Dates:
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 6:00 PM–7:00 PM
Join us for a lively discussion of Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. "Hollywood, 1938. As soon as she learns that MGM is adapting her late husband's masterpiece for the screen, seventy-seven-year-old Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to finagle her way onto the set. Nineteen years after Frank's passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book ... But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of 'Over the Rainbow,' Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story: from her youth as a suffragette's daughter to her coming of age as one of the first women in the Ivy League, from her blossoming romance with Frank to the hardscrabble prairie years that inspired The Wonderful Wizard of Oz ." "Letts expertly illuminates the true story behind the tale beloved by so many readers through history, but best of all is the wonderful depiction of Maud herself. This is a crowd-pleasing, thoroughly satisfying novel."- Publisher's Weekly "... a poignant, absorbing tale of the life and love story that led to the creation of a beloved classic." -Martha Waters, Booklist In conjunction with this month's book club selection, we will be hosting a display of Wizard of Oz items at the Canaryville Branch. We will also be hosting a screening of The Wizard of Oz (1939) on Wednesday, August 12th at 6pm and a screening of Return to Oz (1985) on Monday, August 17th at 6pm. Accessibility Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
Categories: Book Clubs
Source: Event information supplied by Source: City of Chicago, Chicago Public Library — subject to the City of Chicago Data Portal Terms of Use..