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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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Summary: Oh, Ye of Little Imagination...
Review: ... don't read this book if you expect -- or need -- a simple re-hashing of L. Frank Baum's books, or if you are afraid to see something other than the movie's screenplay. But if you want more than those, if you want something deeply layered and highly imaginative, then by all means read "Wicked". It's a masterful fantasy.
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Summary: Very imaginative
Review: I think some reviewers might have been disappointed because they were expecting a children's story along the lines of the original Oz books and movie. This book is much more imaginative and is definitely NOT a children's book. It is also very heavy in the fantasy area; something some might not be used to. I really enjoyed it. It totally changed my preconceptions of the Witch of the Oz movie. And, contrary to others, I found Elphaba (the Witch) to be a sympathetic character right up to the climax that meshes roughly with the movie. Her actions are more explainable here. The story also has a lot to say about the natural of "evil" and our basic human condition. I like the way the author tied in elements from our world (the Madame Blavatsky reference), too. In short: just read it.
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Summary: will it make a good musical?
Review: I'd be interested to hear if people think it will make a good musical... (I already bought the tickets ... and will now buy the book also.)
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