In the novel Walking Oz by Sue Tabb and Deirdre Budzyna, women are encouraged to prioritize themselves and find what makes them feel truly empowered. While Oz typically references the far away land where Dorothy ends up after getting sucked into a twister, Tabb and Budzyna use Oz as a reference to one’s happy place where they are the most self-sufficient version of themselves. In today’s age, women are often peer-pressured into putting everyone else’s needs above their own and are often scrutinized if they don’t drop everything to cater to their children. However, Walking Oz challenges this mode of parenting, arguing that women who constantly put their needs and desires on hold eventually wake up one day and realize they feel unfulfilled in life. Although it may feel as though it is too late to turn things around and rediscover their passions, Walking Oz motivates women to pick themselves up off the floor, put their high heels on, and begin the life they’ve always dreamed of.

What separates Walking Oz from other motivational guidebooks, is that each chapter closes with a set of self-reflection questions. Instead of just reading along without ever actually practicing the techniques being introduced, readers are immediately reflecting upon what was discussed and already implementing a new mindset into their life. Rather than just telling women what to do, Tabb and Budzyna offer insightful questions that encourage women to think about how their lives can be personally benefited from the advice, therefore allowing them to discover their full capabilities. 

This novel is perfect for anyone, primarily women with children, who feel as though they need a reset on life. With just one read, readers will walk away feeling as though the life they’ve always dreamed of is within their reach.

ABOUT EMILY MCDERMOTT

Emily is a recent graduate of  Bridgewater State University where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Literature. While at Bridgewater State, Emily worked in the Academic Achievement Center as a writing consultant where she helped enrolled students with any stage of the writing process. Being in this position helped Emily realize that working as an editor might be something she could see herself doing as a career. Currently, she is employed for a small business in her hometown of Bridgewater, MA while actively searching for jobs within the publishing field. She spends most of her free time reading books, playing with her dogs Neely and Kevin, going on coffee runs with her friends, and watching the Bruins with her dad. 

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