#97: The Wizard of Oz, L.L. Baum

Well, I learned today that my top 100 books fluctuate!  I am going to read the list from top to bottom, numbering them as I work my way to the top books!

As of this week, The Wizard of Oz is book #100!  The Wizard of Oz was my absolute favorite movie growing up! I have read this book, listened to the soundtrack, read the book, and read Wicked... and saw "Wicked" the musical!  I know this story inside and out.  Golden shoes, ruby shoes, scarecrows, tin men, hearts, love, learning... It doesn't get much better! AND L.L. Baum also threw in an apple tree throwing apples! WOW!

Next Up: #98 Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Life and philosophy from the point of view of a seagull.

I just ordered this book from the library.  It's ready for me to pick up!

Can't wait!

#99: The Master and the Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov

Well, if you have seen me at all in the last few months, you probably already know this: The Master and the Margarita is now one of my favorite novels.  This novel is involves a complex story line about Satan visiting Russia just after the revolution and the not-at-all-complex love triangle involving a nameless writer and a beautiful married woman.  Magic shows, Pontius Pilate, several men named various versions of "Ivan", witches, an angry woman smashing the mirrors of a man's room and filling his tub with water... There were so many interesting and wonderful concepts within in The Master and the Margarita.  At times the writing style was difficult to manage, likely caused during translation from Russian to English, so I forced myself to read the book "lightly." I tried to avoid any political, satirical, or "larger than life message" which is something I am always looking for when reading fiction.  In the end, the message never became clear.  I'm not sure there was one, to be honest, but many.  This is a must read!