Wicked : Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, The

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Summary: I enjoyed reading it but I don't know why.
Review: We all know the story of Oz, either from books or movies, so there is a certain comfortable familiarity to Wicked from the start. Maquire weaves his tale in and out of the goody-two-shoes sweetness of the 1939 Oz movie, injecting it with acid, cleverness and wit. If you're not prepared for the denizens of Oz to procreate, have conflicting opinions, fight with each other and generally act in a more "realistic" manner, Wicked may put you off. Enjoy the Baum books instead. I found it compelling. A solid read, well thought out.

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Summary: What Does It Mean To Be Wicked?
Review: If Elphaba is "the Wicked Witch of the West", then we have to question exactly what it means to be wicked. This very question is something that Elphaba wrestles with throughout the novel. Perhaps "being wicked" is only one way to explain the behavior of someone we don't fully understand. And perhaps those we label "wicked" are those who don't make an effort to understand us. This book gives you a lot to think about, either way.

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Summary: Captivating and once you read it you change you view on life
Review: Wicked is a book that deals with the problems of our society. It makes you see what situations in life do to individual people and it truely shows how people are misunderstood.

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Summary: Slow start.... character appeal.
Review: This book has a slow start... I would say it REALLY begins on page 105 or so... but once there, it reads fast. The characters are endearing and the reader is enticed by them into their world as the pages turn. If one looks deeper than the storyline (which is quite good)...there is a very cutting critique of society... from the Holocaust to the civil war. Insightful analysis done here. The humor is dry, but keen -- if you catch it.

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Summary: Not only interesting to read but great fun to read as well.
Review: This book features the life of Oz' Wicked Witch of the West. It is a fantastic yet sympathetic view of WWW and an interesting biography. Anyone who enjoys the Wizard of Oz but wants more will find this book very satisfying. It is fast reading and never boring.

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Summary: The wicked witch of the west is no longer wicked
Review: Gregory Maguire, through masterful storytelling, changes our views of how one woman can be so evil. He counters our original thoughts of the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and proves that political society changes when seen through the eyes of another person. Trough the trials and tribulations of Elphaba's life we learn that evil is secretive, and everyone's soul tells a different tale.

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Summary: breathtaking
Review: This book moved me. I began feeling for the "witch", elphaba, in a new way. She, though unhuman, is probably the most human of the book. I found myself symapathizing with her more than with any other character. The plot *moved* with startling speed and hurtled the preconceived notions of "The Wicked Witch of the West". Maguire also manages to pack in amazing quotes which made me think for months after I read this. I look forward to Maguire's future books!

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Summary: I'll never look at "The Wizard of Oz" the same.....
Review: You will fall in love with her ideals, her passions, and her. The mix of espionage, politics, and love is spell binding...

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Summary: I did not like this book at all.
Review: By the time I got to page 40, I had a sick feeling in my stomach. I understand that the reason for the book was to explain how the wicked witch got that way, but reading all that sickening sexual and violent stuff was more than I could take. I did something I thought I would never do. I threw the book in the trash! No way would I recommend this kind of reading to anyone for any reason. Incest, adultery and perversion are not entertainment - they are sick and sad.

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Summary: WONDERFUL
Review: My sister gave me this book to read last sumer as she knew "The Wizar of Oz" was my favorite movie. I didn't want to read it as her choices for me have not always been great. I was capitivated with this story. I have given it to many friends and we have debated Elfaba and Galinda and the rest over and over. It captures you and doesn't let go. I loved it. I'm not an author but a 2nd grade teacher and I will read it over and over. Thank you for this different look at Oz.