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Summary: WHAT AN IMAGINATION!
Review: Amazing, awe-inspiring, creative, and most of all, what an imagination! Great book! Highly recommended from this reader!I picked this up a while ago and was intrigued with the illustrations and the concept. Who would of thought? A book about the Wicked Witch of the West??!! I began reading, although the beginning was a bit slow, I finished the book in record time! Who would of thought the fear of water could be so tumultuous? Or one could sew wings onto monkeys? Or Animals could talk (or teach!!)? Or Galinda (the "good" witch) and Elphaba (the "wicked" witch) could ever be friends? What an imagination! I followed up the book by reading a few of the Oz books (just to check the "facts"), and Maguire was right on. A bit of politics, a love story, an imaginary world, and the life of a "witch"...who could resist? Read this book!
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Summary: Slightly imperfect, but engaging and wickedly subversive
Review: Gregory Maguire's Wicked provides an interesting twist on the story of the land of Oz. My main exposure to Oz has been through the classic film with Judy Garland; nevertheless, I was able to follow Maguire's take on this legendary realm.
Unlike the movie version of the Wizard of Oz, and more like Frank L. Baum's books, if I remember my limited exposure to them correctly, Maguire's novel is NOT intended for children (due to mature themes, language, and suggestive scenes) but rather for a mature reader interested in pondering religion--more specifically, morality--and politics. The picture of Oz that emerges is hardly the sunny land "somewhere over the rainbow" where dreams come true; rather, it is a land of harsh realities and of the pre-determinist Fate derived from Ancient Greek tragedy.
In any case, Maguire's novel makes for an engaging, thought-provoking read. His gift for reinventing well-worn tales and creating fascinating characters and places is plainly evident in this work. As he is a relatively new author, his writing is not perfect here, with many questions left unanswered (Why, after all, is the Witch "allergic" to water?) and a rushed ending. The reader is left to invent answers and motives, which sometimes is fun, but sometimes is frustrating. However, the appeal of this subverted story and its moral questions outweighs these blemishes.
I would recommend this book to people looking to read something out of the ordinary, and I look forward to watching Mr. Maguire develop as an author.
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Summary: Fairytale.... not quite!
Review: There is a phrase that says: History is written by the winners; but there are two sides to every story, and this book definetly tells the other side of a very well known one. Wicked is the biography of the Wicked Witch of the West, but, lets lose the titles and call her Elphaba.
This book tells the story of a child and her family, a girl and her friends, a young woman and her lover, and finally a witch and her world... it takes you, hand in hand through the life of one destined to become one of the most feared and hated characters in fairytales. While reading the book, larger issues arise, such as freedom, justice, and equal rights. It also lets you see humanity at its best and worst, and decide what truly is or becomes evil. I honestly found myself not only liking, but admiring Elphaba, and wondering what could have happened had things been different. I have to admit I was slightly dissapointed with the ending, because it left so many questions unanswered ... what happened next? What happened in Munchkinland? What happened to the Animals? to Nor? to Nanny?, and... to the Wizard? Finally, I really liked the fact that although we know what happens to Elphaba before we start reading, the storyline is brilliant and keeps you hooked page after page, always wishing something will change the course of events.
Rating: 
Summary: Does not live up to the reviews...
Review: I'm really trying to finish this book, but it just doesn't keep my attention. As a child, I detested the Wizard of Oz movie and books. I thought this might give me a different view of this particular fantasy world, but the book is just not compelling enough for me to concentrate on. I find myself mired in the author's writing style, wishing I could rewrite passages to make them flow more smoothly. As a wiccan I've read plenty of books that turn the notions of good and evil on their head, so that is nothing new. Disappointed... A
Rating: 
Summary: An imaginative twist on a familiar classic
Review: Another entry to the growing number of novels telling the background stories of characters in well-known literary works, Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" showcases the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz." But all is not Technicolor and happy songs in Maguire's Oz--the Yellow Brick Road is a failed government project, talking animals are ruthlessly oppressed, and the Witch herself is a fascinating character study. There are numerous themes running through "Wicked," but the most prominent seems to be whether evil is learned or an innate behavior. Elphaba, the Witch (named for the initials of L. Frank Baum in Maguire's sly wink to the "Oz" creator), is made an extraordinarily compelling character, a woman who knew from childhood that she was different. She is anti-social and blunt, but is passionate about what she believes in. Becoming a witch is merely a smokescreen that she hides behind to reconcile what she believes herself to be. What that is, however, tends to get lost in the the myriad (and often left dangling) threads of the story. There's a lot of political spouting in "Wicked," and a lot of college-student-style philosophy as well, which, considering that a good part of the book takes place during Elphaba's college years, is fairly apt. Maguire's dialogue is schizophrenic, going from the courtly speech of Baum's Oz to jarring modernity often in the same sentence. Take out the familiar Oz place names, and "Wicked" could take place in a beaten-down Eastern European country in the Cold War years, with the prerequisite angsty speeches. Maguire adds some interesting touches--Galinda, who is better known to "Oz" fans as Glinda The Good Witch, is Elphaba's snooty college roommate; the Cowardly Lion makes an appearance as a frightened cub during a lecture given by a goat; the reasoning behind Elphaba's desire for the silver slippers is revealed. The familiar elements of "Oz," most notably Dorothy, don't start until the end of the book, and, as is par for his course, Maguire makes the whole thing about politics. This is not a book for the starry-eyed "Oz" fan, and it is most definitely not for children. It's a highly imaginative novel, and if the reader hangs in there, they will be rewarded with a whole new set of thoughts concerning arguably the greatest American fantasy novel.
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Summary: I love this Wicked Witch
Review: From someone who grew up watching the "Wizard of Oz" on T.V. every year, I have to say the Wicked Witch of the West was a very undeveloped character. All we were to know about her was that she was evil. She was the catalyst for the "original" story. However, with this book I have found my new favorite literature character! Elphaba, was an extremely strong minded woman. She possesed a sense of social conciensce and political savy, yet she did have a vulnerable side to her.(She allowed herself to get involved romantically and in that way, opening herself up to future emotional pain.) She also had a sense of humor. I found myself laughing outloud at times throughout this novel due to her sarcastic wit. True, this fantastical story is not a "childrens story", but adults will appreciate the cutting humor. You do not need to like Science Fiction to enjoy this novel. I never cared for SF, and I just loved reading this book. I was sorry to finish the novel and I missed the "Wicked Witch" when I was done. This is a "literary great"! I expect it to be a Classic.....
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Summary: Not Gilded.
Review: This has really captured my attention. when i was younger, the Witch gave me the creeps. However, after i read this book, it has changed my perspective on who's good or who's bad. Elphaba is like an innocent girl, standing for what she believes. She's the opposite of gilded. It's just that she was born on the wrong day and time. The Wizard to me is now considered as EVIL. After I read this book, i wanted know more about Elphaba. Maguire wrote this book in a philosophical way. Most of the things is left for the reader to discover themselves. For example, when he writes about Evilness. It is still mysterious. Different opinions are worded.
This book should be read by all who've seen/read the movie/book on Wizard of Oz despite the obscene things in it. MOREOVER, I WAS WONDERING WHETHER THIS BOOK COULD BE ACTED AS A MOVIE FOR ALL.
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Summary: Fabulous!
Review: It shows a completely different view of the Wicked Witch of the West from the beloved story by Baum. Maguire's brings to life a brilliant re-telling of the story of Oz with a more "realistic" view of the life in this fantasy land. The story line is imaginiative and intelligent and keeps you turning the pages. This book definitely brings to the reader's attention on "What is evil?" and keeps your mind working. This is a story you surely wouldn't want to miss!
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Summary: You think you know what happened in Oz?
Review: Think again! This book is an incredible new look at an old familiar story. Who was this green woman? Was she really wicked? Get the inside story on Oz long before a spell of bad weather sent Dorothy over the rainbow. After reading this, you will never look at any of the characters in The Wizard of Oz the same way again!
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Summary: More than Meets the Eye
Review: I found "Wicked" to hold much more than was expected by the basic premise (i.e. that good and evil depend on who's telling the story). The book takes a very intriguing look at some other basic notions as well. For example, the issue of innate vs. acquired character runs through the whole book, as do descriptions of social and racial struggles. Although, at times, the discussion appears to be a bit simplistic, this often turns out to be just a preview of a much more intricate argument. Maguire seems to purposely avoid exposing his own views on most subjects (except for racism), and lets the reader do his (or her!) own thinking. Perhaps most astonishing, is that simultaneuously with this philosophical and moral juggling, Maguire manages to keep the story entertaining, fast-paced and accessible, as well as paint a considerably detailed picture of a world that is tantalizingly similar to ours in many respects. While there are certain incongruities in his universe, they are mostly unessential and don't take away from the overall effect. In this, indeed, he is following in the giant footsteps of Tolkien and Lewis, though on a smaller scale. All in all, I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story, but prefers to think for him/herself. You don't have to be a SF/fantasy fan - I'm certainly not. And a word of warning: don't buy this for your 10-year-old; aside from the explicit language, this book is simply too dark, not to say depressing, for most children.
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