Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Submitted by Reviewer (not verified) on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 23:38

Science Fiction

Gregory Maguire: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Author	Gregory Maguire
Made	HarperAudio
Date	2005-08-09
Media	Audio CD
Catalog	Book
Sales Rank	99585
Availability	Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price	US$49.95
Our Price*	US$32.97

*Price subject to change

Amazon.com US$32.97

Amazon Canada CDN$38.61

Reviews:

Rating 3.5/5 from 1445 reviews

Wicked = Disappointing

Rating: 1/5 2008-05-13

I waited a few weeks after finishing this book to write my review, hoping that hindsight would soften my feelings... I'm sorry to say this, but I really hated it. Generally, stories that are adapted from novels for screen or stage get destroyed in the process. Not so here. The pointless story drags on with little direction, leaving the reader wondering when the "good parts" are going to start. Interesting plot points that were hinted at early on never get fully developed or are completely ignored, and I spent the last few hundred pages begging for the book to end. Also, this book is NOT for children...not that it would hold their attention long enough for them to get to the objectionable material.

Makes you re-think good and evil

Rating: 4/5 2008-05-12

Wicked takes you on an imaginative exploration what you thought you knew about a classic story. With an interesting dive into obsession, heartbreak, failure, and expectations, Maguire allows you to draw a lot of your own conclusions when it comes to the Wicked Witch. I read this book with no expectations which was perfect. I had no idea what to expect and was enthralled with the brilliant evolution of the story line and the characters that we thought we had pegged in terms of character. Even Dorothy is left in a different light.

The imagery of all of Oz and its surrounding regions are beautifully done and capture the imagination from page to page. If you think you know what the story is all about, think again. This will make you rethink several of your favorite characters from Baum's original masterpiece.

I loved it.

Rating: 4/5 2008-05-10

I think the author puts a great set of twists on the original storyline. I enjoyed this book. Different but refreshingly so.

Wicked: The Disjointed, Long Winded Saga of the Wicked Witch

Rating: 2/5 2008-05-09

I was very excited to receive my copy of "Wicked..." in the mail. But, once I started reading, I became quickly disappointed. I am an unsually speedy reader and found myself dragging through this extremely cumbersome text. The story is interesting, but it is bogged down with too many details and disjointed ramblings.

Not what I expected

Rating: 1/5 2008-05-09

This book was extremely difficult to get through. It's dark, demented, and twisted. I chose it for the Book Club I'm hosting this time around and none of the other members liked it either. I have one word for this book....disappointing.

Editorials:

Product Description

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 the victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become 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.

Performed by John McDonough

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