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Summary: I'm telling everyone I know about this one.
Review: Yes,I grew up on The Wizard of Oz. Yes, I certainly had pre-conceived notions of Oz, Munchkinland, The Emerald City, and all of the characters, especially The Wicked Witch. If you don't want your memory tainted, don't read this book! If you're a child who is fascinated by the storybook or the movie, don't read this book (this is not kid's stuff)!
However, if you are an intelligent adult looking for another perspective on a classic character, read it! If you like exploring the darker side of reality, read it! If you are a sociologist, anthropologist,political science major, read it!Yes, it does get a bit slow in parts. But isn't that sometimes required in literature to flesh out characters, and their environments? This is not cheesy pulp horror stuff you can just breeze through. It is though-provoking and a challenging read. Looking forward to reading "Lost" and "Confessions". Wondering what Mr. Maguire will come up with next.
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Summary: Page-turner, just don't think too hard about the plot
Review: This book hooked me in the first two pages and I really enjoyed reading it up until the last couple of chapters, then the author threw in a pressured and cramped discussion on the nature of evil that didn't really fit into the style of the narrative but that he obviously felt was necessary to emphasize the theme of the book. Also, there are holes in the plot big enough to drive a mac truck through. A fun read over-all, I would recommend it.
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Summary: WICKED--GREGORY MAGUIRE
Review: This novel is the tale of Elphaba, a girl born with green skin. She grows up, befriending Galinda (Glinda), and even tries to start an overthrowing of the tyrant 'Wizard'. But in the end, she must fulfill her destiny. This novel is a lot about religion and the nature of evil. Does fate really control our lives? Is everything meant to happen? This novel explores these topics and more, putting a twist on the age-old classic. Darkly funny, a great read.
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Summary: A Wicked Book and Author
Review: This is the story of Elphaba, or rather, the Wicked Witch of the West. I bought this book along with Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister ten minutes after I had seen the Steven Scwarts Musical Version of the book in San Fransisco. I finished over 60 pages in one day, I was so enthralled. This book has beautifull writing, and characters, and a plot to any true Wizard of Oz Fan. I would also reccomend reading the book, rather than watching the movie. MacGuire creates the Witch as a person, with problems just like everyone else and shows how she slowly becomes "Wicked"...if she really does though...that's your descision.
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Summary: Fun Idea. Boring book.
Review: I love the idea behind this book. What a great idea to recreate the story of the mean, green witch most of us know so well. Or do we? (My sister, during one summer vacation, watched the Wizard of OZ Every. Single. Day. I wasn't pleased.) At first I was intrigued. It was riveting reading about this well known character's other side. The Wicked Witch of the West's early life? Do go on. But once Maguire went into heavy, in-depth details of her political ideas, and alliances, I found myself trapped in the Not So Wonderful World of Yawn. Perhaps this book is more interesting to the OZ obsessed. Others, proceed with caution.
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Summary: great book
Review: I have read most of maguires older audience books and I have liked them all. This book gives a great depiction of oz and it's charactors, but the ending leaves you with something to be desired. I do understand that there isn't much else Mr. Maguire can do because everyone already knows she dies. And to those of you who read some of the other reviews. Elphaba is not the one disfigured, but her sister is.
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Summary: Absolutely Wonderful!
Review: I was really looking forward to reading Wicked, after just reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and I have to say I loved it! It was even better! It really made me look at the story of The Wizard of Oz in a completely different view, and I respect the Wicked Witch of the West so much more now! She became one of my favorite book characters of all the books I have ever read! I have to say this book definately goes in my list of top favorites!
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Summary: Original
Review: I truly enjoyed Maguire's Wicked (going on to read Confessions of an ugly Stepsister). It is a clever book about the wicked witch of the West, how she grew up, her boyfriend(s), her school, and how she came to hate the brat named Dorothy. It's her true story.
Maguire has the uncanny ability to convey transformation of character. You witness her grow from a young girl to a naive young teen, to a heartless teenager to a somewhat passionate and more sensitive young adult, to an ultimately cruel and overpassionate woman that meets her inevitable doom. The book is genius, and no knowledge of Wizard of Oz is required to enjoy the book to the fullest! Highly recommended.
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Summary: What a disappointment
Review: Maguire takes an excellent idea, the Wicked Witch of the West's story from her perspective, and proceeds to tell a tale of brutish, drunken, evil, louts who bore the reader almost from the very first page. No one in this over long and boring tale earns a modicum of sympathy from the reader, and this one only kept reading in hope that it would somehow change its tone. It never did. Avoid this unless you are a sadist.
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Summary: Poor Misunderstood Child!
Review: This remarkably clever tale never fails to amuse as it smacks of modern life troubles mixed in the Frank Baum fantasy world of Oz. Who would have thought that the Wicked Witch of the West was born disabled and disfigured to lousy parents, causing her to inevitably become evil? What's a child to do if born green, ugly and overly sensitive to water? Let's not forget the alcoholic and self-loathing parents of this child. This fantasy follows the life of Elphaba as she grows and learns about discrimination and hatred only to have her sister witch killed in a freak accident (enter Dorothy and her house). Frank Baum's Oz books are just the starting point for Maguire's twisted tale with modern overtones. It includes all the original Baum characters and gives them another dimension; one that Baum could only have had nightmares about! It's a masterpiece!
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