Rating: 
Summary: An Unexpected Heroine
Review: I've loved the land of Oz since I was a young child, and have read every Oz book. Of course anyone who has read "The Wizard of Oz", or seen the movie, knows that the Wicked Witch of the West is a woman to be hated and feared - until now. Born different than everyone else (even in Oz, green skin and pointy teeth is considered strange), and ostracized for most of her life, we see the Wicked witch's growth from a shy, shunned, young child to feared, strong woman, fighting for her beliefs in a corrupted country. I was totally drawn into this book, and didn't want the end to come. The Wicked Witch of the West is an amazing heroine.
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Summary: New Impression of the Wicked Witch of the West
Review: This book has truly impressed me as has Elphaba. The future 'green meanie' known to us all in The Wizard of Oz. "Fabala", "Elphie", "Faye", as she is known by her family, friends and lover, is truly captivating and someone you just may want to know yourself. She is smart, compassionate, and simply misunderstood! I have been recommending this book to everyone I speak with these days and its been touch to put it down. Bonus: Did you know that "Elphie" and Galinda, aka: Glinda went to college together? Or that "Elphie" had a son? Get reading!
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Summary: A Wicked Idea, A Timid Execution
Review: I grew up reading L. Frank Baum's Oz novels and have also always loved villain-centered stories, whether it was "Grendel" or the Flashman novels. So when I spotted "Wicked" in my local bookstore, it looked like this novel was written just for me. The map inside and the first few pages made it clear that, while author Gregory Maguire might be taking some liberties with what readers think they know about Oz, he was doing so within the context of the Oz lore that Baum set forth a century ago. In other words, this was to be an Oz novel for adults. Unfortunately, that's not what was actually delivered. "Wicked" is an Oz novel, but it's a novel intended to impress people like John Updike and the "New Yorker" editors. It's one thing to have literary ambitions - frankly, too few American writers bother with writing works of substance or quality in this blockbuster-minded world - but it's another to sabotage your own storytelling for the sake of lending the appearance of extra literary weight to a novel already sufficiently weighty; it's gilding the lily, and slowing the novel needlessly. The story of Elphaba and the (mostly) bloodless political and cultural revolutions Oz is going through leading up to "The Wizard of Oz" is one rich with ideas, social, political and religious. But first time novelist Maguire appears afraid to leave all this out in the open, in the milieu of a fantasy or children's novel. Instead, he approaches everything in a roundabout fashion, hinting at things, obscuring characters' intentions and behavior, and even making the main plot thread difficult to puzzle out at times. I don't dislike such things normally: Franz Kafka's "The Castle," Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw" and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" are all favorite stories, and all use the technique to stunning effect. But in those cases, the obfuscation was an integral part of the work, whether it be the (probable) madness of the latter two or the baffling and mysterious bureaucracy of the former. But here, Maguire's elliptical writing style is, with one exception, something thrust upon fairly straightforward events, not a natural consequence of them. (The single exception is a mysterious encounter at Shiz, the school where the future witches of the east, west and north are all students - their possible indoctrination as sleeper agents of someone attempting to manipulate the course of Ozian politics is creepy and effective, and the girls being put under a spell and/or hypnotized makes the vagueness of this passage work to great effect.) This is all especially frustrating as Maguire's storytelling - when he gets out of his own way - is excellent, and the basic framework of the novel is currently the toast of Broadway, in the Grammy-nominated musical version of "Wicked." While that production is arguably too dumbed-down (Elphaba wanting the Wizard to de-green her may work as a nice parallel to the characters in "The Wizard of Oz," but it strikes a discordant note for a character with steel for a backbone), it does point to the fact that the story works as a story quite well without needing the self-consciously literary flourishes with which Maguire gilds his story. In many ways, it would have been nicer if "Wicked" were Maguire's second novel, not his first: The glimpses of brilliance that fans respond to in the novel might well have been unobscured if he was confident enough in his vision to not have tried to stack the deck and guaranteed the approval of sober-minded literary critics for someone daring to examine modern life through the lens of a classic children's story. Recommended for adult fans of the Oz novels or movies willing to wade through a novel not as good as it ought to have been. Those who get discouraged with the sometimes glacial pace and obscure writing style are advised to pick up the "Wicked" musical soundtrack instead, which has full lyrics in the liner notes, and is also available from Amazon.
Rating:
Summary: WICKED
Review: heartbreakingingly beautiful,lovely use of language,the casual and abrupt nature of violence is breathtaking and too real - i wanted so much for these characters to have more happiness than they did,though i know they could not...i want to know how it truly ends for Liir, Nor, and Fiyero(i think he's still alive...i hope so...) i'm told there is a sequel and a film but can't find it -if there is please let me know
Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly surprised!!!
Review: I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who grew up watching the "Wizard of Oz" on TV. What a wonderful twist to the story. I can't wait to read Gregory Maguire's other books.
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Summary: Truly unique! A masterpiece...
Review: Wicked was a wonderful surprise. This was the first Gregory Maguire novel I've read, and I had little knowledge of his work. Maguire delivers a rich, textured story without attempting to detail the how, why, where of the land of OZ, but rather provides us a glimpse into a land that "simply exists."
Dorothy is just a blip on the radar screen, and rightly so; this is the "Life and times" of the Wicked Witch of the West, not the life and times of Dorothy. Some may feel cheated by the fact that Dorothy and her companions are late in coming, and have little to do with the plot. For those who are in this camp, I suggest renting the "Wizard of Oz," and you'll learn all you need to know about Dorothy. Without going out on a limb, I will say that Maguire creates a land, not entirely unlike Tolkien's Middle Earth, which was there long before Dorothy, and the impact she makes is but a ripple which has little effect on it's future. This land is every bit as real as our own, just different. Magic is a course of study at University. Animal Rights takes on a very different meaning than we are familiar with in our world. Prejudicial treatment is quite real, as well as fascist leaders...although the Big Cheeze (Mr Wizard, himself) is a product of OUR world. I enjoyed the story of Elphaba's childhood years, and found her sarcastic wit refreshing. Many "outcasts by choice" in our world will probably empathise with her plight. The reader will soon realise how misunderstood and tragic her life is. Looking through the eyes of Dorothy at such a complex and adult world is much the same as viewing our world through the eyes of any modern day, naive preteen. The "Wizard of Oz" gave us this view. Wicked gives us the "True" story, with all it's grit, sex, conspiracy, war, and tragity. This isn't a light read, and those looking to make comparisons between what they remember from a childhood movie, and "Wicked" may find themselves very disappointed.
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Summary: A "Wicked" Novel
Review: What an idea ... Maguire has done what I look at as a major revision of fictional history. The life of the suppoed "wicked" witch of the west (Elphaba)is explored dating from her birth, to her schooling days (where she rooms with "Galinda" - soon to be Glinda)... to her struggle as she is grown up in the world of Oz ... right up until Dorothy from Kansas arrives.
This novel gives us a reason - and an understanding, of why Elphaba would want those shoes (which were silver, not "ruby slippers" in the novels) In a land where a scarecrow wants a brain, a tinman a heart, and a cowardly lion some courage, what meaning could those shoes possibly have to an unsightly woman who couldn't care any less about fashion?
"Wicked" provides us with this new understanding of the green munchkinlandlander who spends her whole existence in Oz trying to be heard and understood. I have learned that human behavior is a social construct, and it is proven how it can happen in this story. As Elphaba grows weary of having her opinions shot down, of being rejected based upon her looks, she LEARNS to be wicked. And in some ways this is only true because of the seemingly polar opposite: Good. Glinda. But the book makes us question Glinda's goodness that all the munchkinlanders see in her when they are looking at her exterior.
"Wicked" is thought provoking ... Is evil somehting you can see through your eyes, or is it that you need a brain, a heart and courage to find good in something that only appears to be evil?
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Summary: Grab your broom and take a ride.........
Review: A wonderfully delicious treat! This sharp witted and intelligent novel grabs the reader and pulls you, willingly, to the cheering squad for one of the most notorious literary villains, the Wicked Witch of the West. I'm delighted Mr. Maquire decided to 'pull back the curtain' and reveal such a entertaining adventure. The book does a great job of weaving storylines and characters from the original "Wizard of Oz" novel, that you almost feel the author holding your hand and guiding you effortlessly through the story. With his clever use of dialog, you are never quite sure which era you are visiting, which justs adds another magical layer to this yummy story. If you'ld like to find out what's up with those ruby slippers, what's so "good" about Glinda the Witch, and get the skinny on the Wicked Witch's water phobia, just open up "Wicked" and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Wicked= Worth It
Review: This book was given to me by my boyfriend's mom, so I felt pretty obliged to read it, given the fact that she discusses it with me every time I see her. But rather than being the chore I thought it would be, WICKED was delightful. It truly was an adventure and I enjoyed everything about the world of Oz. Maguire's characters are perfectly complex and truly will change your perspective. I definitely recommend this read.
Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't even finish it
Review: I know from looking at all the reviews that many liked this book. My only question is "Why?" The author rambles on and on about scenery, religion, animal rights, and the fact that Elphaba is all kinds of weird-looking. Which is great, if you like books where people rant about theology and politics in a FICTIONAL work. Let us now discuss the story...This book seemed like it'd be good. I really wanted to like it. But I hated all the characters with the possible exception of Glinda. She was the only one who didn't seem like a cliche of herself. All the others were overly self-righteous cardboard cutouts. And it's supposed to be an account of what "Really" happened in the "Wizard of Oz," yet Dorothy doesn't even get introduced until the last part. Another point of contention: the weird incestuous overtones going on with Elphaba's lover's widow and her children. And the sex-scenes(and oh yes there are many)are pretty bad too. Anyway, save your money. Buy virtually anything else, or (if you like torture) borrow it from a friend. I'm glad I did.
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