Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Dorothy who lived in a small village. Dorothy was a kind-hearted and adventurous girl who loved exploring the surrounding forest. She found joy in the simple things in life, like the beauty of nature and the sound of laughter. One day, as Dorothy was walking through the forest, she stumbled upon a hidden cottage. Inside the cottage lived an envious witch named Morgana. Morgana had always been envious of Dorothy's beauty, kindness, and zest for life.
She is portrayed by Matreya Scarrwener as a child and Teri Reeves as an Adult.
To refer to Zizek s model of political action, Dorothy s narcissistically-preoccupied friends have become passionately attached to some Cause for which they are ready to risk everything. As Dorothy fights off despair, Glenda reappears and tells her that she may simply tap the heels of the Ruby Slippers together three times and go home.
Morgana had always been envious of Dorothy's beauty, kindness, and zest for life. She was consumed with jealousy and couldn't stand to see Dorothy happy. Morgana decided to put a curse on Dorothy, hoping to steal her happiness and good fortune.
Caravan - by Dorothy Gilman (Paperback)
The bestselling author of the Mrs. Pollifax novels sweeps an intriguing new heroine into a captivating adventure of suspense, romance, and danger. With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen, Caressa's choices are few: death by starvation, thirst, or murder, or a life of slavery. Disguised as an Arab boy, she embarks on a dangerous quest for freedom.
Book Synopsis
"A lushly romantic adventure story set in the North African desert in 1914, told by the impeccable Lady Treal as she reminisces in her London town house about her decidedly peccable past . . . Well-written, expertly plotted, perfectly paced."--Newsday
With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa has two choices: death or a life of slavery. Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life, harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks stands between her and oblivion. Then she discovers an inner magic so mysteriously compelling that the desert people call her a sorceress. . . .
"Sheer reading pleasure."--Publishers Weekly
Review Quotes
"Gilman's best . . . A tribute to the artful power of simple, old-fashioned storytelling in the hands of a master."--Kirkus Reviews
"A real corker . . . Filled with romance, action, adventure and drama . . . This is a completely romantic novel that never slows in its mad rush to a poignant and delicate conclusion. Gilman's words soar with the energy of a bomb and yet impact with the delicacy of a handful of goose down. A throwback to the days when authors wrote to tell a tale, Caravan deserves a wide audience."--Ocala Star-Banner
"Excellent . . . exciting . . . This is a romantic novel of a special kind--one that tells of exotic places and evokes interest that lingers like a remembered fragrance. . . . The background is rich in description and the sensual overtones are acceptable for readers of all ages."--The News (Southbridge, MA)
"Exciting, dramatic . . . An old-fashioned novel of danger, mystery, and intrigue--a romance-adventure story colorfully told by a skillful writer."--Ormond Beach Observer
About the Author
Dorothy Gilman (1923-2012) was the author of 14 Mrs. Pollifax novels, including The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, the series debut; Mrs. Pollifax Pursued; Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer; Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist; and Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled. She was also the author of many other novels, among them Thale's Folly.
Dorothy’s ultimate fate is framed by a restrictive definition of femininity. She intends to go back to Kansas with the Wizard, but the balloon becomes prematurely unmoored and the Wizard, concluding his fall from omniscience by yelling he doesn’t know how the balloon works, floats away. As Dorothy fights off despair, Glenda reappears and tells her that she may simply tap the heels of the Ruby Slippers together three times and go home. Again, as in the case of her friends, this capacity was always within her grasp. But Dorothy’s return to sepia-toned Kansas entails the loss of the slippers as well as the vibrant technicolor of Oz. Her loss of the slippers and the broader draining of the environment represents a yielding up of something flamboyant and at least prospectively sexual. This impression of loss is strengthened by her exquisitely sentimental final affirmation “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t go looking any further than my own back yard, because if it isn’t there, it isn’t anywhere. Oh, Auntie Em, there’s no place like home!” Her revelation coincides with an oath of allegiance to domesticity.
She concocted a potion that would bring misfortune and bad luck to anyone who drank it. With a sly smile on her face, Morgana invited Dorothy into her cottage, offering her a drink. Unaware of Morgana's true intentions, Dorothy graciously accepted. As soon as Dorothy took a sip of the potion, she felt a strange sensation wash over her. Suddenly, everything in her life started going wrong. Her friends stopped talking to her; her garden withered and died; and even the sun seemed to hide behind dark clouds whenever she stepped outside. Dorothy couldn't understand what was happening, but she refused to lose hope. Determined to break the curse, Dorothy embarked on a journey to find a wise old sage who was said to have the power to lift curses. Along the way, she faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but she never gave up. Her unwavering determination and positive attitude attracted the help of various creatures and kind-hearted individuals who believed in her. Finally, Dorothy reached the dwelling of the wise sage. With tears in her eyes, she explained her predicament and begged for help. The sage listened intently and smiled knowingly. She revealed that the key to breaking the curse was not in any external power, but within Dorothy herself. You see, the envious witch's curse had only affected Dorothy because she allowed it to. The potion may have brought misfortune, but it was Dorothy's mindset and attitude that determined her ability to overcome it. The sage explained that by choosing to focus on the positive, and truly believing in herself, Dorothy could break free from the curse's hold. Embracing the sage's wisdom, Dorothy returned to her village with a renewed sense of purpose. She refused to let the envious witch's curse define her. With each passing day, Dorothy practiced gratitude and positivity, slowly but surely reversing the effects of the curse. Eventually, her friends returned, her garden bloomed again, and the sun shone brighter than ever before. In the end, Dorothy learned a valuable lesson about the power of jealousy and the importance of self-belief. She realized that no matter how envious someone may be of her, true happiness could only be found within oneself. From that day forward, Dorothy lived a truly magical life, spreading love and positivity wherever she went..
Reviews for "The Envious Witch's Mysterious Origins: Dorothy's Search for the Truth"
- Alice - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Dorothy and the envious witch" because of all the positive reviews I had seen. However, I was extremely disappointed with the story. The plot was so predictable and lacking any depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, it was a very underwhelming reading experience.
- Mark - 1 star - I can't understand why "Dorothy and the envious witch" has received such praise. The writing style was amateurish and the story seemed poorly thought out. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to stay engaged in the book. I also found several grammatical errors and typos, which further detracted from my reading experience. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
- Janet - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "Dorothy and the envious witch" at all. The storyline was unoriginal and clichéd, leaving me feeling bored throughout most of the book. The pacing was also off, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The world-building was minimal, making it hard for me to visualize the settings. Overall, I found the book to be unremarkable and forgettable.
- Thomas - 1 star - "Dorothy and the envious witch" was a complete waste of my time. The main character, Dorothy, was incredibly unlikable and made irrational decisions throughout the story. The plot was convoluted and had several plot holes that were never addressed. The writing itself was also lacking, with awkward descriptions and repetitive phrases. I regret picking up this book and would not recommend it to anyone.