• The author recollects very specific things in her home (ie the fireplace, the railroad, etc)
• Emotions that directly impacted her adolescent development are very vivid in her memory
• She often questioned her family’s living situation. She would question why they didn’t move somewhere else more pleasant
• I think the author felt emotionally attached to Dorothy. She became an idol of freedom and ambition for the author
• She acknowledged that even 30 years later, Dorothy had made such a lasting impression her, watching the movie completely through again would be overkill.

The author states that she remembers strong feelings of confusion of why nobody had any energy to find enjoyment. This compelled me because I can relate to the feeling. My family never really wanted to do much outside of sitting down and smoking or having a drink.

Another moment I could resonate with was her want to escape her family and go to Oz. To me distance away from my family has always been a pipe dream. My life has always revolved around copious amounts of family being a stone’s throw away.

What causes the reluctance to look back? Why be afraid of the next page when the book isn’t finished yet?

I think the Author’s purpose was to juxtapose her fantasies of being in Oz and wanting to be independent to the reality that she lived in.