Publication Date: December 5, 2023
A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.
Dorothy “Dee” Gale is searching for a place to belong. After their globe-trotting mother’s death, Dee and her sister Toni settled with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas, where Dee attends graduate school. But when Dee’s relationship with a faculty member, a bestselling novelist, ends in heartbreak and humiliation, she’s caught in a tornado of negative publicity. Unable to face her colleagues—or her former lover—Dee applies to the writing program at Trinity College Dublin.
Dee’s journey to Ireland leads her to new companions: seemingly brainless Sam Clery—who dropped out of college and now runs a newsagent’s shop—is charming and hot, in a dissolute, Irish poet kind of way; allegedly heartless Tim Woodman—who stiffly refused to take back his ex-fiancée—seems stuck in his past; and fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur, who longs for the courage to tell her parents she wants to teach underprivileged girls rather than work in the family business.
In a year of opportunities and changes, love and loss, Dee is mentored by powerful women in the writing program, challenging her to see herself and her work with new eyes. With her friends, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears—including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all.
Faced with a choice with far-reaching consequences, Dee must apply the lessons she’s learned along the way about making a family, finding a home…and recognizing the power that’s been inside her all along.
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra is filled with a lot of imagery from the book The Wizard of Oz, including the use of character names. None is more prevalent than the main character Dorothy, who goes by Dee. But her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, who live on a farm in Kansas, are woven throughout, and these set up various themes in the story, with even the mention of good and bad witches and the strength they give to women. Much of the book is set in Ireland, Dee’s Emerald City, and the yellow brick road is featured on the cover.
Dee and her sister had a chaotic childhood. Their mom was a famous artist who traveled the world and died tragically and too young. She and her daughters lived in many places, mostly with friends and family, but the farm in Kansas became Dee and Toni’s home. It was their refuge when life didn’t go as planned and when it ultimately derailed until one or the other could regroup and plan her next steps.
The story was sometimes choppy, with a wealth of characters who we get to know a little at a time. Dee and Toni also get to know themselves and learn to go after what they want. We learn of Dee’s troubles in her graduate program in Kansas and what made her flee to Ireland and Trinity College. She finds her voice, not only in her writing.
Her relationship with others slowly grew as she made friends, found supporters, and learned to trust herself and go after what she wanted. Her friendships with others always seemed to surprise her since it wasn’t the norm for her and she liked how her life was changing. But she also had to let go and not mother her younger sister so much so Toni could forge her own career path and way in the world.
The book took many paths, and several storylines were told, but I felt there were loose ends and only some closure on a couple of fronts. There is some romance and caring, and there seems to be a happily ever afters for several characters.
I enjoyed the Questions for Discussion at the back of the book since it made me reflect more on the book and on several levels since many of the questions turned the reader’s thoughts to their own lives.
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale is a story with fairytale-like feels, stories woven within stories, as many characters nurture friendships and change their interactions with other members of their own family. Many finally find their paths and roles in life, adding layers to the story. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Kantra.
New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is the author of almost thirty novels. She is married to her college sweetheart, a coffee shop owner who keeps her well supplied with caffeine and material. They make their home in North Carolina, where they raised three (mostly adult) children. She is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love.
