Customer Reviews

Hey Dorothy You're Not in Kansas Anymore

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I was intrigued by the title of Karen Mueller Bryson's book, and who wouldn't be? The English speaking world has been mightily affected by the metaphor of Oz. "Hey Dorothy You're Not in Kansas Anymore" does not disappoint.

A young woman loses her father in a freak accident. She is one of a family with enough peccadilloes among them to keep any reader fascinated. She decides she will sleep her pain away, her mother decides she will run away with a cult, and brother decides to bury himself in his achievements and try to ignore the whole mess. The pain in this family is palpable but so is their zest for living. Those who loved "Bridget Jones's Diary" may like this book even better. It has the snap of the new genre called chick lit to which "Diary" is a prominent member; like "Diary" it explores the pain that twenty-somethings often experience in a society that isn't keen on letting them grow up.

What makes this novel better is that Our Dear Dorothy is just more likeable than Bridget. She is not quite so needy, quite so miserable, is just less of a cookie-cutter character all around.

What makes this novel move along so quickly is the authors background as a playwright. The dialogue is quick and convincing. The grounding is much like a theater production. The settings are sufficiently presented but do not dominate.

Mostly the humor is so natural. I laughed out loud three times in the first two chapters and chuckled even more often. All in all, it's a good lesson that the absurd may be found in the most agonizing of situations and that it works ever so well as a healer.

(Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of "Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered.")

What do you get when you take a freak accidental death involving a sanitation truck and a non-fat decaf mocha latte, a neurotic widow, a self-absorbed workaholic brother, and a funky cult? You get the life of Dorothy Gale Robinson, the central character in a charming novel about life's ups and downs in central Florida. This comic lark takes the reader from Florida to the heart of the Canadian Rockies, where romance is sure to find almost everyone.

Dorothy is an aspiring actress, whose real life seems to be following a script filled with scene after scene of whimsical melodrama. Everyone in her life is somehow connected to the Wizard of Oz. Whether it be by name association, or by physical appearance, Dorothy is surrounded by quirky characters that are simply endearing. There are more than enough twists to keep you on your toes. Just when you think it can't get any more bizarre, there's a new turn in the road and you're left giggling to yourself. From the beginning of her journey, where tragedy comes in the form of a runaway garbage truck, to the end of the story where everyone lives happily ever after (over the rainbow?), this unpredictable romp is simply delightful. This is a book that you just have to read in one sitting. It's a guaranteed page-turner!

A magical delight of a book. Funny and satirical. Impressive for a first novel. Filled with memorable characters like Mervyn O'Roy and Dorothy's mother, Mrs. Robinson. Dorothy's misadventures tickle the funny bone as well as answer that age old question: What happens to Dorothy when she grows up? This satirical look at the modern adventures of a grown up Dorothy, give us hope that life can be a romantic romp for those who are willing to suspend their disbelief. She calls herself ordinary. But Dorothy Gale Robinson proves she is anything but ordinary in this tour de force. Her caring and concern shines through her modern sense of cynicism with laughable consequences. A satirical look at the Wizard of Oz, gives us the joy of following this Dorothy on her equally riotous adventures. Settle down in a comfy chair, pick up this book and read to your heart's content.

HEY DOROTHY, YOU'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE
By Karen Mueller-Bryson

This book is a humorous account of grieving (or lack of) by one family as told by the daughter Dorothy. Unable to grieve over her father's recent death, Dorothy tells the story about her life with her brother (Jude) and her mother (Mrs. Robinson), and how they all cope with the father's death in their own different ways. It is a 'tongue in cheek' satire mixed in with shades of the movie classic Wizard of Oz.

In the adventures of Hey Dorothy, You're Not In Kansas Anymore, you can't help yourself laugh at the humorous overtones as the family disposes of their father's remains; and, how the mother tries to destroy a well-known coffee shop (called Buckstars) that she thinks is evil and trying to take over the world.

Karen Mueller Bryson has written a delightful story. If you want to read a refreshing, light comedy, you will want to add this book to your personal library.

Reviewed by award-winning author, Bobby Ruble, ...with wife, Kam...

Have you ever had one event change your whole life?

That is what happened to Dorothy Robinson when her father is killed while drinking a non-fat decaf mocha latte at the local Buckstar coffee shop. Losing her father is one thing, but when her mother goes a little crazy selling all her personal belongings with plans to buy a New Age cafe Dorothy isn't sure what to do. She knows when her mother heads to Canada to meet the Master of the Galaxy and become a Certified Outerworld Interpreter Dorothy knows things have gone too far! Not getting much support from her conceited brother, Dorothy decides to take matters into her own hands. Putting her faith in Mervyn, a local cult-buster, is the best solution she can find.

Dorothy, her boyfriend Lahrs and Mervyn take a trip from Flordia to Banff, Canada to find Dorothy's mother and perform a family intervention. But what they find is not what they expect. Is it too late to rescue her or is this trip just the beginning of something great?

***** Karen Mueller Bryson has written a book full of wit and humor. Her off-the-wall characters add a little sunshine to an already wonderful book. A light, fun read you will finish in one setting! Highly recommended reading! *****

Tinna Schock of Huntress Reviews

I had such a wonderful time accompanying Dorothy on her journey! Karen Mueller Bryson has written a completely beguiling tale of death, dysfunction, and renewal. With humor and compassion, Bryson brings an entirely delightful heroine to life. I couldn't stop reading until I found out what happened to Dorothy and to the fascinating people surrounding her.

If you are a person like me, a person who does not smile or laugh easily, then this book is for you! There are not to many things I find amusing but Bryson's book " Hey Dorothy..." is funny, amusing, a quick read, not a complicated story, but a simple tale. If you are also a fan of the Wizard of Oz, of which I am not, you will get a kick out of the satire, and the obvious parallelism with Dorothy, her friends, and the plot of the story. I read this book twice, the first time not realizing its full potential right away; the second time I kept finding new things to compare between the old Oz and the new. To the casual reader, this may seem like a simple story, which it is taken on the surface, but when you really delve into the story, it becomes quite unique and amusing, with a happy ending for all (what a romantic I am!). It was, I am sure quite a feat, for a first novel, for Ms Bryson to write such a unique tale

If you are a person like me, a person who does not smile or laugh easily, then this is the book for you. There are not to many things I find amusing but Bryson's book, "Hey Dorothy You're Not in Kansas Anymore" is a winner... it is funny, amusing, a quick read, not a complicated story, but a simple tale. If you are also a fan of the Wizard of Oz, of which I am not, you will still get a kick out of the satire, and the obvious parallelism with Dorothy, her friends, and the plot of the story. I read this book twice, not realizing its full potential right away; soon I kept finding new things to compare between the old Oz and the new. To the casual reader this may seem like a simple story, which it is taken on the surface, but when you really delve into the story, it becomes quite unique and amusing, with a happy ending for all, which is what this author likes...It was, I am sure, quite feat for Ms. Bryson to write such a unique tale.