When I read the first six or seven Oz books as a youngster, probably between the ages of seven and eleven, I never could get interested in the Nome King or the Nomes generally. Their recurrence in the books may even have been why I stopped reading them. I was additionally perturbed with the Nomes when the movie Return to Oz was released, combining multiple Oz books, because the Nomes were featured and my all-time favorite fictional character, Tip, was completely eliminated from the story, undoubtedly due to Disney's fear of how that gender-bending character might be perceived.
So, imagine my surprise when, 60 years after my original reading, the Nome King, Roquat the Red, later called Ruggedo the Gnome King, is one of the most fun, and certainly the funniest, Oz character while reading now-approaching forty Oz books to my now 9-year-old granddaughter Frances. She is so entertained by Ruggedo that whenever the books mention him, I read it in a foreboding tone as, "The Gnome King," and that elicits an equally foreboding sound effect of "Dun-duh-du" from Frannie. She sometimes just calls him, Rug. In fact, now, far into the books, we lament that we may never again hear of "The Gnome King," as it seems that the many attempts to banish him may have finally succeeded.
When I read the first six or seven Oz books as a youngster, probably between the ages of seven and eleven, I never could get interested in the Nome King or the Nomes generally. Their recurrence in the books may even have been why I stopped reading them. I was additionally perturbed with the Nomes when the movie Return to Oz was released, combining multiple Oz books, because the Nomes were featured and my all-time favorite fictional character, Tip, was completely eliminated from the story, undoubtedly due to Disney's fear of how that gender-bending character might be perceived.
So, imagine my surprise when, 60 years after my original reading, the Nome King, Roquat the Red, later called Ruggedo the Gnome King, is one of the most fun, and certainly the funniest, Oz character while reading now-approaching forty Oz books to my now 9-year-old granddaughter Frances. She is so entertained by Ruggedo that whenever the books mention him, I read it in a foreboding tone as, "The Gnome King," and that elicits an equally foreboding sound effect of "Dun-duh-du" from Frannie. She sometimes just calls him, Rug. In fact, now, far into the books, we lament that we may never again hear of "The Gnome King," as it seems that the many attempts to banish him may have finally succeeded.
"I want it! I must have it!"
The Nome King is a spoiled brat...
I vividly remember the gist of this chapter, but hadn't recalled the details; it's much funnier than i recalled.
I love all of them just calling him a fool, mad, etc.
These nomes are so sassy with the terrible dictator king!