Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction)
by Gregory Maguire
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gregory MaguireEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-01
ISBN: 0061350966
Number of pages: 560
Publisher: Harper
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780061350962
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Book Reviews of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction)
Book Review: Three Stars is Pushing It - But There You Go...
Summary: 3 Stars
Since there are already more then 1,500 reviews on this book I'll skip the synopsis and go straight to my impression of Wicked.
I read this book after my sister gave it high marks. I tried reading a few years ago and couldn't get interested, but this time I figured I'd give it another shot since I really like "alternate" stories where characters are given new dimensions and stories are re-told or re-imagined in a way which gives the reader a new perspective on old favorites.
That being said, I think the idea of telling an Oz story with the Wicked Witch as the "good gal" is brilliant, but unlike similar concepts such as "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead " the execution is not as inspiring.
There are elements in the story, which I felt were essential to the plot, which were never explained, such as the whole "time Dragon" side story. I've read the book, re-read some parts and I have no clue what is the "time Dragon", besides some magical carnival ride.
I was hoping this would be explained at the end, but it wasn't which seems strange to me because the author insists this is a crucial piece of the puzzle.
I heard this book was very "literary" and it is, but I think Mr. Maguire has lost the balance between "verbose" and "wordy". This is the exact kind of book kids in my English class hated to read (that was before we could google every other word to find the definition in half a second).
The author seems to spend a lot of time on the mundane, yet skips and jumps just when the story gets interesting or something happens. Sure, that's real life and it might work in "The Sopranos" but it doesn't work in this genre.
I didn't care about any of the characters and I'm sorry to say that because I've invested several hours in this book. I didn't care about Elphaba, her sister, father, roommates or any of the other characters. All of the main characters seem to be stuck in some teenage state of anguish, pettiness and immaturity.
There was much talk about the profound social commentary of Wicked. I guess I didn't see it.
Rich people look down on poor people? Rich People are mean? Poor people are driven to be mean? People are a product of their upbringing? Don't judge people by their color?
Social commentary to me means "Gulliver's Travels" and the like, or heck, even "South Park" does a better job at social commentary.
Finally - there is no ending.
OK, Dorothy kills Elphaba - but I knew that on page one.
The author goes to great detail to explain to us that water is Elphaba's Kryptonite and then...she has a bucket of water in her home?
Really?
That's like you and me keeping cyanide pills in our medicine cabinet.
There is now "wrap up", not explanation of things untold, unsaid or unexplained.
The ending left me empty (not hungry for more).
I found this book mediocre, verbose and somewhat disjointed. Yet, I found it strangely interesting - maybe because I think that the idea is brilliant and the overall story is good.
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Summary of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction)
When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?
Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
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