Rating: 
Summary: Really liked it
Review: Really great idea for a book, and I would highly recommend Wicked to anyone who likes the "Wizard of Oz." Suggested: go back and (re-)read the L. Frank Baum book after finishing Wicked.Book ideas I'll never make a million dollars from: "Late: The Life and Times of the White Rabbit" "Savage: The Life and Times of the Queen of Hearts" (Alice in Wonderland) "Gardener: The Life and Times of Mr. McGregor" "Silver: The Life and Times of Long John Silver" "Footprint: The Life and Times of Friday" "Swinger: The Life and Times of Cheetah" See also "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead."
Rating:
Summary: Oz is never the same
Review: Gregory Maguire introduces the reader to the other side of the story. The main character is Elphaba. She's green, anti-social, brilliant, and a womon- all in a society that marginalizes these characteristics. From page one, Magurie forces the reader to question long held beliefs of what is good and what is evil. In his story, things are not always as they may seem. As a college sociology instructor I was struck by the mirror images Maguire presents. Here is our society placed in front of the reader in the form of a foreign land with foreign characters. However, we see that human beings are human beings, regardless of the setting. The book starts out a bit slow, but stay with it. Once it starts moving, you will have a hard time putting it down!
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Summary: deserves to be a classic
Review: Gregory Maguire's book was a personal reminder for me that everyone has a story, and nothing is as it seems on the surface. What seems "good" to one may not be to another, and "wickedness" in all its forms can come from so many sources-- political interest, misguided love, even religious fervor. It also explores how something can be perceived as beneficial in the beginning and then later can be distorted in to something ugly. If I were to pick a theme for this book, I would say it had a lot to do with the ebb and flow of perceptions: how the Munchinkinlanders changed their views about Nessarose, how Elphaba's friends and enemies alike changed their ideas about her and what she could do and how all the inhabitants of Oz change allegiance from mythology to religion to sorcery, depending on the fashion of the day. And how the reader's perception can change, once all the evidence is arrayed! This book, in addition to being a amazingly detailed fantasy story, is packed with a lot of nuances that I'm afraid I did not pick up on the first time. Lucky for me, I own a copy, so in time, I will re-read this book again. I would, and have recommended it to friends. It's been difficult to explain-- my best shot so far is that it's a bit like what would happen if George Orwell had taken a shot at rewriting "The Wizard of Oz".
Rating:
Summary: Maybe she's not so wicked after all.
Review: After reading "Wicked..." I have a new found respect for the Wicked Witch of the West. Maguire did a fantastic job in giving Elphaba life and making you feel for her. In the Wizard of Oz, I never even thought that I was only hearing it from Dorothy's viewpoint. Now its as if I am torn in who to believe which is why I consider this book a work of art. From reading other reviews, I have noticed that there is some question into the love story between Elphaba and Fiyero. I believe that Maguire is merely trying to show that Elphaba was capable of feelings, that she could love as well as be loved, thus going back to my statment that the Wicked Witch of the West had a life. I think ultimately Maguire is trying to convey to the readers that the "true nature of evil" is defined by the beholder, so can we truely say that the Wicked Witch of the West was indeed wicked?
Rating:
Summary: A whole other side of Oz
Review: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is a must read. The witch,Elphaba, who is actually a brilliant researcher who studies magic and science, is not wicked. She is a product of her society. She must deal with her green skin and intelligence as well as with the mockery of her peers. Elphaba is a lonely girl who lives in Oz, and through her lifetime must deal with her apperance, love, friendship, an underground revoloution, and her conscience. Elphaba is a wonderful character surrounded by aliens and it is her duty to make a place for herself. This book was excellent as well as a long awaited inside look at the "real" Oz.
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Summary: A look at the other side of Oz.
Review: This is a story from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West, whose real name is Elphaba. A lonely reserved girl who turns into a lonely reserved woman. It is her struggle to find a place in the world. The classic story of one who is different. Elphaba is green skined and quiet. This book tells her story in a believeable world of Oz, and has Elphaba find love, friendship, and a social niche. This book was an excellent one. It definitly deserves a look, or even two.
Rating:
Summary: Transports you to another place!!!
Review: This book may take place in OZ, but in many ways you are transported back into the real world. Elphalba must deal with discrimination, sexual morality, politcis, regional conflict, and religious fanaticism all in one short lifetime. There are many ways one can identify with The Wicked Witch--who really isn' wicked at all. SHe is just the prodcut of her society. A great read!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Oz ain't just for kids anymore!
Review: Admit it, year after year you watched the movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to relive Dorothy Gale's plight over the rainbow. It, and the book is is based on, is a classic. But have you ever wondered about the other side of the story? The Wicked Witch was a person, too, and she had a life of her own worth telling. The novel Wicked recounts the events of her life--a life you would never have expected--from unfortunate birth to unfortunate death. It's touching, humorous, and a must read for any fan of the Oz stories.
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Summary: This book was amazing.
Review: Very rarely do I dive into fiction of this nature, but this book was exceptional. Seeing things from the witch's point of view was not only amusing but endearing, and the introduction of all these subplots and charaters is nothing short of extraordinary. This book not only complements but also enhances this classic tale. Maguire does everything right in this story and hopefully will continue writing exceptional fiction of this nature.
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Summary: Great story marred only by the ending.
Review: Despite what other reviewers have written and what the blurb on the back of the book says, I never thought this story had anything to do with determining the nature of "evil." Basically, it's just an extraordinarily beautiful, rich and detailed retelling of the Oz story from a different point of view. I was terribly disappointed with the ending, however, Elphaba loses all her idealism, courage and spirit after her lover is killed. She wastes away to a shadow and all that is left by the end of the book is her guilt, sadness and denial. Elphaba is such a strong, interesting and innovative character full of intelligence, justice, action and fury, it just doesn't make sense to me that she would lose all this and then retreat first to a convent for seven years and then to the outlands of the Vinkus before acceding to her own death. On the other hand, Frank Baum decreed the ending of this book 98 years ago so perhaps there was nothing more Gregory Maguire could do.
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