is a lot grimmer than you might imagine, especially the life of Maud Baum's sister and her daughter. They lived out on the prairie and suffered unimaginable hardships.

This was a very interesting book and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just when you thought you knew everything about the Wizard of Oz, along comes this book that looks into the lives of L. Frank Baum and his wife Maud. Frank was a dreamer and Maud was a no-nonsense woman whose mother was a token player in the women’s rights movement. I really enjoyed the two timelines:— one that followed Maud and Frank’s early courtship and marriage, and the other timeline that showed the making of the movie and Maud’s friendship with Judy Garland , and Maud’s involvement in making sure Frank’ s vision was followed. There were very many golden nuggets in this book. I highly recommend it to any movie.fan, especially those who love the Wizard of Oz.

As a giant Wizard of Oz fan, I loved reading this book! Getting a brief look into Judy Garland's life and the few advocates she had for her were eye opening. For how much money the movie made you would have thought that her life was worry free. I think MANY others will enjoy this book as well for the inside look into how the magic was created.

I have many pleasant memories from my childhood. However, there is one that is confusing. I was not a fan of The Wizard of Oz movie, yet I regularly watched it on TV. I think that a comfy seat on the sofa next to my grandmother, a bowl of freshly popped popcorn and an extension to my bedtime made watching a wicked witch, flying monkeys, and a tornado, okay.
I never read the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. All I knew came from the 1939 movie. It surprised me that my interest in Oz was piqued by the offer to read the “historical based” novel Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts.
Finding Dorothy is an account of the life of Maud Gage Baum, wife of Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Maud had an interesting life. She was raised by a well known suffragette. Bright and assured, Maud enrolled in Cornell University, where she was one of the early female attendees.
At Cornell, Maud roomed with Josie Baum, sister of Frank Baum. Their attraction is mutual and marriage is the next step despite her mother’s initial objections. Frank has the creative imagination and lofty ideas but these do not translate into a solid base for raising a family. Fortunately Maud was a strong-willed determined wife and mother whose can do attitude helped her meet the challenges that a harsh South Dakota environment threw her way.
Life changes when the Baum’s move to California because of Franks poor health.
Maud becomes the guardian of Frank’s legacy when Hollywood determines that Oz would make a wonderful movie. Though now in her 70s, Maud fights to preserve the story that her husband had written. Along the way she also becomes a protector to the young Judy Garland who is mistreated by the film studio and sadly and painfully by her mother. Maud shows no fear as she fights one last battle to ensure what we watch on the big screen is what her husbands imagination conceived.
Finding Dorothy is not a research project full of footnotes and citations. It is the work of a writer who explored a topic with skill and affection and wrote a novel that gives great insight into how an iconic American entertainment movie came to be. Frank and Maud would be grateful and proud. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #FindingDorothy