Rating: 
Summary: Witty, dark, and terribly creative . . .
Review: Political upheaval, blatant discrimination, religious intolerance -- sounds like something out of recent history, no? But this is Oz, before there was a tornado, before Dorothy arrived on the scene.Maguire paints a dark landscape into which Elphaba, the little green girl, was born. His use of detail is exquisite, but somewhat inconsistent. Still he crafts a cunning tale of Elphaba's attempts to "do the right thing," her many struggles that ended in failure and misunderstanding. We learn of the origins of the ruby red slippers, how the "witch" ended up in the west in that towering dark fortress, her relationship with her sister, Nessarose, the "wicked witch of the East," her association with Galinda (who transmuted into Glinda, the "good witch of the North"), her experiments in "life sciences" that resulted in the flying monkeys, the *real* reason the "Wizard" came to Oz. Yes, this book answers a lot of questions, and poses a few more: what, truly, is evil? What makes "good" better? Must every sin be punished, and by whom? A delicious read, definitely NOT a children's fairy tale.
Rating: 
Summary: A splendid piece of work...not without faults of course.
Review: Indeed I do agree with most readers as to the quality of this book. The ending is splendid and the story possesses a unique and rare quality. However, the book drags on and on with frivolous detail. Certainly some would agree that this IS the very essence of the book. However, I am a reader who enjoys a constantly fast paced plot. This book accomplishes nothing of the sort. This is not to say that the novel lacks an interesting and captivating plot - it does. In short, if you are so inclined to stick with the book and weed through some of the extraneous rhetoric you will find a jewel.
Rating:
Summary: Good Saturday Book
Review: I went into Wicked thinking that it was 'The Wizard of Oz' told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. In truth, that is only a small part of it. It is a biography of the Wicked Witch of the West in which the whole Dorothy incident was only a small part. From the time that she was born, her mother and father, college life and her involvement in the rights of Animals (sentient animals), and love. Her actions all seem reasonable given the whole background and, by the end, it is you who is wanting to say, "Wait, you don't understand" to Dorothy and to somehow set aside what you know is coming. It struck me to have a lot of Tolkienesque qualities in that all of Oz is mapped out and each of its' major land areas are given a distinctive quality of their own so that political 'intrigues' can play out believably. I am sure that there is a lot of room for interpretation, but this is a really enjoyable book without having to do a lot of brain work. This is my first McQuire book - definitely not my last.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Enjoyable Book!!
Review: This was a very in-depth look at the life of the Wicked Witch (Elphaba) that really proves her to be not as wicked as we have been led to believe. You'll love the story behind the shoes!! And you'll peek into the love-life of the witch also. I am starting to read Mr Maguires latest book Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister right away. I highly recommend Wicked, you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful effort
Review: I bought this novel on a whim, having nothing else to do while stuck in the woods for three months. The concept alone was, I felt, intriguing enough to warrant the money...and I was not disappointed. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Maguire challenges us to look squarely at a piece of our culture (namely, the film version of Wizard of Oz) and believe that maybe not everything is as clear cut as we would like to believe. If Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) is not a villain, who is? And what is evil? Maguire tackles these issues with unbelievable simplicity and clarity. When you read this novel, you will believe that bad things can happen to good people...and there truly can be no villain.
Rating:
Summary: Eye-opening perspective on an old story
Review: I found this book engaging from page 1, touching, and quite a refreshing perspective on the familiar tale. Maguire has quite a way of writing that makes this story more believable than Baum's original. I have recommended this book to countless friends and acquaintances. This is the type of book that would get banned from high schools, like Shirley Jackson's _The Lottery_, for it's daring point of view and realism. This book is #1 on BadBoy's Required Reading List.
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Summary: A WICKED TWIST
Review: I love fairy tales and this one was from a different angle. Told by the wicked witch of the west we get a different point of view. I didn't want this book to end. I hope he continues re-writing fairy tales.
Rating:
Summary: Wicked: Or NOT????
Review: I have recently finished reading Gregory Macquire,s book Wicked, and it was truely inspiring.. I have always had a real fear of The Wicked Witch of the West,stemming from my childhood. So much so that I hadn't watched the movie for 20 years.. Now after reading this book, I feel so foolish, as MR. Macquire surely offers another perspective on those famous shoes, and the characters who all cherised them! When finally revealed, "Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, shows just what prejudice leads to....on both sides of OZ! So hold on to your Broom Sticks, and take a journey beyond the Rainbow.. It was the best read I've had in years.
Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLY INSPIRING!
Review: I will begin by saying that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, and as someone who appreciates beautiful illustration, I was MAGNETIZED to this book! What made me buy it was the first paragraph, what kept me was the imagination of this author, who will never realize the depths to which his creation has inspired me!!! I am most intrigued by the relationship of the witches, their likenesses, their differences and that it brings me to the conclusion that they are soulmates! I have literally drawn my own conclusions in what I see as a love story. I see Galinda weeping over the death of her other half, perhaps leading her to see what she herself has lost. Mr. Maguire, you are a genius!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing retelling of Baum's classic!
Review: This is by far one of the most satisfying and imaginative novels I have ever read. Creative and beautifully written, the story of Elphaba makes you want to switch sides and root for the witch instead! Rumor has it that they are talking Gina Davis for the part in the movie (Gawd!), but I think Lili Taylor is a better choice.
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