On The Same Page discussion

We're excited to read Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. It's based upon the life of L. Frank Baum's wife Maud. I'm in the middle of reading the Wizard of Oz books for the first time and I'm really excited to learn more about the family. Here's the blurb from GR...

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.

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!

This book Before Dorothy isn't out yet, but I wonder how it will compare or add to Finding Dorothy?

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 might be interested in Before Dorothy. I'll make a note to revisit in June after it is published.

Picked up Finding Dorothy from the library this morning.

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)[And who knows if Arthur Freed tried to take advantage of Garland on The Wizard of Oz, but Shirley Temple did say in her memoir that he exposed himself to her. I have no words to say what I think about him. (hide 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

Starting this one today.

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[I was not surprised that Maud came to see Meyer when she found out that he was producing the Wizard of Oz movie. It was her mission to protect her husbands work and that Meyer did him proud. It’s just like today want to protect their work and to be involved in the adaptations of their books, which I’m sure is why the producers just purchase the rights to the book and then they can do whatever they want to do. I also got a chuckle when Meyers’s secretary read one of the letters then was sent to Meyer stating she didn’t like Judy Garland as Dorothy but that was eh ended up as Dorothy. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

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.

Chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[I think it’s cool that Maud was able to go to college and was definitely in the minority with only 19 women and 200 men, in her class. which was crazy!!! I wonder if this is a true fact and that was when women were allowed to go to college. 🤔🤔

Is Josie, L. Frank Baum’s sister??? 🤔🤔 (hide spoiler)]

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!

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ Josie’s cousin!!!! 😊 (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ Matilda certainly have 2 different ideas regarding her daughters. I wonder how Julia became to know James, did Matilda “find” ”him for her, so that she will no have to worry about her and that James will take care of her??? But James appears to be a snake to me, following Maud into the cellar, he definitely does not have good intentions.

And why not allow Maud see Frank, While she is home, she only has 2 more days before she goes back to school. In the beginning I like Matilda, but now I’m not so sure….. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 - (view spoiler)[ I’m not the least bit surprised that Maud left school to marry Frank. I was glad that her mother did not give her too hard of a time about leaving school, at least she respected her choice (hide spoiler)]

Regarding your thoughts on chapters 7 & 11, (view spoiler)[I agree with you about Matilda. She definitely did raise her daughters very differently. It was surprising to me that Matilda did not care for Frank, especially since she was satisfied with James for Julia. It was also surprising to me that Maud left school to marry Frank. After all of the expense of sending her to school, I thought she would at least graduate! I can understand Matilda's disappointment, but also understood her coming to the conclusion that what was right for her wasn't the right decision for her daughter. School didn't sound so fun for Maud, but if she hadn't gone, she wouldn't have met Josie who wouldn't have introduced her to Frank! It's funny how life happens, isn't it? (hide spoiler)]

Lea, regarding your responses . (view spoiler)[ Yes! It is. 😂. I am glad that Matilda does end up liking Frank. I was thinking too, that since Mauds dad was so sick and I’m sure her parents was struggling to pay for her to go to college. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ So this was interesting how the whole idea of with Dorothy, Toto and the rainbow oh, and auntie Em came out. I suppose that Magdelania was so much in Maud and Frank’s mind that he wrote books about her. I wonder if she ever comes to live with them? I don’t see how Julia can last much longer on that homestead. If she dies, surely James will send her to Maud and Frank. (hide spoiler)]

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.