- Hardcover: 676 pages
- Publisher: Thorndike Press; Large type edition edition (31 Dec 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0786206438
- ISBN-13: 978-0786206438
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 14.6 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (201 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Review
'Gregory Maguire's Wicked" falls into a fascinating sub-genre of novels that revisit well-known stories as much in the spirit of criticism ashomage.Maguire...makes sense of Baum's whims, creating a credible Oz for grown-ups, with religion, politics, racial tensions, an economy, mythology, humour and sex... As moving and tragic as it is refreshing and scurrilous... This outstanding novel.' -- The Independent 20060308 'Bodiceripper set infantasy land...GONE WITH THE WINDin Camelot... Characters have immense moral struggles... They're very passionate.' -- The Scotsman on Sunday 20060430
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
An astonishingly rich re-creation of the land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Gregory Maguire just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
From the crumpled bed the wife said, "I think today's the day. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
From the crumpled bed the wife said, "I think today's the day. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire has written a novel that deals with the life of Elphaba, an emerald-green skinned young woman who was born into the family of a preacher and his wife in Munchkinland. Elphaba's family are not Munchkinlanders, however, and Elphaba grows up knowing more than she ever wanted to know about persecution and alienation. As a result, she becomes somewhat introverted, rebellious and yes, a little wicked.
When we all root for Dorothy as she triumphs over the Wicked Witch of the West in Frank Baum's Oz tales, we seem to forget that we are only hearing Dorothy's side of the story. There is more to Elphaba than wickedness and Maguire proves it as he chronicles Elphaba's odyssey through the land of Oz.
What makes Wicked such a special book is the fact that Maguire has written a story that challenges our preconceived notions of what, exactly, is good and what, exactly, is evil, with the character of Elphaba at the heart of the matter. Although Dorothy does make an appearance near the end of the book, it really isn't necessary to know anything about her or the Baum stories to understand and appreciate Wicked.
In Wicked, we follow the life of Elphaba as we learn what shaped her personality, what it really means to be a witch and how things are not always as we think them to be or even as we want them to be. The characters in Wicked are fully-fleshed out and believable. Besides Elphaba, there is her university roommate, Glinda; Boq, the lovelorn Munchkin; Fiyero, a tribal prince from the primitive West of Oz; and Nessarose, Elphaba's beautiful and witchy sister.
The fantasy elements in Wicked are actually quite light; this is no book for children and it even runs the risk of becoming overburdened by the weighty issues it seeks to tackle. Maguire could have let this book slip into nothing more than a sappy view of the technologies and magic that pervade the land of Oz. Instead, he wisely chose to focus on the people, instead and he has created characters that are vibrant, strong and full of life.
Maguire's Oz is no Utopia and Elphaba is more than just a green-skinned witch. She is a woman who has become wise through the mechanations of guilt and sorrow and one who is, surprisingly, actually happy to meet the young girl from Kansas who eventually shows up at her door.
Wicked is more than satire; it is an imaginative, fast-paced, fantastically real and supremely entertaining novel of vision and revision. Once you read it, Oz will never be the same again.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It was with much anticipation that I settled down to begin Wicked. It seemed to be exactly my kinda thing - a retelling of a classic, from the "bad guy's" point of view.
I wasn't sure what to think at first. There were some overly crude sexual referrances which were a bit too much, even for me (seemed a bit unnecessary) and the writing was... wordy. But the characters were interesting, and the concept alone kept me hooked, hoping to be impressed.
It's just that not really all that much seems to happen in this book. Many of the major events actually happen off-stage, even though they concern the main characters. Whole chunks of time are skipped, often leaving me feeling like I've missed out after discovering what happened during those gaps. I was left with too many questions unanswered, and feeling like I'd been cheated out of a few hours of my time: the book could have been told in half the pages. There were a lot of events that just seemed... pointless, never to really go anywhere or be resolved or explained. Perhaps that's just meant to be a reflection of how life really is, - not everything ever gets resolved or makes that much sense - but I don't read books to put up with yet more of "real life".
I'm of the opinion this might be one of those love it or hate it things. I will not go so far as to say I hated it, because I was at least able to find it interesting enough to read through to the end. But I didn't find the whole effort very rewarding. And I won't be reading this book again.
I wasn't sure what to think at first. There were some overly crude sexual referrances which were a bit too much, even for me (seemed a bit unnecessary) and the writing was... wordy. But the characters were interesting, and the concept alone kept me hooked, hoping to be impressed.
It's just that not really all that much seems to happen in this book. Many of the major events actually happen off-stage, even though they concern the main characters. Whole chunks of time are skipped, often leaving me feeling like I've missed out after discovering what happened during those gaps. I was left with too many questions unanswered, and feeling like I'd been cheated out of a few hours of my time: the book could have been told in half the pages. There were a lot of events that just seemed... pointless, never to really go anywhere or be resolved or explained. Perhaps that's just meant to be a reflection of how life really is, - not everything ever gets resolved or makes that much sense - but I don't read books to put up with yet more of "real life".
I'm of the opinion this might be one of those love it or hate it things. I will not go so far as to say I hated it, because I was at least able to find it interesting enough to read through to the end. But I didn't find the whole effort very rewarding. And I won't be reading this book again.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hard Work
It took me ages and ages to finish this book. I am usually a fast reader but I found this book hard work. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Lovetoread
Not my favourite.
I have to say I found this quite a disapointment. I thought it would be enjoyable and I would find out more about the main story of the Wizard of Oz. Read more
Published 17 days ago by HayleyAsha
Vary Interesting and Enjoyable Story
I guess I can give the ending away on this book and not spoil it for others as we all know what happened to the Wicked Witch of the West in the story, The (Wonderful) Wizard of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Traffic
Oh dear what a shame
I went to see the stage show, loved it, so bought the book. I am not naive enough to think they would be the same but I was hideously dissappointed. Read more
Published 2 months ago by X-ray K
The Green Witch's World - Genuis
Of course we've all heard of Wicked and it has been reviewed hundreds of times before. I enjoyed the first book in this series although it was much more religious and political... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Miss C. Thomson
Good Read
When I ordered the book, I selected super saver delivery and it arrived in 3 working days and in excellent condition. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zoiie
Great idea, imperfectly executed
I read this novel because I loved the musical and liked the basic premise behind it - subverting the tale of 'Wizard of Oz' to give the Wicked Witch of the West a sympathetic... Read more
Published 4 months ago by BookWorm
disappointing
I thought this would be a great premise for a story. The Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys still send shivers down my spine even at my age. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Pilipala
Fascinating But Not Enough
I really wanted to read this novel, i had long since been told that it would alter my perception of the Wicked Witch of the West and it did. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Janet Parry
She called it... wonderful
Well, I bought this for my partner for christmas, and it turned her into a mindless reading zombie. Safe to say I am pleased! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Slinkydean
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