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Summary: Wicked: The Nature of Evil
Review: Gregory Maguire, in his novel, WICKED, takes the character we all ready know and had learned to fear and hate - The Wicked Witch of the West - and attempts to tell the reader the whole story of this so-called witch. This novel is a great fantasy for the mature reader -- this book is for adults or young adults, it is in no way written in the same way the original books of Oz were; and that being for young children. Gregory Maguire takes us from her birth to her unfortunate death. The reader gets to know the Witch and discover the true story of Oz. That being of hardships, and the tyranic rule of an evil, moral-less Wizard. Gregory gives a name to this witch, Elphaba, and the reader learns to love her. It's a superb novel, with extrodinary use and control of language, and with vivid imagery. The book discusses the nature of evil, the existance of the soul, and the effects of popular opinion in this extravagant and in-depth story. It should come highly recomended to anyone who loves fan
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read with rich language and imagery.
Review: If you enjoy books such as Grendel or Good Omens:The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter then you should greatly enjoy this rich tale from the perspective of Aelphaba, Wicked Witch of the West. The tale takes you through a an examination of how those mosters we have been told to revile got to where they were. It also requires a closer examination of what we consider evil and good and how we make those judgements. Definitely a book for those who want to think but love a good story with rich langauge and imagery
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Summary: It's not your usual fairy tale
Review: We all know the story of the Wizard of Oz, generally from the
Judy Garland movie. A few lucky ones may have read the
original Baum books as children. But haven't you ever
wondered if this wasn't perhaps just another Hollywood whitewash? Didn't you suspect, just for a minute, that maybe things weren't quite what they seemed? And didn't the Emerald City seem just a *bit* too...peaceful? Enter Gregory Maguire's artful retelling of the saga.Oz
turns out to be a much more complicated place than the Baum
telling suggests. It's more like an enchanted Machivellian
kingdom in which you may meet rebellious lowlanders, Munchkin clerics and talking Animals. There's lust as well- for power as well as for more basic human desires. This is not the children's version.
The Wicked Witch turns out to be quite a different character than the Witch of the books, as does her sister and their schoolmate Glinda. The Woodsman chops more than wood with his axe, and the Wizard has more on his mind than impressing
the peasants with a few tricks. This is a land where evil
has been flourishing under the guise of paternalistic rule.
At the same time it's a wonderfully captivating tale, with richly drawn characters and a terribly involving plot. It's
a book you'll reread time and again.
Rating:
Summary: A Wicked Witch or a Dermatological Problem: you decide.
Review: Ever since the publication of "The Wonderful Wizard of OZ" and its subsequent immortlization as a movie, the Wicked Witch of the West has been maligned, feared and hated. Gregory Maguire's fascinating biography of this fictitious character gives depth and understanding to the real reason of her "wickedness." Maguire puts a whole new twist on the story of the Witch--if you were born with green skin and hated and reviled by your parents, what would be your outcome in life? This book takes Ephelba from birth clear to her sad demise at the hands of a cold-blooded murderess. Along the way, we learn about the politics of Oz as well as the psychological profiles of many of its greatest citizens. Maguire treats his book with great skill, never going for the easy laugh or gag, but presents a fascinating new twist on a tale that many have heard since infancy. No longer a fairy tale, but a history--this book is a must for all lovers of Oz, fantasy and the blending of fantasy and life
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Summary: Rich, thoughtful look at Oz through the Wicked Witch's eyes
Review: This new novel set in the Land of Oz resembles nothing written by Oz creator L. Frank Baum. Elphaba and Nessarose Thropp were both born with rather unusual qualities, Elphaba being green and her sister Nessarose armless, but both attended Shiz University and became rulers of their respective kingdoms of Winkie Country and Munchkinland. Elphaba, eventually known as the Witch of the West, is a well-constructed and engaging character. One might expect a revisionist tale to turn Dorothy and her companions into villains, but Maguire is too good a writer to do this. Instead, he lets the reader see the meeting between Dorothy and the Wicked Witch from Elphaba's point of view, with its tragic, but somehow inevitable, consequences. The Baum contingent may disagree, but I could quite comfortably put "Wicked" on the same shelf with the original Oz books
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Summary: Intriguing retelling of the classic fairy tale.
Review: Baum gives readers the briefest of glimpses into the land of Oz. But what kind of a place is Oz, and what kind of people live there? Meet Elphaba, a wise and sensitive girl who grows up to be who people call "The Wicked Witch of the West," and learn that nothing is as it appears.
In Wicked, readers learn about the political struggles of the people of Oz, the country, its geography and its political and economic strife. Learn why Elphaba was green, where the ruby red slippers came from, what Dorothy really was like.
Maguire has a knack for the retelling of this famous tale, and his explanations make sense.
In short, if you loved The Wizard of Oz, you want to read Wicked to know the whole truth..
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Summary: Wicked?
Review: The title of this wonderful book should probably include a question mark--Wicked? Because that's the question we're meant to ask ourselves as we read this chronicle of the life of the Wicked Witch of the West. Was she really wicked? Or did we just catch her at her worst, last moment in The Wizard of Oz?Beyond being compulsively readable, filled with moments of recognition as the Witch moves steadily toward an end we've already seen on film, this book tackles serious issues on many levels. The Witch's father is a preacher, fighting to protect "unionism" from the new "pleasure faith" while also balancing it with the pagan tendencies and folklore of Oz culture. The presence of talking animals in Oz-remember the Cowardly Lion?-gives Maguire the makings of a civil rights struggle dedicated to fair treatment of these high-functioning beasts, as well as raising questions about the proper dividing line between man and animals and whether either has a soul. Maguire's Oz is filled with political intrigue and romantic tensions, re-imagining the Yellow Brick Road as a tool in the Wizard's assault on the freedoms of Munchkinland and the Good Witch of the North as a spoiled noblewoman, wooed by many, who started out as the Wicked Witch's college roommate. The magical shoes, the flying monkeys, and even the Witch's green skin all have fascinating explanations. It is a measure of the book's success that I want to watch the movie again with all this back story in mind. Maguire has used one classic to create another, and in doing so, he has amplified both.
Rating: 
Summary: Great concept, disturbing themes, poor ending
Review: The idea of chronicling the Wicked Witch of the West's pre-"Wizard of Oz" history is brilliant, and Maguire does some interesting things with this high concept. I read several of Baum's Oz books when I was younger, and while those made for great children's fantasy, Maguire's treatment of Oz brings a stark reality to its citizens and geography. His vision of the Witch is also well crafted, and by the end of the novel, she was a fully realized character -- and one for which I found myself with some sympathy. This is not a happy novel. A lot of dark and disturbing things happen, including violent deaths of main characters and some very odd sex. When I heard that this novel was made into a musical, I found it hard to believe that it would be a cheerful comedy. (In fact, it has, but the plot of the musical is very different than the plot of the novel.) I usually like my novels at least a little more upbeat, so be warned. The book raises a lot of questions about the nature of evil and about the Witch's character. However, one fateful bucket of water pretty much ends the novel, leaving many of the questions unanswered. More attention to what happened after the Witch's death would have been appreciated. As it is, the book ends, but doesn't really conclude.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Creative Adaptation
Review: I loved this book. I had picked it up on a whim, and was immediately entranced by the world Gregory Maguire wove around the well known tale of Oz and Dorothy. The story is of the Wicked Witch of the West, telling her tale with vivid details, completely creating a character for her different from how she has ever before been depicted. In this story she is not evil--a misunderstanding led to her demise--and it starts from her infancy. It follows her from toddler-hood, where her green skin and sharp teeth made no friends, to college where she thrived under the tuteledge of a Goat, to adulthood, where she planned to overthrow the Wizard of Oz, and help to free all Animals. The story doesn't simply follow the plot laid out by L. Frank Baum, but it tells another completely different story, one mixed with politics, love, prejudice, and completely different worlds.
The words were beautiful and made the reading so pleasant, though some of the themes were adult and slightly depressing. Still, if you're looking for a good summer read, or an anytime read, this book is a good pick, if you are willing to think a bit.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant
Review: Admittedly, this book isn't for everyone. This is Oz on a very adult level; certainly NOT everyone's idea of a fairy tale. A friend recommended this book and I was immediately interested in its concept. But my friend also forewarned me that it was not "an easy read." I beg to differ... the book grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention until the end. The characters were fascinating. I realize that some (many) reviewers just "don't get it" when it comes to this book, so as I said it may not be everyone's cup of tea. But for those willing to invest the time and attention, it is simply a brilliant, thought-provoking read!
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